Who will kick goals for every NRL team in 2026?

The 2026 NRL season is fast approaching, and one of the key questions for coaches, fans and fantasy players alike is who will goal kick for each team. In the real world, quality goal kicking can be the difference between winning and losing. It's not all that far from the truth in fantasy footy either, with goal kicking one of the most important jobs in the game. There are plenty of clubs with locked in goal kickers, but equally, a number with question marks over who will kick. Here is the rundown of the situation at every club. Brisbane Broncos: Adam Reynolds Reynolds will again lead the way with the boot for the Broncos, but his fitness remains a substantial question. At his age, and given recent seasons, it would be a surprise to see him get through every game. Reece Walsh is the most obvious back-up option at the Broncos, and has handled goal-kicking in recent times when Reynolds hasn't been available. Walsh kicked 34 goals in 2025. Should it get beyond that, Kotoni Staggs is likely the third preference for Kevin Walters, although didn't put the kicking boots on at any point in 2025. That said, he has 74 NRL goals to his name. Ben Hunt, who has kicked 31 career goals dating back to his first efforts in 2014, would be the likely last resort option for Brisbane. Canberra Raiders: Ethan Sanders The Raiders are one of the most up in the air clubs when it comes to goal kicking in 2026. Jamal Fogarty was the man in 2025, but he will wear the Manly Sea Eagles' jersey in the new year. It means Ethan Sanders - who is his most likely replacement - could well take the goal-kicking reins, albeit with one major caveat. Will he actually be playing? Coby Black has been signed by the club and could yet take the number seven jumper if not in Round 1, then at some point during the year. That could mean Ethan Strange or Kaeo Weekes wind up kicking goals, but for now, we will say Sanders has first shot at it. Canterbury Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton It's a two-way shootout at the Bulldogs to kick goals, with Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton the two in contention. Crichton kicked more than Burton in 2025, and seemed to be the first-choice option more often than he wasn't. He was also accurate enough that it'd be tough to change that status, so Crichton should kick, but it's not a bad problem to have two decent options. Cronulla Sharks: Nicho Hynes A fairly straightforward decision at the Sharks. Nicho Hynes has been the main man from the kicking tee ever since he arrived from the Melbourne Storm, and there is no reason to suggest that's about to change. Hynes needs to improve his own game, but his goal kicking has never been a major issue. Braydon Trindall was the main back-up option in recent seasons, and has kicked at least two goals in every year of his career to date. Gold Coast Titans: Jayden Campbell Jayden Campbell will continue to kick goals at the Gold Coast Titans. Despite playing in a team who finished at the bottom of the table in 2025, the spine star - who has transitioned into a halfback in recent times - kicked 65 goals during 2025, which was the seventh most in the NRL. Tom Weaver was the back-up in 2025, but is no longer with the club. It's a little unclear who the back-up will be in 2026 given Brian Kelly has also departed. Lachlan Ilias, who arrives from the Dragons but is unlikely to feature, has some experience from the kicking tee. Manly Sea Eagles: Jamal Fogarty We are calling a change from the kicking tee at the Manly Sea Eagles. Jamal Fogarty arrives, and has signed on for the next four years, while incumbent kicker Reuben Garrick has already agreed to join the Sydney Roosters from the start of 2027. For that reason, as well as the fact Fogarty has had more success slotting them between the posts in recent seasons, we expect the halfback to become the first choice for coach Anthony Seibold on the Northern Beaches. A good problem to have though with two quality options. Melbourne Storm: Nick Meaney The Storm had four different players kick goals in 2025. The most of those went to Ryan Papenhuyzen, who took over from original kicker Nick Meaney when he was injured. Meaney didn't get the role back immediately upon his return, but eventually did, and with Papenhuyzen now departed from Melbourne, Meaney should be the easy option in what is his final year with the club. Jonah Pezet also kicked in 2025, but has left, while Tyran Wishart had a game in front of the posts too. Cameron Munster is the other option, although hasn't kicked a goal in the last two seasons. This could all wind up a disregarded opinion though if Zac Lomax signs with the club. Newcastle Knights: Kalyn Ponga The Knights have more options than most when it comes to lining them up off the kicking tee in 2026. Kalyn Ponga is the likely first choice, but his injuries in 2025 meant he actually kicked less than Dane Gagai. Both players are suitable options, but Sandon Smith will also put his hand up after kicking 56 goals at the Roosters in 2025. What position he plays might be up in the air, but he adds another option off the tee. The only other player who kicked for the Knights in 2025 was Jack Cogger, but he has now left the club to return to the Penrith Panthers for a second stint. New Zealand Warriors: Luke Metcalf (Tanah Boyd) Luke Metcalf will again be the first-choice kicker for the Warriors, but exactly what happens during the early part of the season is up in the air. The star halfback is due to miss at least the first six weeks of the campaign as he recovers from an ACL injury. What is likely is that Tanah Boyd will take over again, as he did at the back-end of 2025 when he kicked 29 goals. Adam Pompey also had goals to his name in 2026, but could well miss out on the 17. North Queensland Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater Scott Drinkwater will again lead the way off the kicking tee for the Cowboys in 2026, having slotted 70 goals in 2025 to sit sixth in the NRL. While there is no question around who will do the bulk of the work, there is beyond that. If Jake Clifford is picked at halfback - and that's no guarantee - one would expect him to be the first back-up. Zac Laybutt, who will likely start in the centres, is the other option for Todd Payten's side. Parramatta Eels: Mitchell Moses There was a big question mark for the Eels in this department in 2025, but following Zac Lomax's departure from the club, that isn't the case anymore. Mitchell Moses, who only kicked a couple of goals in 2025 but has been the club's long-term option prior to Lomax signing, will take back over lead duties. Jonah Pezet, who kicked a few for Melbourne in 2025, likely becomes the first back-up option, while Sean Russell also kicked at timesin 2025 and provides further depth. Penrith Panthers: Nathan Cleary Nathan Cleary will kick for the Panthers heading into 2026 after a 2025 campaign which saw him slot 79 through the sticks in 22 games, sitting fifth in the NRL. There are solid back-up options at Penrith. Paul Alamoti, who kicked 15 goals in 2025 and should start on the wing in 2026, is the first of those, while fullback Dylan Edwards has also previously handled himself well from the kicking tee. South Sydney Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell Maybe it's not a surprise given the Rabbitohs' enormous injury toll in 2025, but they had four different kickers, and none kicked all that much. One would expect Latrell Mitchell to again be the main man from the tee though as we head into 2026. He has been the first-choice in recent seasons, and should take the responsibility ahead of halfback Jamie Humphreys, who will serve as the main back-up option. Youngsters Ashton Ward and Bayleigh Bentley-Hape also kicked in 2025, while Isaiah Tass is likely to start outside the 17, but has proven his kicking pedigree previously. St George Illawarra Dragons: Valentine Holmes Holmes managed to slot 45 goals before being injured in 2025, and will again take the tee for the Dragons in 2026. Where it's likely there will be a change though is in the back-up option. While Kyle Flanagan did a strong job in 2026, and should hang onto a starting spot in the side, the arrival of Daniel Atkinson from the Cronulla Sharks who will become the Red V's new halfback, means he should become the first option if Holmes does suffer an injury or have other issues. Sydney Roosters: Sam Walker Sam Walker is the easy option for the Roosters. He spent most of 2025 injured, but managed to kick 39 goals in just 9 games. A strong conversion rate means there is no doubt. Sandon Smith's departure to the Newcastle Knights also removes depth in the kicking department for the Roosters though. Hugo Savala was the only other player to kick for the Roosters in 2026, but at best will probably only have a bench role in 2025. That said, if Walker does get injured, Savala likely comes straight into the side. Daly Cherry-Evans, who arrives from Manly, can also kick if need be. The Dolphins: Jamayne Isaako Jamayne Isaako was the runaway leader of the kicking stats in 2025, slotting 117 goals throughout the course of the year. Played every game for the club once again, and his consistency in recent years leaves little doubt that he could do the same again. His consistency though does mean the Dolphins have never had to call on a back-up - in fact, the only other player to kick one in 2025 was Mark Nicholls on the final day of his career. Isaiya Katoa, Jake Averillo and Kodi Nikorima are the three in contention to back Isaako up. Wests Tigers: Adam Doueihi Adam Douiehi will again take the kicking boots for the Tigers in 2025, with the injury-prone utility likely to wear the number seven jumper on a full-time basis for the joint-venture outfit. Apisai Koroisau is the most likely option to back him up, and was the only other Tiger to register a two-pointer to his name in 2025. Jarome Luai kicked early in his career and could be considered in an emergency.