THE backs might get the tries, the glory and the girls.

But these are the blokes who get the job done.

The job for each club’s forward gets tougher in 2016, with the NRL reducing interchanges from 10 to eight and introducing a shot clock in the name of opening the game up.

How the big men adapt will make for compelling, not to mention essential viewing when it comes to your club’s premiership hopes.

Round 19

In recent years the likes of Canterbury, the Roosters and Souths have pumped enough size and power into their scrums to fuel a small country’s economy.

But with the game evolving yet again, a changing of the guard is afoot among the NRL’s big boppers.

With the form guide out and no prisoners sought nor taken, we run the rule over the forward packs lining up across the board in 2016.

1. Broncos

Starting pack: Adam Blair, Andrew McCullough, Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker

Corey Parker: age shall not weary him. Source: News Corp Australia

Strengths: Mobility, agility, ball playing. Wayne Bennett has been preparing his all-international ‘big’ man rotation for a reduced interchange for two pre-seasons now.

The results were there to see late last season when they were running rings around their Souths and Roosters counterparts one week, then defending like rabid dogs the next against the Bulldogs and Cowboys in the decider.

Strong enough to have gun Maroons prop Josh McGuire return from injury via the bench, as Joe Ofahengaue and Jarrod Wallace also rise through the ranks.

Weaknesses: Both Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday are getting on a bit, not that you’d know it after both turned in career-best form in 2015.

2. Cowboys

Starting pack: Matt Scott, Jake Granville, James Tamou, Ethan Lowe, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo

Strengths: The best ‘middle’ in the NRL in Scott, Tamou and Taumalolo with Granville — the most dynamic hooker in the game — running off the back of their play-the-balls. Gavin Cooper’s ability to hit a hole on the left edge should be taught in Sunday school.

Weaknesses: Neck injuries to Tamou and Scott hampered them at times in 2015. They’ve both had surgery to correct the issues with the hope they’ve been put to bed for good.

Jason Taumalolo has had the propensity to drift in and out of seasons slightly, but is just as likely to take his game to another level again in 2016.

Jake Granville should thrive under the NRL’s reduce interchange laws. Source: News Corp Australia

3. Bulldogs

Starting pack: James Graham, Michael Lichaa, Aiden Tolman, Josh Jackson, Shaun Lane, Greg Eastwood

Strengths: More aggro than a kicked beehive with David Klemmer and Graham running amok, and Sam Kasiano’s ball playing defies belief for a man of his size. Jackson is an Origin player, pure and simple, and you could do worse than pick rangy back-rower Shaun Lane for a breakout year.

Weaknesses: It’s literally, the big question mark over the Dogs in 2016. How the game’s monster pack handles the quicker pace expected with two less interchanges.

Both Graham and Klemmer have overdone in it in the angry stakes with well documented implications, while concerns over Tony Williams’ form — more church mouse than T-Rex in recent years — also puts Des Hasler in a pickle.

4. Roosters

Starting pack: Jared Waerea-Hagreaves*, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Aidan Guerra, Boyd Cordner*, Sio Siua Taukeiaho

Strengths: With a full contingent on the park this is the most rounded pack in the game. JWH, Dylan Napa and Sam Moa would scare white off rice, Cordner, Guerra and Taukeiaho run with as much guile as menace and there’s offloads galore. This lot has also been the benchmark for defence since 2013.

Weaknesses: Injuries. Waerea-Hargreaves won’t be back from his ACL rupture until round six, Boyd Cordner (pectoral) has three months on the sidelines.

How they fare without Mitchell Pearce steering them around early in the year is also one for Trent Robinson to deal with.

5. Rabbitohs

Starting pack: George Burgess, Damien Cook, David Tyrrell, Kyle Turner, Sam Burgess, John Sutton.

Strengths: The Burgess boys. Sam is the closest thing the NRL has to a Roman gladiator, besides Russell Crowe himself, and will be the most influential forward in the game if he hits the levels he left with.

Twins George and Tom will be keen to bounce back from underwhelming 2015 campaigns, and have more than enough talent to do so.

Weaknesses: Size. Like the Bulldogs, the Rabbitohs look most susceptible to the new interchange rules, especially without Issac Luke sniping around the ruck.

Kyle Turner’s worries with concussion also cast unwanted doubt over a talented youngster, though Paul Carter’s addition midway through last year is handy cover.

6. Storm

Starting pack: Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Jordan McLean, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris, Dale Finucane

Strengths: Fit, agile and drilled like SAS foot soldiers, Craig Bellamy’s forwards can rattle through his game plan in their sleep.

Jesse Bromwich is on the podium for world’s best prop, Cameron Smith sits in a similar position for the greatest hookers of all time, while Tohu Harris and Kevin Proctor are lethal on each edge.

Weaknesses: Depth. As always Bellamy will work wonders with what he’s got, but a back-up contingent featuring names like Glasby, White, Nicholls and Kaufusi simply isn’t as impressive as the clubs ahead of them. Ryan Hinchcliffe’s departure also leaves a sizeable hole.

7. Warriors

Starting pack: Ben Matulino, Issac Luke, Jacob Lillyman, Bodene Thompson, Ryan Hoffman, Simon Mannering

Strengths: Ball-playing. Give them some room and watch the Steeden fly. Matulino is as dangerous as he is underrated outside of New Zealand, while Hoffman, Mannering and Thompson threaten on the edge.

Throw Issac Luke into the mix and as always, the Warriors can strike from anywhere on the park.

Weaknesses: Discipline. Points and metres come far too easily against the Warriors when they’re off their game.

Half the battle here is earning the right to use their creative skills, which by rugby league law comes after a platform has been laid up the middle. If they can work that out this pack will thrive in 2016.

Expectations are high for new Warriors recruit Issac Luke in 2016. Source: Getty Images

8. Sharks

Starting pack: Andrew Fifita, Michael Ennis, Sam Tagataese, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen

Strengths: Experienced and tougher than Bear Grylls’ boots, no team loves a dogfight more than this lot. Michael Ennis’ decision making out of dummy half was a revelation in 2015, while Graham and Lewis offer plenty with the ball on the fringes.

Weaknesses: Probably lacking a gear the elite packs have, as they found out when the Cowboys belted them out of the comp last year. Andrew Fifita still has an unnecessary penalty in his game, and the big men have been known to get in the way of their halves in the past.

9. Sea Eagles

Starting pack: Nate Myles, Matt Parcell, Jake Trbojevic, Jamie Buhrer, Lewis Brown, Martin Taupau.

Strengths: Potential. With only two names remaining from last season in their best starting pack, how quickly this Manly forwards contingent gels is the question.

But any combination featuring Martin Taupau is dangerous, particularly if Nate Myles and Lewis Brown continue the form that has made them rep mainstays over the years.

Martin Taupau adds size and physicality to the Manly pack. Source: News Corp Australia

Weaknesses: Expectations are high on this lot, and pressure will mount if they don’t hit the ground running.

Trent Barrett’s roster does look to be in need of one more big man with fears Brenton Lawrence won’t be the same player he once was after a serious back injury.

10. Panthers

Starting pack: Reagan Campbell-Gillard, James Segeyaro, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Bryce Cartwright, Trent Merrin

Strengths: Another team with a high turnover of players, Trent Merrin’s arrival brings a truckload of skill and mobility to the mountains, adding to the already healthy stocks provided by Bryce Cartwright and utility Tyrone Peachey.

Weaknesses: Grunt. Plenty falls on the shoulders of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Sam McKendry following the retirements of props Brent Kite and Nigel Plum.

Along with Jeremy Latimore and Roosters recruit Suaia Matagi, they’ll have to aim up or they’ll end up under the bus against bigger sides.

11. Dragons

Starting pack: Russell Packer, Mitch Rein, Lesson Ah Mau, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Mike Cooper

Strengths: Second-rowers Frizell and Thompson were in the NSW Origin frame with good reason last year, at their best they can match anyone.

Accurately described as ‘soft’ by then-coach Steve Price in 2014, the Dragons turned the competition on its head early last year with defence packed with dynamite.

Weaknesses: Trent Merrin’s departure leaves a hole in the creativity department, with the majority of their forwards honest toilers rather than game breakers.

Russell Packer’s return to the game offers a class option if he hits the straps he’s capable of but otherwise the Dragons are short on star power up front.

12. Raiders

Starting pack: Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, Josh Hodgson, Paul Vaughan, Josh Papalii, Sia Soliola, Shaun Fensom

Strengths: Englishman Josh Hodgson looms as a long term No. 9 for the Green Machine, and will only get better with another season in the NRL.

Young prop Paul Vaughan is one of the most promising running around, while their back-row is as skilful as it is bruising.

Weaknesses: Papalii is overdue to step up and truly deliver on his potential after five years in the game, while the Raiders bench doesn’t provide the same depth or quality seen at other clubs.

13. Eels

Starting pack: Junior Paulo, Nathan Peats, Tim Mannah, Manu Ma’u, Beau Scott, Anthony Watmough

Anthony Watmough will be hoping for happier returns in 2016. Source: News Corp Australia

Strengths: Plenty of menace in the back-row with Manu Ma’u and Beau Scott accompanied onto the field by a health warning for opponents.

Nathan Peats’ spark around the ruck should only grow brighter under the reshaped interchange laws, while Danny Wicks was impressive in his first NRL season in some time last year.

Weaknesses: Anthony Watmough’s returns during an injury plagued 2015 were well below expectations, and the Eels can’t afford to have him on one leg again.

Their back-up hooking options for Peats — an issue for the past two years — still don’t look to be remedied and their front-row stocks also look a tad skinny.

14. Titans

Starting pack: Luke Douglas, Nathan Friend, David Shillington, Ryan James, Chris McQueen, Greg Bird

Strengths: No shortage of experience up front for Neil Henry, with over 1000 NRL games packing into the scrum.

Greg Bird is still a rep class player, 26-year-old Chris McQueen is by no means finished at that level and enforcer Ryan James isn’t that far off.

Weaknesses: Discipline. James and Bird were among the most penalised players in the competition last year, and Bird has spent too much time sidelined through suspension.

You also have to wonder how much bang they’ll get for their buck out of veteran recruits Friend and Shillington under the new interchange laws.

15. Tigers

Starting pack: Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Sauaso Sue, Curtis Sironen, Chris Lawrence, Dene Halatau

Aaron Woods needs help up front for the Tigers. Source: News Corp Australia

Strengths: Aaron Woods established himself as one of the game’s premier props despite playing in a struggling side last year.

Robbie Farah’s retention means the Tigers still have a senior man to guide young halves Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses, while Tim Grant adds another big body to the forward rotation.

Weaknesses: Woods needs help in the middle, and it’s on the likes of Sue and Grant to ensure their new captain isn’t left carrying the can.

On the edges more is also needed of Sironen and Lawrence, who were both below their best in 2015.

16. Knights

Starting pack: Kade Snowden, Tyler Randell, Korbin Sims, Robbie Rochow, Tariq Sims, Jeremy Smith

Strengths: The Sims brothers pack a hefty punch both in attack and defence, and Pauli Pauli’s arrival from the Eels brings size and a handy offload.

With a number of seasoned forwards moving on last year there’s plenty of room for the youngsters to stake their claim, led by potential captain Robbie Rochow.

Weaknesses: Over 1000 games worth of experience walked out the door at Newcastle, the majority of it in the forwards.

Nathan Brown’s clean-out is a necessary one given the wooden spoon looms large in the trophy cabinet, but the lack of big names or experienced heads up front is a telling one for the club.