Prop forwards are usually associated with the "all brawn no brain" type of Rugby League player and, before the creation of Super League such a generic statement would have been true for the majority of prop forwards. Since 1996, prop forwards have had to develop into mobile, ball-handling players in order to offer their side another attacking dimension. Whilst there are still props in the mould of old - such as Hull FC's Scott Taylor - many of those props in Super League are highly-skilled - like Grant Millington and Adam Cuthbertson - and play a key role in their team's attacking structure.
Here are five of the best:
Adrian Morley
Though born in Salford, Adrian Morley began his career at Leeds Rhinos in 1995. Over the course of five years, Morley registered 35 tries in 149 appearances for Leeds and helped guide the club to Challenge Cup glory in 1999. Morley was so impressive at Leeds that NRL club Sydney Roosters snapped him up at the end of the 2000 season. Not just any average Joe is given the chance to go Down Under and it was testament to Morley's commitment and passion for the game that he lasted six seasons with the Roosters, scoring eight tries in 114 appearances.
Though still contracted to Sydney, Morley actually joined Bradford on-loan at the backend of 2005 and became a crucial figure in the Bulls' Grand Final-winning exploits at the end of that season.
In doing so, the 6 ft 3, 105kg prop became the first Englishman to win a Premiership in the NRL (Sydney were champions in 2002) and the Grand Final and Challenge Cup in Britain.
Morley's stay at Bradford was a short one and he joined Warrington in 2006. Here, Morley played most of his career, scoring nine tries in 173 appearances.
He was made captain just a year after joining and steered the Wolves to three Challenge Cup successes in four years (2009, 2010 and 2012). When his Warrington career ended at the end of 2013, Morley had established himself as one of the greatest prop forwards in the game. His actual career did not end there however, as he joined boyhood club Salford, scoring two tries in 45 appearances before finally hanging up his boots at the end of the 2015 season.
Morley's form in both Super League and the NRL ensured he was given national honours - he played 30 games for Great Britain and 23 for England. As one of the most physical and powerful prop forwards in Britain, Morley never took a backwards step against antipodean rivals Australia and New Zealand and will forever be remembered for being sent-off in the opening minute of a Test match against Australia. But that was the type of character Morley was: a full-blooded, committed - if not overly aggressive - warrior.
Stuart Fielden
Born in Halifax, Stuart Fielden was snapped up by Bradford whilst playing for amateur side Illingworth ARLFC as a youngster. As a 19-year-old, Fielden made his debut for the Bulls and would go on to play 224 games for the West Yorkshire side over a period of eight years, scoring 43 tries.
In 2000, the 6 ft 3, 110kg prop was named Super League Young Player of the Year as he became increasingly influential for a Bradford side that would scoop up major honours in the next few years. Indeed, Fielden was at the heart of the Bulls' Challenge Cup success in 2000 as well as their 2001, 2003 and 2005 Grand Final victories and World Club Challenge triumphs in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
During the 2006 season, Fielden made a shock switch to relegation-troubled Wigan to join his former coach Brian Noble for a gargantuan £450,000 fee. The prop was instrumental in helping the Warriors avoid relegation in 2006 - though so was the lack of punishment for Wigan's salary cap breaches. Within a few years however, Wigan turned it around and by 2010, Fielden was a Grand Final winner once more.
In six years, Fielden scored nine tries in 139 appearances for the Warriors, but, plagued by injury, his appearances were limited in the last few years of his Wigan career.
As such, at the end of 2012, Fielden moved on to pastures new - Huddersfield. Yet Fielden lasted just a year into his two-year deal and was forced to retire midway through 2013 with injury - he played just nine times for the Giants.
Fielden was also integral to the Great Britain side of the early to mid-2000s. He played 25 times for the Lions, scoring two tries and, in the process, built a reputation for himself as a hard-hitting, powerful forward, undaunted on the international stage.
Jamie Peacock
Jamie Peacock began his illustrious career at Bradford - despite being born in Leeds - and debuted for the club in 1999 aged 21.
From 1999 to 2005, the 6 ft 5 mountain scored 42 tries in 207 appearances for the Bulls and is widely credited as one of the leading figures in the Bulls' success in the modern era. Peacock won everything possible with Bradford: two Challenge Cups, three Grand Finals and three World Club Challenges. But, individually Peacock also obtained the highest recognition within the game, winning the Man of Steel in 2003 after Bradford had won the domestic treble.
Peacock joined the club he supported as a boy - Leeds - in 2006 and repeated his success at his new club. Whilst with the Rhinos, Peacock won six Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges and, by 2012, his contribution to the sport had received national attention - he was awarded an MBE that year.
After winning the treble with Leeds in 2015, the formidable forward retired to join Hull KR as Football Manager. Yet, with the Robins heading towards relegation, Peacock brought out his boots once more, playing four times - although he failed to stop KR avoiding the drop. It was testament to the dedication of the man that he was determined to do all he could to stop KR's relegation. Peacock finally retired - for good - at the end of 2016, aged 38.
Peacock was also a star on the international scene. For England, he played 21 times and scored eight tries; for Great Britain, Peacock played 26 games and scored four tries. A humble gentleman off the field, but an absolute machine on it, Peacock will go down in history as one of the greatest prop forwards to have ever played Rugby League.
James Graham
James Graham signed with St Helens as a junior in 2000 and progressed through the academy side; in 2003 he was given his debut. Graham formed part of the team that won the Challenge Cup three years in a row (2006, '07 and '08) as well as one Grand Final and one World Club Challenge.
When Graham departed Saints for NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs at the end of 2011, the ginger-haired powerhouse had racked up an impressive 225 appearances and 53 tries. Graham's performances for St Helens had also received adulation from his peers - he won the Man of Steel in 2008. For eight years, Graham battered opponents and ran his blood to water for the club he had supported as a child.
Up until now, Graham has 39 caps for England under his belt - as well as five for Great Britain - and has been widely touted as England's next captain after being given the role several times in the past.
For both club and country, Graham epitomises what a Rugby League player should be about: he never gives up on the field and drives the standards of his teammates around him. Still only aged 32, Graham still has a great few years ahead of him in the NRL and playing for his country.
Paul Anderson
Paul "Baloo" Anderson began his Rugby League career with Halifax and then moved to Leeds before settling at Bradford in 1997. Whilst at the Bulls, Anderson made 175 appearances and scored 35 tries over the course of eight years. The 6 ft 1, 135kg man-mountain proved key to Bradford's success in the early noughties: he won two Grand Finals, two World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups before leaving for St Helens at the end of 2004.
At St Helens, Anderson thrived once more, notching up 62 appearances for the Lancashire club and famously kicked one touchline conversion in his last ever game of Rugby League at the end of the 2006. In that very year, Anderson was part of the Saints squad that won the domestic treble.
It was at Bradford where Anderson was called up to both the England and Great Britain sides - he would earn four caps for England and ten for the latter. As a player, Anderson cut a hugely intimidating figure; bald, over 21 stone and with an aggressive demeanour, the prop forward was one of the most fearsome to ever play in his position in Super League.
At the end of 2012, Anderson was named as Huddersfield Giants boss and is now an assistant to head coach Wayne Bennett in the England setup.
