NRL 2025: Top 10 Players to Watch

# NRL 2025 Prop Rankings: Lindsay Smith leads the Charge as League’s Moast Underrated

A new ranking of the National Rugby League’s top props for the 2025 season highlights the often-overlooked contributions of these powerhouse players, with Lindsay Smith emerging as a standout performer. The list, based solely on 2025 performance, underscores the critical role props play in setting the platform for success, a point frequently made that “halves can’t play behind beaten forward packs!”

The Unsung Heroes of the NRL

NRL middles are arguably the most underappreciated athletes in sport. They consistently endure the most physical punishment, initiating crucial plays and relentlessly tackling opponents. These players are the engine room of any successful team, and their impact extends far beyond the statistics.

This assessment focuses specifically on the top performers in the prop position during the 2025 season. While players like Pat Carrigan and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have seen significant time at lock – Carrigan playing 13 games at lock and 12 at prop, and Fa’asuamaleaui similarly shifting between positions – this ranking concentrates on those primarily contributing as props. Regrettably, Mitch Barnett, despite a promising start, did not feature in the Top Ten due to playing only 11 games.

Top Ten Props of the 2025 Season

The following list represents a data-driven evaluation of prop performance throughout the 2025 NRL season.

Honourable mentions: James Fisher-Harris and Fonua Pole.

10. Lindsay Smith

Smith continues to be the most overlooked prop in the competition, a fact that has even drawn criticism from within the rugby league community. “I still have no idea how Laurie Daley overlooked the Penrith middle for Origin duties, given the ‘efforts’ of some of those chosen,” one observer noted.Despite this perceived snub, Smith delivered a stellar 2025 season, appearing in 26 games and contributing four tries.

His impact wasn’t limited to scoring; Smith consistently excelled in key performance indicators. He recorded 46 tackle breaks, 24 offloads, and a remarkable 964 post-contact metres. Averaging 115 run metres per game with an almost 96% tackle completion rate, Smith proved invaluable to the Penrith Panthers, regardless of whether he was starting or coming off the bench.His consistent performance has positioned him for a significant contract extension.

Did you know? – Post-contact metres measure the distance a player gains *after* initial contact with a defender, highlighting their strength and ability to break tackles.

Smith’s consistent high performance throughout the 2025 season, despite not receiving the widespread recognition he deserves, has solidified his position as the tenth-ranked prop in the NRL. The Penrith Panthers relied heavily on his work rate, both in the starting lineup and from the bench.

Pro tip: – A high tackle completion rate (like Smith’s 96%) is crucial for maintaining possession and building pressure on the opposition.

The ranking serves as a testament to the dedication and impact of these often-unsung heroes of the NRL, highlighting the importance of the prop position in modern rugby league. Smith’s future with the Panthers appears secure, with a contract extension likely on the horizon given his continued contributions.

Reader question: – Do you think overlooked players like Lindsay smith are more motivated to prove critics wrong,and does that translate to better performance?