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.

9. Gold Coast Titans

Likely first-choice: Moeaki Fotuaika, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Chris Randall, Beau Fermor, Arama Hau

The Titans forward pack looks very solid on paper, but will need to step up in 2026 if Josh Hannay is to have his side climb the ladder.

Moeaki Fotuaika, a prop who plays big minutes and adds big production, will be joined in the middle by re-signed club captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.

It's an elite prop combination.

Beau Fermor is also an outstanding second-rower on the cusp of State of Origin selection.

The questions do start after that though. Arama Hau has won the race for David Fifita's vacant jersey, while Chris Randall, ever solid but without flash, moves back to lock. Whether he has the ball-playing to compete with the best locks remains to be seen.

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