THEY are the NRL’s big men who eat metres for a living.

Check out our positional power rankings for the competition’s top 10 props.

10. Matt Prior

This might be a surprise inclusion, but Prior’s form in the back half of the season was incredible. The two-time premiership-winning forward grew another leg in 2016 and played an instrumental role in the Sharks winning their first title. His performances in the finals were something to behold, namely in the qualifying final against Canberra where he ran 223 metres and then again in the grand final against Melbourne where he racked up 194 metres. He deservedly won Cronulla’s player of the year alongside front row partner Andrew Fifita.

Round 20

Matt Prior and Andrew Fifita of the Sharks celebrate with the trophy after victory in the 2016 NRL Grand Final. Source: Getty Images

9. Dylan Napa

In a disappointing season for the Roosters, Napa was a shining light. The red-headed enforcer averaged 120 metres and 29 tackles per game — both career highs. He also busted 25 tackles and made nine offloads. An Origin debut for Queensland is only a matter of time.

8. Josh McGuire

The Queensland firebrand had a strong season after returning from a serious Achilles injury. He averaged 135 metres and 30 tackles per game, and played a major part in Brisbane’s fifth placed finish and helping Queensland secure yet another Origin shield.

Josh McGuire of the Broncos takes on the defence. Source: Getty Images

7. James Tamou

After struggling through much of 2015 with a neck injury it was a welcome return to form this year by James Tamou. He averaged 129 metres and 24 tackles per game and made a total of 20 tackle breaks and 20 offloads. He featured in every game for NSW during the Origin series, but was overlooked for a Kangaroos jumper.

6. Matthew Scott

The North Queensland co-captain has dropped down the rankings, mainly because his form was hampered by reccuring injuries throughout the season. He still made it on the field 23 times in 2016 and averaged 11.7 runs, 118 metres and 19.2 tackles per game. The 31-year-old was part of the victorious Queensland and Australia representative teams.

Matt Scott in action for the Cowboys. Source: Getty Images

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5. Ryan James

This season was James’ seventh in the NRL and undoubtedly his best. The powerful runner bagged an incredible 12 meat pies and in the process broke the 40-year-old record for the most tries scored by a prop in one season. He averaged 112 metres and 15 runs per game and racked up a total of 52 tackle busts and 11 linebreaks over the course of the season. A workhorse in defence, James averaged 33.6 tackles per game with a 94.3 per cent tackle efficiency. If he can minimise his penalties (28), he’ll be right in the conversation for an Origin debut. At the end of the year he featured in the Australian PM’s XIII.

Ryan James dives over for a try. Picture: Richard Gosling Source: News Corp Australia

4. Aaron Woods

The Wests Tigers skipper had arguably a career-best season and was one of his club’s most consistent performers throughout. The 25-year-old’s 152 metres per game placed him 10th in the competition and with six linebreak assists and three try assists, the prop’s ball playing ability also went up a notch. He was once again called up the NSW side for the Origin series and then went on to represent Australia on four occasions.

3. James Graham

One of the true workhorses in the competition, Graham churned out 149 metres per game for the Bulldogs in 2016. He also averaged 61 minutes and 35 tackles per game, the latter being a career high. He played for England at the end of the year, featuring in two games before succumbing to a knee injury.

2. Andrew Fifita

It’s been a controversial season for Fifita for a number of reasons, but there’s no denying his talent on the field. When he’s on his game, the Cronulla prop is near unstoppable — you only have to look at his premiership-winning try in the grand final. In 2016 he averaged 18.4 runs and 163 metres per game. He also made an impressive total of 102 tackle busts and 67 offloads. The 27-year-old is strong in defence, making on average 25 tackles per game, almost without miss. He does, however, have some ill-discipline in his game, having conceded a total of 19 penalties — the eighth-most in the NRL.

Andrew Fifita scores the matchwinning try in the 2016 grand final. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

1. Jesse Bromwich

The Melbourne big man is widely regarded as the world’s best prop and that was further reinforced by his performances in 2016 which led to him being awarded Dally M prop of the year. This year he averaged 60 minutes and 140 metres per game. He’s a hard player to bring down and that’s evident in the 45 tackle busts and 46 offloads he made over the course of the season — an important part of the Storm’s dangerous second phase play. He won the Storm’s player of the year and has been short-listed for NZRL Kiwis player of the year.

Jesse Bromwich takes a hitup. Picture: Andy Brownbill Source: News Corp Australia

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