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.

12. Manly Sea Eagles

Likely first-choice: Taniela Paseka, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Jake Trbojevic, Haumole Olakau'atu, Ben Trbojevic

The Sea Eagles have surprisingly kept Jake Trbojevic at lock to start the new season, allowing Taniela Paseka and Siosiua Taukeiaho to start at prop.

Trbojevic, in the modern game, is a prop. Kobe Hetherington's arrival at the club was likely to facilitate that, but it hasn't happened.

Paseka, coming off an injury, and Taukeiaho, at the back-end of his career, have big points to prove, while Trbojevic also must step up.

Ben Trbojevic is another who will be hoping for a clear run away from the casualty ward, while the redeeming feature of this pack is the outstanding play of Haumole Olakau'atu, who is one of the most damaging edge forwards in the game.

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