Ahh, the life of an NRL number nine.
Make your 50 tackles. Better not miss any. Tired marker? You better be running the ball!
Today we round out the end-of-year positional rankings by looking at the numbers nines.
As always, this is a list of based purely on 2025 performances and isn't just a blanket top ten list in the position.
Below are the top 10 hookers from the 2025 season:
Honourable Mention: Reece Robson
5. Billy Walters
The Broncos utility is another who is difficult to rank due to playing multiple roles throughout 2025.
That said, no matter what spot he was asked to fill, he was very good. I think his main role is in the nine role, where he produced his very best footy.
25 games for the Broncos saw him score seven tries, lay on eight try assists, run for 40 metres per game and tackle at almost 90%.
His stats will be skewed (both ways) due to playing in the halves, but his threat from dummy half is undeniable. Those two 40/20's he also kicked were genuine game changers.
I’d drop Starling below Api and Walters; in fact I think I’d have Api at #3 in the rankings. It’s hard to look good in a team that isn’t going well, but he managed it.
Nah, I think Starling has been better than Walters.