How often do we hear it? Halves can't play behind beaten forward packs!
NRL middles are perhaps the most under appreciated sportspeople on the planet.
They do all the hard work. They take that first hit up in the big games. They get smashed. They make a mountain of tackles.
Today we are here to talk about the best of the big men.
If you're looking for Pat Carrigan, he will be in the locks. Played 13 games at lock, 12 at prop. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui also played more at lock than at prop.
Mitch Barnett, unfortunately, won't feature due to only playing 11 games, but he was well on track to place very highly.
As always, this list is purely based on 2025 performance rather than being a flat Top Ten list.
With that said, below are the Top Ten props from the 2025 season:
Honourable Mentions: James Fisher-Harris and Fonua Pole
2. Addin Fonua-Blake
Addin Fonua-Blake arrived in the Shire under immense pressure. He was seen as the difference maker. A pack leader the Sharks had lacked for many years.
I honestly don't know what else the Tongan superstar could have done. He was everything Cronulla fans hoped for, and then some.
In 27 games, he scored six tries, broke 74 tackles, produced 17 offloads, made a remarkable 1,930 post-contact metres, averaged 160 metres per game, and tackled at a 96% success rate.
His efforts saw him named in the Dally M Team of the Year and also take home the Sharks player of the year. The way he lifted those around him was worth every cent of his massive contract.
There are no bums in that crowd, Dan.
For me, Lindsay Smith is the “Mr. Unappreciated” of the NRL.
He has stepped up as the replacement for James Fisher-Harris (who had a quiet season at the Warriors – maybe weighed down by all that coin in his pockets).
The fact that the Panthers middle didn’t seem to miss JFH says a lot about the effectiveness of Smith, last season.