NRL Prop Power Rankings: Have your say on the best and worst in the competition

Enforcers, metre-eaters or big boppers – call them what you will an NRL premiership can’t be won without a dominant prop rotation. PAMELA WHALEY rates every club’s stocks. Have your say in our interactive

Which prop rotation packs the most punch in the NRL?

Not even Jarome Luai can split them in a debate for the game’s best front-rower

A silky try not usually seen by a man of Moses Leota’s size has reignited the age-old debate, which is usually taken hands down by champion teammate James Fisher-Harris or Brisbane star Payne Haas.

Leota is the last superstar bookend standing after Fisher-Harris and Haas were ruled out of Thursday night’s NRL grand final rematch between Penrith and Brisbane, robbing fans of the chance to see who is top of the props.

Luai, who sees the Penrith bash brothers in action every week and Haas a few times a year for NSW, is torn.

“It’s hard to say who’s the actual best, they’re all great at different things in different ways. Mose and Fish are up there as well as Payne Haas, they’re my top three definitely,” he says.

Enter the enforcer era.

WHICH PROP ROTATION PACKS THE MOST PUNCH? HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR INTERACTIVE BELOW

Moses Leota of the Panthers (R) celebrates scoring a try with Jarome Luai of the Panthers during the round two NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels. Picture: Getty Images

Where unheralded Leota gets the respect he deserves from not just Penrith, but the public.

He was enormous in the 2023 grand final, running for 155 metres, three tackle breaks and a now-famous try that turned the tide in Penrith’s favour.

“That’s a great word, unheralded, in particular for Mose,” Luai says.

“Obviously Nath (Cleary), he’s the ice man and he gets what he deserves and all of that, but I think some of the other guys are overlooked in terms of their input and what they’ve done for the team and the success of the club as well.

“It’s never overlooked here, they get their praise inside these walls and I think that’s enough for them.

“But man, I don’t know what Mose isn’t good at. His attention to detail is something I admire and that’s why he’s so great, is his work ethic.

“Just the speed and the footwork he has, he can goal kick too. He’s crazy. I’m glad he’s on our team.”

Rising Panthers forward Lindsay Smith will take the place of Fisher-Harris, the reigning Golden Boot winner, while Corey Jensen is named to start for the second week in a row for the Broncos, with rookie prop Xavier Willison coming into the 17 following Haas’ withdrawal.

Willison, all 199cm and 114kg of him, will be unleashed against the Panthers.

At just 21 and with only 11 NRL games to his name, he has been earmarked as Tom Flegler’s long-term replacement and gets the opportunity to stake his claim for a regular place in Kevin Walters’ side.

While the top props are locked in with the likes of Haas, Fisher-Harris, Leota and co, the big question is who has the best prop stocks in the NRL oversall.

Here’s how I rated them:

Originally published as NRL Prop Power Rankings: Have your say on the best and worst in the competition