We all know the rugby league props are an interesting breed. Many are gentle giants who wouldn't hurt a fairy off the field but cross that line while some are just completely nuts, maybe the two go hand in hand? The personality of NRL props varies with each person, but we're seeing that the modern NRL prop has to do so much more than simply hit it up the guts.

Hitting it up the guts is still very much the mission objective though. You simply can't be an NRL prop without making metres and if you're not making metres while your opponents are making major dents in your defensive line, your team will loose. It's interesting though as hitting it up the guts doesn't mean NRL props have to fit a specific body type. Someone like David Klemmer for the Bulldogs has the size to allow him to make metres with every carry, but you can rely on the much smaller Sam Moa or Jacob Lillyman to make plenty of metres as well. 

Whether you're a giant or a slightly more human size, if you're not making metres with your carries you won't last too long in the NRL. It's a staple, but there's so much more to being an NRL prop that has crept in to their core roles. Look at James Graham, we all know what he offers as a prop, he's basically a huge halfback who can land passes in the bread basket as well as picking the right pass at the perfect moment. The other aspect of this is the decoy runner.

If I were an NRL prop I'd be perfecting the art of the decoy run, mainly because I'm a little bitch but it's a pretty handy skill to have. Not every team has a James Graham who can get in at first receiver and run through a range of options like an NFL quarterback and then execute. Most teams still have a halfback at first receiver, but he'll be picking the ball up behind a prop - the prop will act like he's going to be getting a flat pass but instead it goes out the back to the half who is importantly standing on the outside of the prop. Many, many NRL props will do a terrible job of this decoy run as they'll jog with their hands no where near looking ready to get a pass. They know they're not getting the ball and so do defences. 

A solid decoy run can give your half that extra bit of time but also gives you extra numbers out wider as the defenders close in on the big bopper who looks likely to get a pass. If you can make a few metres with your carries and run an excellent decoy, you might get a look in as an NRL prop. You might, but you won't be any where the upper echelon of NRL props because they have simply gone to another level.

I don't think it's anything new as I'm sure that the props of 30 years ago had excellent footwork, but what sets the likes of Jesse Bromwich on a perch overlooking the pantheon of NRL battlers is the ability to make defenders miss. I mean look at Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, he'll make you miss but there's a bunch of NRL props, led by Bromwich who are excellent at putting in some late footwork at the line to get in between defenders.

Getting in between defenders has many benefits, with one of them being a quick play the ball. Now you don't necessarily need late footwork to get a quick play the ball, which is where someone like Tim Mannah shines because he has this freakish ability to land on his belly. That's a completely different aspect of NRL props as anyone who can run at three guys and land on his belly, allowing him to quickly get to his feet and play the ball, deserves some props.

I digress, I just like writing 'belly'.

Bromwich is one of the best props in the world because he has a variety of tools to choose from when approaching the line. His late footwork means that defenders are left scrambling which usually results in a legs tackle ... quick play the ball. Bromwich has taken this to a different level though with his ability to off load, which comes from getting in between defenders. He'll usually look to off load in that moment where before he goes to ground, a moment earned thanks to his footwork. He's also capable of serving up a crisp pass to someone outside him before the line, which should never be over looked as many big boys fail to simply pass the ball in to the bread basket.

James Graham and Jesse Bromwich are the blueprints for the modern NRL prop, but they're slightly different blueprints. They have shined in the past few years as more responsibility falls upon the shoulders of props as they aren't expected to just hit it up the guts. Last season we saw that NRL props are asked to do a bit of ball playing and run tough decoy lines perfectly, what will the 2015 season bring?

It's going to be interesting to see how the role of the NRL prop slightly changes this season as teams will have done plenty of research, while the innovative teams will be looking for new ways for their props to impact the game. Graham and Bromwich are the top dogs, but we could see someone shine in a fresh scheme or style of play. For me, that's the modern NRL prop as they have to keep slightly altering the way they go about the business. The NRL's never stagnant and neither is the role of the NRL prop.