Pass or fail: Which players aren't pulling their weight?

In the blink of an eye we have reached the halfway point of the 2026 NRL season.

There's been upsets, boilovers, contract bombshells and big names dropped. Coaches sacked, assistants leaving, CEO's quitting, big name defecting and we're only 13 rounds in!

Greg Alexander and Jimmy Smith run the rule over which players have exceeded expectations placed on them this season and who has (plenty) of room for improvement.

Penrith Panthers

"I could have named the whole side, they've only lost one game," Alexander said on SEN 1170.

Exceeding -

Moses Leota

Nathan Cleary

Room for improvement

Lindsay Smith

"I just think he gets caught between being a traditional front rower and the ball playing role," Smith said on SEN 1170.

"I think we can get more out of Lindsay."

Blaize Talagi

"Blaize, defensivley, has had some issues," Alexander added.

"His passing decision. When and when not to pass the ball should be Blaize's focus in the back half of the season."

The Warriors

Exceeding

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

"He has been brilliant. Absolutely brilliant this season," Alexander said.

"14 tries this season."

Chanel Harris-Tavita

"He has locked down that five-eighth postion to the point where the Warriors have decided that they don't have to play Luke Metcalf."

Jackson Ford

Room for improvement

Leka Halasima

Sydney Roosters

Exceeding

James Tedesco

Naufahu Whyte

Room for improvement

Spencer Leniu

Newcastle Knights

Exceeding

Dylan Lucas

"He has just been extraordinary this season," Smith said.

"10 games, six tries, four linebreaks and 97% tackle effiency and he makes 37 a game."

Dom Young

Greg Marzhew

Trey Mooney

Room for improvement

Dylan Brown

"He's a $1.3 million player," Alexander declared.

"He's playing solid without being great. He's done enough and they are winning.

"When the big games come, they need him to be better with the ball in hand."

Manly Sea Eagles

Exceeding

Haumole Olakau’atu

"In the post-Seibold era, he has been nothing short of spectacular," Smith said.

Tolutau Koula

Room for improvement

Reuben Garrick

Taniela Paseka

Jason Saab

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Exceeding

Tallis Duncan

Room for imrpovement

Cody Walker

Tevita Tatola

The Dolphins

Exceeding

Herbie Farnworth

Jack Bostock

Jamayne Isaako

Room for improvement

Isaiya Katoa

"He had a very slow start to the season but he's been better the past few weeks," Alexander mentioned.

"He has set his bar high. He's getting better but he's not there yet."

Cronulla Sharks

Exceeding

Braydon Trindall

"Second in the league for try assists. 15 try assists and tries himself," Smith said.

"Whenever anything good is happening for the Sharks in attack, Trindall is at the heart of it."

KL Iro

Room for improvement

Addin Fonua-Blake

Briton Nikora

Wests Tigers

Exceeding

Adam Doueihi

Sunia Turuva

Alex Twal

"Twal has had a 10-year career. The first nine years were really good. This year has been even better," Smith said.

Room for improvement

Jarome Luai

"If they are going to play finals, he simply has to be better," Alexander said.

"I think he had his best game in Round 12 but he needs to keep doing that.

"He created chances for himself, for others and was good in defence."

North Queensland Cowboys

Exceeding

Jake Clifford

Tom Chester

Braidon Burns

Room for improvement

The whole team in losses

"I couldn't identify a player that needed to be better," Alexander said.

"As a whole, in losses, it seems to be a collective. They all don't play well."

Brisbane Broncos

Exceeding

Kotoni Staggs

Xavier Willison

Room for improvement

Ezra Mam

Reece Walsh

Canberra Raiders

Exceeding

Ethan Strange

Simi Sasagi

Hudson Young

Noah Martin

Room for improvement

Kaeo Weekes

"He can missing in games at times," Alexander added.

Corey Horsburgh

Melbourne Storm

Exceeding

Sua Fa'alogo

Room for improvement

Cameron Munster

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Exceeding

Sitili Tupouniua

Room for improvement

"There's a host of players that need to be better," Alexander said.

"A lot of them might be at their ceiling level. I don't know if they can do much more. I reall don't know."

Matt Burton

Stephen Crichton

Parramatta Eels

Exceeding

Isaiah Iongi

Room for improvement

Mitch Moses

Jonah Pezet

"The game against the Broncos. He played really well and came up with three try assists," Smith said.

Gold Coast Titans

Exceeding

Keano Kini

Oliver Pascoe

Room for improvement

Jayden Campbell

"I want to see more from their class player," Alexander added.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

"He needs to lift. He's not on his own. A leader in every way," Smith said.

St George Illawarra Dragons

Exceeding

Hamish Stewart

Toby Couchman

Room for improvement

Valentine Holmes