Fullback: James Tedesco - Sydney Roosters
While all the focus has been on Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker, Tedesco has been a big part of Easts’ revival in 2026. He has played all 11 games (scoring six tries) as the Roosters climbed into the top four.
Teddy’s experience has been vital in an Easts spine with a new halves combination (Daly Cherry-Evans / Sam Walker) and a new hooker (Reece Robson).
His reward was a surprise Origin recall, with Laurie Daley preferring him over Dylan Edwards. Teddy’s Origin career seemed over after Edwards took his spot in 2024, but the bold decision paid off for Daley, with Teddy scoring the game-winning try at Homebush.
While Easts lost to Melbourne three days later, Teddy always knew he was going to be playing twice in one week, telling reporters that it "is part of the game ... you're expected to back up if your body is fine".
An honourable mention goes to Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga: a big part of the Knights’ revival under Justin Holbrook, he unseated the Kangaroos fullback Reece Walsh for the Queensland squad, even swatting off speculation that the versatile Ponga could have played in the halves with Walsh at fullback. While his controversial send-off was the turning point of Origin 1, he was only fined 23% of his match fee.
Winger: Jamayne Isaako - The Dolphins
Heading into their fourth season, Redcliffe’s honeymoon period was starting to fade, with a maiden finals appearance the priority after narrowly missing in 2025. Isaako will be a huge part of that drive to the finals.
The urgency is greater with Isaako heading to Melbourne in 2027: he’ll be a massive loss for Redcliffe and the Dolphins might struggle without him.
Isaako was the top point-scorer after 12 rounds (134) as Redcliffe won four straight in May.
Enjoy this points machine while you can, Redcliffe fans. He may leave with some historic memories in September.
Centre: Herbie Farnworth - The Dolphins
The second of three Redcliffe players in this team is the man from Burnley. Another big part of Redcliffe’s rise to the top eight, he’s scored five tries in 10 games and averaged 168 running metres.
Farnworth’s injury in Round 22 last season was a big reason for Redcliffe’s late fade to miss the finals. Without him, they lost by 52 to Easts, lost another Battle of Brisbane, and conceded 58 against Manly. Their final two wins against the Gold Coast and an understrength Canberra came too late.
Along with Isaako, a fit and in-form Farnworth is essential for Redcliffe to be a genuine finals contender.
Centre: Tolutau Koula - Manly Sea Eagles
Koula has been a crucial part of Manly’s ‘Fozball’ revival and was rewarded with his NSW Origin debut, although he was on the wrong end of Ponga’s controversial shoulder charge.
Koula has switched between centre and fullback this season, with five tries in ten games.
He has helped keep Manly’s back five thriving while Tom Trbojevic is out.
An honourable mention goes to Casey McLean, who backed up his NSW Origin debut (playing 23 minutes off the bench and showing that he could be a future Origin star) by scoring two crucial tries in Penrith's Round 13 win over the Warriors. He leapt over multiple Warriors defenders for his second try, helping Penrith to a 16-6 half-time lead.
Winger: Greg Marzhew - Newcastle Knights
While picking a player with five tries in one game (even against the woeful St George Illawarra) seems easy, Marzhew isn’t just a one-hit wonder.
Aside from his ‘Michelle’ against the Dragons, he scored a hat-trick against Souths (vital in a 42-38 win), and a double against Canberra, for ten tries all up in May (and 15 for the season).
Marzhew and Dominic Young (14 tries and two hat-tricks) are a big part of the Knights’ exciting new attack. After scoring 338 points in 2025, they’ve already scored 340 in 12 games in this season.
Five-eighth: Chanel Harris-Tavita - New Zealand Warriors
Back in Round 20 of 2024, the Warriors travelled to Bruce Stadium to play the Raiders. Filling in as goalkicker for Adam Pompey, Chanel Harris-Tavita’s 0/3 conversions was a big factor in Canberra’s 20-18 win.
While this could have broken many players’ spirits, CHT has remained a regular first grader (17 games in 2024, 25 in 2024, nine in 2026), and has been rewarded with a contract extension until 2027.
With Tanah Boyd out for the foreseeable future, Harris-Tavita will be vital in keeping the Warriors in the top four, as well as forming a new halves combination with Te Maire Martin (as Luke Metcalf, who recently signed with St George Illawarra, appears out of favour for now).
Halfback: Nathan Cleary - Penrith Panthers
While this seems the obvious choice, Penrith are flying in outright first, and Cleary is a big part of it.
The Panthers’ ‘poor’ 2025 was the worst thing possible for the other 16 teams: they’ve come out focused, hungry, and seem on track for a sixth grand final in seven seasons.
Cleary has played 11 games so far (rested against the Warriors after Origin 1) and scored 123 points (four tries, 53 goals, and one field goal). He played a crucial role in the Panthers’ tight win over Canberra, with 14 points and two try assists. His try broke an 18-18 deadlock and guided Penrith home.
He was essential in NSW’s Origin 1 win, with a try, two try assists (including the bomb for Tedesco’s game winner), a 40/20, and three goals.
Prop: Jackson Ford - New Zealand Warriors
Jackson Ford has been central to the fierce Warriors forward pack that have bullied opposition teams at times this season.
He started in 11 games out of 12 and played the full 80 minutes in six of them, partnering James Fisher-Harris in the front row.
Ford was unlucky to miss a NSW Origin jersey, which Warriors fans may (secretly) enjoy as it means he’ll rip and tear for the Wahs to prove he deserves to play Origin.
Hooker: Max Plath - The Dolphins
The son of the Brisbane Broncos’ ‘Mr Fix It’ John Plath, Max has shown that he’s inherited his father’s versatility and utility value.
With regular hooker Jeremy Marshall-King missing the early rounds this season, Max played hooker from Round 2 to Round 11 as Redcliffe eventually found their rhythm to enter the top eight.
As a nod to his versatility (and the fact nobody is kicking out Harry Grant from the hooker position), Max played 63 minutes at lock in the opening Origin for Queensland.
Prop: Addin Fonua-Blake - Cronulla Sharks
When the new Origin eligibility rules came out earlier this year, the first name on most people’s lists was Addin Fonua-Blake.
While Cronulla hasn’t capitalised on two consecutive preliminary finals appearances (putting together a frustratingly inconsistent season so far), AFB has played 11 games, with 661 post-contact metres, 297 tackles at a 97% efficiency, and an average of 148 running metres per match.
He played only 42 minutes on his Origin debut, leaving the door open to a potential omission for Game 2 in Melbourne.
Second Row: Haumole Olakau'atu - Manly Sea Eagles
Manly’s ‘Fozball’ revival under Kieran Foran has been the feelgood story of 2026, and Olakau'atu has used that momentum to earn a NSW Origin jersey.
He’s played all 80 minutes in six of his ten games this year, scoring four tries. He has made 248 tackles (96% efficiency) and averaged 171 running metres.
Olakau'atu is making up for his disrupted 2025, when he only played 15 games with a dislocated shoulder. He took the next step in his journey by playing 67 minutes in Origin 1.
Second Row: Dylan Lucas - Newcastle Knights
Newcastle is arguably the most improved team of 2026, and Lucas has been a huge part of that. The 25-year-old has played ten games so far for six tries, including doubles against Souths and Parramatta.
He was rewarded with a spot in NSW’s Origin 1 squad. While he didn’t play, the experience of being in the Origin environment would have been invaluable and puts him in contention for future appearances.
While he’s been an edge forward all season, he can play in the back five if needed, and showed his speed with a 40-metre run to score against the Eels.
An honourable mention goes to Souths’ Tallis Duncan, who has continued his strong start to the season. While Souths have been inconsistent and are battling injuries again (the Storm win offset by high-scoring losses to Canberra and Newcastle), Duncan has played 11 games and played 80 minutes in all but two of them (and played centre in the loss to North Queensland).
Lock: Reuben Cotter - NQ Cowboys
After a poor 2025, not many people expected North Queensland to be a 2026 contender, with Todd Payten one of the under-pressure coaches at the start of the season.
While not as dramatic as Manly’s rise, the Cowboys shook off a slow start to enter the top-eight.
Their co-captain Reuben Cotter has been crucial (becoming the main captain with Tom Dearden out), playing between 63 and 80 minutes at lock each game (making 380 tackles at 91.79% efficiency and averaging 83 running metres), along with 56 minutes in the second row for Queensland in Origin 1.