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Your club's marathon men for 2017

Playing out a full season in the Telstra Premiership is no mean feat.

Whether it's Origin selection, injury, suspension, a drop in form or simply just a week's rest, there are countless reasons why the stars of the NRL would spend a week – or more – on the sidelines. 

But at least one player at all 16 clubs featured in every game for their side this season, with some perhaps going unrecognised for their durability across 2017.

Broncos: Adam Blair, Alex Glenn, Tautau Moga

Brisbane made it through to the preliminary finals with a number of injuries in key positions, but three players still got through the entire season. Moga had his best campaign to date ahead of his move to the Knights, while Blair will link up with the Warriors on a three-year deal following the World Cup.

Bulldogs: Adam Elliott, Aiden Tolman, Danny Fualalo

It might've been a disappointing year for the Bulldogs but three forwards stepped up. Elliott evolved from impact player to starting back-rower, while Fualalo went about his business primarily from the interchange. Tolman was undoubtedly the Dogs' leading workhorse, lifting in the absence of fellow prop James Graham at times across the season and playing the full 80 minutes on four occasions.

Cowboys: Ethan Lowe, John Asiata, Kane Linnett, Kyle Feldt, Scott Bolton

The 2017 season will be remembered as the year a depleted Cowboys side defied the odds and made it all the way to the grand final. Despite their horror injury toll, coach Paul Green managed to name five players in every one of his side's 28 Telstra Premiership fixtures. That total was equal-best of any side, the other being…

Dragons: Cameron McInnes, Jason Nightingale, Leeson Ah Mau, Tariq Sims, Tim Lafai

The Red V narrowly missed out on the finals but were able to field a fairly consistent side across the year. McInnes proved to be an astute purchase, evergreen winger Nightingale didn't miss a beat, Lafai enjoyed his best season in Dragons colours while Ah Mau and Sims were key men in the St George Illawarra engine room. 

Eels: Semi Radradra, Suaia Matagi

Just two Eels featured right through the year from Round 1 to their semi-final loss to the Cowboys, with departing winger Radradra proving his worth right until the end and Matagi impressing up front, averaging 38 minutes after his switch from western Sydney rivals the Panthers.

Knights: Peter Mata'utia, Danny Levi

Newcastle showed serious signs of improvement in 2017 and in Levi have a hooker they can call on for many years to come. He along with outgoing outside back Peter Mata'utia were the only two Knights to see out the entire campaign.

Panthers: James Tamou, Nathan Cleary, Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Cleary beat the dreaded second-year syndrome to star in the Panthers' run to the second week of the finals, joined by bookends Tamou and Campbell-Gillard as the mountain men's most dependable players.

Rabbitohs: Cody Walker, John Sutton, Robbie Farah

Versatility was the key for Souths as injuries forced Walker to move between fullback and the halves in 2017, while Sutton also reverted to five-eighth for much of the season after a few years predominantly in the back row. Farah moved between the starting side and interchange as he shared hooking duties with Damien Cook.

Raiders: Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin, Joey Leilua, Nick Cotric

Dally M Rookie of the Year Cotric ran in 16 tries in a stellar debut campaign, joined by halves Sezer and Austin as well as centre Leilua as those in the nation's capital who played all 24 matches.

Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary

After missing the first eight rounds of 2016 as he completed his recovery from knee surgery, Waerea-Hargreaves featured in all 26 games for the Tricolours while former Souths half Keary hit the ground running in his first year at the Roosters.

Sea Eagles: Daly Cherry-Evans, Dylan Walker, Frank Winterstein

Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and Dylan Walker hit arguably career-best form at times and didn't miss a single round, with the centre's 2018 pre-season now interrupted by an ankle injury sustained while away with the PM's XIII. Winterstein proved to be a constant in the back row in his second season back in the NRL.

Sharks: Chad Townsend, Paul Gallen, Ricky Leutele

No longer burdened by rep duties Paul Gallen played all 25 games the Sharks featured in, matching his previous season best (2005). Townsend and Leutele also saw out the campaign as the premiers fell to the Cowboys in week one of the finals.

Storm: Felise Kaufusi, Josh Addo-Carr

Kaufusi emerged as one of the NRL's finest back-rowers in 2017, averaging 77 minutes. That was well up on his 2016 average of 28 minutes per game, with the forward also earning a call-up to Mal Meninga's Australian World Cup squad. Addo-Carr's move south paid dividends, with the former Wests Tigers winger finishing the year with 23 tries from his 27 appearances in purple.

Titans: Ash Taylor

With his teammates falling around him on a seemingly weekly basis, it was fitting that Taylor would be the Titans' lone man on this list. Seen as the club's long-term leader, the incoming Gold Coast coach could do far worse than build his team around the classy halfback.

Warriors: David Fusitu'a

Spending time on the wing and in the centres, Fusitu'a ran in 12 tries in a strong season for the Kiwi international.

Wests Tigers: David Nofoaluma

The Wests Tigers winger finished 2017 fifth for tackle breaks (132) and looms as a key component of the side moving forward after he re-signed for a further four years.

 
Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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