The conclusion of the 2026 NRL regular season marks a transition into the finals, but it also highlights an exciting moment for the league: the announcement of the MVP teams for the year.
This year's selections feature strong contributions from top teams, particularly the Penrith Panthers, who landed four players on the MVP first team.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs followed closely behind, placing five players on the second team, underscoring their strong performance throughout the season.
The voting results reflect a wide range of performances, with every team represented in the four MVP teams. Notably, James Tedesco amassed a total of 162 votes, securing a place on the fourth team and outperforming several first team players.
In identifying the MVPs, only player positions played most often during the 2026 season were considered.
The first team includes Dylan Edwards of the Panthers with 215 votes, closely followed by Nathan Cleary with 212 votes. Other notable players are Herbie Farnworth (The Dolphins) and Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Sea Eagles), who earned 176 and 210 votes, respectively.
The second team features Scott Drinkwater (North Queensland Cowboys) leading with 199 votes. South Sydney Rabbitohs' Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were also recognized, albeit with lower vote totals.
The third team highlighted Sua Fa'alogo (Melbourne Storm) with 165 votes, alongside solid performances from other players like Selwyn Cobbo and Adam Doueihi.
As a point of interest, David Fifita was named on the second team over Jacob Preston due to having one perfect game compared to Preston's none.
The fourth team honors include Tedesco and Braidon Burns (North Queensland Cowboys), demonstrating a competitive spirit throughout the league.