Why Naufahu Whyte is the NRL's top forward in 2026

Naufahu Whyte has been a dominant force for the Roosters this season, leading all forwards in metres gained and post-contact metres averages over 16 runs per game. As the team prepares to take on Newcastle in the grand final on Sunday, Whyte's impressive performance has solidified his position as one of rugby league's top players and the premier front-rower of the year.

A Season to Remember

Whyte's statistics are a testament to his hard work and dedication. He is fifth among all forwards for tackle busts and just outside the top 10 for offloads, proving he's far from an empty calories stat-chaser. Simply put, in all aspects of play, he's had the best year of any forward in the NRL.

"All I remember is the start. I was getting ready to take the kick-off carry to start the game and the crowd was just roaring, the trumpets were playing and everything was just going off," Whyte said, reflecting on his team's preliminary final win over the Dolphins.

"I remember taking about the first carry and starting the game off and then I remember us winning it at the end and that is all I need. That's all that matters to me."

A Grand Final Debut

Whyte's performance in the preliminary final was his latest blunt-force masterpiece as he finished with 18 runs for 207 metres, more than all three opposition starting middles combined. He will lead the Roosters from the front in Sunday's grand final, a job he feels like he is built to do.

"It's just what I want to do for my brothers and that's a superpower of mine, to carry that ball and I can create opportunities off the back of that for Sammy [Walker], Teddy [James Tedesco], Chez [Daly Cherry-Evans], all of those boys to really express themselves," he said.

"I just feel like every time I can get my hands on that ball I can create something special for them. I've got to make sure that's there for my teammates and brothers on that field every time I'm doing something, whether it's running the ball, tackling or whatever."

Learning from the Past

Whyte has made his name by running through whatever ends up in front of him, but he's only been able to do so by running away from a year he never wants to revisit. The 24-year-old made his NRL debut in 2021 but spent all of the following season outside the big league, failing to play a single first-grade game.

"I just had a sit back for myself personally, I got a bit too comfortable being in you know NRL. I thought I made it," Whyte said.

"It was a good reality check for myself and it was good that I got to start early on in my career because now I stick with that forever. I don't ever want to experience that feeling ever again. I stuck with those lessons, I took it on the chin and I bounced back."

A Grand Final Win

Sunday will mark Whyte's grand final debut, but he is well acquainted with the lore the Roosters carry into the decider. He admits to being a regular viewer of replays of the Tricolours' 2018 and 2019 grand final wins, taking them as a source of inspiration.

"I remember everything about them, I still watch YouTube videos of those games all the time," Whyte said.

"I've actually watched it lately and tried to envision myself in that moment and stuff. Seeing all their hard work pay off. It's something I've always wanted to experience. The boys still talk about it every now and then and now it's my time to hopefully enjoy a moment like that for myself."