A common theme in NRL premiership winning sides is a big and mobile pack that offer a point of difference.

From giant metre eaters to skilful ball players and brutal defenders, a well balanced forward pack has to lay the platform for the halves and speedsters out wide to work their magic.

We’ve rated every teams’ predicted starting forward pack for the 2020 season.

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Round 19

RAIDERS

Josh Papalii is the heart and soul of the Raiders pack. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Sia Soliola 9 Josh Hodgson 10 Josh Papalii 11 John Bateman 12 Elliott Whitehead 13 Joe Tapine

Experience: 729 NRL games

Rating: A+

Strength: Availability is a key strength for the Raiders with all but Josh Papalii’i ineligible to play State of Origin. That gives Ricky Stuart’s men a powerful advantage at a time of year where most powerhouse clubs are decimated by NSW and Queensland representation. English trio Hodgson, Bateman and Whitehead set the standards for the team and their hooker is up there with Cameron Smith and Damien Cook as one of the best rakes in the game. Papali’i was a colossus in 2019 for club, state and country and he leads the way every week for his fellow Raiders to follow.

Weakness: They don’t have many, but Sia Soliola’s age could be seen as a slight chink in their armour, although he still plays at an extremely high level. Joe Tapine’s injury troubles have been well documented and he will be hoping to keep himself on the field for an extended run this season.

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STORM

Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s fiery approach is a blessing and a curse for the Storm. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Cameron Smith 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11 Felise Kaufusi 12 Kenny Bromwich 13 Dale Finucane

Experience: 1191 NRL games

Rating: A-

Strength: They may have lost some depth on their bench in the off-season, but Melbourne still boast one of the best starting packs in the game and by far the most experienced, which is their main strength. Jesse Bromwich is entering the back end of his career, but is still a class international front-rower and Nelson Asofa-Solomona at his best is one of the most destructive props in the game. Cameron Smith is Cameron Smith. Enough said. Kenny Bromwich is a 10-time New Zealand international, while Felise Kaufusi has six Origins and four Tests for the Kangaroos to his name. Dale Finucane is the only member of the pack not to play for his country, but after starring in the Blues Origin series win in 2019, Mal Meninga could opt to hand him a Kangaroos debut sooner rather than later.

Weakness: Asofa-Solomona has a short fuse at times and that can get him on the wrong side of the referees, which causes him to give away silly penalties. Cameron Smith is still one of the best hooker sin the game, but his speed out of dummyhalf is not what it once was. Craig Bellamy’s conservative game style also leads to the Storm being predictable at times, especially in finals football where big plays and offloads can often decide the game.

ROOSTERS

Siosiua Taukeiaho is the leader of the Roosters pack. Source: Getty Images

Predicted pack: 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9 Jake Friend 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho 11 Boyd Cordner 12 Mitchell Aubusson 13 Victor Radley

Experience: 1084 NRL games

Rating: A-

Strength: Boyd Cordner is probably the most reliable player in rugby league and has been a consistent leader and winner for club, state and country in recent years. Siosiua Taukeiaho is arguably the best front-rower in the game and versatile enough to play in the back row at a pinch. Victor Radley was in and around Brad Fittler’s Blues squad last season, with a representative debut a matter of when not if and he can also play hooker if injuries strike.

Weakness: There aren’t many, but age might be one of them. Jake Friend has struggled with injury in recent seasons and his speed out of dummhalf has waned as a result. Waerea-Hargreaves and Aubusson have been warriors for the club, but are closer to the end of their careers than the start, which means they don’t have the consistent explosive power of their youth.

BRONCOS

Matt Lodge still has to work on his discipline. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Matthew Lodge 9 Jake Turpin 10 Payne Haas 11 Alex Glenn 12 David Fifita 13 Tevita Pangai Jnr

Experience: 466 NRL games

Rating: A-

Strength: Youth, size, speed and power, the baby Broncos have it all. In Payne Haas and David Fifita, Brisbane have the two brightest young forwards in the NRL and if either were on the market then all 15 other clubs would be throwing everything at securing their services. The fact that newly appointed skipper Alex Glenn will keep Origin forward Joe Ofahengaue on the bench, shows how good this pack is.

Weakness: While Matthew Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr are imposing enforcers they both have a tendency to push the limits of the rules, which draws unwanted penalties for Anthony Seibold’s side. There is also an awkward battle between club stalwart Andrew McCullough and young star Jake Turpin that could create issues with team chemistry and balance.

RABBITOHS

Cameron Murray was a revelation in 2019. Source: AAP

Predicted pack: 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Liam Knight 11. Ethan Lowe

12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Cameron Murray

Experience: 365 NRL games

Rating: A-

Strength: In hooker Damien Cook the Rabbitohs have the most explosive hooker in the game, which gives his side a huge advantage on the back of his runs out of dummyhalf. Cameron Murray is arguably the best young forward in the game and after debuting for the Blues and the Kangaroos last year, the 22-year-old will only get better with experience. Liam Knight came of age as a front-rower in 2019 and is expected to take his game to greater heights this season in Sam Burgess’ absence.

Weakness: Despite having some class players the Rabbitohs lack the level of experience of some of their main rivals for the premiership. Thomas Burgess has struggled to find the consistency that saw him dominate off the bench in South Sydney’s charge to the 2014 title. Ethan Lowe starred for the Maroons in Origin last season, but the gap between his best game and his worst is still too great. Jaydn Su’A has shown a lot of promise, but at 22 and with just 39 games of first grade to his name he lacks the experience to be a consistent enforcer for the Rabbitohs at this stage of his career.

COWBOYS

Jason Taumalolo is arguably the best forward in the game. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Jordan McLean 9 Jake Granville 10 Josh McGuire 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Coen Hess 13 Jason Taumalolo

Experience: 1033 NRL games

Rating: B+

Strength: Firepower. Jason Taumalolo is arguably the best forward in the game and one of the best players period. If he can add a passing element to his armoury then he will be the complete footballer. Jordan McLean and Josh McGuire are international standard forwards, who will want to regain their Kangaroos jerseys with big 2020 campaigns.

Weakness: Jake Granville has lost a yard or two of pace in recent seasons and lacks the penetration of his early years at the Cowboys. Gavin Cooper turns 35 this season and while he never lets the team down his best years are well and truly behind him. Coen Hess has been on a downhill slide since starring in the Cowboys’ run to the 2017 Grand Final. His return to the back row in 2020 will hopefully bring out the best in the former Maroons enforcer.

DRAGONS

Trent Merrin returns to where it all began. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Paul Vaughan 9 Cameron McInnes 10 James Graham 11 Tyson Frizell 12 Tariq Sims 13 Trent Merrin

Experience: 978 NRL games

Rating: B+

Strength: The Dragons boast one of the most experienced packs in the competition in 2020. Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims are three current Blues forwards, who can dominate opposition teams in both attack and defence. New skipper Cameron McInnes was a game or two away from playing Origin in 2018 and was the club’s best player last season in a disappointing campaign.

Weakness: At 34 James Graham is in the twilight of his career and while his effort can never be questioned his impact with ball in hand and ability to bend the defensive line is not what it once was. Trent Merrin is good signing for the club and he will be motivated to prove he can still cut it in the NRL. However Merrin didn’t play big minutes in his early years at the Dragons, so it remains to be seen if he will have the desired effect now that he is in his 30s.

SEA EAGLES

Addin Fonua-Blake had a breakout year in 2019. Source: AAP

Predicted pack: 8 Addin Fonua-Blake 9 Danny Levi 10 Martin Taupau 11 Curtis Sironen 12 Joel Thompson 13 Jake Trbojevic

Experience: 768 NRL games

Rating: B-

Strength: The Sea Eagles boast one of the most destructive prop combinations in the competition in Addin Fonua-Blake and Marty Taupau. Fonua-Blake in particular came of age under Des Hasler’s guidance last season and with his future locked in he could become one of the game’s best props in the coming seasons. Jake Trbojevic is a world class lock and drives the culture of the side as the heart and soul of the team.

Weakness: Manly had one of the best hooker rotations in the competition before Api Koroisau’s defection to the Panthers and Manase Fainu’s legal troubles. It remains to be seen if former Knights rake Danny Levi can fill the void in 2020. Recent injury concerns over back-rowers Sironen, Thompson and Trbojevic will also be keeping Des Hasler up late at night.

EELS

Ryan Matterson is one of two big Eels off-season signings. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9 Reed Mahoney 10 Junior Paulo 11 Shaun Lane 12 Ryan Matterson 13 Nathan Brown

Experience: 520 NRL games

Rating: B-

Strength: Size is a definite advantage for the 2020 Eels, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson joining an already big Parramatta pack. Matterson is coming off his best season on the field, after breaking into Brad Fittler’s Blues squad. Reed Mahoney is considered one of the best up and coming hookers in the competition and has been touted for future Origin honours with Queensland.

Weakness: New recruit Campbell-Gillard has struggled to return to the form that saw him represent his country at the 2017 World Cup, ever since he broke his jaw during the 2018 Origin series. The Eels have a lot of hard workers in their pack, but are lacking a game breaker in attack and defence in the mould of a Tevita Pangai Jr or a Jason Taumalolo.

PANTHERS

Viliame Kikau is the Panthers’ best ball runner. Source: Getty Images

Predicted pack: 8 James Tamou 9 Api Koroisau 10 Zane Tetevano 11 Viliame Kikau 12 Isaah Yeo 13 James Fisher-Harris

Experience: 720 NRL games

Rating: B-

Strength: The Panthers have a well-balanced and potentially devastating forward pack. Viliame Kikau showed last season that he can be one of the best edge ball runners in the NRL. The addition of Roosters’ premiership winner Zane Tetevano gives the Panthers a second New Zealand international to join James Fisher-Harris. The return of Api Koroisau also gives Penrith great penetration and creativity out of dummhalf.

Weakness: At 31 skipper James Tamou’s best years are behind him and while he had a strong 2019 season his days of churning out over 100 metres a game consistently as he did at the Cowboys are gone. Isaah Yeo is a great club man, but his battles with concussion and injury in recent seasons leaves the Panthers vulnerable if he again misses time in 2020.

SHARKS

At his best Andrew Fifita is still one of the game’s best front-rowers. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Andrew Fifita 9 Blayke Brailey 10 Aaron Woods 11 Briton Nikora 12 Wade Graham 13 Jack Williams

Experience: 695 NRL games

Rating: C+

Strength: Wade Graham is arguably the best ball playing back-rower in the competition and also has a strong kicking game if called upon. Cronulla’s twin towers in Andrew Fifita and Aaron Woods upfront are an imposing pair and both offer an offload game that can make serious inroads into opposition defences.

Weakness: Inexperience. While Fifita, Woods and Graham have plenty of experience, Briton Nikora is entering his second season as a starter and Blayke Brailey and Jack Williams their first. How these three adapt to the week in and week out grind of a starting role will go a long way towards deciding how far this Sharks team can go in 2020.

KNIGHTS

David Klemmer is by far the best player in the Knights pack. Source: AAP

Predicted pack: 8 David Klemmer 9 Jayden Brailey 10 Daniel Saifiti 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12 Mitchell Barnett 13 Tim Glasby

Experience: 558 NRL games

Rating: C-

Strength: In their three Origin stars the Knights have the nucleus of a powerful pack. Blues props David Klemmer and Daniel Saifiti are up there with the best prop combinations in the competition, while Maroons’ forward Tim Glasby provides versatility in the middle of the field.

Weakness: Punch in the back row. Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Mitchell Barnett are solid first graders, but they lack the fire and brimstone to dominate opposition sides in both attack and defence. Jayden Brailey is an excellent signing, but it remains to be seen if he can be an 80-minute player at hooker, which would give the Knights more room to move with their bench.

TITANS

Jai Arrow will want to finish his career at the Titans on a high. Source: Getty Images

Predicted pack: 8 Moeaki Fotuaika 9 Nathan Peats 10 Jarrod Wallace 11 Kevin Proctor

12 Bryce Cartwright 13 Jai Arrow

Experience: 730 NRL games

Rating: C-

Strength: The Titans should be thanking their lucky stars that Jai Arrow is staying at the Titans for one more year. The Maroons forward, boom prop Moeaki Fotuaika and New Zealand international Kevin Proctor are the only forwards in the team who can be truly proud of their efforts in 2019. That trio form the nucleus of a strong pack, but they need their teammates to follow them more often under new coach Justin Holbrook.

Weakness: Ryan James is a massive loss after suffering a second consecutive season ending knee injury. Jarrod Wallace needs a big year to convince Kevin Walters his Origin career isn’t over and it all starts with consistent performances for his club in his skipper’s absence. Nathan Peats needs to put his injury troubles behind him to return to the form that saw him play for the Blues in 2017, while Bryce Cartwright is fighting for his career after a horror couple of seasons since joining the Titans.

BULLDOGS

Josh Jackson will lead the Bulldogs from the front again in 2020. Source: News Corp Australia

Predicted pack: 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Jeremy Marshall-King 10 Dylan Napa 11 Joe Stimson 12 Josh Jackson 13 Adam Elliott

Experience: 754 NRL games

Rating: C-

Strength: Plenty of workhorses. Bulldogs’ back-rowers Josh Jackson and Adam Elliot are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work, which sets a good example for their teammates. In former Storm grand finalist Joe Stimson, the Bulldogs have a player with plenty of potential and with a point to prove when he gets more game time at his new club.

Weakness: Maroons prop Dylan Napa should be a strength, but he struggled in his first year at Belmore since leaving the Tri-colours and needs a big year in 2020. While he improved a lot in 2019, Jeremy Marshall-King is essentially a makeshift hooker and he still has plenty to learn about the No.9 position. Aiden Tolman is a solid and reliable club man, but he is entering the twilight of his career with his best years behind him.

WARRIORS

Tohu Harris has struggled with injuries so far at the Warriors. Source: Getty Images

Predicted pack: 8 Agnatius Paasi 9 Wayde Egan 10 Leeson Ah Mau 11 Isaiah Papali’i 12 Tohu Harris 13 Jazz Tevaga

Experience: 585 NRL games

Rating: D+

Strength: Tohu Harris’ time at the Warriors has been hampered by repeated injuries, but at his best he is still one of the most damaging and versatile back-rowers in the NRL. Leeson Ah Mau is a seasoned campaigner and another international forward that can lead the way for a young Warriors pack.

Weakness: When will the Warriors young stars take their game to the next level? Agnatius Paasi, Isaiah Papali’i and Jazz Tevaga have been touted as future stars their whole careers, but they need to take the next step. Wayde Egan is an astute signing at hooker to cover the loss of Issac Luke, but it remains to be seen if he can be a consistent threat out of dummhalf week in and week out.

TIGERS

Thomas Mikaele was a big improver for the Tigers in 2019. Source: AAP

Predicted pack: 8 Alex Twal 9 Harry Grant 10 Thomas Mikaele 11 Michael Chee-Kam 12 Luke Garner 13 Matt Eisenhuth

Experience: 231 NRL games

Rating: D+

Strength: Power upfront and mobility. In Alex Twal and Thomas Mikaele the Tigers have two exciting and mobile props that can dent the line and create opportunities with their offloads. Michael Chee-Kam is a damaging ball runner, who will benefit from an extended run in the Tigers starting team, while Luke Garner is coming off his most consistent season in first grade.

Weakness: Inexperience. The Tigers pack has promise, but it is still very green, with just 231 first grade games between them, the lowest number in the NRL. The unavailability of Josh Reynolds to legal issues and Jacob Liddle (ACL) for at least half of the 2020 season puts two game rookie Harry Grant in the hot seat at hooker after a swap deal with the Storm. He will likely share time with Elijah Taylor coming off the bench, but it is still a big ask for a youngster that is still learning his trade in top grade.