We’ve spent the last few weeks ticking off our list of 25 rugby league wishes for the 2025 NRL season.
For those just tuning in, here’s what we’ve touched on so far (in no particular order):
- Part 1 (1 – 5) : Breaking the Bennett curse, Munster magic, Redemption for Ilias, Burton to kick on, a Bunnies bounce back
- Part 2 (6 – 10) : Less Bunker howlers, Parra back on track, Titans to find first-choice spine, Tohu Harris comeback, Willison breakout season
- Part 3 (11 – 15) : A Panthers decline, Broncos redemption (NRL), Broncos redemption (NRLW), Brailey & AFB, a Robbo rebound
Let’s keep the ball rolling with Part 4 of our 25 Wishes for NRL 2025.
16. A fast start for the NRLW Bulldogs
If you think Canterbury have recruited smartly in the men’s game over the past few years, you should see what they’ve managed to assemble for their maiden NRLW season.
The list of household names in the women’s game is constantly growing and the likes of Alexis Tauaneai, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa & Maatuleio Fotu-Moala (Dragons), Ashleigh Quinlan (Raiders), Holli Wheeler, Tegan Dymock, Tayla Preston & Tegan Dymock (Sharks) are all appealing candidates in new colours next year.
https://www.instagram.com/nrl_bulldogs/p/C9nzaYsMrmQ/
Tauaneai in particular looks a genuine star of the future, an Isaah Yeo-type middle forward with a temperament that belies her age (19) while an experienced halves pairing of Quinlan (five-eighth) and Preston (halfback) is a nice fit on paper.
They’ll need to develop or attract some top-tier talent in the backs but the Bulldogs will have a solid base to build from in NRLW season 2025.
17. Keaon Koloamatangi season
Keaon Koloamatangi’s career-best 2024 NRL campaign was one of necessity.
As the pieces fell around him, Koloamatangi was asked to fill different roles every other week as the most valuable player in South Sydney’s pack.
At 26 years of age, Koloamatangi is just coming into his prime as an NRL forward.
It’s no coincidence he was able to regularly play 80 productive minutes between middle and edge last year – that level of conditioning takes time to develop.
Ideally playing with a little more support in 2025 though, I like Koloamatangi to kick on and truly establish himself as one of the best forwards in the NRL.
He runs one of the best slip lines in the game on an edge and seems to relish the physicality of playing through the middle of the field.
There’s evidence of a developing passing game amongst Koloamatangi’s 106 first-grade appearances to date, too.
Origin recalls aside, NRL 2025 shapes as a big season for Koloamatangi in Rabbitohs colours.
18. NRLW Tigers roar to life
While the tides seem to be finally turning for the NRL Tigers, their NRLW squad is also languishing down the bottom of the premiership ladder.
There is a mountain of potential in Wests’ women’s program but we’re yet to see that translate into performances on the field.
I went off about three years too early regarding young half Losana Lutu but between her own fitness concerns and a struggling squad around her, we haven’t seen the best of Wests or Lutu in the NRLW just yet.
The pressure is on Head Coach Brett Kimmorley to get things right after a horror two year campaign that’s netted just four wins from 18 games.
Wests have farewell a host of names from their 2024 squad, so it’s difficult to get a read on how they profile for the ‘25 NRLW season.
With some touted rookies coming through and a halfback with Lutu’s talent though, they simply need to improve.
19. A ‘fair’ injury run
Injuries can make or break an NRL campaign.
You don’t have to remind Cowboys fans, who right now are digesting news of season ending injuries to Tom Chester and Heilum Luki before a ball has even been kicked.
Heilum Luki is expected to miss the 2025 season after suffering an ACL injury this morning.
2nd ACL injury at training for the Cowboys this offseason + like Tom Chester it is the 2nd ACL injury of Luki’s career (previously ruptured right ACL in 2022). pic.twitter.com/arE73d778a
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) December 21, 2024
On the other side of the coin, the Penrith Panthers have managed injuries better than any in the NRL to roll out a near-full strength outfit in five consecutive grand finals.
Injuries will always be a factor in rugby league.
Roster management and rehabilitation only adds to the challenge of an NRL premiership and as always, the best teams do it best.
In the women’s game – where the competition is shorter and rosters are typically less deep than their male counterparts – injuries are even more keenly felt.
The best we can hope for is the four top teams on Grand Final day and a relatively undisrupted regular season along the way.
20. Turbo to play 20+
Flowing on from the above; can we please get another healthy season from Tom Trbojevic in 2025?
‘Tommy Turbo’ is coming off his most productive year since 2018, featuring 20 times for a cool 17 tries and 17 assists.
It’s just the fourth time he’s managed 20+ games in a season across a 10 year career and he enters his 11th at an interesting time for the Manly-Warringah based club.
https://twitter.com/NRL/status/1827965454637285506
With Luke Brooks arriving last year, Daly Cherry-Evans close to the end and Lehi Hopoate, Tolu Koula & Haumole Olakau’atu all emerging, there is a neat little window open for the Sea Eagles right now – providing Turbo can be the cherry on top.
His passing game has improved in the last 12 months and he’s suffering less defensive pressure while Brooks & Jurbo are demanding attention of their own down the left edge.
How Tom, DCE and Olakau’atu develop their budding combination next year will be a key factor in Manly’s premiership push.
The NRL is better when Tommy Turbo is on the field, no matter who you support.
What’s on your NRL wish list for season 2025? Let us know in the comments
Written by Oscar Pannifex | RLWAPPAREL.COM