With some teams having already started pre-season training ahead of the 2025 season, there are plenty of questions about each club’s roster that don’t have answers.
What will the Dragons do at halfback without Ben Hunt? There is a gaping hole in the halves that needs to be filled without any clear cut options at this stage.
The Panthers have lost plenty of gun players throughout their four-year reign, but perhaps none more important than Jarome Luai.
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Meanwhile, there are rumours surrounding the future of Sharks fullback Will Kennedy.
Read on for the roster burning questions for every team.
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MELBOURNE STORM
Can Craig Bellamy get the best out of new recruit Stefano Utoikamanu?
Melbourne will be looking to climb the premiership mountain once more in 2025 following grand final heartbreak this past season.
It was clear in that loss to Penrith that the absence of Nelson Asofa-Solomona significantly
impacted the Storm’s go-forward.
Melbourne’s pack minus NAS lacked any impact against Penrith’s all-conquering engine room, and that proved to be the difference.
So, if there’s any position the Storm needed to upgrade, it was front row.
They did that by luring gun prop Stefano Utoikamanu from the Tigers.
The one-game Blues representative produced some monster performances last year,
including in the Tigers’ upset Round 15 win over the Titans when he ran for 179 metres and
made 29 tackles.
But in between these great performances, were games where he struggled to make an
impact and guide the forwards over the advantage line.
It remains to be seen how the 24-year-old fits into Craig Bellamy’s ruthless setup in
Melbourne, but there’s no doubt that on ability alone, he’s among the game’s best props.
If any club is going to get the best out of a player, it’s the Storm.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Is Blaize Talagi the answer at 6?
The departure of superstar playmaker Jarome Luai has left one gaping hole in Penrith’s spine.
Fortunately, the Panthers were able to pick up one of the best prospects in the game in
Parramatta rookie Blaize Talagi.
The young gun has been touted as the future in the halves for the Panthers alongside Nathan Cleary.
The 19-year-old had a tough outing in his first major test at five eighth for Samoa against England with some disappointing defensive reads leading to opposition tries.
Talagi will face stiff internal competition to be Cleary’s partner with Jack Cole waiting
patiently in the wings for a few seasons now.
Cole had a crack with Luai last season, playing five games in the halves and is a strong runner of the football.
Also in the mix is Brad Schneider who deputised in Cleary’s absence at halfback but too often struggled to take control of the attack.
The wildcard is Trent Toelau, who has been largely used in first grade as a utility but has shone in the NSW Cup, recording 12 try assists in 14 games in the halves.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
How can the Roosters replicate their attacking output?
It was a breakout year with ball in hand for the Chooks, who scored the most points in a season in the club’s history.
Next year though, they’ll face some significant challenges to replicate that output.
Having already lost star centres Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukoso Suaali’i to rugby union,
the club was dealt a savage blow late in the season when key players Sam Walker and
Brandon Smith suffered serious, long-term knee injuries.
Even though Ben Hunt has been linked to the Roosters, at this stage, Sandon Smith and new recruit Chad Townsend will be called upon in the halves to replicate the magic of last season with Walker expected to be out unitl August.
Townsend comes to the club after indifferent form with the Cowboys last season
and will be looking to put that behind him as he enjoys a fresh start at Bondi.
What’s more, the club is looking for two new centres to replace Manu and Suaali’i.
Billy Smith looks to be one obvious choice at centres as he aims to finally cement a role after
years of heartbreaking injuries.
The other centre position is a toss-up, the club has a faith in young gun Rob Toia, another player that has had cruel injury luck at the club, while rugby convert Mark Nawaqnitawase is another that could transition into the centres.
With Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also departing, it’s going to be a much different looking Roosters side next year.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Is Will Kennedy fighting to save his Sharks future?
It seems weird to be discussing this as a possibility, but it appears Will Kennedy is on his
way out of the Sharks.
That is according to SMH reporter Michael Chammas who is reporting the Sharks are
considering making a play at Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
“I’m hearing murmurs around Will Kennedy’s future,” Chammas said.
“I don’t know if he’s as secure at the Sharks as we might have thought originally. They
obviously haven’t gotten past the second week of the finals for a number of years.
“He’s a free agent November 1. What happens with Will Kennedy and do the Sharks have a play at Ryan Papenhuyzen? … or do they move Will Kennedy on and Nicho Hynes becomes the fullback?”
There are many options for the Sharks outside of Hynes with Liam Ison emerging as a
breakout star in the NSW Cup for feeder club Newtown.
Ison guided the Jets to premiership glory, the 19-year-old scored 10 tries, set up another 11 and broke 110 tackles in a monster first year in open-age football.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
How does Todd Payten best utilise an ageing Jason Taumalolo?
All season long, questions raged about how Cowboys coach Todd Payten was using his star
forward Jason Taumalolo.
North Queensland insisted the reduced minutes were due to load management with the
coach upset over questions surrounding his former captain’s game-time this season, with the
forward averaging 39 minutes a game.
Fox League’s Gordon Tallis was critical of Payten’s handling of the situation citing
Taumalolo’s veteran status at what was a critical point of the Cowboys season.
“If he’s your best player, if he’s your most damaging player, if he’s your leader, he leads,”
Tallis said on NRL 360.
That criticism is only going to intensify after the Tongan international had an uptick in
minutes across the Pacific Champs.
It will certainly be a battle to keep an eye on in Townsville as the forward’s 10-year-deal contract continues to be a talking point.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Who steps up in Clint Gutherson’s absence?
After nine seasons with the Parramatta Eels, skipper Clint Gutherson is taking his talents to the Dragons from 2025 on a three-year deal.
This leaves the Eels with a massive hole to fill at fullback.
The two players in the mix for the No. 1 jersey are young guns Joash Papalii and Isaiah Iongi.
In pretty much a direct swap with Penrith, Parramatta lost exciting outside back Blaze Talaigi but gained Iongi.
Having only recorded one NRL game for the Penrith Panthers in 2024, Iongi is a very intriguing signing to fill the boots of Gutherson.
The 21-year-old had an impressive NSW Cup campaign in 2024.
In his 24 appearances, he started fullback in every game bar one, recording six tries and nine try assists.
This wasn’t the only young gun that they lured away from an opposition club though.
Ryles managed to snag a talented Bulldog in Joash Papalii.
The Bulldogs junior is still waiting to make his long awaited debut.
Lack of first grade experience aside, Papalii has a bright future, earning comparisons to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Incoming Parramatta head coach Jason Ryles has began reshaping his side ahead of the 2025 season, but who takes Gutherson’s fullback jersey next year could be his biggest call to make.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Will they suffer second-year-syndrome after addressing their biggest need?
After rising up the NRL ladder to qualify for their first finals series in eight years, the Bulldogs will be hoping to avoid the fate of second-year-syndrome.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo has gone about fixing their big need in signing former Rabbitoh Tom Amone and Rooster Sitili Tupouniua to address their lack of size up front.
However, the Bulldogs are reportedly in the race for Newcastle prop Leo Thompson, suggesting that they aren’t finished bulking up in the middle.
Other local products such as Sam Hughes and Kurtis Morrin will benefit after their first full season in the NRL where they showed signs of potential.
Other members of the pack such as Max King, Josh Curran and Jacob Preston all made significant strides this season, but the challenge is for the trio to lift to where Ciraldo wants to take this Bulldogs team into the future.
The big challenge is avoiding the second-year-slumber.
Last year, the Warriors fell away after a spectacular year the season prior. Expectations are sky high.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Who is the best hooker option at Manly?
Manly have a complete squad it feels with competition aplenty for many positions, with one of those appearing to be for the No. 9 jersey.
The Sea Eagles were missing Lachlan Croker for a bulk of the season after an unfortunate injury in Round 9. He would return with four rounds to go and help the side make the second week of the finals.
However, his lack of creativity has been a concern for Manly supporters.
The 27-year-old isn’t a running hooker, only averaging 13 metres a game. The increased speed of the game requires speed and running out of dummy half.
Anthony Seibold has options like Gordon Chan Kum Tong who impressed off the bench for Samoa in the recent test-series against England.
Another option is former Tiger Jake Simpkin who filled in for Croker after his mid-season arrival and can run the ball well.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Can Adam O’Brien pick and stick with one halves combination?
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien showed us last season that he wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions around the makeup of his 17.
The boldest decision he made concerned the halves carousel which ran all season long in Newcastle with Jackson Hastings, Tyson Gamble, Jack Cogger and Phoenix Crossland all used at differing stages this season.
The sixth-year head coach needs to settle on a permanent halves combination early and stick with it until the results become unsatisfactory.
Dropping Hastings after only two games to then recall him a fortnight later isn’t the best for team chemistry, particularly on the edges.
It appears that Cogger and Crossland, the pair that guided the Knights to the finals will get first crack once again with Gamble potentially being utilised as a utility.
Hastings at this point remains the odd one out after finishing 2024 in the NSW Cup.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Who will be the Dragons’ halves pairing?
The seven-year Ben Hunt-era at the Dragons is over.
The star half and the club agreed to a mutual parting of ways following a tumultuous 18 months.
With Hunt gone, coach Shane Flanagan needs to figure out who will play halfback in 2025.
With a lack of halves at the club, one option is for new recruit Clint Gutherson to play five-eighth next to Flanagan’s son Kyle, although it’s likely the Dragons will have Gutherson start the season at fullback.
The Dragons reportedly have a halfback wishlist which includes Lachlan Ilias and Daniel Atkinson, but both of those players are contracted for 2025 at other clubs.
The club’s plan will reportedly consist of signing a halfback off their wishlist and hope they could be granted an early release to join the Dragons from 2025.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Will Kaeo Weekes start the season at fullback?
With veteran Jordan Rapana heading to the Super League, the Raiders’ No. 1 jersey is essentially vacant for now.
There are no shortage of options, but the even-money favourite to start the season at fullback is Kaeo Weekes.
In his busiest season of first grade, Weekes was a revelation for the Green Machine, proving to be a shrewd purchase last offseason.
While he had shown plenty early doors, Weekes couldn’t nail down a consistent spot in the NRL at the Sea Eagles, but in his first season in Canberra, he more than proved he is a rising star of this competition.
At fullback, he was particularly impressive, with his blazing speed at times gamebreaking.
He’ll face stiff competition for the Raiders No. 1, no more so than from Chevy Stewart.
The teen sensation is slight in build but he’s tenacious and plays well above his weight.
In three NRL games this past season, he proved he’s made of the right stuff.
With Weekes much more versatile than Stewart, perhaps coach Ricky Stuart plays the 19-year-old at fullback and Weekes in the halves.
However, given the halves should be Ethan Strange and Jamal Fogarty, and the fact that Stewart is still raw, it’s likely Weekes gets the first chance to impress at fullback.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
In a new Shaun Johnson-less era, what do the Warriors halves look like next year?
Shaun Johnson left us all on an extreme high not once, but twice.
First it was the amazing comeback win over Cronulla on the bell in his final NRL game. On Sunday, it was five try asists to help the Kiwis defeat the Kumuls in the Pacific Championships promotion/relegation match.
Unfortunately for Warriors coach Andrew Webster, the departure of the New Zealand superstar has created a roster headache.
Who will be wearing the No. 6 and 7 jersey come Round 1?
The first guess of many would be talented pivot Luke Metcalf partnering veteran Te Maire Martin.
In 2023 when the Warriors had their breakout year, and made it to a preliminary final, Metcalf was an extremely important cog in their well-oiled machine.
Fresh from Cronulla, Webster gave Metcalf another chance in the NRL with his blistering pace and astonishing ball running skills his strengths.
Metcalf missed most of the 2024 because of a leg injury and the Warriors suffered.
This gave a chance for Martin to step up, who has struggled to find a home since making his NRL debut for the Panthers in 2016.
Despite the Warriors lacklustre season, Martin managed to contribute an astonishing 22 try assists in only 16 games.
The 29-year-old hit his straps in Round 11, when he played a massive role in taking down Penrith during Magic Round.
These two aren’t a lock, given the Warriors have the likes of new recruit Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita and utility Dylan Walker.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who is predominately a fullback, but did partner Martin in the halves when the Warriors took down the Panthers and just recently wore the No. 6 jersey for the Kiwis in the Pacific Championships.
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BRISBANE BRONCOS
After a disappointing 2024, how will the Broncos look under Michael Maguire?
In what might be considered the most interesting move of the off season, ex-NSW blues head coach Michael Maguire has taken the reigns off Kevin Walters as the new Brisbane Broncos head coach. Interestingly one of his most important roles as the Broncos coach will be trying to get the best out of Reece Walsh, the Queensland fullback he targeted in the most recent State Of Origin.
The hard edged coach will be looking to get the best out of young, super-star fullback Walsh through hard work. There have been alot of reports on how the Broncos have “rockstars”, in their sheds, and Maguire has explained how he will get the best out of all his players. “I have only ever seen success come when players want to work hard. And that is what I will be asking of the players,” Maguire said on SEN radio.
“It comes with sacrifice … the harder you work, the more things come into your life.”
He will also have to name a five-eight whilst Ezra Mam sits out some of the season due to a suspension. This could open the door potentially for Queenslands under 19s halfback in Coby Black, ever reliable Jock Madden, or even Fox’s own Corey Parker has thrown a spanner in the works stating that Kotoni Staggs could make a good five-eighth along Adam Reynolds.
GOLD COAST TITANS
What will the Titans’ spine look like when fully fit?
2024 saw the Titans absolutely riddled with injuries. This meant that Des Hasler didn’t have much leniency with his spine, it was pretty much select whoever was fit enough to play. This gave Auckland-born fullback Keano Kini the platform that he needed to announce himself as what appears to be the best fullback in the Titans roster. Combat that with his extremely successful Pacific Championships campaign with New Zealand, where he is the only Kiwi nominated for the highly prestigious golden boot award, he almost looks a lock for the No. 1 jersey next year.
But where does this leave Alexander Brimson, the ex-Qld Maroons fullback. What we do know is that the experiment of Brimson at centre was a disaster, and Des has stated he will not be utilising the Brisbane-born game breaker in the centres again. In the back end of the 2024 season, Brimson did play a couple games off the interchange bench whilst still managing a groin injury. During these games he was utilised by Des as an explosive, a-typical lock, who was brought in the game in the final quarter to help boost the Titans attack.
Even the halves is going to be a healthy headache for Hasler, with Foran coming to the end of his career, and Jayden Campbell displaying his handy five-eight work during the 2024 season. Could Brimson challenge Campbell, or even more interestingly Carter Gordon! The ex-Wallabies fly half that was brought to the Titans midway through last season. After finishing the back-end of the season in reserve grade for Tweed Seagulls, playing both centre and five-eight he has vowed he wants to play in the halves come Round 1.
“I really enjoy playing in the halves,” Gordon said.
“I actually enjoy playing in the centres as well.
“I think it’s just going to be a bit of a work in progress through the pre-season, but I’m definitely keen to get in the halves and ball play.
“Obviously, that’s something that I’m familiar with coming from rugby union.”
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Can Wayne Bennett get this South Sydney team back into premiership contention?
For the second consecutive season the South Sydney Rabbitohs have missed the top eight with their star studded line-up. However, they have played their Juggernaut card and brought back SuperCoach Wayne Bennett for his second stint as the Bunnies head coach. We know this relationship is a successful one, taking South Sydney to two preliminary finals, and a grand final where they would ultimately lose to the Penrith Panthers in his short but successful three year tenure.
To bring the famous cardinal and myrtle back into success Bennett will need to get 34-year-old Cody Walker back to his game breaking best. The mastermind coach has shown his cards early reportedly moving Walker back to his preferred position of five-eight. To help boost their No. 6 South Sydney have also bought an exciting 22-year-old halfback from St Helens. In his 2024 season with St Helens Lewis Dodd recorded seven tries and nine try assists in a season where St Helens would ultimately finish sixth in the Super League.
Other halves options for Bennett could be NSW cup halfback Lachlan Ilias, exciting young gun from Manly Jamie Humphries, and possibly even silky big man Josh Schuster. Jack Wighton is another option that Bennett could ultimately use in his halves, but he has reportedly moved Jack Wighton back to his arguably best position of centre. Which strengthens the Rabbitohs weak edges from the previous season.
Finally, for the Bunnies to turn their narrative around superstar Latrell Mitchell needs to return to his scary best. Positively for South Sydney, Mitchell has already began transforming himself following his off-season scandal, demolishing his in house bar, and turning it into his own private home gym. To also help transform himself to hopefully his on-field best the superstar fullback has given up alcohol. With Cameron Murray missing a lot of the season, and Mitchell making these positive lifestyle changes, does this open the door for Latrell to take over the reigns as captain?
WESTS TIGERS
Can Luai and Galvin turn the three-peat spooners into a top-eight threat?
It is no secret that Tigers fans are excited for the 2025 season. The explosion of 19-year-old Lachie Galvin, paired with the signing of Jarome Luai fresh off his fourth straight premiership has the Tigers destined to do a lot better than a fourth consecutive wooden spoon.
Being paired with arguably the best halfback in the game Nathan Cleary for most of his professional career, Luai has the tools to unleash Galvin into his potential best. His best asset is his running game, due to his tall and rangy stature, so having an experienced half in Luai to control the ship could see the Campbeltown junior explode further. Even though Luai is a world class five-eight, the absence of Cleary throughout the majority of 2024, saw the NSW No. 6 develop his game into a very classy, controlling halfback.
Iron sharpens iron, and Benji Marshall being a role model for so many halves coming through the ranks has plenty of options to replace Galvin and Luai if anything where to happen to them. Benjis best option is Galvins Westfields Sports High school halves partner Latu Fainu who made his debut last season, and excelled in his physicality. Fainu’s highlight of his debut season was when he put his old club Manly to the sword in Round 25 with a try and a try assist.
Also in his vault, Benji has NRL veteran Jack Bird, explosive and exciting Jayden Sullivan, quick and shifty Heath Mason and Tigers favourite son Adam Douehi all who can step up and play in the halves if need be.
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