Legacies cemented, new heroes rise in star-studded Team of the Year
After 27 rounds of cracking rugby league action, a panel of nine.com.au journalists have decided on their official “Team of the Year” for 2026.
The panel consisted of Ben Glover, Simon Brunsdon, Liam O’Loughlin, Lachlan Harper, Alyssa Bone and The Mole, each voting on a 3-2-1 basis for every position as well as a coach, rookie and overall player of the year.
Another quality campaign from the evergreen Roosters champion.
Despite spending some time on the sidelines late in the year, Tedesco was again the clear standout for the Tricolours when he was fit and firing.
The 33-year-old gets better with age and also featured in NSW’s successful State of Origin series, scoring the match-winning try in a dramatic game one.
If the Roosters are any chance of taking out the premiership, Tedesco will be the man who leads them there for a third time in his career.
Also polled votes: Dylan Edwards, Kalyn Ponga, Scott Drinkwater, Sua Faalogo, Will Kennedy
He joined the club on a Ron Massey Cup contract at the start of last season, but Tom Jenkins has now firmly established himself as an elite NRL winger.
Jenkins has become a genuine cult hero for the Panthers and continues to go from strength-to-strength on the left flank, earning joint Ken Irvine Medal honours with Alex Johnston after both players crossed 30 times this season.
The 25-year-old is a brilliant aerial threat and can produce freakish putdowns in the corner as good as any winger in the competition, but has also become a reliable figure coming out of trouble, averaging nearly 200 run metres per game.
The man known as “Milky” was even spoken about as a potential Origin bolter earlier in the season and wouldn’t look out of place in a Kangaroos jersey.
Also polled votes: Greg Marzhew, Jamayne Isaako, Selwyn Cobbo, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Dominic Young, Brian To’o
The gap between Farnworth and the next-best centre in rugby league has widened even further after another excellent season with the Dolphins.
Farnworth has proven himself to be more than just a pretty face and can now lay claim to being one of the most influential stars in the sport.
This season, Farnworth led the league for offloads (73) and tackle breaks (150) as he helped lead the Redcliffe-based side to a maiden top-eight finish.
The 25-year-old could become one of the NRL’s most in-demand players should he hit the open market in November and the Dolphins are going to need to dip into their pockets and pay him a hefty seven-figure salary to retain him.
Also polled votes: Robert Toia, Casey McLean, Bradman Best, Tolu Koula, Simi Sasagi, Stephen Crichton
You only need to look at how the Sharks performed without Trindall leading into September to recognise how important he is.
Trindall dislocated his shoulder late in the season against the Raiders and since then, Cronulla have capitulated and lost three of four matches without him, blowing an opportunity to sneak into the top-four on the NRL ladder.
The five-eighth led the competition for try assists (30) this season and the bulk of Cronulla’s points have come off Trindall’s playmaking ability.
Despite having the No.6 on his back, Trindall is clearly pulling the strings at the Sharks and has surpassed Nicho Hynes as the club’s best half.
Also polled votes: Cody Walker, Kodi Nikorima, Ethan Strange, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Daly Cherry-Evans, Fletcher Sharpe
This will come as absolutely no surprise, but Cleary was a unanimous winner when it came to voting for the halfback spot.
Cleary conquered his Origin demons, leading the Blues to an unlikely series win and claiming the Wally Lewis Medal in the process.
In club land, the 29-year-old was simply brilliant and Penrith’s fourth minor premiership in the past six seasons came largely off their champion skipper.
It would take something rather absurd for Cleary to miss out on his first Dally M Medal victory, as his legacy as an all-time great continues to grow.
Also polled votes: Sam Walker, Jahrome Hughes, Nicho Hynes, Lachlan Galvin, Jamal Fogarty, Isaiya Katoa
One of the most crafty dummy-halves in the game today, Egan produced another brilliant year for the finals-bound Warriors.
Egan’s deception around the ruck is second-to-none, bringing his forwards onto the ball better than any of his rivals and causing headaches for the opposition.
The 29-year-old was unlucky to miss out on an Origin debut with the Blues, but could be a genuine Kangaroos bolter for the World Cup.
Before he thinks about higher honours though, Egan will be hoping to lift the Wahs towards a maiden premiership in the coming weeks.
Also polled votes: Blayke Brailey, Harry Grant, Reece Robson, Api Koroisau, Phoenix Crossland, Reed Mahoney, Jacob Liddle
It’s been a gradual rise over the past two years, but there is no doubt about it now – Naufahu Whyte is among the best forwards in the NRL.
The hulking Roosters prop has been enormous once again and consistently laid the platform for his teammates with strong, barnstorming carries.
Whyte tallied nearly 1900 post-contact metres across the season, placing him second for the competition, while his 68 tackle breaks was fourth among front-rowers, putting him in elite company with Payne Haas.
The 24-year-old New Zealand international still has his best football ahead of him and if he continues to put together seasons like he did this year, Whyte will be challenging Haas for many years to come as the sport’s best big man.
Also polled votes: James Fisher-Harris, Jason Taumalolo, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jackson Ford, Moses Leota, Payne Haas
When the “Fozball” period was at its peak for Manly, there was no one player who benefited more than towering back-rower Olakau’atu.
Once a change in coach brought Kieran Foran to the top job, Olakau’atu started playing like a man possessed and rampaged his way into the NSW team.
While he had a mixed Origin series – perhaps not all his fault – the Sea Eagles wrecking ball was a clear standout in the edge forward position in 2026.
Olakau’atu had more tackle breaks (128) than any other forward and continues to prove a handful for rivals, while also rattling them with fearsome defence.
Also polled votes: Hudson Young, Tallis Duncan, Dylan Lucas, Jacob Preston, Kulikefu Finefuiaki, Heilum Luki, Leka Halasima
There is not a more improved player in the NRL over the past two years than the Warriors star, who claims the lock-forward role for a second straight season to round out the positional awards in nine.com.au’s voting.
Clark arrived in Auckland as a discard from the Gold Coast Titans, but has quickly established himself into a workhorse in the No.13 jumper.
The 28-year-old played every game this season for the Wahs, proving a durable asset for Andrew Webster in the middle of the park.
In a hotly contested field that includes players like Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo - proof of how good the heart and soul of the Warriors has been.
Also polled votes: Isaah Yeo, Cameron Murray, Max Plath, Victor Radley, Morgan Knowles
Filling the void left by Jamal Fogarty this season, the young halfback had some really nice moments and only improved as the year went on.
The 22-year-old formed a solid combination with Ethan Strange that should have Raiders fans excited for the future despite missing the top-eight this year, laying on plenty of tries and proving a quality general-play kicker.
His 81 goals for the year at 81 per cent is also a big tick, putting him right up there alongside some of the NRL’s best sharpshooters.
Sanders debuted for the Eels two years ago, but remains eligibly for Rookie of the Year honours after playing less than five games before 2026.
Also polled votes: Cooper Clarke, Oliver Pascoe, Francis Manuleleua, Zane Harrison, Cooper Bai
Cool, calm and collected in the coach’s box and when speaking to media, Ivan Cleary’s protégé has completely transformed the Warriors since taking the post.
Webster has overseen a boom period for the club, who are now genuine title contenders and a real chance of ending three decades of heartache.
The former Panthers assistant hasn’t had it all his own way this year, dealing with plenty of adversity on the injury front – especially in the halves, where the Wahs have been made to shuffle things around countless times.
Despite some costly injuries and challenging periods, Webster and the Warriors came within a whisker of claiming the minor premiership and enter the finals as one of the favourites alongside the Panthers.
Also polled votes: Justin Holbrook, Ivan Cleary, Kristian Woolf, Wayne Bennett
Player of the Year: Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
Another unanimous result for the best player in rugby league.
What else needs to be said about this bloke? He’s done it all in the game and still has so much good football ahead – whether it’s with Penrith or another club.
Cleary dominated for the Panthers in 2026, and it would be unfathomable for anyone to argue with him being installed as the Player of the Year.
Also polled votes: Braydon Trindall, Herbie Farnworth, James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga, Isaah Yeo, Wayde Egan, Hudson Young, Cody Walker
