The two most important positions on the field are widely considered to be the five-eighth and the halfback — every rugby league side's two floor generals.
Having an elite 6 and 7 duo can be the difference between a finals berth and a wooden spoon, and while some squads will be staring down the barrel of the latter, there are a few NRL teams who will benefit greatly from their own elite halves pairing.
These are the best of the best halves duos in the NRL heading into 2026, whether it be due to years of chemistry, championship pedigree, or simply just undeniable talent.
2. Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters)
The biggest wildcard of all the halves pairings in 2026 (alongside the dysfunctional love triangle of Lachlan Galvin, Matt Burton, and Mitchell Woods at the Bulldogs), is the Sydney Roosters new duo.
Sam Walker is the future of the Roosters, no doubt, but it's his new partner in crime, Daly Cherry-Evans, who will decide whether this duo will work.
For the first time in his NRL career, ‘DCE' will be asked to take a backseat to another halfback, a role the veteran believes he's up to fulfilling.
If Cherry-Evans can bounce back from a poor 2025 campaign and stick to his game-managing best, we may just see the best of Walker's game to light.
