The top TEN fullbacks from 2026

The quality of fullbacks in the NRL has never been higher. Right now we are in a special age as fullbacks are routinely worth every cent of their million dollar a year contracts. Post finals is always a time to look back on the year that was. Each year we present our positional rankings. Here are the top 10 NRL fullbacks from season 2026: Tom Trbojevic If Tom Trbojevic had played more games, he would be much higher on this list. He was on track for something special but unfortunately injuries have caught up with him. In 14 games this year for Manly, two of which ended very early, he produced eight tries, 14 try assists, 11 line breaks, 46 tackle breaks and averaged 166 run metres per game. Manly were a completely different side when their ace fullback was on board. Without those early exits, he would have averaged 200 metres per game. Reece Walsh The Broncos superstar was, by far, the most difficult to rank here. Originally I had him as an honourable mention but re-watching highlights shows his highs were so high he was impossible to ignore. His 16 games saw him score six tries, lay on 11 try assists, break 82 tackles, make six line-breaks and run for just under 130 metres per game. He undoubtedly had a "down" year, but it's near impossible for a player to reach the heights he did in 2025 and produce a year similar straight after. He was absolutely blistering for the Kangaroos in the World Cup opener. Taine Tuaupiki One of the competition's most under-appreciated players, Taine Tuaupiki turned in a brilliant year-long stint for the Warriors and was a big reason they finished so high. 22 games, including 20 as the starting fullback, saw him cross for seven tries, assisted five, broke a ridiculous 124 tackles, made 17 line-breaks and averaged over 170 run metres per game. I was shocked to hear him linked with a move to the Super League. The Warriors are building something special and Tuaupiki was central to a lot of what was good for them in 2026. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's 2026 can be summed up via a word I don't usually use here; Phwoar! The human highlight reel continued to deliver, in a big way in helping to take his side to a Preliminary Final. 21 games for the Dolphins lead to 14 tries, 12 try assists, 12 line-breaks, 89 tackle breaks and just under 180 run metres per game. The Hammer was also very good for Queensland, again, and very classy in Samoa's World Cup opener. The feeling is he's about to cap off a wonderful season with something very special. William Kennedy Undoubtedly the most under appreciated player in the competition, some will scream Kennedy shouldn't be here, but truthfully he should probably be higher. 26 games for the veteran saw him score 11 tries, lay on 17 assists, make 12 line-breaks, break 69 tackles and run for just under 150 run metres per game. His efforts saw him win the Sharks Player of The Year award yet still, somehow, sees some Sharks fans insist he is the issue in the Shire. I think I've done him dirty here placing at sixth. Scott Drinkwaer I fully acknowledge that Scott Drinkwater can be either the best player on the field, or the worst, seemingly at random, but overall his 2026 produced more ups than downs. His 25 games for the Cowboys this year saw him cross for 10 tries, assist a ridiculous 25 tries, make nine line-breaks, break 89 tackles and run for over 145 metres per game. Without Drinkwater, the Cowboys don't even sniff Finals. I understand why they let him go but I have no earthly idea where they'll replace the massive strike-power he produces every year. Sualauvi Fa'alogo I legitimately mean this when I say, in other teams, Sua Fa'alogo could have been crowned fullback of the year, both at the Dally M's and here. He was brilliant. 24 games at fullback for the Storm saw him score 18 tries, lay on 15 try assists, make 23 line-breaks, break an eye watering 133 tackles and run for over 190 metres per game. He was the undoubted star of the show in Melbourne in 2026 and kicked off his involvement in the World Cup with a lazy four tries, six line-breaks and 253 run metre effort for Samoa ... from the bench. Kalyn Ponga If this were based purely on the back end of the season, Kalyn Ponga is in the top two here, and he isn't second. The way he dragged his Knights team to the Grand Final was all time. Ponga's 19 games for the Knights saw him score six times, lay on 14 try assists, make 15 line-breaks, break 99 tackles and run for an average of 171 metres per game. He was also brilliant for Queensland, an early dismissal in Game One aside, and looked set to deliver the Kiwis a massive first up win over the Kangaroos before his injury. There will be very real shouts by those in the comments that Ponga should have been number one here. I'll hear them. Dylan Edwards Honestly, if it has been Dylan Edwards with the Dally M medal around his neck other than teammate Nathan Cleary, I wouldn't have been shocked. He was that good in 2026. 23 games for the Panthers saw a return of 12 tries, 10 try assists, nine line-breaks, 117 tackle breaks and over 215 run metres on average per game. Edwards is the type of player where his quiet games see him run for 146 metres. Seriously, that was the lowest tally he recorded in 2026. He recorded over 200 metres on 13 occasions. No wonder the Panthers are so strong. Their fullback gets almost every set off to a positive start and routinely runs for 200 metres plus, allowing the forwards to smash opponents in defence while Cleary schemes. Honourable Mention: Kaeo Weekes I don't usually do honourable mentions for a 17 into 10 situation but the Raiders fullback was so close. I originally had him 10th but switched late. He was one Raider who can be very proud of his efforts in 2026. James Tedesco It's hard to go past the Clive Churchill Medalist for number one on this list. I know there will be calls for Dylan Edwards to sit atop here, but it simply has to be James Tedesco. 21 appearances for the Roosters saw a return of 12 tries, 16 assists, 16 line-breaks, 113 tackle breaks and over 200 run metres per game on average. Tedesco captained his side to a Premiership, winning the aforementioned Clive Churchill, whilst also seeing the NSW Blues to an Origin series victory. He almost literally could not have done any more in 2026.

		P	W	L	PTS	+/-
1	PEN	24	18	6	42	336
2	NZW	24	18	6	42	310
3	DOL	24	17	7	40	156
4	SYD	24	16	8	38	118
5	CRO	24	14	10	34	149
6	SOU	24	14	10	34	113
7	NEW	24	14	10	34	42
8	NQL	24	13	11	32	-84

The top TEN fullbacks from 2026

Number one is obvious, but who else makes the cut?

8. Taine Tuaupiki

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