NRL spine health check: Every club’s spine depth analysed, which teams are best placed now and for the future

There’s lots of attention on the Tigers to see if they can keep their stars amid an oversupply of talent in key positions. MICHAEL CARAYANNIS dissects the health of every club’s spine to see who is best-placed now and in the future.

The Tigers have an embarrassment of riches in key positions.

Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to leave the Sea Eagles has put the blowtorch on every club’s most important combination – their spine.

Manly has two future stars in Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh who will be long-term first graders at the time. But Cherry-Evans’ decision now has them considering a Tom Trbojevic positional switch talent or look to the player market to chase a veteran such Jamal Fogarty to be a bridging halfback while Large and Walsh develop into NRL stars.

“Let’s be fair Joey is a couple of years away,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.

“In his first rugby league game in about three years he played very well against the Warriors in Jersey Flegg. He is only 18, scored three tries. He is one for the future. He and Onitoni are very good young players but they are very young.”

On the flip side the Newcastle Knights – off the back of their 10-year deal to Dylan Brown – now have the most settled spine in the game with Kalyn Ponga their next player off-contract and that deal does not expire until the end of 2027.

Can your spine survive the next few years?

While Cherry-Evans and Brown have rightly hogged headlines in recent months there are a stack of other impending movements when it comes to those key players including;

• Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad set to reject a contract extension and instead join a Super League club;

• Newcastle making a move for young St George Illawarra half Lyhkan King-Togia. King-Togia played four NRL games last season. The Dragons are keen to retain him beyond this season but the impending arrival of Daniel Atkinson plus Kyle Flanagan and Lachie Ilias being contracted for next season creates a log-jam;

• Will Pryce set to return to the Super League as early as this year. He has played just five games for Newcastle;

• Young Knights half Jye Linnane is set to ink a long-term deal to join the Warriors; and

• Warriors veteran Te Maire Martin has been linked with an immediate move to Super League club Leigh.

This is how each club’s spine is placed.

BRONCOS

Contract status: It is a wait and see with veteran skipper Adam Reynolds but the Broncos have a nice balance of young stars and established players locked in. Crucially Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have long-term deals while they have re-signed Blake Mozer.

Up and coming: Mozer has long been earmarked as a future superstar and the Broncos have shown him the faith by giving him a two-year deal. It means their long-term spine of Walsh, Mam and Mozer is secured.

BULLDOGS

Contract status: A few question marks for the Bulldogs with no players signed beyond 2027. It gives them flexibility to hit the open market or get a look at some players before deciding if they will be part of their long-term futures.

Up and coming: Mitchell Woods has been plagued by a hamstring injury in the pre-season but the Bulldogs believe he has all the attributes to lead the team around. Cassius Tia is another half to keep an eye out for despite playing centre in NSW Cup. Alex Conti is another potential half.

COWBOYS

Contract status: A real concern for the Cowboys who have obviously decided to build the team around Tom Dearden. They have lost Reece Robson to the Roosters and have question marks surrounding their long-term halves pairing.

Up and coming: Half Zac Herdegen only finished school last year and completed a pre-season with the Cowboys. Playing in the Queensland Cup and is one to watch.

DOLPHINS

Contract status: A solid mix of guys locked in with only one spine spot available in the next two years. That will be for whoever partners Isaiya Katoa in the scrum base. That is why they have entered the race for Daly Cherry-Evans.

Up and coming: They have to do everything to ensure Katoa is happy and settled given he is just 21. Noah Fien, the son of Dragons 2010 premiership winner Nathan Fien who is also part of the Dolphins coaching staff, is impressing at halfback in the under-19 Mal Meninga Cup.

DRAGONS

Contract status: The Dragons made a splash early by securing Daniel Atkinson from the Sharks who is their only player secured beyond 2027. They are on the lookout for a long-term fullback with Clint Gutherson expected to be shifted to centre in the final year of his deal in 2027.

Up and coming: They are in a battle to keep Lyhkan King-Togia who tasted first grade last year and has attracted interest from Newcastle. Kade Reed has impressed plenty in the lower grades

EELS

Contract status: Were thrown a massive curveball when Dylan Brown opted to join Newcastle. Mitch Moses will finish his career at Parramatta and they have looked to have found a long-term fullback in Isaiah Iongi but the rest of the spine is undecided.

Up and coming: The Eels have banked on two Australian Schoolboys in hooker Lachlan Coinakis and half Lincoln Fletcher with the local products contracted until the end of 2027.

KNIGHTS

Contract status: No team has their core spine locked in long-term like the Knights. Given the monster deal they gave to Dylan Brown and the re-signing of Phoenix Crossland they are now settled in the most important positions until Kalyn Ponga comes off-contract in 2027.

Up and coming: Matt Arthur joined the club from the Eels this year and could see a game in 2025. If not he will be Crossland’s understudy at hooker next year. Knights have also been linked to young Dragon half Lyhkan King-Togia.

PANTHERS

Contract status: Nathan Cleary won’t be going anywhere and the club will look to lock him down on a multi-year contract while Dylan Edwards is tied down long-term. Mitch Kenny will start at hooker for another two seasons.

Up and coming: They have banked on Blaize Talagi potentially being Jarome Luai’s replacement. NSW under-19s hooker Billy Scott is contracted until the end of 2027. Jack Attard is being groomed to replace Dylan Edwards while Jhett Sydir is a young half on the rise.

RABBITOHS

Contract status: Cody Walker is the big free agent and the club is keen to keep him for another 12 months but at 35-year naturally he is not a long-term option. Lewis Dodd’s deal will be one to watch while they have also signed Brandon Smith from the Roosters.

Up and coming: Former Waratahs academy player Charlie Poynton has impressed plenty with the fullback playing well in SG Ball this season while halfback Matthew Humphries won the club’s SG Ball player of the year last year.

RAIDERS

Contract status: Have added the ever-reliable Jayden Brailey at hooker from next season. It is unclear if Jamal Fogarty will be at the club in 2026 but if not they have Ethan Sanders ready to step-up. Otherwise they have young players locked in long-term.

Up and coming: The Raiders have the best emerging spine in the competition. Ethan Strange has already established himself as an NRL player while Ethan Sanders is waiting for his chance. Owen Pattie is also getting valuable experience to set the Raiders up for long-term success.

ROOSTERS

Contract status: Made the crucial signing of Reece Robson while Sam Walker is still contracted for multiple seasons. James Tedesco is naturally a year by year proposition and the Roosters are still yet to settle on a short-term partner to Walker which is why they have an interest in Daly Cherry-Evans.

Up and coming: Toby Rodwell is contracted until the end of 2028 and has long been earmarked as an NRL star. They beat out rugby to sign Rex Bassingthwaighte until the end of 2028 and he could be Tedesco’s successor.

SEA EAGLES

Contract status: This time last week you would have thought that Manly had a settled spine for 2026. Now with Daly Cherry-Evans leaving they are in the market for an experienced half with Jamal Fogarty and Adam Reynolds in the picture. They will also start talks with Tom Trbojevic in the upcoming months.

Up and coming: Manly are confident in their stocks but want a potential short-term fix before the likes of young halves Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large are ready for first grade. Lehi Hopoate is also considered the club’s next permanent fullback.

SHARKS

Contract status: Daniel Atkinson is off to the Dragons while Liam Ison’s season ending knee injury has complicated matters for the Sharks. Will Kennedy is in career-best form and if he does stay it may force the Sharks to shed a player elsewhere. Need to lock down Blayke Brailey before he can hit the open market.

Up and coming: Ison was in the mix to be the club’s next fullback but his knee injury has at the least delayed that. Young half Callum Grantham has a long-term deal until the end of 2028 while fellow half Oliver Lester is locked in until 2027.

STORM

Contract status: A few big calls for the Storm to make in the coming months before Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes hit the open market. They have cover for both though if they move on with Jonah Pezet and Sua Fa’alogo committed long-term.

Up and coming: Halfback Riley Brannock joined the Storm from the Dragons ranks this year and is playing in their SG Ball while hooker Lockyer-Azile Foliola is considered a dangerous running player.

TITANS

Contract status: Only AJ Brimson has a long-term deal and even his playing spot is far from settled. They’ll need to make some big calls of on the likes of Keano Kini and Jayden Campbell while Kieran Foran may have just one season left at best.

Up and coming: Zane Harrison is in the first year of a three-year contract. He finished school last year and walked away with the Peter Sterling Medal after dominating in the schoolboy cup final.

WARRIORS

Contract status: In talks to extend fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad but he has interest from the Super League. Have some long-term decisions to make with both their starting halves just locked in for another 12 months.

Up and coming: They identified Jett Cleary as a long-term first grader and are close to securing young Newcastle half Jye Linnane on a long-term deal.

TIGERS

Contract status: Lots of attention on the Tigers and if they will be able to retain Lachie Galvin long-term and keep Jarome Luai from using one of his early exit clauses. They also have to balance Tallyn Da Silva’s rising form with the veteran influence of Api Koroisau. All this while trying to work out what to do with highly fancied Latu Fainu.

Up and coming: Balmain SG Ball captain Jared Haywood, a hooker, is contracted until the end of 2028. He had a taste of NRL in the trials earlier this year.

Originally published as NRL spine health check: Every club’s spine depth analysed, which teams are best placed now and for the future