NRL’s Highest Pointscorers

Updated: 01/02/2018

1. Hazem El Masri – 2,418 points

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (1996-2009)

Aside from being Australian rugby league’s greatest pointscorer, Hazem El Masri also holds the records for most points (342) and goals (139) in a single season, which he set during Canterbury’s 2004 campaign. He was the competition’s leading pointscorer on six occasions (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2007, 2009) and is considered one of the Bulldogs’ greatest ever players. El Masri’s record would have been even more impressive had Daryl Halligan not been in front of him as the Bulldogs’ goalkicker in the early part of his career (1996-2000).

2. Cameron Smith – 2,209 points

Melbourne Storm (2002-present)

Smith is still arguably the best player in rugby league and should eclipse El Masri before his retirement.

3. Andrew Johns – 2,176 points

Newcastle Knights (1993-2007)

Knights’ halfback Andrew Johns became the game’s highest pointscorer in 2006 when he surpassed Jason Taylor’s record. He was also the NRL’s leading pointscorer in 2001, when he lead the Knights to premiership victory.

4. Jason Taylor – 2,107 points

Western Suburbs Magpies (1990-93), North Sydney Bears (1994-99), Northern Eagles (2000), Parramatta Eels (2001)

Jason Taylor retired in 2001 as rugby league’s highest ever point-scorer. The clever halfback kicked more goals than any other player during his excellent career. He was twice the competition’s leading point-scorer, in 1996 and 1997.

5. Johnathan Thurston – 2,070 points

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2002-04), North Queensland Cowboys (2005-present)

Johnathan Thurston is still the world’s best playmaker and, barring injury, should make his way past Taylor and Johns in 2018.

6. Daryl Halligan – 2,034 points

North Sydney Bears (1991-1993), Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (1994-2000)

Daryl Halligan retired in 2000 as rugby league’s highest pointscorer, though his record was quickly eclipsed by Jason Taylor the following year. Halligan was the competition’s leading pointscorer for four consecutive seasons in the early ’90s (1991-1994). His prowess with the boot remains revered and he is considered by some to be rugby league’s greatest ever goalkicker.

7. Mick Cronin – 1,971 points

Parramatta Eels (1977-1986)

Mick Cronin retired in 1986 as rugby league’s greatest pointscorer, with 1,971 points next to his name. Five times he was the competition’s leading pointscorer (1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985) during his distinguished career. ‘The Crow’ scored more points per game than any other player in the top 10 list and is considered one of Parramatta’s greatest ever players.

8. Graham Eadie – 1,917 points

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (1971-1983)

Manly legend Graham Eadie topped the competition pointscoring charts through the mid-70s (1974-76) and became the game’s all-time leading scorer in 1983.

9. Eric Simms – 1,841 points

South Sydney (1965-1975)

South Sydney hero Eric Simms was the competition’s leading pointscorer for four consecutive seasons (1967-1970). Simms kicked a remarkable 86 field goals in his career! He was so effective that the rules were changed to reduce the value of field goals from two points to one.

Eric would get to training and stand on the halfway line and Clive Churchill would stand under the posts … Eric would practise field goals from halfway, one after the other, for half an hour. Bang, bang, bang, straight over. He hardly ever missed.

– Ron Coote reflects on Eric Simms’ brilliance with the boot

10. Luke Burt – 1,793 points

Parramatta Eels (1999-2012)

Luke Burt was an excellent winger for Parramatta throughout the 2000s, considered by some as one of the best players never to play State of Origin.