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.
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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.
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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.
16. Gold Coast Titans
Likely first choice spine: Keano Kini, AJ Brimson, Jayden Campbell, Sam Verrills
Other options: Jaylan de Groot, Zane Harrison, Lachlan Ilias, Luke Sommerton, Oliver Pascoe
It feels somewhat harsh to suggest a spine with one of the brightest young talents in the game and an ex-Origin representative in it sits second last, but that's exactly where the Titans find themselves heading into 2026.
It should really be noted this may not be the case by the end of the year.
Keano Kini has plenty of talent, Jayden Campbell is developing into a halfback, and maybe this will be the year AJ Brimson works at five-eighth. Sam Verrills is solid too.
There is a lack of depth and continuity there though. Josh Hannay will have his work cut out for him.
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.