Six-again rule changes add up to bad news for old players: How each NRL team stacks up for average age

Older players are being left behind by the faster pace of the NRL in the six-again era with the average age coming down significantly in the past three years. 

An in-depth analysis by The Roar of the average age in the NRL over the past decade has uncovered a major shift towards younger players.

In the past three years, the average age of an NRL player has dropped below 26 after being as high as 28.47 just five years ago. 

After the six-again rules were introduced midway through 2020, club chief executives and coaches reacted by favouring youth in their roster with the number dropping from 26.57 in 2020 to 24.87 before levelling out at 25.31 last year.

Average NRL player age 2013-23

From the 374 players who have been used by the 17 clubs in the first four rounds or selected in the game-day 17 this week in Round 5, the average age is 25.8. 

In the eight seasons prior to the six-again era being thrust upon the game during the two-month hiatus when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the average player age ranged between 26.5 and 28.5.

The NRL is crowing about the increased time for ball in play over the past few seasons and that means younger legs are needed to keep up with the pace.

Players by age in the NRL for 2023

Star players such as Cameron Smith and Paul Gallen as well as journeymen like Chris Heighington and Michael Gordon extended their careers well beyond their 35th birthday.

But in 2023 there are no players that old and only seven aged 34 or will hit that number this season – Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Raiders winger Jordan Rapana, returning Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds, Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich, Manly half Daly Cherry-Evans and Cowboys duo James Tamou and Jake Granville. 

As the only member of that group born in 1988, Tamou holds the “honour” of being the NRL’s oldest active player after being coaxed to shelve retirement plans following his stint at the Wests Tigers for a final fling back in North Queensland where he won the premiership eight years ago.

At the other end of the spectrum, there have only been seven 19-year-olds players in their teens who have played in the NRL this season – Roosters star Joseph Suaalii, Wests Tigers second-rowers Brandon Tumeth and Justin Matamua, Souths prop Davvy Moale, Dragons forward Toby Couchman, Canterbury centre Paul Alamoti and Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa with teammate Jack Bostock joining him this Saturday when he makes his debut against his junior club St George Illawarra in Wollongong.

The vast majority of NRL players in 2023 are aged 21-29 at 81%.

Just 54 are aged in their 30s.

How each club stacks up age wise

It should come as no surprise that the Wests Tigers are fielding the youngest line-up in the NRL this year with returning coach Tim Sheens investing in youth after years of wasting dollars on under-performing veteran recruits.

They are 0-4 but Sheens is putting his faith in the likes of Stefano Utoikamanu, Fonua Pole, Justin Matamua, Asu Kepaoa and Junior Tupou to develop into stars of the future for when Benji Marshall takes over at the helm in 2025.

The Dolphins, despite being ridiculed in the pre-season for signing too many golden oldies, don’t have the oldest roster in 2023 with Cronulla, North Queensland and Parramatta averaging higher per player.

However, Wayne Bennett’s new team’s average age drops significantly by the inclusion of Katoa and Bostock, as well as 20-year-old rookies Kurt Donoghoe and Mason Teague – coincidentally they made their NRL debuts in back-to-back weeks both on their 20th birthday. 

The Dolphins have used five veteran forwards who are in their 30s – the Bromwich brothers, Felise Kaufusi, Jarrod Wallace and Mark Nicholls.

Average age of 2023 NRL teams

(youngest to oldest) 

Wests Tigers (24.46)

Despite the addition of experienced quartet John Batemanm, Api Koroisau, David Klemmer and Isaiah Papali’i, the wooden spooners have continued with a heavy focus on their department of youth. 

Of the 24 players Sheens has used, 15 are aged under 25.

Gold Coast (24.77) 

They were too young last year and played with an immaturity to never seriously threaten for a second straight playoff appearance.

Veteran five-eighth Kieran Foran and not-so-old but experienced hooker Sam Verrills were brought in to solve that problem. Foran and former Roosters forward Isaac Liu are the only Titans 28 or older as Justin Holbrook keeps one eye on the future with his youthful squad.

Manly (24.9)

The Sea Eagles also only have two players who have had their 28th birthday – Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic. It’s bad news for the rest of the league that Tom Trbojevic is still only 26 and if he has a good run with injuries, the sky’s the limit for the 2021 Dally M Medal winner. 

Canterbury (25.1)

Half of the 20 players used have been under 25 with Alamoti the latest young gun uncovered by the Bulldogs as they eye off a return to the finals under Cameron Ciraldo for the first time since 2016.

Brisbane (25.31)

Similar to the Titans, there was too much youth at the Broncos a couple of years ago so Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell were drafted in to fix that situation. The majority of players (10 of 19) used by Kevin Walters this season have been under 25.

Newcastle(25.81)

The Knights’ average age is lower due to a couple of local youngsters being rushed into first grade due to their heavy injury toll – 20-year-olds Ryan Rivett and Thomas Cant.

Their roster is in need of fresh blood with only nine of their 26 players this season under 25.

Penrith (25.82)

After defying the odds to win back-to-back titles with younger than usual grand final squads, the Panthers are now in the sweet spot with the majority of their squad and bang on the league average. 

Of the 22 used this season, 14 are aged in the 25-30 age-group which tends to be the prime of an NRL player’s career after they’ve ironed out the kinks in their early 20s. 

St George Illawarra (25.95)

Another club which skews heavily towards veterans even though their average age is brought down by a few youngsters like teenage forward Toby Couchman.

Only five of the 19 Dragons given a run by besieged coach Anthony Griffin are aged under 25. 

Yet another painful rebuild is needed after the Griffin experiment has backfired dismally. 

Roosters (26.05)

They have been trying to refresh their roster the past few years as the players from the back-to-back premiership teams of 2018-19 fade away.

However, only seven of 22 Roosters this season are under 25 and their best young prospect, Joseph Suaalii, will be heading to rugby at the end of next year.

South Sydney (26.09)

Their premiership window is far from over but this squad will need an overhaul soon. Four of the 23 Rabbitohs this season are 31 or above – Damien Cook, Thomas Burgess, Cody Walker and Michael Chee-Kam.

They have 11 players in the 25-30 range and just eight under 25 and only two under 23 – Moale and Ben Lovett, who made his debut off the bench last week in the win over Manly.

Melbourne (26.09)

The Storm are rebuilding on the run, replacing the seasoned trio Kenny and Jesse Bromwich, and Felise Kaufusi with a veteran in Tariq Sims and younger options like Eliesa Katoa and Trent Loeiro. 

With 14 of the 24 players used this year in the 25-30 age bracket, they are trying to thread the needle of rebuilding the roster around their stars like Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes without totally investing in youth.

Canberra (26.13)

The Raiders have been hanging onto the remnants of their 2019 team which stormed into the Grand Final and only seven of their 23 players this year are under 25. 

They have 12 of their team in the 25-30 bracket – Jack Wighton, Josh Papali’i, Elliott Whitehead and Rapana are the wrong side of 30 while Jarrod Croker is also but hasn’t been used at NRL level this year so the Green Machine is in definite need of an overhaul in the near future.

Warriors (26.17)

A deceptively older squad than you’d think with the likes of experienced recruits Mitch Barnett, Dylan Walker and Te Maire Martin linking with Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris. 

Only seven of the 23 Warriors this season have been under 25, with just two under 23. 

Dolphins (26.22)

As mentioned earlier, they’re not quite as geriatric as they’ve been made out to be but if you took out the four rookies they’ve blooded in the past month, they would be the NRL’s oldest squad.

Wayne Bennett has used 13 players who are 27 or older from the 23 he’s selected in the first five rounds with five in their 30s.

Parramatta (26.45)

Brad Arthur has for the most part replaced the veterans who left in the off-season with players who have a few seasons under their belt. 

Of the 20 players he’s used this campaign, 13 are aged 25-30 with only a single “old-timer” in 33-year-old hooker Josh Hodgson but just one rising star under 23 in centre Will Penisini.

Nth Qld (26.54)

The Cowboys have the widest variation in their roster with six players in their 30s and seven of the 24 used this year under 25. 

Granville and Tamou are set to retire at season’s end while Kyle Feldt (31), Peta Hiku (30), Jordan McLean (31), Chad Townsend (32) and Jason Taumalolo (30) have a few years left in them. Taumalolo is under a multimillion-dollar contract until the end of 2027 when he will be 34.

Cronulla (26.57)

The Sharks are probably a surprise to most NRL fans that they have the oldest squad. 

They turned over their roster in the years following their breakthrough 2016 premiership with co-captain Wade Graham, who is likely to retire at the end of the year, the last remaining member from that team.

Of the 21 players used by Craig Fitzgibbon this season, everyone is in the 23-30 age bracket apart from Graham (32) and his fellow leader, Dale Finucane, who is 31. Even their two 23-year-olds, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Teig Wilton, have a decent amount of NRL experience already with 69 and 49 games respectively on their resume.