Jackson Ford, NRL's tireless front-rower, leads Dally M Medal race as Warriors surge

Key facts

• Jackson Ford leads the Dally M Medal polling by three points after eight rounds.
• He tops the NRL in tackles (332) and run metres (1,487) for the Warriors.
• Ford averages 39 tackles and 182 metres per match in 2026.
• He covers approximately 8 kilometres per game, according to club data.
• Ford signed with the Warriors from the Dragons at the end of the 2022 season.
• The Warriors have a 5-2 record to start the season, with Ford playing 80 minutes regularly.

The reluctant star atop the Dally M standings

Jackson Ford grimaces at the mention of his Dally M Medal lead. The Warriors front-rower, who sits three points clear in the player-of-the-year polling after eight rounds, tries to avoid the acclaim. 'I don't like it,' he said, adding that he asks his wife and mother to stay off social media. 'I try not to buy into it, because I know how easy it can go the other way.' Ford's reluctance is understandable in a sport where form can vanish overnight. But his numbers are impossible to ignore: a league-leading 332 tackles and 1,487 run metres, plus 619 metres after contact — the most in the competition. He has become an 80-minute middle forward, a rarity in the modern NRL's faster pace with reduced stoppages and the six-again rule.

An engine built on mental grit

Ford's endurance is almost beyond belief. According to club data, he covers around eight kilometres per match, with tackling, wrestling and carries on top of that. 'He is unique,' a club official said. 'He's not small, moves his way, does things really efficiently and is not light either, over 100 kilos. But he can handle the collisions, keep up and maintain game speed.' Ford credits a mental trick for his 80-minute efforts. 'One thing I try and do is [to think] how are [the opposition] feeling?' he explained. 'If I'm feeling tired, I go back in my head and say “they're doing worse than me”.' That mindset has been marvelled at internally, where his sheer will is regularly celebrated.

From Dragons fringe to Warriors linchpin

Ford's rise has been gradual. When the Warriors signed him from the Dragons at the end of the 2022 season, he had made only 33 first-grade appearances across four years. His physical capabilities were immediately evident: 'He set the fitness standards for forwards in that first pre-season,' the club official recalled. Ford impressed last year and has reached a new level in 2026. He now leads a Warriors pack that has propelled the team to a 5-2 start. 'I'm just vibing off everyone,' Ford told the Big League Podcast. 'Everyone's in pretty good form, so it makes my job a lot easier when you got Barney, Fish, Demitric, even the back rowers, finding speed. I just get on the back of them.'

State of Origin speculation and fake phone calls

Ford's form has thrust him into State of Origin selection debate for New South Wales. He has not yet received a call from Blues coach Laurie Daly, but he is grateful that teammates have stopped prank-calling him pretending to be the coach. 'Thank God those phone calls aren't happening this year,' he chuckled. 'The fake phone calls have been happening the last couple of years, but nothing this year.' That window of opportunity may be closing fast. Ford's incredible form makes a genuine approach more likely, and his teammates have already endorsed him. Warriors coach Andrew Webster said, 'Pick him for sure, we want our players to play rep footy.'

Comparisons to Warriors legends

Across the modern era of the Warriors, few players have matched Ford's work rate. Simon Mannering is incomparable for his work ethic and capacity to play through pain, while former skipper Tohu Harris was not far behind, especially from 2019 to 2022 when he regularly played full matches in the middle. Ford is now in that conversation. Teammate Vaimauga described Ford as 'a once in a blue moon kind of player.' Ford himself is modest about whether this is career-best form: 'I don't know about that,' he said, but it must be close. His consistency has been a cornerstone of the Warriors' strong start.

The road ahead for Ford and the Warriors

Ford leads the Dally M table, but he knows how quickly fortunes can reverse. 'I know how easy it can go the other way,' he repeated. The Warriors face the Parramatta Eels next, seeking their fourth consecutive win, with Ford expected to again play the full 80 minutes. For now, Ford's focus remains on the team's performance rather than individual accolades. 'We're rewarding the team that's playing well,' Webster said. If Ford maintains his current output, the Dally M Medal and a Blues jersey may become inevitable — whether he likes the attention or not.

The bottom line

• Jackson Ford leads the Dally M Medal race by three points after eight rounds, topping the NRL in tackles and run metres.
• He averages 39 tackles and 182 metres per game while playing 80 minutes as a middle forward, covering about 8 km per match.
• Ford uses a mental trick — imagining opponents are more tired — to sustain his high work rate.
• Signed from the Dragons in 2022, he has developed into the Warriors' engine, helping them to a 5-2 start.
• His form has sparked State of Origin speculation, with Warriors coach Andrew Webster endorsing his selection.
• Ford shuns social media acclaim, saying he tries not to 'buy into it' because form can quickly reverse.