Strategy 2026 | Let's Construct Our Best 23 | Part 2: Defenders

FootyGuy13 · Feb 7, 2026

Results from Part One:

1| Harvey Langford (96.6%)
2| Max Gawn (86.2%)
3| Kysaiah Pickett (82.8%)
4| Jack Steele (72.4%)
5| Caleb Windsor (65.5%)
6| Trent Rivers (58.6%)
---------------------------------
7| Ed Langdon (55.2%)
8| Jack Viney (31.0%)
9| Jai Culley (27.6%)
10| Xavier Lindsay (13.8%)

Changkuoth Jiath, Max Heath, Tom Campbell, Harry Sharp, Bayley Fritsch, Tom Sparrow, Kalani White, Riley Onley (<10%).

It's been a long time since there's been 4 changes for the midfield in this series, Steele taking the Viney role, Langford and Windsor are a super young duo in the wings and the Origin trio in Gawn, Pickett and Rivers make up the Followers line. We'll have to check into Part 3 to see if those who got pushed out can still make the starting 18 line-up.

Part 2 is looking at the defending six:
FB: Back Pocket | Full Back | Back Pocket
HB: Half Back Flank | Centre Half Back | Half Back Flank

Please vote for the six players you'd want to fill those positions. Voting ends Feb 14th.

Framework: We are pretending that everyone on the list is fit, uninjured and unsuspended, the only thing holding players back being age and inexperience. This isn't a Round 1 team either, just the Best 23 team against a random opponent in random weather conditions in a random round.

In the poll above are every player I've seen listed as a defender in DreamTeam, SuperCoach and/or any of the 44 Best 23 sides I've seen given for the Dees so far this off-season... so Happy Voting! :smallfooty:

mrmonkey · Feb 7, 2026

Round 1 back 6 Salem, Lindsay, Lever, Jiath? Petty, Turner. Lose track of who is injured or not but realised back Jiath might be injured, not sure of the seriousness. Probably have Howes in if Jiath isn't fit for round 1. I know it's over the year but I decided who will be available for round 1 to make it easier.

Headless · Feb 7, 2026

This one is really difficult.

Toump Ass · Feb 7, 2026

A bit grim this one.

Scythe · Feb 8, 2026

Youth plz.

FB: Taylor - Petty - Jiath
HB: Lindsay - Turner - Bowey (AMW)

Bluelegs · Feb 10, 2026

Went for

Jiath - Petty - Bowey
Lindsay - Turner - Lever

Taylor on the bench but could quickly come into the team if he's ready to go. Would love AMW to come in but I suspect he'll take a bit to come in from his knee. Which leaves us with Salem, who hopefully would benefit from a more agressive game style where he can't just hold onto the ball and wait for a dinky sideways pass.

Toump Ass · Feb 10, 2026

Nice to see MacDonald in the votes, bit more Tommy Macdonald never hurt anyone.

Log In or Create New Account

Guest - BigFooty Tipping 2026 - Get on! - $500 first prize - Weekly Prizes - Click to Join

NRL Tipping Competition 2026! - Open Now - Win a badge and a Platinum!

Strategy 2026 | Let's Construct Our Best 23 | Part 2: Defenders

Which six players should fill the defender positions in a pre-2026 Best 23?

#1 Steven May

#3 Christian Salem

#5 Xavier Lindsay

#8 Jake Lever

#10 Daniel Turner

#14 Changkuoth Jiath

#17 Jake Bowey

#19 Xavier Taylor

#22 Blake Howes

#25 Tom McDonald

#26 Jed Adams

#35 Harrison Petty

#38 Oscar Berry

#39 Ricky Mentha

#45 Andy Moniz-Wakefield

That Guy in the Back Corner

Brownlow Medallist

Yorkshire Pudding

The Big Deal

Moderator

Content Enthusiast

The Big Deal

Similar threads