The top ten second-rowers of 2025

NRL second rowers don't receive anywhere near the accolades they deserve. Their role dictates they're not going to record the massive run metres of their middle forward counterparts. They don't have the line-breaks of the centres, or the attacking stats of the halves they spend their time protecting. We are here today to celebrate and rank the best in the second row position. The class on show across the competition really is emphasised by the names who do not make this list. Sharks and international second rower Briton Nikora wasn't even shortlisted. Injury robbed us of a Haumole Olakau'atu entry. As per the other lists, this is based purely on 2025 performance. It isn't just a blanket best second rower in the competition list. With that said, below are the top ten second rowers from the 2025 season: Honourable Mentions: Zac Hosking & Kulikefu Finefeuiaki Jaydn Su'A Very few Dragons fans can look at their 2025 efforts and truly be happy. Jaydn Su'A is very much one of those few! An 80-minute player, almost every week, the Dragons and Samoan second rower did literally everything within his power for the Red V this year. Across his 18 tries he scored four tries, produced 35 offloads, ran for 124 metres per game and tackled at over 92%. Su'A is the kind of player and person the Dragons need to rebuild around. Leka Halasima The sentimental favourite to win Dally M Rookie of the Year honours, wrecking ball Leka Halasima had an all time debut season in 2025. His Golden Point winning try against Newcastle will be replayed on highlights packages for his entire career. It's a play a rookie just shouldn't be able to be making. His 25 appearances saw a return of a ridiculous 13 tries, seven line-breaks, 87 run metres per game and a tackle percentage of almost 94%. Halasima started most games but shifted to the bench, and even centre, showing his versality. He'll be the first second-rower picked for many years to come. Jordan Riki It's no coincidence that Jordan Riki had a career-best year in 2025, the same year that the Broncos lifted the Premiership trophy. Also vice versa. The Broncos needed to get the best out of their second rowers this season and Riki delivered on the biggest stages. Twenty-four games saw him cross for two tries, make six line-breaks, average over 105 metres per game and tackle at almost 93%. Heading into the season the one the Broncos looked a little below par was out wide in the forwards. Riki seemed to take that personally and produced in a big way. Beau Fermor The Titans were expected to have a dominant force in their second row. A QLD Origin representative. They thought it would be David Fifita but instead it was Beau Fermor. Fermor was a regular standout despite the Titans well below par season. He ran out 24 times for a return of 10 tries, six line-breaks, over 125 run metres per game and tackle percentage of over 93%. Fermor was made an unfair scapegoat after Origin One for QLD, but didn't let it affect his club form. A brilliant season. Jack Williams You could place Jack Williams on either this list or in the middle positions as he seemed to shift a lot. That said, we'll go second row as his best games were played there. Arriving from the Sharks as a bench specialist, Williams became one of the Eels stars in 2025. He delivered on even the highest of expectations. 21 games for the Eels saw him score twice, break 47 tackles, record over 1000 post contact metres, average 130 run metres and tackle at 93%. He even threw in a lazy seven line-breaks capping off a wow of a season for the Eels. They landed a good one. Angus Crichton Angus Crichton topped off yet another brilliant season by being one of the Kangaroos' best across their series win over England. For the Roosters, he was again massive. We just expect Crichton to be amongst the best each and every season, and he delivered in 2025. Twenty-one games for the tri-colours lead to five tries, 36 offloads, 120 run metres per game and 92% of his tackles made. Crichton is now an automatic selection at all levels of the game. Jacob Preston Out of all the Kangaroos who travelled and were not picked to play, I thought Jacob Preston was the most unlucky to miss out. For mine, he was the form Australian right-edge back rower of the competition. 22 games for the Bulldogs this year lead to 12 tries, 11 line-breaks, 103 run metres per game and a tackle percentage of 96%. He was brilliant all season, even during the Dogs down times. He has plenty of rep footy in his near future based in his 2025 efforts. Viliame Kikau The Bulldogs are oh so blessed with second row talent with Viliame Kikau joining teammate Jacob Preston as one of 2025's elite performers. Kikau was absolutely devastating all season. He was one of very few who didn't really feel the pinch of the infamous Dogs form drop. His 22 games saw him cross for six tries, make five-breaks, assist nine line-breaks, produce 61 offloads, run for over 100 metres per game and tackle at just shy of 90%. It was a shame Kikau could not represent Fiji in the Pacific Championships as he is one of the game's biggest stars. Hudson Young The best compliment I can give re Hudson Young's 2025's season was that it was his career best year. Considering how highly he has competed at across his career, that is saying something! His 22 games lead to 11 tries, nine line-breaks, three line-break assists, 40 offloads, just under 150 run metres per game and a tackle percentage of over 90%. Young was a monster part of the Raiders run to the Minor Premiership. He earned his Kangaroos jersey and delivered for his country. Out of position no less. Eliesa Katoa Our thoughts are with Eliesa Katoa after his horror injury playing for Tonga. Katoa was head and shoulders above the rest of the competition when it came to second row performances in 2025. 26 games saw a return of 14 tries, eight line-breaks, eight line-break assists, 44 offloads, 143 run metres per game and tackling at almost 92%. Katoa was a threat out wide that few could match. Aerially he is top two in the position, at worst, while no one second rower can change a game as quickly.