Rugby league is built on the arrival of new talent, and the five finalists for the RLPA Rookie of the Year award have already proven they belong at the highest level. Across the 2026 season, Cooper Clarke, Francis Manuleleua, Oliver Pascoe, Ethan Sanders, and Setu Tu have established themselves not just as the future, but as relevant contributors right now.

Cooper Clarke (Melbourne Storm)

Clarke arrived at the Storm in Round 1 as a raw teenage prop. Playing 15 games, he has made 356 tackles at 94 percent efficiency, a tackling rate among the most reliable defenders in the competition. He signed a contract extension until 2029 in April. That speaks to Craig Bellamy’s confidence in what comes next.

Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights)

Manuleleua came through the Penrith system before arriving at Newcastle with genuine pedigree. In his rookie season, he has become crucial to Newcastle’s turnaround, understanding positional discipline and defensive intensity. Newcastle built their incredible climb from wooden spoon to finals contention with players like Manuleleua doing the foundational work that makes everything else possible.

Oliver Pascoe (Gold Coast Titans)

Given increased opportunity at hooker, Pascoe has responded by showcasing the composure and intelligence that made him a highly regarded prospect. He has managed the ruck with precision and distributed with instinct. His role has expanded consistently, he has proven he was worth giving minutes to and improved in every game this year.

Ethan Sanders (Canberra Raiders)

Sanders established himself as the playmaker Canberra needed. In Round 1, he kicked the winning field goal against Manly in golden point extra-time. Since then, he has accumulated a great repertoire of skills and managed the attack intelligently. At 22 years old, he has already proven he can operate at the highest level without trying to do too much.

Setu Tu (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Tu has shown strong instincts around the tryline and increasing comfort with NRL football each week. Playing as a young outside back for an inconsistent Dragons team, Tu has been one of the few bright spots in attack. He has managed the defensive demands while showcasing the attacking impact that made him worth developing.

Each of these five players has done something genuine in their rookie year. Not all of them will have careers that burn as bright as this beginning moment. But all of them have proven they can play rugby league at NRL level, which is the single most important thing a rookie can prove.