Positional watchlist: Second-row forward targets for 2025

The last of our positional watchlists covers the 2RF position, which looks wide open at this stage.

With strong cheapie candidates in the likes of Duffy and Iongi looking good in other positions, it could make sense to spend a little more in 2RF at the start to sure up the position.

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Targets

Priced $650+

Haumole Olakau’atu – Sea Eagles – $665k

Taking out Ola’s injury affected game last season he averaged 71 – a slight uptick on his price at 68.

It’s also worth noting he started last season strongly, averaging 73 for the first 8 rounds. This did include three tries, but that’s consistent with his career scoring rate.

Turbo was playing in this same period and didn’t negatively affect Ola (which has been the case at times in the past).

With an opening four matches against the Cowboys (home), Warriors (away), Raiders (home) and Eels (home), Ola looks as good an option as any in the gun 2RF category.

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Priced $500-640k

Jacob Preston – Bulldogs – $609.2k

Dylan Lucas – Knights – $616.7k (2RF/CTW)

Connor Watson – Roosters – $583k (HK/2RF)

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Titans – $531.3k (FRF/2RF)

Impressively, Jacob Preston was able to keep up his PPM of 0.93 when playing the full 80 last season. Across his six 80-minute games he averaged 75, including two tries. Unfortunately, he didn’t play the full 80 in his other 11 games, which could have been partially due to injury niggles.

There have been rumours that Sitili Tupouniua will take minutes off him this season, I’m not buying it though. Sometimes we need to punt on a player’s ability, which Preston has in spades, so I’m prepared to back him in. The Dogs’ early draw, including the Dragons, Titans and Eels in their first three, helps too.

I covered the other three targets in their other positions, but I don’t mind the idea of picking Lucas and/or Watson in 2RF to start. Lucas because it would free up a space for a high upside CTW. Watson because it would free up a space for a cheapie hooker.

Tino I would definitely prefer to start at front-row given the shallowness of that position.

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Priced $300k-$490k

Corey Horsburgh – Raiders – $355.5k (FRF/2RF)

I covered Horse in the FRF analysis and would prefer him there for the same reasons as Tino. However, I can see merit in putting the likes of Naufahu Whyte (more on him later) at 2RF to enable rotation and VC looping opportunities.

Priced $290k and below

Myles Martin – Raiders – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Ethan Roberts – Roosters – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

I’m leaning towards a nuff option with 2RF dual in the fourth front-row spot to help with VC looping. Ethan Roberts could be the guy, which again increases fellow Rooster Nauf Whyte’s appeal, as these two will lockout at the same time each weekend.

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Job watch

Priced $650k+

J’maine Hopgood – Eels – $657.5k

Looked good in the trial and got an offload away, which is an important part of his SC scoring.

He could be slightly undervalued, having averaged 73 in 66 minutes in 2023, whilst being priced at 67 (60 minutes) from last season. If there’s a utility or hooker on the bench for the Eels, J’maine will absolutely be a round one option.

Priced $500k-$640k

Keaon Koloamatangi – Rabbitohs – $619.2k

Max Plath – Dolphins – $617.6k (HK/2RF)

John Bateman – Cowboys – $522.9k

Zac Hosking – Raiders – $513.9k

Whilst Koloamatangi’s best scores last season came at lock, he’s capable of beating his price whilst playing on the edge.

Back in 2022, Keaon averaged 67 playing on the edge, including seven tries. He’s come into the season fighting fit and Souths should be much better than last year.

Unfortunately, the injuries to Murray and Trell could limit his upside to start the season. If he covers any minutes in the middle though, this should increase his base significantly and make him a definite option early.

I covered Max Plath in the Hooker positional watch. Since then, he started the Dolphins’ most recent trial on an edge, which increases his appeal.

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Whilst he won’t get through as much work as he does in the middle, I still expect a high base given his play style. Add to that increased attacking potential on an edge and his handy dual positioning, and he could well become a season keeper.

At 31-years-old Bateman’s highest scoring SC days are probably behind him, but his unorthodox game still offers the potential of filling the stat sheet. Back in his Raiders’ days (2019 and 2020) he was a 70 average player, compared to season averages of 61 (2023) and 53 (2024) with the Tigers.

Attacking stats were hard for him to come by at the Tigs, including just two tries over the two years. There should be more on offer at the Cowboys, given their attacking flair. However, Todd Payten often limits edge back rowers’ minutes, so I’m inclined to wait and watch early.

Hosking is a player who’s shown plenty of potential when given opportunity over the years. Most recently, he averaged 100 across the first two rounds for the Raiders last season.

This is inflated by two tries and two try assists, but shows he has upside. In five x 80-minute games on the edge for the Panthers in 2023 he averaged 75, including two tries.

Historically Hosking’s PPM has been around 0.8, which with an 80-minute role would see him average between 60-65. Priced at 53, this would offer 10 points of value and sure up a 2RF spot. Unfortunately, he’s returning from a calf injury, which can be tricky to return. Therefore, I’d like to see him get a few 80-minute games under his belt before buying.

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Priced $300k-$490k

Kelma Tuilagi – Eels – 433.8k

Alex Seyfarth – Tigers – $432.4k

Tallis Duncan – Rabbitohs $420k

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki- Dolphins – $368.2k

Naufahu Whyte – Roosters – $367.1k (FRF/2RF)

Kobe Hetherington – Broncos – $338.8k

Siua Wong – Roosters – $318.1k

Kelma Tuilagi caught everyone’s eye last season during his starting games, averaging 61 from 74 minutes across 7 starts. This included an average of 56 in base (hitups and tackles) + power (offloads and tackle breaks). Throw in the potential of running off Mitch Moses, and it’s easy to see how people are interested.

I do have a few concerns though. Mainly that Kelma has had starting opportunities before, in 2022 and 2023, with a PPM just above 0.6, playing around 60 minutes. This saw him average around the 40-point mark. He was also fairly quiet in the most recent trial. Probably enough red flags there to wait and watch early.

Seyfarth could be the pick of the midrange 2RFs. It’s a small sample size (four games), but he averaged 63 from 72 minutes when starting on the edge last season, including 58.5 in base + power. It was encouraging to see him named captain in the last trial. In that game he scored 58 points, including just the one LBA (8 points) in attacking stats. To help his minutes, I’d like to see Tallyn De Silva on the Tigers’ bench.

Tallis Duncan could start for the Rabbitohs, either at Lock or edge 2RF. There is very little data on how he’d go at lock. In his only game starting there last season he scored 55 in 45 minutes, including 33 points in base + power. His SC output looks better on the edge, where he averaged 62.8 across five games last season, including two tries. 

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Kulikefu Finefeuiaki had opportunity to start in the backrow for the Cowboys last season and was solid, averaging 54 when playing 80 minutes (seven games). He’s no certainty to play 80 for the Phins though, so perhaps best to watch early.

Whyte I covered in the FRF analysis – since then he scored 47 points off the bench in the Roosters’ most recent trial, with no attacking stats. He’d be hard to pick off the bench, so the Roosters’ round one team list could be the clincher. Spencer Leniu has been suspended for the Roosters first two games, which will help.

Kobe Hetherington has been impressive this pre-season and looks likely to be rewarded with the Broncos #13 jersey. With a PPM around 0.9 over the past four years, 55 minutes per game could see him average 50, provided he can maintain the same work rate in longer minutes.

If he can somehow jag an attacking stat or two as well, which isn’t beyond the realms of possibility in this Broncs’ team, he’ll be a good option.

Siua Wong is a player with big wraps who is a chance of starting at lock or edge. The Roosters’ backrow has been a lottery of late though, so I’m reluctant to start with him.

Priced $300k and below

Jacob Laban – Warriors – $232.6k

Demitric Vaimauga – Warriors – $232.6k

Leka Halasima – Warriors – $232.6k

Jack Gosiewski – Broncos – $232.6k

Charlie Guymer – Eels – $232.6k

Lachlan Hubner – Rabbitohs – $232.6k

Kitione Kautoga – Eels – $232.6k

No sign of Jacob Laban for round one, which is a shame as he was a chance of starting on the edge. Fellow Warriors’ cheapies Vaimauga and Halasima have jagged bench spots, but with a four forward bench and Laban lurking around, I’m not planning to start with either.

Gosiewski has caught plenty of attention as he looks likely to start on the edge for the Broncs. Their team makeup will likely include two hookers, which could mean 80 minutes on the edge for Gos. With a historical PPM around 0.65, 80 minutes would equate to around a 50-point average. Job security is a huge concern though with Piakura hanging around. Given this it’s probably best to avoid unless there’s a lack of cheapies round one.

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Charlie Guymer is a hard worker who can play edge or middle. In two NRL games last season he averaged 40 points in 43 minutes. With Jason Ryles’ looking to set high standards early in his tenure, Guymer could well be the type of player to benefit. He’ll be worth considering even if on the bench, provided the Eels’ play two hookers or a bench utility.

Lachlan Hubner is another hardworking forward, who has followed Bennett from the Dolphins to the Rabbitohs. He played four NRL games last season, averaging 20 from 28 minutes. A quick review of his QCup stats suggests a PPM of closer to 1, mostly in base. The Bunnies are another team that look likely to run a two-hooker rotation, so the minutes could be on offer for Hubner.

22-year-old Kitione Kautoga has rocketed into contention for a starting berth on the edge with the Eels. He looks to be a damaging runner, with 8 tries from 18 games in NSW Cup last season. He’ll be a decent option if he gets the start and the Eels’ bench makeup suits.

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Form watch

Priced $650k+

Angus Crichton – Roosters – $758.7k

David Fifita – Titans – $749.4k

Isaah Yeo – Panthers – $727.1k

Eliesa Katoa – Storm – $717.3k

Briton Nikora – Sharks – $682.1k

Beau Fermor – Titans – $593.1k (2RF/CTW)

The two best backrowers from last season in Crichton and Fifita both have question marks over them to start. Crichton has a new halves combo to work with. Fifita is likely to start outside Jayden Campbell, with whom he averaged 68 (compared to a season ave of 77) last season.

Isaah Yeo went to another level last season, recording a career best SC average of 74. His two best games of the season, 102 and 122 in rounds 25 and 26, coincided with an elevated role in Cleary’s absence. It’s hard to see these type of ceiling games happening early, especially with Cleary back on deck.

Briton Nikora has averaged 70 two seasons in a row now, but 2024 was a season of two halves for him, averaging 82 from rounds 14 to 27. He’s probably more likely to have his high ceiling games later in the season once defences are a bit weaker.

Eli Katoa has rapidly ascended to one of the best 2RFs in the game. He’s maintained a PPM around 0.95 over the last three seasons. In 2024 he became a regular 80-minute man, resulting in a career high average of 73. It seems unlikely that he’ll increase on this based on the historical data, although he could go on a run at any stage.

I covered Beau Fermor in the CTW analysis and remain of the same view that whilst he could offer value, I’d prefer to wait to see how he goes with new halves combo.