The regular season is done and dusted, and now it's time to look back at how some of the great individuals in the NRL performed in 2021.
Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo and Connor Watson all had stellar seasons at lock, while some others struggled to make an impact for their side.
Sporting News will be ranking all positions throughout the season, continuing with the lock forwards below.
(Rankings are based solely on 2021 regular season performances and who played the most games for their club in that particular position).
16. Patrick Carrigan - Broncos
8 games - 6 offloads, 6 tackle breaks, 117 metres per game, 33 tackles per game
Managed just eight games this year before suffering a devastating ACL injury.
Carrigan remains a shining light for Brisbane and has been touted as a long-term captain of the club, and is a real workhorse in the middle of the field.
The 23-year-old should be back to full fitness for the start of 2022 and will no doubt shoot up these rankings if the Broncos improve to the level most people expect them to.
15. Joe Ofahengaue - Tigers
23 games - 31 tackle breaks, 27 offloads, 104 metres per game, 25 tackles per game
One of the big off-season signings for the Tigers, Ofahengaue struggled to make a major impact on a consistent basis and was in and out of the starting side.
The 26-year-old was by no means terrible for the Tigers, but as the side struggled and continued to lose games, he was demoted to the bench on nine occasions.
Ofahengaue is capable of being a damaging ball-runner and still possesses a great offload, but the issue is delivering this on a consistent basis.
Hopefully a big off-season will see for the former Origin representative return to his best in 2022.
14. Jazz Tevaga - Warriors
22 games - 18 tackle breaks, 21 offloads, 74 metres per game, 32 tackles per game
The utility had a solid year again for the Warriors, but similarly to Ofahengaue, was in and out of the starting lineup all season.
Tevaga played some hooker, some games off the bench and plenty at lock, and defensively remained very solid for the Warriors in the middle of the field.
His discipline can let him down at times, but his leg speed in the middle of the field is a real asset for Nathan Brown if utilised to its full potential.
The 26-year-old has re-signed with the club, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in the side moving forward.
13. Ryan Sutton - Raiders
22 games - 15 tackle breaks, 6 offloads, 115 metres per game, 31 tackles per game
The Englishman was given an increased role this year, starting more games than any of his previous years at Canberra.
Sutton is an understated player, rarely garnering much attention or headlines, but continues to be a fine player for Ricky Stuart.
The 26-year-old doesn't possess the ball-playing of some of the elite locks in the NRL, but is always prepared to take the tough carries and is a sound defender.
With international forward Joseph Tapine playing more games off the bench and at prop, Sutton may find himself in the starting team on a permanent basis next year.
12. Josh Jackson - Bulldogs
17 games - 46 tackles per game, 113 metres per game
It's hard to dismiss the work that Jackson does for his side on a weekly basis, and if Canterbury were more successful, he'd probably be higher up this list.
The captain's 46 tackle per game is the highest of any lock in the competition, and Jackson rarely shies away from the brutal carries.
The 30-year-old is by no means a flashy player and won't receive the plaudits of some other locks in the NRL, but he's the type of leader every club would want.
Jackson capped off another good year at Belmore by taking out the club's player of the year award.
11. Jack de Belin - Dragons
11 games - 11 tackle breaks, 38 tackles per game, 109 metres per game
Despite only playing 11 games once he was cleared to return, de Belin showed he is still capable of being one of the best locks in the competition.
After spending over two years on the sidelines, the 30-year-old didn't miss a beat once he was recalled to the Dragons lineup, despite the side struggling for wins late in the season.
De Belin added a ball-playing element to the middle of the field and also defended his backside off, operating at 96.4 per-cent tackle efficiency.
With a full pre-season under his belt and some key signings in the forwards, we are tipping a big 2022 campaign for the former NSW Blues star.
10. Victor Radley - Roosters
14 games - 2 try assists, 4 linebreak assists, 92 metres per game, 36 tackles per game
Is Victor Radley the 10th-best lock forward in the NRL? Of course not, but based on this season alone, he's a bit further down this list than most would expect.
The 23-year-old missed the start of the season through injury and once he returned to the fold, his timing was off in defence, missing two months through suspension during the year.
His ball-playing in the middle of the field is second-to-none, and he has a great combination with James Tedesco as well as his fellow forwards.
With a full pre-season, some key players returning and a few stern words from Trent Robinson, there's no doubt Radley will shoot back up these rankings in 12 months time.
9. Jake Trbojevic - Sea Eagles
20 games - 3 tries, 7 tackle breaks, 113 metres per game, 37 tackles per game
The ultimate professional.
Jake Trbojevic is never going to receive the praise of his younger brother, but he still goes about his business for Manly and rarely plays less than the full 80 minutes.
The 27-year-old has a great combination with his brother and Daly Cherry-Evans, and is a defensive workhorse with one of the best tackle efficiency rates in the competition, operating at 97.6 per-cent.
While he might lack the punch or skill of some players higher on this list, Trbojevic is reliable and remains an integral part of the Manly side.
8. Nathan Brown - Eels
22 games - 20 tackle breaks, 17 offloads, 135 metres per game, 32 tackles per game
Another strong year for Brown, but perhaps down a little bit on his 2020 campaign that saw him earn a NSW Blues debut.
The 28-year-old is a handful with the ball in hand and has insane leg speed in the middle of the field.
Brown is always willing to take the game on, and while his discipline can be a concern sometimes, he reeled himself in this year with just four penalties all season.
A strange end to his season saw him play just 26 minutes in the semi-final against Penrith.
7. Dale Finucane - Storm
15 games - 13 tackle breaks, 4 offloads, 23 tackles per game, 114 metres per game
A rather disrupted season for Finucane sees him a bit lower than he might warrant on this list.
The 30-year-old makes such a difference to the Melbourne side, and they didn't lose a single game all season while he was on the field.
His stats aren't top of the line, but he makes in impact on both sides of the ball and is a ferocious leader for the Storm.
With a move to Cronulla finalised for next year, Finucane will look to take the successful traits learned under Craig Bellamy to a different system in 2022.
6. Toby Rudolf - Sharks
24 games - 36 tackle breaks, 48 post-contact metres per game, 120 metres per game, 33 tackles per game
A throwback-style player and bloke, Rudolf enjoyed another really solid year for Cronulla and has inked a long-term contract extension.
The 25-year-old runs hard, moves well and has great footwork, evidenced by his 36 tackle breaks during the season and 48 post-contact metres per game.
Rudolf's only downfall at the moment is some of his defence - while he averaged 33 tackles per game, he also missed the second-highest amount of tackles (90) of any player in the NRL this year.
With rep forward Dale Finucane arriving in 2022, expect to see him move into the front-row but still play a similar role.
5. Connor Watson - Knights
24 games - 75 tackle breaks, 9 offloads, 111 metres per game, 30 tackles per game
A career year for Watson in a new position - the 25-year-old has always been a great utility, but seems to have found his calling as a ball-playing middle-forward for Newcastle.
Watson is hard to handle, with his 75 tackle breaks the highest of any lock in the NRL this year, and also provides the ball skills necessary to be a top player in his position.
And for a smaller player in the middle of the field, his defence was fantastic for the Knights, averaging 30 tackles per game and operating at 95.8 per-cent tackle efficiency.
Watson will move back to former club the Roosters in 2022, so it will be interesting to see how he factors into their star-studded lineup.
4. Jason Taumalolo - Cowboys
15 games - 31 tackle breaks, 17 offloads, 155 metres per game, 27 tackles per game
He's been the benchmark for many years, and while 2021 was by no means a bad year, it wasn't what we are used to from Taumalolo.
The 28-year-old was limited to just 15 games due to a few separate hand injuries, but when he was on the field remained as damaging as ever.
Taumalolo averaged 155 metres per game, the highest of any lock in the NRL, and still had 17 offloads which is more than most players in his position.
His minutes were reduced under Todd Payten, as the new coach looks to find the best way to use his superstar forward, and 2022 promises to be an interesting year for the former Dally M Medal winner.
3. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - Titans
21 games - 3 tries, 46 tackle breaks, 135 metres per game, 29 tackles per game
Many claim that Melbourne Storm players don't go well at other clubs, but Fa'asuamaleaui certainly put that to bed.
The 21-year-old was the Titans' best player all season, claiming their player of the year award, as he helped take them back to the finals.
Fa'asuamaleaui is a handful with ball in hand, evidenced by his 46 tackle breaks, and consistently bruises opposition players with his defence.
He wouldn't get the recognition of some other locks due to the Titans positioning on the ladder, but this was a brilliant first year at the club after leaving a successful Storm system.
2. Isaah Yeo - Panthers
21 games - 31 tackle breaks, 4 offloads, 118 metres per game, 34 tackles per game
A tough battle between the top two, but we've got Yeo just missing out on top spot this year.
After a breakout 2020 campaign, the Penrith co-captain continued his strong form this year and was a major part of the NSW Blues' series win at Origin level.
Yeo has the ability to run or pass at a high level, and his late footwork leaves opposition defenders reaching on a regular basis.
He has a great combination with the stars around him and is the real link man for Penrith.
Very unlucky to miss out on top spot on this list.
1. Cameron Murray - Rabbitohs
17 games - 5 tries, 33 tackle breaks, 19 offloads, 36 tackles per game, 119 metres per game
He might have been forced to play on the edge at State of Origin level behind Yeo, but there was no better lock in the competition this year than the South Sydney local junior.
Murray's rise to the top of this list will come as no surprise to anyone that has seen him come through the ranks, and he is the ultimate professional on and off the field.
The 23-year-old is a great ball-player, can produce an offload from any position, has the fastest play-the-ball in the NRL and is a brilliant defender.
In terms of modern-day lock forwards, they don't get any better than Cam Murray.
