The Broncos have earmarked Adam Reynolds’ long-term replacement, while the Rabbitohs have unearthed their solution to their halfback woes, in every club’s 2025 young guns to watch.
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Former Manly star Jamie Humphreys could be Wayne Bennett’s long-term solution at halfback as he vies for the Souths’ No.7 jersey with Lewis Dodd and Lachlan Ilias.
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Meanwhile, former Panthers young gun Isaiah Iongi is looking to fill the huge shoes left by Eels skipper Clint Gutherson’s departure to the Dragons.
And Robert Toia could be the answer to the Roosters depleted outside backs stocks after Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s departures.
Read on for every NRL club’s breakout star of the future in 2025.
Willison loyal to Broncos despite offers | 00:52
BRONCOS — Coby Black
Adam Reynolds looks likely to hang up the boots at the end of the 2025 season, so Michael Maguire and the Broncos will be on the lookout for his replacement.
They need to look no further than rising star Coby Black, who is regarded by many as the club’s next halfback-in-waiting.
The 18-year-old recently signed a two-year contract with the Broncos until the end of 2026, which could align with his NRL emergence.
While it’d take an injury to Reynolds, and Maguire snubbing Jock Madden next season, Black could find himself in first grade sooner rather than later.
Justin Hodges told AAP that Brisbane bosses have a”big plans” for the young gun half, and he showed out in Queensland Rugby League’s Mal Meninga Cup competition earlier in the 2024 season.
Plying his trade for the Burleigh Bears, Black scored a staggering 46 points, masterminding a 130-point win over Wide Bay Bulls.
It’s a matter of when, not if, Black makes his way into first grade and becomes a regular in the No.7 jersey.
RAIDERS — Savelio Tamale
He’s the Under 19s Origin gun the Raiders recruited from the Dragons, and Savelio Tamale is shaping as a key figure in years to come in the nation’s capital.
Before his time in rugby league, Tamale played for the Waratahs Under 18s, before he was poached by the 13-man code.
Under Shane Flanagan, Tamale made his NRL debut in Round 27, playing in the centres, interestingly against the Raiders.
Tamale played largely on the wing in 2024, but he’s also featured in the centres and at fullback in NSW Cup, having played 36 games to date.
The rising star was touted to be a star of the future at the Dragons, however the signing of Christian Tuipolotu blocked his potential path to first grade.
Meanwhile, at the Raiders, Tamale will have a host of names to contend with including Sebastian Kris, Matt Timoko, Albert Hopoate and Nick Cotric.
However, we’re backing Tamale to emerge from the pack in the coming seasons.
Gould vouches for three new NSW coaches | 01:04
BULLDOGS — Mitchell Woods
Bulldogs halfback prospect Mitchell Woods was wanted by three codes before joining Canterbury on a four-year deal.
Woods was being chased by the AFL after spending time in the Swans Academy and rugby union, before deciding to chase his dream of playing in the NRL with the Bulldogs.
Woods was selected into the U16s All-Australian line-up, was a Junior Blues representative and part of the Australian U16s development squad in rugby union alongside future NRL stars Alex Conti and Casey McLean and NSW Waratahs signing Zach Fittler.
Woods has been touted as a generational halfback of the future for the Bulldogs and could be the solution to their No.7 issues over the next couple of seasons.
The 18-year-old captained the Bulldogs to the Harold Matthews Cup title in 2023 and helped guide them to the SG Ball Cup Grand Final last season, before falling to the St George Dragons 40-18.
The Bulldogs have incumbent Toby Sexton and Drew Hutchison as halfback options next season and have been linked to making a play for Ben Hunt, so Woods will have to bide his time.
However, with strong performances, Woods can put himself in the frame for an NRL debut and could potentially be the Bulldogs halfback for the next decade.
SHARKS — Liam Ison
Liam Ison made a name for himself in 2024 with an impressive first grade debut, and Sharks fans can expect to see much more of the gun fullback in years to come.
The 19-year-old was recruited from the Panthers and made his NRL debut in Round 21 earlier this year, taking on the Cowboys in Townsville.
He was impressive that night, having completed his first full year in NSW Cup with the Newtown Jets, starting at fullback and eventually winning the competition.
It’s clear Ison is a regular first grade fullback in the making and he’s sure to be putting pressure on Will Kennedy in years to come.
Ison may also have jumped Kade Dykes in the club’s No.1 pecking order after he was sidelined due to a cartilage defect in his knee.
However, the rising star could be up for a battle at fullback in NSW Cup next season, unless Kennedy himself slips out of the Sharks’ best 17.
DOLPHINS — Elijah Rasmussen
The Dolphins handed Elijah Rasmussen a three-year contract midway through the 2024 season, joining the club’s development list for 2025.
He graduates from the club’s academy program, and there’s big wraps on the New Zealand middle forward.
Rasmussen was scouted in a Maori tournament in Rotorua, coming to Australia with a huge chance to make a name for himself in rugby league.
He went on to sign a train-and-trial deal, before playing for Redcliffe’s Under 19s team, earning his chance with a three-year deal.
“He was identified while playing in a junior tournament so we put him under the tutelage of our Academy coaches,” chief executive Terry Reader said in a statement.
It might take a year or more for Rasmussen to get closer to a first grade debut, having not yet featured in the Queensland Cup.
However, coach Kristian Woolf could give fans a first glimpse of the rising star in the pre-season challenge.
TITANS — Jaylan de Groot
Jaylan de Groot made a name for himself was an impressive first grade debut in the 2024 season, scoring in a 36-14 Round 26 loss to the Knights.
The young gun has now played 22 Queensland Cup games for Tweed and Ipswich, having put together his most complete season yet in 2024.
He featured in 17 games for the Jets, starting the year on the wing before shifting to fullback and finishing there.
While the Titans certainly have a logjam of outside backs talent, de Groot was handed a development deal at the start of the season.
Gold Coast bosses clearly have faith that the rising star, and he’s got a club option for the 2025 season, meaning he’s likely to remain at the club unless he’s poached.
With Keano Kini, Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson all having the ability to wear the No.1 jersey, it remains to be seen when de Groot will get his next opportunity.
However, he could also be called upon to feature in the outside backs next year.
SEA EAGLES — Joey Walsh
Joey Walsh will be an interesting player to watch for Sea Eagles faithful.
Manly powerbrokers recruited him from rugby union, having captained the Australian Under 18’s side, playing in the No.10 jersey.
Walsh is originally a northern beaches boy, having gone to school at Brookvale’s St Augustine’s College.
The Sea Eagles handed him a three-year deal, signing on with the club ahead of the 2025.
Walsh is no stranger to rugby league and was previously in the Roosters system, having been a target of Australian rugby union as well as rival clubs.
It looms likely that Walsh is the heir to Daly Cherry-Evans’ throne, and it may take some time for the prodigious talent to get up to the speed of the NRL.
However, once he does, the sky is the limit for a player Anthony Seibold labelled a “really elite young playmaker”.
STORM — Ativalu Lisati
Yet another player to come through the Panthers system who was recruited by a rival club, and in this case Ativalu Lisati landed at the Storm.
The 23-year-old was signed midway through the 2024 season, and is contracted with Melbourne until the end of 2025.
He made his NRL debut in Round 26, scoring an impressive try, throwing a huge dummy after breaking through his opposition’s defensive line.
Lisati completed a lengthy reserve grade apprenticeship during his time at Penrith, played 39 games across two-and-a-half seasons.
He’s a powerful middle forward, and if Lisati impresses in pre-season, he’s a chance of getting game time off the bench this year under Craig Bellamy.
Regardless, Lisati looks to be a long-term option in the middle for the Storm, with the likes of Christian Welch coming to the end of his career.
KNIGHTS — Taj Annan
Taj Annan is somewhat of an unknown prospect, with the 21-year-old signing with the Knights from rugby union.
Annan is a Newcastle local, but had been playing his trade for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby, playing 12 games of professional rugby union.
He’s been handed a three-year deal, signing on until the end of 2027 in the club’s top 30, such is the wraps Newcastle bosses have on the footballing talent.
Annan can play anywhere in the backline and stands at 193 centimetres tall, shaping as a potential replacement for Dominic Young who was a kicking target in 2023.
“Taj will need time to adjust, but his rugby league background will help this transition into the NRL and we are pleased to bring him home to play for the Knights,” recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan said.
Once he does adapt to the 13-man code, Annan could become a true NRL star and with players like Krystian Mapapalangi and Enari Tualau departing the club, opportunities could land in his lap.
COWBOYS — Jamal Shibasaki
The young Cowboys second-rower debuted for the club last season, but looks set for more opportunities in 2025 after the departure of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to the Dolphins.
Born in Townsville, Shibasaki is of Torres Strait Islander and Japanese descent and is the younger brother of NRL player Gehamat Shibasaki.
The 19-year-old was originally signed by the Broncos, before switching to the Cowboys in 2022.
In 2023, Shibasaki captained the Blackhawks’ Mal Meninga Cup side, and was named the competition’s Player of the Year at the end of the season.
Later in 2023 at just 17 years and 339 days, he made his Queensland Cup debut for the Blackhawks in their 54–4 win over the PNG Hunters.
That same season he represented Queensland under-19, coming off the bench in their loss to New South Wales.
He began the 2024 season playing for the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup, before in Round 13 he was called up to make his NRL debut against the Roosters.
EELS — Isaiah Iongi
The Eels signed the former Panthers prodigy Isaiah Iongi on a three-year deal despite playing just one game for Penrith.
Iongi is a highly regarded fullback, who debuted for the Panthers in 2024 and would have played more games were he not stuck behind Blues and Kangaroos No.1 Dylan Edwards in the pecking order.
The fact that the Eels were willing to part ways with skipper and veteran fullback Clint Gutherson with a year to run on his contract, just shows the faith new coach Jason Ryles has in Iongi.
The 21-year-old has scored 17 tries in 59 games for Penrith in reserve grade and has the speed, skill and footwork to be a livewire in the NRL in years to come.
Gutherson’s departure has fast-tracked his development and Iongi will get to test himself in first grade plenty in his first season at the Eels.
PANTHERS — Luron Patea
Young prop Luron Patea played three games for the Panthers in his debut season in 2024, but looks set for a bigger role after James Fisher-Harris’ departure to the Warriors.
Fisher-Harris will leave a massive void for the Panthers and Patea will be one of several players to help fill the role by committee.
The bustling front-rower averaged 6.3 hit-ups and 70 run metres, along with four tackle breaks and had 83.5 post contact metres from a total of 211 in his three games last year.
Patea has the size and speed to be an enforcer for the Panthers on both sides of the ball and will only get better with more opportunities in first grade.
The fact that he signed a four-year deal last season after being elevated to the club’s top 30, shows how highly regarded Patea is at the Panthers.
With another pre-season under his belt, Patea is set to be one of the big improvers at the Panthers in 2025.
ROOSTERS — Robert Toia
Robert Toia is yet to make his NRL debut, but that could change very soon for the young centre after Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s departures from the Roosters.
The Roosters have big voids to fill in their backline and Toia could be one of the beneficiaries in 2025.
The hulking centre has the right mixture of speed, size and footwork to be a real handful in the NRL and it is only a matter of time before he gets his chance.
The 20-year-old represented Queensland Under 19s in State of Origin and is considered one of the most exciting young juniors in the Roosters’ system.
Toia could have played NRL already were it not for an ACL injury in 2022 that stalled his development.
But after a strong season for the Bears on route to the Grand Final last season, Toia is ready to make the step up to first grade and he has an exciting future in the NRL ahead of him in the coming seasons.
DRAGONS — Dylan Egan
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has compared Dylan Egan to Panthers’ Clive Churchill Medallist Liam Martin, which is a pretty fair wrap.
If Egan turns out to be even half the player Kangaroos and Blues star Martin is, then the Dragons will be very happy.
Egan moves into the club’s NRL squad for 2025 having spent the 2024 season on a development deal and is a big chance to debut in Round 1.
A Gerringong Lions junior, Egan has progressed through the club’s pathways system having played two seasons of Harold Matthews Cup and two seasons of SG Ball with the Steelers.
He was the captain of the Steelers SG Ball Cup outfit in 2023 and made the leap up to Jersey Flegg Cup level later in the season.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a standout NSW Cup campaign in 2024 appearing in all 24 games and scoring seven tries.
RABBITOHS — Jamie Humphreys
The Rabbitohs pulled off a massive coup when they signed halfback Jamie Humphreys from the Manly Sea Eagles halfway through last season.
Manly were eyeing Humphreys as the heir to Daly Cherry-Evans’ No.7 jersey, but with the Queensland skipper playing on and Luke Brooks also at the club, Humphreys saw an opportunity at Souths.
His two-year deal at Souths, which expires in 2026, will see Humphreys vie with Lewis Dodd and Lachlan Ilias for a spot in the halves alongside Cody Walker.
Humphreys debuted for Manly last season and scored a try and three goals from as many attempts, proving he has a massive future in the NRL.
The chance to work with Wayne Bennett was no doubt a major drawing card for Humphreys and if Dodd struggles early in the year, don’t be surprised if he is the Souths’ No.7 by the end of the 2025 season.
WARRIORS — Sam Healey
The Warriors signed former Sharks hooker Samuel Healey to a three-year deal in September, which shows the faith they have in the talented No.9.
Healey has scored 13 tries in 38 games for Newtown and was part of their charge to the title last season in the NSW Cup.
Healey is the son of Sharks great Mitch Healey, who played 222 games for the club from 1989 to 2000, so he comes from good pedigree.
Stuck behind Blayke Brailey at the Sharks, Healey switched to the Warriors in search of more game time and is a real chance to make his NRL debut in 2025.
The 21-year-old will be behind incumbent Warriors No.9 Wayde Egan in the pecking order, but will come into contention for a spot on the bench.
The Warriors struggled in 2024 after making the preliminary final in 2023, so Andrew Webster will be looking for players to step up and improve their standards in 2025.
Healey will likely get a chance in first grade at some point and if injuries strike he could find himself starting at hooker.
TIGERS — Heamasi Makasini
Boom centre Heamasi Makasini signed a three-year deal with the Tigers in October and will join the club’s top 30 squad in 2025.
The Tigers made Makasini a $1 million deal while he was still at school playing rugby union for Newington College while he was still in Year 11.
The 17-year-old was named Harold Matthews Cup player of the year in 2024, scoring 92 points and finishing as the leading try scorer with 10 tries from as many games.
Makasini, who gained selection in the Australian Rugby Union Under 18s development squad, decided to stick with rugby league and pursue his dream of playing in the NRL with the Tigers.
The talented outside back won’t be eligible to play NRL until he turns 18 on July 27 next year, but once he does he is expected to be fast-tracked into the NRL.
He has already been compared to a young Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Jonah Lomu, which shows how much potential Makasini has and he could be a regular starter for the Tigers in the back half of next season.
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