A throwaway line on social media by one of our own here at Zero Tackle kick-started a heated debate prior to the kick-off for Round 6.
The debate? Over the best forward pack in the NRL.
Some good arguments were made, for multiple engine rooms. This makes absolute sense as there are currently some magnificient packs in the game.
Most arguments seemed to zero in on which pack makes the NRL's top five. There seemed to be a few agreements but a severe lack of a definitive top three, or even five.
I'll go on record in naming the packs I believe are currently the NRL's best.
For the purpose of this, we'll be dealing with each club's (perceived) full-strength 8-13 and bench forwards. Of course, these rankings are completely objective and here to be debated.
Let us know who you believe are the top five packs in the game:
Honourable Mentions:
- North Queensland Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson are all elite-level players. They just don't have the quality off the bench to make the list.
- Wests Tigers: On paper a top five pack but have not played up to their potential. Pre-season they probably make the cut.
- South Sydney Rabbitohs: The sixth best pack in the game. Missed out by the slimmest of margins. Would be happy to concede they probably should have made the list.
1. Sydney Roosters
Pack: 8. Matt Lodge 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 16. Egan Butcher 17. Terrell May
The pack that started it all. Our own Scott Pryde said that "At full strength, the Roosters might have the NRL's best pack". This kicked-started plenty of discussion.
Crichton, Tupouniua & Lodge all expected back for the Roosters in the next few weeks.
At full strength, the Roosters might have the NRL's best pack
8. Lodge
9. Smith
10. Collins
11. Crichton
12. Tupouniua
13. Radley
14. Hutchison/Turpin
15. JWH
16. E. Butcher
17. N. Butcher— Scott Pryde (@sk_pryde) April 6, 2023
I tried to find a stronger pack, initially landing on the Eels but with Crichton, Watson, Lodge and Tupouniua still to return, the tri-colours reign supreme.
I don't evn have Sitili Tupouniua in the strongest 17. He could easily replace May on the bench but for mine Nat Butcher is impossible to leave out of the starting side.
Lodge and JWH can swap spots here, I just like the menace off the bench. His injection absolutely changed the game with Souths.
Lodge/JWH and Lindsay Collins are elite middles. Brandon Smith is quickly returning to form. I believe he'd be even better with Watson coming off the bench and splitting minutes.
Nat Butcher should play Origin this season. We all know what Angus Crichton is capable of. He's set to return in the next month, so watch out.
Victor Radley is a top quality number 13. He can change the game with a run, a pass or a hit in defense. That is exactly what you want in your lock.
With Watson, JWH, Egan Butcher and Tyrell May/Sitili Tupouniua coming off the bench, no other forward pack can produce what this side can.
Interesting views, Dan.
I’m surprised that you give an honourable mention to the Wests pack. I think that the Dolphins – both on paper and on the field – are more impressive.
Lovely to see your enthusiasm for Ray Faitala-Mariner. He’s a great clubman and solid forward, but he is just 10 weeks short of turning 30, and I find it hard to agree that his “potential is almost unlimited” :=)