NRL Fullback Power Rankings 2026: The Top 5 Heading Into the Season

Joel Johnston

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Last updated: Wed 07 Jan 2026 12:04

Joel Johnston 07 Jan 2026

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Fullbacks are pivotal in modern NRL, dictating match outcomes.
Reece Walsh leads 2026 rankings, praised for growth and game control.
Drinkwater, Weekes, Edwards, and Tedesco also make the top five.

Brisbane Broncos' Reece Walsh celebrates after scoring a try in the 2025 Grand Final. (Photo by IZHAR KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

NRL Fullback Power Rankings 2026: The Top 5 Heading Into the Season

The fullback position has quietly become the most important role in modern rugby league. It is no longer just about catching bombs and chiming into backline movements. Fullbacks now dictate tempo, control field position, and often decide the outcome of big games.

After sitting down on the League of Inches podcast to kick off the 2026 season, one thing became clear very quickly. The depth at fullback across the NRL has never been stronger, and separating the very best is harder than ever.

These rankings are not about reputation alone. They are based on form, influence, durability, and who we believe will have the biggest impact heading into the 2026 season.

5. Kaeo Weekes (Canberra Raiders)

Kaeo Weekes rounds out the top five, and this feels like a ranking that could change quickly.

Weekes’ emergence during Canberra’s late-season run in 2025 showcased exactly why he belongs in this conversation. He produced game-breaking moments, showed genuine top-end speed, and consistently appeared when the Raiders needed a spark.

Despite early discussion around a potential move into the halves, his best football clearly comes from the back. His instincts, acceleration and ability to exploit broken defensive lines suit the modern fullback role perfectly.

With more responsibility likely coming his way in 2026, this season shapes as a defining one. If Weekes handles that step up, he may not stay at number five for long.

4. Scott Drinkwater (North Queensland Cowboys)

Scott Drinkwater sits fourth largely because of what he was forced to carry in 2025.

In a Cowboys season that never truly settled, Drinkwater was one of the few constants. He demanded the ball, pushed the tempo, and regularly dragged North Queensland into contests through sheer involvement and effort.

His engine remains elite. Drinkwater touches the ball constantly, runs big metres, and turns broken play into opportunity. His support play and ball skills remain among the best in the competition, and his fitness shows late in games when others are fading.

The question heading into 2026 is not whether Drinkwater is good enough. It is how much support he gets. If the Cowboys find stability in the halves, his influence lifts immediately. If not, he may again be asked to carry a workload that stretches any fullback in the game.

3. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)

Dylan Edwards sits third, and that says more about the competition than any decline in his game.

After years of carrying the Panthers through dominant seasons, 2025 asked something different of Edwards. He played through injury, shouldered enormous defensive and workload demands, and still delivered the metres, effort and reliability that define his value.

He may not bring the flair of others in this list, but Edwards remains one of the safest and smartest fullbacks in the game. Elite fullbacks now rely heavily on strong yardage wingers to control territory and Edwards has one of the top 5 wingers in the NRL in Brian To'o.

If Penrith return to their best in 2026, Edwards will again be central to that success. He may no longer sit at the very top of the rankings, but his importance has not diminished.

2. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)

James Tedesco continues to defy the timeline.

Just when many thought the drop-off was inevitable, he produced one of the most complete seasons of his career. Not by reinventing himself, but by refining his game. He picked his moments better, trusted those around him, and still delivered the relentless effort that has defined his career.

What stands out now is how controlled his influence has become. Tedesco no longer needs to dominate every touch to dominate a game. He works, he waits, and when the moment presents itself, he strikes.

With new voices and experience coming into the Roosters spine, there will be curiosity around how his role evolves. But writing off Tedesco has proven to be a mistake time and time again. Until he gives us a reason otherwise, he remains firmly in the elite tier.

1. Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)

Reece Walsh enters 2026 as the clear benchmark for the modern NRL fullback.

What separated Walsh over the back end of last season was not just highlight plays. It was how he handled responsibility. When Brisbane lost key playmakers and structure around him, Walsh did not retreat. He stepped forward and owned the moment.

We saw a player who learned when to pull the trigger and when to trust the system. His kicking game improved. His decision-making sharpened. And when Brisbane needed a moment to flip a game, Walsh delivered it more often than not.

There will always be noise around his style, his confidence and the way he plays the game. That is part of the package. But when you weigh the impact, the consistency under pressure and the ability to decide finals football, Walsh sits comfortably at number one heading into 2026.

The NRL is entering a golden era for fullbacks. From system specialists to game-breaking athletes, the position has evolved into the heartbeat of modern rugby league.

These rankings will shift as the season unfolds, but one thing is clear. If your club has an elite fullback, you have a chance every week. And in 2026, no one influences games more than Reece Walsh.