George Flanagan Jr on family, loyalty and belief in Huddersfield Giants' future
In an era where wrestle and completion rates have ruled, creative talent has been worth its weight in gold.
Mikey Lewis, who has been involved in more tries than any other player in Super League in recent seasons, guided Hull KR to the treble last year.
Jake Connor claimed the mantle from Lewis as Man of Steel after steering Leeds Rhinos to their best finish in eight years.
At Huddersfield Giants, meanwhile, George Flanagan Jr is carving out a reputation as one of the brightest talents in the English game.
The full-back went into the 2025 season as a rookie and ended it as a Young Player of the Year nominee after catching the eye with 10 tries in 25 matches for the struggling Giants.
Flanagan earned a new deal just four games into his Super League career and is now contracted to Huddersfield until the end of 2029 following last week's latest show of commitment.
From the outside, there was a sense that he would soon be fielding interest from clubs higher up the table.
But loyalty – and a belief in Huddersfield's direction – still counts for something.
"Huddersfield have done a lot for me," said Flanagan. "They put their faith in me to play Super League so it was a pretty easy decision.
"I'm really enjoying my time here and have got a lot of mates at the club. You play your best rugby when you're happy – and I'm definitely happy here.
"There were other people talking but my heart was set on staying here at Huddersfield. I had a chat with Robbo (Luke Robinson, Giants head coach) and the other backroom staff and the vision of the club is probably the best it's been for years.
"I just want to repay the club by playing some good rugby."
Recent seasons may have been defined by control and attrition but the balance of power is about to shift.
With a renewed emphasis on policing the ruck and speeding up the game, Super League appears to be moving towards a style that plays directly to Flanagan's strengths – and in turn increases his value.
But while his attacking game is flourishing, he knows the other side must catch up if he is to offer Huddersfield the full package.
"Me and Robbo feel my attack will take care of itself but as he's said, the defensive side is the big thing for me," acknowledged Flanagan. "I just want to get that right.
"I've never been a great defender and have always struggled with it. But it's something I work on every day and I feel like I'm getting better.
"I've been trying to get more physical and put more weight on. This year is probably the heaviest and strongest I've ever been. I feel good for it.
"I loved last year. I didn't want it to ever end and just wanted to keep playing.
"It was a really good year for me personally but not so much for the team or the club because we could have won more games. I'm looking forward to kicking on this year."
A self-proclaimed rugby league nerd, Flanagan is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to reach the next level.
He had a head start coming through thanks to the influence of his dad, George Flanagan Sr who is currently playing for Keighley Cougars after spells with Hunslet and Bradford Bulls.
"I love the game and am passionate about the sport," said Flanagan Jr. "I'm just striving to get better every day.
"I went to training sessions with my dad and have been watching him since I was a young kid.
"I knew what to expect when I first walked into a dressing room because I'd already experienced it with my dad, who was probably the biggest character in there. It made it easier for me to come into those environments as a player."
There is a legendary tale of David Batty's father offering a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down after every performance.
While Flanagan Sr isn't quite as forthright, his view carries the same weight.
"He's my biggest mentor and biggest critic," added Flanagan Jr.
"My family always joke that when he watches me, he sits on his own away from everyone else. When I go over at the end, he's either got a smile on his face or doesn't look so happy.
"We always talk about where I could be better after every game. He does praise me but doesn't go overboard because he just wants me to be better.
"It's always in my best interests and I'll be better for it. Hopefully he praises me a bit more this year."
Family has always been at the heart of Flanagan’s journey – and they will continue to drive him as he looks to inspire a turnaround at the Accu Stadium.
"My family are the most important thing to me," he said. "Every time I go out and play, I'm representing them.
"I've got such a huge family who come and support me. All I want to do is make them proud.
"This team is capable of doing good things this year. I'm not saying we're going to be flying high and winning every game but we're a tight group and know what we're capable of inside our four walls."