Rugby league has more than its fair share of interesting, exotic or just plain cool-sounding names so we figured the off-season was as good a time as any to shine a light on some of those that have been rolling off the tongue (or tying tongues in knots) recently.
10. Ed Murphy
Former Bulldogs three-quarter Ed Murphy – who featured with the top squad at the inaugural Auckland Nines – has since moved to Redfern but is yet to taste first grade NRL (though at just 23 time is on his side). We are a little disappointed he doesn't go by 'Eddie' rather than 'Ed' – perhaps the added pressure of living up to the reputation of the wise-cracking Beverly Hills Cop is a factor.
9. Will Smith
In the same vein, talented Penrith utility back Will Smith had to wear his share of 'Men in Black' jokes when he emerged as a first grader. In the wreckage of Penrith's unbelievable injury toll last year Smith did a brilliant job deputising as fullback and enhanced his reputation greatly, ensuring he is now known as a high quality ball runner rather than for sharing a name with the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
8. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Still at the foot of the mountains, Penrith young-gun Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has encountered some serious injuries in what has otherwise been a rapid rise into the top grade, meaning a false start to what will surely be a long career in the New Zealand Test side. His exotic name tied commentators in knots when he first burst onto the scene and to be honest things haven't changed much since.
7. Pauli Pauli
Towering Eels back-rower Pauli Pauli is already a huge handful at just 21 years of age and will only get better with experience. There's something about the understated elegance of his first-name-as-last name moniker which made him a must to include on this list. He also continues on the fine Parramatta tradition of name alliteration in the style of club legend...
6. Fuifui Moimoi
He might not ply his trade in the NRL anymore, but the former Parramatta cult hero is still playing in Europe and was too good to omit from this list. Moimoi was known for his cannonball charges, his unpredictable and rapidly changing hairstyles, being a man of few words and arguably the best alliterative name ever to grace a rugby league field. Fans made a habit of chanting "FUIII" at the top of their lungs whenever he got the ball and were left shattered when he was moved on before the end of his playing days to finish his career in the UK.
5. Delouise Hoeter
Delouise Hoeter is a 21-year-old utility back for Wests Tigers and Tongan international. Sporting a European last name with a first name that sounds straight of America's NBA or NFL, Hoeter was born in Tonga before moving to New Zealand then Queensland and looks to have a bright NRL future in front of him.
4. Bureta Faraimo
Faraimo is a bullocking, try scoring winger, NSW Cup player of the year and fringe first grader at the Eels. That the 25-year-old US Test player hasn't played more first grade is something of a surprise given his form in his limited opportunities. Given his first name sounds like firearms manufacturer Beretta we can only assume his nickname is 'The Gun' and if it isn't – why not?
3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Warriors fans could be forgiven for asking "sorry, who?" when the 20-year-old Storm playmaker and Cook Islands international was picked up for the 2016 season recently but we hope he strides into first grade sooner rather than later – if for no other reason than to hear commentators get their mouths around his Nordic-sounding double-barrelled surname.
2. Yaw Kiti Glymin
A hamstring injury unfortunately limited Dragons youngster Yaw Kiti Glymin's top-grade appearances in 2015 but there will be plenty more to come from the exotically named 22-year-old three-quarter.
1. Valentine Holmes
Who else could it be? The best name in rugby league, in our opinion, is Valentine Holmes. He could be an extra on Boogie Nights but instead he is the ice-cool finisher for the Sharks with the huge rep future in front of him. Congrats, Val.
