
Get hyped for the 2025 NRL season with our guide, where we give you the rundown on favourites and dark horses in the title race and players set for a breakout year!
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Footy season is finally back! Round 1 of the NRL 2025 season kicks off on March 1 in Las Vegas with a Saturday night doubleheader as the Raiders line up against the Warriors and the Panthers take on the Sharks.
We are absolutely pumped for the NRL to get underway, especially after such a dramatic 2024 season that saw the Panthers do the unthinkable and win their fourth Premiership on the trot. Penrith will be a formidable force this season, but losing star five-eighth Jarome Luai has dampened talks of a five-peat.
The runners-up last year were the Melbourne Storm. We were convinced that the Storm would lift the Provan-Summons Trophy, especially after scoring first, but betting against Nathan Cleary is always a dangerous option.
At the other end of the ladder, the Eels, Rabbitohs, and Tigers were all dreadful in 2024. Benji Marshall’s men ended with the wooden spoon after winning just six games. Tigers fans are praying that Luai will be their saving grace.
Jahrome Hughes, who played a big role in Melbourne’s Grand Final appearance, won the 2024 Dally M award. Stick around as we reveal who we think will win the 2025 NRL Premiership, share a few dark horses who are worth a punt on, and name some players to watch this season!
Title Race Tipping
Gus Gould reckons the Panthers are good for another Premiership, and it is hard to argue with him. Despite losing Luai, Penrith still boasts a star-studded squad with players like Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith, and Isaah Yeo. The Panthers have the perfect combination of experienced, hardened players who are still in their prime.
Despite losing in the Grand Final, the bookies have the Storm as the favourites to win the Premiership. This is based on the Storm’s very impressive 2024 regular season, where they finished top of the ladder, lost only five games, and finished with a 243-point difference. With current Dally M winner Hughes and try-scoring machine Ryan Papenhuyzen in their squad, the Storm will be tough to beat.
It looks like the 2025 NRL season is a two-horse race. We’d be very surprised if a team apart from the Panthers or Storm won the Premiership. The Roosters’ chances have plummeted after losing Joseph Sua’ali’i, and the Bulldogs and Sharks look at least a few levels below Melbourne and Penrith.
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Dark Horses
Manly has to be a dark horse to watch in 2025. They had a very up-and-down season last year and just managed to sneak into the Finals. They played a fantastic match against the Doggies before being outgunned by the Roosters.
Manly is one of those teams that always lifts its performance when it comes to Finals time. If the Trbojevic brothers can stay healthy and Manly secures a top 4 finish, then they have an outside shot at winning the Premiership.
Brisbane is another team that has an outside chance of lifting the trophy. They were extremely disappointing in 2024. After making the Grand Final in 2023, the Broncos left their fans in shock when they failed to make the top 8 last year. However, the new coach, Michael Maguire, might be the change that Brisbane needs to kick-start a fresh campaign.
Bryan Fletcher is predicting the Broncos to make the top 4 this year and says they can absolutely win the competition. Fletch thinks Reece Walsh, the Broncos fullback, is just too fast for the opposition. He expects Walsh to inject himself into the attacking line and run circles around tired backrowers. Also, at 22 years old, the best is yet to come from the Gold Coast native.
Ben Hunt is also a massive pick-up for Brisbane. The former Dragons halfback, who led the NRL in try assists last year, will instantly improve the Broncos attacking capabilities. We can’t wait to see Hunt and Walsh link up. Expect a lot of tries throughout the season!
It’d be a massive stretch to expect the Tigers to compete for a title this year, but don’t be surprised if they make the top 8 – we are predicting Marshall to turn the Tigers into an attacking nightmare.
Players to Watch
Brisbane’s Finals hopes rest largely on Reece Walsh. The 22-year-old was brilliant in 2023 but struggled in 2024. He was crucified by the media and fans who accused him of being a diva. Expect him to be fired up this season and ready to prove the haters wrong.
It is always fascinating when English rugby leagues come over to the NRL. Some shine and turn into superstars, while others quietly slink back home. The Rabbitohs have taken a punt on Lewis Dodd.
The 23-year-old halfback played 84 games for St Helens and scored a whopping 30 tries. He also kicked the game-winning field goal to beat the Panthers in the 2023 World Club Challenge. If the Rabbitohs are going to make the top 8, Dodd will have to be on fire.
Jack Todd is a young front-rower from the Bulldogs who Gus Gould is predicting big things from. Hailing from Tamworth, the 108 kg beast is lightning-quick for his size and has the ability to change direction in a flash. He is a hard charger who loves his footy and may emerge as a star this season. Let’s just say we feel sorry for any defenders who have to try and stop him week in and week out.
Joe Chan looks to be another smart buy by the Storm. The 23-year-old backrower played two years with the Catalan Dragons before being picked up by Melbourne. He’s already played 12 games for the Storm. Chan is a versatile player with strong ball-handling skills and should continue to improve. He will provide Melbourne with some pace and intensity off the bench in 2025.
Another player to watch is Cody Ramsey. The Dragons winger has been battling ulcerative colitis for years, causing him to miss nearly 900 days worth of footy. After over 10 surgeries, the 25-year-old is in the process of mounting an epic comeback, recently playing in the Dragons NSW Cup side. Hopefully, he is able to get back into the NRL side.
NRL 2025 Season Conclusion
The 2025 NRL season is set to be electric. Penrith and Melbourne are going to be hard to catch. We very well could have a repeat of the 2024 Grand Final. Expect the Tigers to make a run for the top 8 with the addition of Jarome Luai, while the Broncos and Sea Eagles may be the only teams who can push the Panthers and Storm. Tune in on Saturday, March 1, as this year’s season officially kicks off!
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