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.
Brandon Smith, Damien Cook and Reed Mahoney all had stellar seasons at hooker, while some others struggled to make an impact for their side.
Sporting News will be ranking all positions throughout the season, with every hooker ranked 16-1 below.
(Rankings are based solely on 2021 regular season performances and who played the most games for their club in that particular position, with some special exceptions depending on the situation).
HONOURABLE MENTION: Jeremy Marshall-King - Bulldogs
9 games - 6 offloads, 1 linebreak assist, 38 tackles per game, 53 metres per game
Breaking our own mould a little bit here, but given the Canterbury hooker played a handful of games and nobody else locked down the spot, as well as the fact one club has two elite hooker, we'll chuck Marshall-King as an 'honourable mention'.
The 25-year-old looks set to be the long-term hooker at the Bulldogs, and the side look a lot better with him on the field.
Solid as a rock and crafty in attack when given the opportunity, Marshall-King will only shoot up these rankings in 2022 with the club welcoming in some big-name forwards and classy outside backs.
16. Jake Turpin - Broncos
22 games - 2 try assists, 2 linebreak assists, 3 forced dropouts, 42 tackles per game
Another tough year for the Broncos means that Turpin sits at the bottom of our hooker power rankings, despite having a solid year on an individual level.
The 24-year-old remains a great defender and has plenty of upside, but he was unable to improve the side's attack during their myriad of defeats during the year.
Turpin is a player who is going to be at the club for the long-haul, and while he hasn't been able to produce the form of the top No.9s in the competition just yet, there's no reason he can't in the future.
With a world-class halfback in Adam Reynolds arriving in 2022, Turpin will be breathing a sigh of relief and the shackles should come off for him.
15. Mitch Rein - Titans
19 games - 2 tries, 1 try assists, 3 linebreak assists, 35 tackles per game
In and out of the side, Rein was forced to share the hooking role with Erin Clark during the 2021 season.
The 207-game veteran was a fixture of the side late in the season as they marched towards the finals, and was playing the kind of football he has always had the potential to.
Unfortunately for Rein, he has been left unsigned by the Titans for next season and will be looking for a new home, with the club looking to move on with Clark and potentially Tanah Boyd in the dummy-half role.
Rein would be a solid back-up option at any club, and still has plenty to offer in the NRL for the right price.
14. Andrew McCullough - Dragons
21 games - 3 try assists, 3 linebreak assists, 48 tackles per game
In a year where he was recalled to the Origin arena for Queensland, McCullough didn't have a great year.
Still an absolute machine in defence, the former Bronco lacks the spark in attack expected in the modern game and it was a part of the game St George Illawarra clearly struggled in.
McCullough averaged the least amount of run metres per game of any regular starting hooker, and despite a solid combination with Ben Hunt early in the campaign, he fell away in the latter stages of the season.
With young gun Jayden Sullivan showing some good signs at hooker in the last couple of rounds and Tigers utility Moses Mbye joining the club, the pressure will be on McCullough to perform in 2022.
13. Jacob Liddle - Tigers
20 games - 6 tries, 4 try assists, 4 linebreak assists, 40 tackles per game
After a horror run with injuries, Liddle finally got his chance to play the majority of the season at hooker for the Tigers and had some good moments.
The 24-year-old scored an impressive six tries in his 20 games, including a runaway effort against Penrith midway through the year.
His defence in the middle was his strong point, but his service from dummy-half and creativity around the ruck needs a little bit of polish.
Liddle will be under pressure in the off-season as well, with Jake Simpkin also vying for the No.9 spot.
12. Wayde Egan - Warriors
20 games - 3 tries, 8 try assists, 8 linebreak assists, 41 tackles per game
Making the tranisition from Penrith to the Warriors in 2021, Egan had a decent first year and was a welcome addition at hooker.
Despite the side struggling in periods and suffering a shoulder injury in round 18, the 24-year-old managed to play 20 games and even return earlier than expected in round 22, despite finals being unlikely.
Egan produced eight try assists, which puts him behind just four hookers in the NRL, and he did it with a revolving door of halves combinations around him.
He will only improve next year with Shaun Johnson in the No.7 jumper and steering the ship for the Warriors.
11. Blayke Brailey - Sharks
24 games - 2 tries, 5 try assists, 4 linebreak assists, 40 tackles per game
Another solid but perhaps unspectacular season for the local junior.
Brailey played in every game for the Sharks in 2021 as they missed out on the finals, and while he continues to be a consistent performer, he's yet to fully kick on the way many expected him to.
The 22-year-old has become Cronulla's sole hooker and is playing 80 minutes in the middle on a weekly basis, which could be having an impact on his output in attack.
Things will be very interesting for Brailey this off-season, with Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes joining the club on a long-term deal.
10. Lachlan Croker - Sea Eagles
24 games - 4 tries, 7 try assists, 7 linebreak assists, 38 tackles per game
If there was ever a bloke that epitomised the term 'unsung hero' in 2021, it's probably Lachlan Croker.
Playing every game of the regular season, the utility was tasked with playing as the club's starting hooker in the ongoing absence of Manase Fainu, despite coming through the grades as a halfback.
Croker will never get the praise or recognition that someone like Tom Trbojevic does, but he managed to put together a really strong campaign for Manly, as they surprised everyone and made the top four.
His long-term future as a starting No.9 will hinge on the outcome of Fainu's trial, but for this year he's done a great job.
9. Sam Verrills - Roosters
13 games - 4 try assists, 4 linebreak assists, 36 tackles per game
Limited to just 13 games, Verrills made a huge impact on the Roosters as they continued to struggle with an immense injury crisis.
The 22-year-old came back from a serious knee injury in round 7, but two weeks later was out again with a freak eye injury.
The club lost just four games all season while Verrills was on the field - all against top-four outfits - and his poise and service out of dummy-half was a huge boost for them.
In a year where club legend and hooker Jake Friend was forced into retirement, Verrills stepped into his shoes well and looks set to wear the No.9 jumper for the Tricolours for many years to come.
8. Josh Hodgson - Raiders
20 games - 10 try assists, 9 linebreak assists, 2 forced dropouts, 43 tackles per game
A mixed year for the Raiders hooker, marred by rumours of a spat with Ricky Stuart and the club going on to miss the finals.
Hodgson remains one of the most creative players in his position - evidenced by his 10 try assists, which is the second-highest of any hooker - and led his side out of a horror mid-season form slump to within a game of a finals berth.
Unfortunately for the 31-year-old, his form was nowhere near as consistent as we have become accustomed to, and his defence at stages through the season was a tad sloppy.
With young gun Tom Starling nipping at his heels, Hodgson will want to start 2022 well to hold onto the starting spot at Canberra.
7. Reece Robson - Cowboys
24 games - 6 tries, 4 try assists, 4 linebreak assists, 38 tackles per game
A breakout year for the Cowboys rake, despite the side's struggles.
Robson played every game this year for North Queensland, cementing himself as their long-term hooker and showing he has plenty of strings to his bow.
The 23-year-old's running game has continued to improve, averaging 61 metres per game over the course of the ear. Robson also crossed for six tries, which is the second-most of any hooker behind Brandon Smith.
In a year where his side finished in the bottom four and lost 10-straight games, you'd be hard-pressed finding anyone criticising Robson and his efforts on a weekly basis.
6. Api Koroisau - Panthers
14 games - 3 tries, 1 try assist, 1 linebreak assist, 43 tackles per game
A quiet year statistically for Koroisau, but it shouldn't take away from the fact he earned a State of Origin debut and helped the Panthers finish in the top four once again.
The 28-year-old remains an integral part of the Penrith outfit, providing immaculate service for superstar halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, and remains a real running threat on his day.
Defensively he remains one of the best in the competition, operating at 95 per-cent tackle effiency. The only thing really holding him back on this list is his lack of attacking stats.
Koroisau's season could have been derailed after a highly-publicised COVID breach, but he returned to club football just fine and will be a major fixture for Penrith in the finals series.
5. Harry Grant - Storm
13 games - 5 tries, 8 try assists, 8 linebreak assists, 100 metres per game
It's all about 'more bang for your buck' with this guy.
Despite playing just 13 regular-season games and only starting in the No.9 jumper on three occasions, Grant has continued to establish himself as one of the best hookers in the NRL today.
The 23-year-old returned to Melbourne after a loan stint with the Tigers, and formed a brilliant one-two punch with Brandon Smith.
His running game, creativity and service out of dummy-half is some of the best in the competition, and it's safe to say we have only scratched the surface in regards to Grant's potential.
4. Jayden Brailey - Knights
22 games - 3 tries, 4 try assists, 5 linebreak assists, 47 tackles per game
A huge year for the new Knights skipper, taking over from Mitchell Pearce and leading his side to a finals berth.
After missing the majority of 2020 due to a serious knee injury, Brailey hit the ground running this year and was arguably their best player this year.
The 25-year-old showed consistency, class and toughness throughout the entire campaign, missing just a few games and playing 80 minutes in the middle on nearly a weekly basis.
While he might not be the flashiest player in his position, Brailey had a career year and it really begs the question to the Cronulla Sharks whether they let go of the wrong brother.
3. Damien Cook - Rabbitohs
21 games - 9 try assists, 8 linebreak assists, 44 tackles per game, 67 metres per game
Another really good year for the South Sydney, NSW and Australian dummy-half.
Cook started off slow, but once he hit his straps he never looked back, helping the Rabbitohs into the top four once again.
His running game continues to be a threat, his defensive work is at a high level (96 per-cent tackle efficiency) and he has become a real leader at Redfern.
Cook may not have gotten the praise that Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell did this year, but he helps lay the platform with his running game and smart thinking in middle of the field.
2. Reed Mahoney - Eels
17 games - 13 try assists, 13 linebreak assists, 12 offloads, 45 tackles per game
If we're talking about career years, look no further than Parramatta's star hooker.
Despite only playing 17 games this year, Mahoney was able to rack up more try assists and linebreak assists than any other dummy-half, and his defence has remained as strong as ever.
Mahoney's kicking game has also improved out of sight in the past 18 months, taking plenty of pressure off halfback Mitchell Moses.
The 23-year-old was the Eels' best player this year until a shoulder injury abruptly ended his campaign, but he will be back bigger and better than ever in 2022.
1. Brandon Smith - Storm
22 games - 11 tries, 8 try assists, 12 linebreak assists, 104 metres per game, 28 tackles per game
There were plenty who thought he was a lock, those who thought he was a great utility and many who thought he'd be on the bench all year behind Harry Grant.
Well, they were all proven wrong this year by the 'Hectic Cheese', who announced himself as the game's best hooker in the wake of Cameron Smith's retirement.
Smith is tough as nails, always looks to take the game on in attack and defence, and he's got the stats to back it up.
11 tries for a hooker is incredible, but add to that his 12 linebreak assists, 8 try assists and 104 metres per game, and you have got yourself an attacking weapon like no other.
A great year for Smith, who has proven the Storm will be just fine without his legendary namesake.