The outside backs have grown more and more important in recent years at both ends of the park.
Gone are the days where wingers in the NRL were simply there to finish plays, and long gone are the days when centres were seen as expendable.
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Instead, wingers are required to run the ball, get sets off to a good start, break tackles and be able to pass while having incredible finishing ability.
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Centres are also more important than ever, particularly in defence.
Here is every club's centres and wingers ranked.
8. Canterbury Bulldogs
Wingers: Marcelo Montoya and Jacob Kiraz
Centres: Stephen Crichton and Bronson Xerri
Other options: Enari Tuala, Jonathan Sua, Jethro Rinakama
The Bulldogs have some serious star power in their three-quarter line, but there are still issues.
Stephen Crichton is one of the best centres in the game, and knows how to do his job at both ends of the park.
If you were rating centre pairings alone, the Bulldogs would be close to the top, with Bronson Xerri also impressing since his return to the NRL.
Jacob Kiraz has been tremendous for the club in recent times and will again line up in 2026, while Marcelo Montoya has also been serviceable, but would like to find another level this year to hold off some of the younger threats for minutes around the club.
” there are issues that need to be addressed though, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak – not a star by any means, but important to the Warriors – to line up on the other side of the park ”
I’d quibble with your assessment of DWZ as “not a star”. I’d rate him better than plenty of the wingers in clubs that you’ve got higher on the table.