https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/fear-factor-rotation-attack-defence-every-nrl-forward-pack-ranked-from-best-to-worst-for-2026/news-story/83b1c716d11c6f385b3e0456f51abb25
They’re the engine room in all 17 NRL teams, but some forward packs reign supreme over others.
It could be new recruits, a methodology which has been developed over a club’s history, or the sheer fear a pack sparks into an opposition.
Tyson Jackson breaks down every pack based on fear factor, attack, defence and rotation to determine who the strongest forwards are heading into the 2026 NRL season.
9. PARRAMATTA EELS
Rating: 75/100
Predicted pack: 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kitione Kautoga 12. Jack Williams 13. Jack de Belin 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Dylan Walker 16. Sam Tuivaiti 17. Kelma Tuilagi
Fear factor: 16/25
Paulo turned back the clock with his form last year and has continually shown he’s one of the meanest forwards when at his best. He’ll help turn young gun Tuivaiti into a lead enforcer over time, but the pack is missing a few more genuine hit men otherwise.
Rotation: 19/25
With genuine cover on the bench, this will be ne of the Eels’ biggest weapons. Da Silva and Walker will tear packs apart in the middle of the field, and Tuivaiti and Tuilagi provide different looks to their starters.
Attack: 20/25
These forwards won’t struggle to score points, providing a variety of size and agility. Walker’s ball playing and footy IQ gives tremendous impact, with all players in the middle genuine options to cross the line and break tackles.
Defence: 20/25
The Eels leaked fewer points in the back half of 2025 as they adapted to coach Jason Ryles’ style. Expect that to continue, with the addition of de Belin perfect for this pack. He brings with him a 92 per cent tackle efficiency from last year.
Replies
9th sounds about right. Maybe a little generous.
It's kinda a bit of puff. It's built on an aaaumption that the most effective style of play will be the same as last year. Wouldn't be surprised if it's based of a straight reading of last year's stats. No guarantee that any of it will be repeated. I get the purpose the article serves, but i wouldn't wipe my bum with it.
How is the Storm pack second best????
Without Katoa and Nelson they will have a difficult season. Katoa not only gives them defence and metres, he's also one of their clutch try scorers that always gets them out of trouble.
Katoa gives confidence to a team. He can create something from nothing at times.
Good point.
King and Utoikamanu are fine but one is a workhorse the other is a dominant Prop when he feels like it. Loiero is a worker. Blore is hot and cold at times and depending on who replaces Katoa, whether Lasati or Howarth, they are unproven. Their depth is not that great as to why they were badly searching for a middle.
I reckon we're somewhere about there since the team is still improving and working on things under Ryles' coaching, but the method for rankings is actualy pretty poor especially since this "fear factor" has the same weighing as the rest.
EELS 9th
Rating: 75/100
Fear factor: 16/25
Rotation: 19/25
Attack: 20/25
Defence: 20/25
DOLPHINS 4th
Rating: 80/100
Fear factor: 23/25
Rotation: 19/25
Attack: 18/25
Defence: 20/25
Having the best hooker in the game helps there ranking for sure as long as Harry Grant there the Storm will always be in about sniffing the top packs in the comp the guys a match winner and he's the key to that pack.
Its why they swapped out NaS for Stefano and have a hard on for Lomax there yardage games are a huge asset for Grant and bellyache knows it all the rest of the pack just have to do there jobs and hence why I think Melbourne are always up near the top of the comp and in this poll.
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