The engine room is the heart and soul of every rugby league team, and no team has ever won a competition with a poor forward pack.

It's really quite as simple as that.

SEE ALSO: Every NRL club's spine ranked for 2026

The spine might get all the credit, and the outside backs provide all the flash, but they might as well all stay in the dressing room.

RELATED: Every NRL club's outside backs ranked for 2026

For the purposes of this exercise, and given hookers were included in the spine, we will be looking at the prop, lock and second-row positions to determine which NRL side has the best forward pack.

Here are the rankings for the 2026 campaign.

8. Parramatta Eels

Likely first-choice: J'maine Hopgood, Junior Paulo, Jack de Belin, Jack Williams, Kitione Kautoga

The Eels somewhat unheralded forward pack really impressed throughout 2025, to the extent their ranking takes a big step forward for 2026.

Most critically, Junior Paulo returned to his best form in leading the engine room.

That will need to continue in 2026, with J'maine Hopgood needing to also impress, while the experience of Jack de Belin arrives from the Dragons where he was one of the club's best in 2025.

On the edge, Jack Williams has been outstanding since his arrival from the Parramatta Eels, while Kitione Kautoga has stamped his authority on a jersey.

There is plenty of talent on the outside of the 13 too, so the Eels look to have depth in key roles.

This is a pack who can fire Parramatta into the finals if Mitchell Moses stays fit at halfback.

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