The 2026 NRL season is just around the corner, and final preparations are well underway around the competition.
The first teams are not all that far away, but for most clubs, the all-important spine is all but locked away.
The fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker are the players who ultimately drive the team forward, set up the points and dictate the way footy is going to be played throughout the course of the season.
There are important positions all over the park, but no team have won a competition without a strong spine.
Here are the rankings ahead of the 2026 campaign.
1. Sydney Roosters
Likely first choice spine: James Tedesco, Sam Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans, Reece Robson
Other options: Rex Bassingthwaighte, Cody Ramsey, Hugo Savala, Toby Rodwell, Jake Elliott, Connor Watson, Benaiah Ioelu
The Roosters have the best spine in the NRL, and it's not really all that debatable.
James Tedesco was the game's best and most consistent player by a country mile in 2025.
Sam Walker, when he came back from injury, looked a million dollars and is now joined by one of the game's most experienced in Daly Cherry-Evans.
Reece Robson, who will start the year injured, is an Origin hooker and with good reason.
Hard to see the Roosters struggling to find points in 2026, particularly when you look at the quality of their depth.
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I would not put the Roosters above the Storm or the Panthers because DCE hasn’t played 6 for years. Maybe the Roosters think two half-backs will work (like it does at Cronulla) but until we have seen how they actually function working together as a pair, I wouldn’t be saying that they are the best in the game.