2026 Season Awards
The 2026 NRL Fantasy season in awards. Each one is worked out from the games themselves, the window it covers is in its own line, and only a clear winner takes one: a tie means no award.
Grand Final
James Tedesco scored 76 fantasy points in the 2026 Grand Final, the most of any player, as the Roosters beat the Knights 19 to 18.
Captain of the Year
Nathan Cleary was the most common captain among the season's top 1,000 teams in 8 of the 14 rounds from Round 14 to Round 27, more than any other player.
Breakout of the Year
Te Maire Martin averaged 56.3 in 2026, up from 17.9 in 2025, the biggest rise of any player with 10 or more games in both seasons.
Cash Cow of the Year
Ryan Couchman started 2026 at $250,000 and peaked at $858,000 going into Round 25, a rise of $608,000 and the biggest of any player. He finished the season at $742,000.
Most 50s
Terrell May scored 50 or more in all 23 of his games in 2026, more 50 point games than any other player.
Rookie of the Year
Oliver Pascoe averaged 47.5 across 20 games in his first NRL season, the best of any player in his first season with 10 or more games.
Most 100s
Nicholas Hynes scored 100 or more three times in 2026, the most of any player. There were 10 scores of 100 or more across the regular season.
Model Report
Edge projections were graded on 5,524 player games from Round 7 to Round 27. The typical miss was 13.1 points, 49 percent landed within 10 points and 79 percent within 20. The sharpest round was Round 17, at 11.3.
Biggest Drop
Valentine Holmes averaged 36.6 in 2026, down from 50.5 in 2025, the biggest drop among players who averaged 50 or more the year before, with 10 or more games in both seasons.
Top Club
Penrith Panthers players scored 16,605 fantasy points across the 2026 regular season, the most of any club.
NRL Fantasy 2026 Awards
Captain of the year, breakout of the year, cash cow and rookie of the year for the 2026 NRL Fantasy season, plus the Team of the Season picked on season average and how Edge's projections graded across the year. Every figure comes from the regular season, rounds 1 to 27, apart from the Grand Final top scorer.
