Ranking the NRL's forward packs

The big men up front provide the go-forward so needed in the modern game, but which is the best pack in the NRL?

Almost one year ago I wrote an article ranking the NRL’s forward packs which proved to be mostly correct. So I will place last year’s rank in brackets next to this year’s rank.

If you’re wondering how I am ranking, I use the eye test (qualified by watching every game) and some statistics.

Let’s get stuck into it.

16. (10) Manly Sea Eagles
More bad news for the Brookvale Boys as theirs is the worst pack in the entire NRL. The Sea Eagles don’t have a front row to speak of, with Jake Trboojevic their only glimmer of hope. Their second row is slightly better with Tom Symonds and Justin Horo having a bit of an impact on a game, yet they are not NRL calibre players.

Willie Mason is the icing on the cake, as they expected a real tough man and what they got is a dried up has-been. Needless to say there is a lot of work to be done in Manly.

15. (7) Gold Coast Titans
The Gold Coast Titans are in serious trouble if rumours of Greg Bird and Nate Myles moving on eventuate. However there is plenty of potential in this side, in particular rake Kierran Moseley and Agnatius Paasi, who may be Test-calibre forwards in the coming years.

This side might need to do some serious rebuilding if their star power walks out the door.

14. (11) Newcastle Knights
The Novocastrians are fast becoming a desperate team, relying on some young backs to do the hard work, while the washed-up forwards are too old to compete for an extended period of time.

While a re-enthused Kade Snowden and the Sims boys have pulled their weight, the rest of the pack isn’t up to the task. From Beau Scott to David Fa’alogo we have seen a sizeable drop in production from Round 3 to Round 8. They need a talented rake to replace Adam Clydsdale, one who provides some explosiveness.

13. (15) Parramatta Eels
A team inundated with potential that hasn’t quite came to fruition as of yet. Pauli Pauli, Joseph Paulo and Manu Ma’u tend to go missing in a game, but when they fire they’re close to unstoppable.

While veteran Anthony Watmough has not quite lived up to his paycheque due to his handling errors at crucial times (see Tigers game), people like David Gower and Danny Wicks have played solid football.

Tepai Moeroa is a future star and Nathan Peats is in a tussle with Michael Lichaa as heir to the NSW hooker jersey. Isaac De Gois should either be dropped or released.

12. (6) Cronulla Sharks
The men from the Shire are undoubtedly an ageing pack, however they’re still strong to the very core. Headlined by veterans Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and recent acquisition Mick Ennis, leadership is not hard to find. Then there’s the inconsistent Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham, who can either be busts or bust through any defence.

Wily veterans Chris Heighington and Anthony Tupou can still do damage with their ability to offload the ball and get quick play the balls.

While this side needs a serious face lift, they may be able to put together a serious title run.

11. (13) Penrith Panthers
The men from the foot of the mountains have a mediocre pack, barring their star dummy-half James Segeyaro.

We start at the front row where an ageing Brent Kite, Sam McKendry and Jeremy Lattimore basically just do their job and no more.

Their second row has some flare and ability, with a future Origin player in Bryce Cartwright, an inconsistent Tyrone Peachy and Sika Manu, and a guy this organisation has to try really hard to retain, Lewis Brown. This bunch are no scrubs and are no easy task for any opposition.

Elijah Taylor and Reagan Campbell-Gillard can play some but are not living up to the hype that surrounded them at the start of the year.

A real metre-eater of a prop could go a long way for this team.

10. (3) South Sydney Rabbitohs
The defending premiers pack an almighty punch in the forwards with the Burgess boys laying down the foundation and letting the genius Issac Luke do his work. But the second row of Chris McQueen and Chris Grevsmuhl is too inconsistent and they are better off without John Sutton.

There is quite a hole left by Sam Burgess, especially when his replacement is a woeful Tim Grant, while Ben Te’o’s replacement Glenn Stewart has worked out well, getting back to form of old.

9. (12) Canberra Raiders
Canberra have the makings of a top-tier forward pack.

They have a good bench book-ended by a game changing Shannon Boyd and a smart rake in Kurt Baptiste, a tough front row of Paul Vaughn and Frank-Paul Nu’uausala and a damaging and gritty back three combination in Shaun Fensom, Josh Papalii and Iosia Soliola.

Their youth system have provided them with a lot of talent including a young Luke Page coming through the ranks. Raiders fans finally have something to look forward to.

8. (16) St George Illawarra Dragons
This is a much improved pack from what we saw last year, going from being historically bad to a defensive wall. They’ve a second row that just seems to get better and better as the year progresses behind pack leaders Tyson Frizell and Ben Creagh.

Mike Cooper has done some good work for them, as has Leeson Ah Mau, capitalising on the darting runs from a fleet-footed Mitch Rein, however Rein still has a lot of work to do before being called a top-flight dummy-half.

This pack still needs a Michael Weyman-type prop.

7. (2) Sydney Roosters
The main reason the Roosters have been on a losing streak has been the absence of two of their superstar forwards in Aidan Guerra and Boyd Cordner, who on their day can determine the speed of an entire game.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend and Sam Moa are an impressive front row who can be aggressive to a fault. To back this up they have a couple of good youngsters coming through the ranks in Dylan Napa and Kane Evans.

6. (8) Brisbane Broncos
Wayne Bennett’s men, while undersized, promote a hard-running and gritty running style. Sam Thaiday and Josh McGuire set the platform for the back row to go to work and while Corey Parker is the most overrated player in the NRL, Alex Glenn and Matt Gillett pick up the slack for him.

Their youth system and off-season buys have had a mixed impact this year. Kodi Nikorima and Jarrod Wallace started strong, while James Gavet and Adam Blair in their few games have been lacklustre.

All in all their future looks bright in usual Broncos fashion.

5. (14) New Zealand Warriors
I could easily put this pack in the No.1 spot but I need to see a few mores wins away from Auckland.

The men from across the ditch have accrued themselves quite the talented forward pack, starting with a hustling bustling front row, starring Ben Matulino and Jacob Lilyman and finishing with second and back row that I absolutely love featuring Simon Mannering, Bodene Thompson and Ryan Hoffman.

The New Zealand side also have one the most talented benches, with Albert Vete and Dom Peyroux. A specialist dummy half is the only real position of need for the Warriors as neither Thomas Leuluai nor Nathan Friend are up to scratch.

4. (1) Canterbury Bulldogs
The boys from Bankstown have a quality pack, featuring captain James Graham (however idiotic he may be), Josh Jackson and Aiden Tolman.

Their youth system and off-season buys – Michael Lichaa, Tim Browne and David Klemmer – have also made a solid impact.

3. (4) Wests Tigers
These lads are an explosive and damaging bunch, with a great mix of youth and leadership.

Aaron Woods is quickly becoming the best prop in the game, and with captain Robbie Farah and big Keith Galloway, the front row is in fine shape.

Martin Taupau in lock has perhaps the most impact of any player in the NRL, while the second row of Kyle Lovett and Curtis Sironen are particularly strong in defence.

Dene Halatau adds much-needed versatility, while youngsters Matthew Lodge, Lamar Liolevave and Sauaso Sue have the Tigers in great shape for the future.

2. (5) Melbourne Storm
In true, consistent Storm fashion they put forward one of the strongest packs in the NRL. Starting with their courageous leader Cam Smith and metre-eater Jesse Bromwich the team is always on the front foot.

Their second is one the most underrated in the league boasting the likes of Tohu Harris and Kevin Proctor. The ever-consistent Ryan Hinchcliffe adds stability and youngster Dale Finucane provides handy go-forward from the bench.

1. (9) North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys’ woeful start rests on the shoulders of their pack, who have turned it around.

Their starting props, James Tamou and Matt Scott, are in the top five worldwide. They’ve a speedy rake in Jake Granville who helps get them you out of their red zone, Gavin Cooper is a great hole runner, and Ethan Lowe is a stat-sheet stuffer.

Then there’s youngsters Jason Taumalolo and Kelepi Tanginoa, who are two of the most damaging ball runners in the game.

Not sure of what to say in terms of having both Ray Thompson and Rory Kostjasyn on the same bench, it seems as if only one is truly necessary.