Rhys Wesser

Live-wire Rockhampton fullback took his time to find form and confidence before cementing a first grade spot with the Panthers in 2000. Wesser’s toughness in defence improved remarkably over the next two seasons but his speed – and uncanny ability to create a try out of nothing and to back up all over the field – was never in question. In 2003 he headed the try-scoring list in the NRL, crossing for a club record 25 tries (which is also a NRL premiership record for a fullback) and finished the year in grand final glory with the Panthers. Although the club could not defend its premiership in 2004 (the more heavily-marked fullback scored only 13 tries that year) Wesser acquitted himself well as Queensland ‘custodian’ in the State of Origin series. The livewire fullback was not as effective in Penrith’s disappointing 2005 season but the following year, in which he made a return to the Queensland State of Origin team in the deciding third match of the series, he set a new club record for career tries.