We rank the 10 best rugby league fullbacks of the NRL era, with honourable mentions for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Darius Boyd and Ben Barba. Criteria: talent, success, longevity, x-factor and the simple question of who you'd move mountains to sign to your club.

Greatest Fullbacks in NRL History

It’s June, smack bang in the middle of the biggest season of Rugby League football to date and we’re heading into an Origin decider in 2026.

With Vegas, All Stars, Magic Round, PNG Chiefs, the return of the Bears, Six Agains, State of Origin and whatever Kenty’s been up to; the Rugby League calendar is so full that it's hard to keep up.

In this modern world where attention is a commodity, the internet is rife with slop and time seems to be flying by quicker than ever, it’s comforting to sit down and have a look back at the history of our great game.

We’re all aware that Rugby League is the greatest game of all, but which is the most important position of all?

In the modern game, plenty of punters would argue that the best fullbacks have the most influence on the outcome of an NRL match.

Watching one of the NRL’s best fullbacks, Rugby League lothario Kalyn Ponga gooseying his way through the Blues defence on Wednesday got us thinking more on this question.

Who is the greatest Rugby League Fullback of the NRL era?

We’ve done our best to park the bias to make the definitive list of the greatest fullbacks in Rugby League. 

Find out below who we rate as the 10 best rugby league fullbacks, since the NRL era began in 1998.

Please note: for the purposes of this list - Darren Lockyer is being considered as a five-eighth.*

The Top 10 Best Rugby League Fullbacks of the NRL Era

10. Tom Trbojevic - Manly Sea Eagles

When fit, Turbo is as dangerous as anyone in this list. His 2021 NRL season was one of the great individual attacking campaigns in the competition's history: 28 tries and 29 try assists across 20 games, a Dally M Medal and NSW's player of the series in State of Origin.

He’s a leader at the Manly club and fan favourite on the Good Day Hill, a legend of a bloke and a world class athlete. 

Unfortunately, persistent hamstring injuries have limited the Mona Vale product to just 176 games across 12 seasons at the Northern Beaches.

If hamstring transplant surgery were a thing, Turbo would likely be closer to the top of this list of the best fullbacks in NRL history. 

9. Anthony Minichiello - Sydney Roosters

One of two Italian fullbacks from the Roosters on this list, Minichiello played 302 games at the Bondi club, playing fullback in their premiership winning 2002 and 2013 sides.

Known as the Count, Minichiello’s fullback play was defined by his speed, defensive awareness, support play and safety under the high ball.

Minichiello was named in the NRL's Team of the Decade for the 2000s, a period when he was one of the NRL’s most dominant custodians.

The 2013 premiership, which he won at 33, was a fitting cap on a long career built on consistency and professionalism.

8. Dylan Edwards - Penrith Panthers

The prototype of the no frills fullbacks, an integral part of the Panthers 2021-2024 dynasty.

For what Edwards lacks in hair, he makes up for in consistency, competitive drive, professionalism, fitness, footy IQ and underrated athleticism.

With a Clive Churchill Medal, five appearances for NSW, six tests for Australia and a career win percentage in the NRL of 77%, including five grand final appearances at fullback, it’s hard to argue that Dylan Edwards is one of the greatest fullbacks of the NRL era.

All that and he’s still not done yet, with the Panthers favourites for another premiership in 2026.

To put his place on this list beyond doubt, we’ll quote recording artist OTEEZY from their certified banger of a rugby league track, ‘Game Day Ritual’ (check it out if you haven’t).

“But at the back is my mate Dylan Edwards, and everybody really knows he’s fitter.”

Truer words were never spoken.

7. Kalyn Ponga - North Queensland Cowboys, Newcastle Knights

A hard one to place on this list, given the lack of club-level success at Newcastle, but the Knights’ skipper is undoubtedly deserving of a spot.

An out-and-out star superstar of the NRL, watching KP move across the field is nothing short of Rugby League poetry.

Since debuting in 2016, it’s been a question of when, not if Kalyn would scale the heights of the NRL. In 2023, Kalyn won the Dally M Award as the best player in the NRL.

In 2026, Kalyn has 12 State of Origin caps for QLD and has finally locked down the starting fullback position following a three-way superstar tussle with Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

A freak of an athlete, Kalyn combines fast twitch movements, the silky skill of a half, an elite-kicking game, a cool head under pressure and speed to burn.

In recent years he’s added defensive grit and leadership - we reckon KP belongs on this list already, and by the end of his career he’ll be even higher if he can stay injury free.

6. Matty Bowen - North Queensland Cowboys

The man they call ‘Mango’ was the most exciting player to watch on this list, change our minds. 

At 172cm and 85kg – Matty Bowen had to bring so much to his game to compete against the big boppers in the NRL. And bring it he did, blistering acceleration, incomparable toughness and instinctive attacking play that has to be seen to be believed.

Mango racked up 270 games for the Cowboys, 10 for QLD and representing Australia at the highest level.

To think he managed these rep honours while competing for spots with the likes of Billy Slater, Karmichael Hunt, Rhys Wesser and Darius Boyd.

Still the best fullback in 33 years of North Queensland Cowboys history – we miss watching you play Mango.

5. Brett Stewart - Manly Sea Eagles

Brett ‘Snake’ Stewart, AKA – the Prince of Brookvale looks like an unassuming character off the field.

He didn’t have freakish pace like Matt Bowen or the 6-foot 4 frame of his successor Tommy Turbo.

But he was a natural footy player from the Gong, who’s rugby league IQ and instincts were second-to-none.

One of the only fullbacks to outplay Billy Slater consistently during his prime, the Prince of Brookvale had an almost supernatural ability to find the line.

Stewart scored 163 tries in just 233 matches played to sit at 9th on the most tries scored in NRL history. He was selected at fullback for NSW, Australia and won the 2007 and 2011 premierships with Manly.

Snake and his brother Glenn were key members in a golden era for Manly and will likely never have to pay for a schooner at the Dee Why Hotel as long as they live.

4. Greg Inglis - Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs

Thinking of GI’s time at fullback, the first thing that comes to mind is Rabs Warren’s timeless commentary in the closing minutes of the 2014 Grand Final,

“And the Goanna crawls, down to the Northern end.” An iconic line from an iconic figure about an icon of Rugby League – in the unforgettable moment that Souths snapped their 43-year premiership drought.

Greg Inglis showed kids across Australia that anything is possible. The man made dreams come true and at 6 ft 5 and 110kg, he was a nightmare for opponents.

The Rolls Royce of NRL fullbacks, he must be in the conversation for a future immortal.

To summarise Greg’s greatness in a few sentences here is borderline impossible – so we’ll finish with the old hypothetical.

It’s universally agreed in pubs from Bowraville to Brisbane that 13 peak Greg Inglis’ beat 13 of any other player in the history of Rugby League.

Doesn’t that mean he’s the best Rugby League player ever?

Would’ve been higher on this list if not for already being the greatest centre of all time. *

3. Jarryd Hayne - Parramatta Eels (Not the Gold Coast version)

In 2009, the kid from Minto won the Dally M fullback of the year, NSW player of the series, International Federation player of the year, Parramatta player of the season, Fiji Bati player of the year and the Dally M for the best player in the NRL.

Hayne’s form took Paramatta all the way to the grand final that year, in what’s remembered as one of the greatest individual seasons in Australian Rugby League history.

The Eels ultimately fell short against a Melbourne Storm side that was later found to be rorting the salary cap, it would’ve been the first premiership for Parramatta since 1986.

The Hayne Plane won a second Dally M medal in 2014, putting him in rare air as one of the only fullbacks ever to win two Dally M Medals.

His defection to follow a dream in the NFL created a media frenzy – and the fact that he actually managed to play 8 regular-season games in the NFL is a testament to his undeniable talent.

Jarryd Hayne finished his NRL career with 214 games played, 11 for Australia, 23 for NSW and 10 for Fiji; and is safely the Eels best player since Sterlo.

2. James Tedesco - Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters

Year after year, Tedesco has turned up and been the best or second-best fullback in the competition without a single down season.

Through grit, professionalism and relentless effort Teddy has clawed his way past living-legends to reach no.2 on this list of the best NRL fullbacks.

His CV is undeniable, two Dally M Player of the Year Awards, five Dally M Fullback Awards, a Wally Lewis medal in 2019 for player of the series in Origin, four-time RLPA Player of the Year, two premiership wins (there’s actually way more but you get the picture).

Perhaps the defining moment of his career came in 2019 when Teddy won the series for NSW in the dying moments. That play was almost analogous for Teddy’s style at fullback..

Always there, competing on every play at 100%, right till the very end, no matter the opponent.

1. Billy Slater - Melbourne Storm

Billy ‘The Kid’ broke onto the scene for Melbourne Storm in 2004, a raw talent, quick off the mark, instinct player who had a knack for finding the tryline. But far from a complete package at that point.

That’s probably what has been most impressive about the career of Billy Slater, he worked on himself and improved every year of his career; added a pass, improved positional play, became a leader, worked on his defence, added variations and never stopped growing his game.

His attention to detail ended up seeing him revolutionise the way that fullbacks play, changing the qualities that had been expected of the position for 100 years of Rugby League.

Billy played fullback almost as a second five-eighth, a dual run or pass threat, a leader in defence and a link man between the halves.

This style of fullback play is the norm now, with almost every fullback mirroring the mould set out by Billy Slater to varying degrees.

319 NRL games, 1 x Dally M medal (2011), 2 x Clive Churchill Medals, 190 tries (3rd all time), 2 premierships, 31 games for QLD, 30 for Australia and plenty more awards. 

They say don't change when you get famous. But that's not exactly right, is it. Billy Slater changed plenty.

He started as a polite young kid from Innisfail with a work ethic, talent and a penchant for horses. 

He finished his playing days as a leader, a pillar in the community and role model with integrity - Okay, the horses thing didn’t change. 

Billy continues to give back to the game, helping the next generation of players reach their potential.

Billy, ‘The Bush Poet’ Slater is already a coaching success in his own right, and who didn’t enjoy the hilarious, “We’re still Queenslanders” moment. 

Whatever you think of the man, it's pretty close to unanimous at this point that Billy Slater is the greatest fullback in NRL history.