The top 50 NRL players of 2026: 40-31 (Part 2)

The 2026 NRL season has been run and won, with Zero Tackle's Top 50 countdown rolling in to part two, revealing players 40 through to 31.

While the only Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels player featured as part of yesterday's countdown, today features the only St George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans player, while the Dolphins, who are the most populated team in this year's countdown, get their first players.

Two Roosters grand final heroes get a run, and so do some outstanding young second-rowers, while only two players in last year's Top 50 actually feature.

Here is how the next installment of Zero Tackle's Top 50 for 2026 reads.

40. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters)

Last year's rank: No rank

Cherry-Evans was signed by the Roosters for one season, and one purpose. To win a premiership.

The veteran delivered. Out of position at five-eighth, but piloting the Roosters around, he was ultimately enormous when it mattered at the end of the season.

His kicking game directed the Roosters around the park, and he finished the campaign with seven tries, ten forced drop outs, fourteen try assists and 383 kicking metres per game.

He will be missed next year.

39. Jacob Preston (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Last year's rank: 38

Preston sits around the same spot for the second year in a row, albeit in a much worse Bulldogs team this time around which ultimately speaks volumes of his efforts.

Would probably be further up this list too if not for an injury that sidelined him for a chunk during the second half of the year - the same thing probably also cost him a Blues debut.

The second-rower finished the year with 7 tries and 14 line breaks in 20 games to go with 14 offloads and almost 100 metres per game, while he has established a reputation as one of the best defensive edge forwards in the competition.

38. Jack Bostock (The Dolphins)

Last year's rank: No rank

An excellent year for Jack Bostock, who makes this list for the first time on the back of form which saw him debut for the NSW Blues and Australian Kangaroos.

His height, speed and acceleration are all uncoachable attributes, and with his contract up at the end of 2027, he is about to become one of the game's highest-paid outside backs.

Didn't lose a game he played in until the end of the Dolphins season, but finished the campaign with half a dozen tries and another 11 try assists, adding 154 metres per game.

37. Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)

Last year's rank: No rank

The Roosters centre and now second-year Queensland player also debuts on this end of season list, having put together a fantastic campaign.

The criticism of Toia was his drop off after Origin in 2025, but that didn't happen in 2026, with Toia putting in strong performances right through to the grand final where he was pivotal in the Roosters getting over the Knights.

He finished the year with 15 tries and 13 try assists from 24 games, a staggering 113 tackle breaks and 111 metres per game.

36. Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)

Last year's rank: 8

Tapine, approaching the end of his career, takes a slide down this list in 2026, but that's not to say he had a poor season.

The New Zealand international prop and lock forward still played all 24 games, and led from the front for the Raiders with 137 metres per game.

He just couldn't inspire the green machine to magic when it mattered despite his 42 offloads and 56 tackle breaks, but will still be their most important forward next year - potentially even more so given other key departures around the club.

35. Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans)

Last year's rank: No rank

Phillip Sami was the best Titan by a long way this year - it's not a high bar to jump over, but his performances in the outside backs kept the Titans competitive when they had no right to be more than once.

Finished the year near the top of the charts for both run metres where he averaged 224 per game, and also had an enormous amount of post-contact yardage.

Made 88 tackle busts and scored 15 tries in 24 games, and is one of the more underrated signings anywhere near year as he prepares to join the St George Illawarra Dragons.

34. Jackson Ford (New Zealand Warriors)

Last year's rank: No rank

Ford would be much further up this list if not for an injury which ruined the second half of the season, but he still absolutely deserves his spot.

Was leading the Dally M prior to his injury, and still finished near enough to the top of that.

A standout performer, he played big minutes, and put out big production during those games, with the prop likely to be a permanent starter next year given the looming departure of Mitch Barnett.

33. Phoenix Crossland (Newcastle Knights)

Last year's rank: No rank

Crossland had a wonderful year for the Knights, stamping his authority over the club's number nine jumper.

He can still play other positions, but it's clear exactly how much the Knights missed him in and around the ruck when he was out suspended for the grand final.

The New Zealander played 25 games, made over 1000 tackles, and provided excellent service all year long.

32. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (The Dolphins)

Last year's rank: No rank

The Dolphins made it a priority to re-sign Finefeuiaki, and it's not hard to understand why.

The barnstorming second-rower always had the potential as he tracked through pathways at the Cowboys, and has realised it at the Dolphins.

Put together a bumper 2026 with 881 tackles and 149 metres per game, and will keep taking his game to another level next year.

His form early in the campaign was particularly impressive, to the point not making his Origin debut came as a monster shock.

NRL Rd 1 – Dolphins v Rabbitohs — SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 07: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki of the Dolphins looks on during the round one NRL match between the Dolphins and South Sydney Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium on March 07, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

31. Hamish Stewart (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Last year's rank: No rank

The Dragons have plenty of players to be excited about in the coming years, but Hamish Stewart is absolutely the leader of that charge.

The young back-rower, who started the year at lock but played more in the second-row by the time it was all said and done, was immense for the Dragons and gained a shock selection to the Dally M team of the year.

Led the competition for tackles with 996 at almost 95 per cent, and made 94 metres per game.

Do not be surprised if he is in contention for State of Origin next year, probably alongside a few of his teammates.