The tennis stars have packed up, tantrums and all, and gone home. The cricketers will put their feet up after one last pummelling of the Poms and Sri Lanka.
Houses have been trained down. Every single player’s pre-season has been the toughest in the long, sweaty history of tough pre-seasons.
And mercifully, a ball is about to be kicked in anger. Rugby league trials are upon us, with Las Vegas venturers Cronulla, Penrith, Canberra and the Warriors all taking the paddock for the first time in 2025 next weekend.
Three weeks of trial games are all that’s left for new coaches to pitch their cattle into game-day scenarios and settle selection shootouts. As the games begin, here’s what you and your club should be keeping a keen eye on.
Broncos
Brisbane’s overwhelming trials wish probably won’t even take place on the paddock. Above all, coach Michael Maguire needs Payne Haas (ankle surgery) and Adam Reynolds (neck surgery) fit and firing for round one against the Roosters, and their recoveries will keep them out of the February games.
Time for Reece Walsh to deliver at the Broncos.Credit: Getty Images
Of those taking the field, signs of life from Reece Walsh would be greatly appreciated after a resoundingly underwhelming 2024 campaign. So, too, Selwyn Cobbo, who moves back to the wing after a tough year at centre. Ben Hunt’s arrival in the halves (at least until Ezra Mam returns from suspension) will be a keen watch as well.
Broncos v Titans, Sunday February 16, Toowoomba
Broncos v Bulldogs, Saturday February 22, Redcliffe
Bulldogs
Last year’s surprise packets won’t be catching anyone off-guard this time around, especially not when they’ve added Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters) and Marcelo Montoya (Warriors) to their line-up. Whether Tupouniua plays as a middle or on Jacob Preston’s right edge remains up in the air.
Toby Sexton will be the Bulldogs first-choice No.7 again but 18-year-old hot shot Mitch Woods should see game time during the trials, offering another chance for Canterbury fans to get excited about the long-term future of their scrumbase. By the same token, Sexton can also hit the ground running after proving himself as an NRL half in 2024.
Bulldogs v Tigers, Sunday February 16, Jubilee Stadium
Bulldogs v Broncos, Saturday February 22, Redcliffe
Raiders
Canberra are planning to trim the field for at least one of their trials against Penrith and Cronulla to the smaller dimensions they’ll encounter in Las Vegas, while Albert Hopoate’s Vegas absence (paternity leave) gives highly rated Dragons junior Savelio Tamale the chance to claim a round-one start on the wing if he impresses in February. English recruit Matty Nicholson arrives with some hype and the chance to claim Elliott Whitehead’s right-edge spot, while there’s plenty to like about the shape Corey Horsburgh has been cutting over the off-season. The Raiders pack is a far more formidable one if he is at his best.
Raiders v Panthers, Saturday February 8, Shark Park
Raiders v Sharks, Thursday February 13, GIO Stadium
Sharks
Craig Fitzgibbon has arguably the most settled side in the NRL and is adding Addin Fonua-Blake, one of the game’s elite front-rowers, to the mix. Toby Rudolf’s shoulder surgery from a surfing injury in Bali opens up a spot in Cronulla’s middle rotation that you’d expect Braden Hamlin-Uele to claim.
Nicho Hynes endured a tough 2024.Credit: Getty Images
The playmaking dynamic between Nicho Hynes and Brayden Trindall is the natural focus whenever the Sharks play, and what’s expected to be limited trial minutes won’t offer too many clues. More of how they finished 2024 will be more than enough for Fitzgibbon given Trindall excelled with extra game-management duties and Hynes began to find his feet again after a tough season.
Sharks v Warriors, Friday February 7, Shark Park
Sharks v Raiders, Thursday February 13, GIO Stadium
Dolphins
Life after Wayne Bennett has been anything but rosy for clubs left in his wake across almost 40 years of top-flight coaching, but Kristian Woolf is made of stern stuff and boasts a proven track record in charge of Tonga. He’ll have all 10 fingers and toes crossed that Queensland Origin enforcer Tom Gilbert comes through the trials unscathed.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow finished last year at centre under Bennett, but Trai Fuller’s knee reconstruction means Tabuai-Fidow returns to fullback with the expectation of more consistency from the club’s highest-paid player. Outside-back recruits Junior Tupou (Tigers) and Max Feagai (Dragons) won’t be in the Dolphins first-choice 17, but strong form in the trials can put pressure on incumbent wingers Jamayne Isaako and Jack Bostock, who has also trained at centre this summer.
Dolphins v Cowboys, Friday February 14, Cairns
Dolphins v Titans, Saturday February 22, Redcliffe
Titans
Des Hasler’s moving and shaking presents one of the more intriguing trial storylines given Jayden Campbell is the front-runner to play halfback in 2025, pushing Kieran Foran into a bench utility role. An undoubted talent, Campbell has never worn the No.7 jumper at the top level, though, and is every chance of playing for the Indigenous All Stars, leaving Hasler with just the February 22 trial against the Dolphins to test out his new spine.
Star signing Reagan Campbell-Gillard won’t play trials but is expected to feature in their round-two season opener against Canterbury (Gold Coast have the bye first up), so too David Fifita.
Titans v Broncos, Sunday February 16, Toowoomba
Titans v Dolphins, Saturday February 22, Redcliffe
Sea Eagles
Matt Lodge’s departure could hurt Manly more than most expect given his strong finish last season and skinny middle stocks. Siosiua Taukeiaho has been signed to fill the breach and will be an interesting trials watch to say the least given injury concerns scuppered a move to Canterbury and hampered his time in the Super League.
Siosiua Taukeiaho has been hampered by injuries since last playing in the NRL in 2022.Credit: Getty
Lachlan Croker’s knee surgery (out until at least round 4) brings Gordon Chan Kum Tong and Jake Simpkin – and Jazz Tevaga at a pinch – into contention to start at hooker. Rising Tongan star Lehi Hopoate is also pushing for a starting spot out wide, with Jason Saab coming back from off-season ankle surgery.
Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs, Saturday February 15, Gosford
Sea Eagles v Panthers, Friday February 21, Leichhardt Oval
Storm
Steady as she goes for perennial contenders Melbourne, the most settled of all sides in 2025. Their pre-season fixtures against the Warriors and Cowboys will see Stefano Utoikamanu step out for the first time in purple, having made the same move as ex-Tigers teammate Shawn Blore last season.
Blore ended up as one of the NRL’s most improved players and spoke notably of the rude shock he received in his first summer under Craig Bellamy. All eyes are on Stefano given his potential to be one of the game’s elite front-rowers. Jonah Pezet will see game time in the trials too after rupturing his ACL last April.
Storm v Warriors, Saturday February 15, Hamilton
Storm v Cowboys, Sunday February 23, Melbourne
Knights
Another scrumbase watch – speedster Fletcher Sharpe has been training at five-eighth after Adam O’Brien chopped and changed through Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger, Tyson Gamble, Phoenix Crossland and Will Pryce at different points in 2024. Sharpe scored 11 tries from 12 games last year, mostly from the wing. He has come through the grades mostly at fullback, but has long been regarded as a potential playmaker at the club. Hastings’ trial form will also be keenly monitored given his lucrative pay packet – north of $650,000-a-year – is far too much to be sitting in reserve grade.
What does 2025 hold for Jackson Hastings?Credit: Getty Images
Knights v Eels, Friday February 14, McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights v Roosters, Sunday February 23, Gosford
Cowboys
North Queensland get their first look at veteran John Bateman after his ugly split from the Tigers, and they need him to hit the ground running after rising back-rower Heilum Luki’s second ACL rupture just before Christmas. Elsewhere, the Cowboys No.7 jersey is up for grabs despite Jake Clifford’s return to his junior club as a much-improved playmaker last season. Highly-rated youngsters Tom Duffy and Jaxon Purdue are both pushing to partner Tom Dearden, and along with Clifford, are off-contract this year. The whips are cracking in Townsville.
Cowboys v Dolphins, Friday February 14, Cairns
Cowboys v Storm, Sunday February 23, Melbourne
Warriors
Who is going to steer this ship? That’s the question coach Andrew Webster will be asking himself after the retirement of halfback Shaun Johnson. The coach is also on the lookout for a captain after Tohu Harris called it a day, although the arrival of Kiwis leader James Fisher-Harris will likely solve that issue.
However, it will be up to the likes of Luke Metcalf, Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin or Chanel Harris-Tavita to fight it out for the No.6 and No.7 jerseys. Failure to settle on a dominant half will only ramp up speculation about another crack at Dylan Brown.
Warriors v Storm, Saturday February 15, Hamilton
Warriors v Sharks, Friday February 7, Shark Park
Eels
New coach Jason Ryles has injected some much-needed speed into his backline and the jockeying for spots begins now. Zac Lomax will shift from the Dragons wing into the Eels centres, although there are several other spots up for grabs, particularly given Josh Addo-Carr isn’t available until round three. While Panthers recruit Isaiah Iongi is likely to get first crack at Clint Gutherson’s old No.1 jersey, Joash Papalii has also impressed in pre-season and is a contender. Hooker is another contentious spot after the Eels missed out on Jayden Brailey.
Eels v Knights, Friday February 14, McDonald Jones Stadium
Eels v Tigers, Friday February 21, Leichhardt Oval
Panthers
Can young gun Blaize Talagi fill the sizable void left by the departure of Jarome Luai? Success has again come at a cost for Penrith, who are used to losing marquee men. Overcoming the loss of Luai could just be their biggest challenge.
Talagi knocked back the chance to replace Clint Gutherson as Eels fullback to instead play alongside Nathan Cleary in the Panthers halves. The trials serve as an opportunity to work on their on-field chemistry. Another newbie, Isaiah Papalii, is also looking to regain his best form after switching from Wests Tigers.
Panthers v Raiders, Saturday February 8, Shark Park
Panthers v Sea Eagles, Friday February 21, Leichhardt Oval
Rabbitohs
There are massive changes at Souths, outside of the return of Wayne Bennett and his influence on Latrell Mitchell. Lewis Dodd has come from the English Super League in a bid to make the No.7 jersey his own.
Latrell Mitchell has been turning heads at Rabbitohs training.Credit: Michael Pantaleone
Given the other halves options at Bennett’s disposal – including fellow recruits Bud Sullivan, Jamie Humphreys and Josh Schuster – the import will need to click quickly with Cody Walker. Sullivan and Schuster have struggled to live up to their potential but, given they come heavily subsidised, have the potential to be bargain buys. The big question mark is when the luckless Campbell Graham will return to the field.
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles, Saturday February 15, Gosford
Rabbitohs v Dragons, Saturday February 22, Mudgee
Dragons
Shane Flanagan has presided over a massive roster shake-up. Damien Cook, Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes will add much-needed experience, but their halves will ultimately dictate how the wooden-spoon favourites travel.
With Ben Hunt gone, it’s up to Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Ilias to quickly gel. It’s a big ask for Ilias, who is still recovering from a serious knee injury, although he’s expected to be fit for the trials. The plan is to use Tyrell Sloan on the right wing, although a bone stress fracture in his foot will result in him missing the All Stars game, with the Charity Shield pencilled in as his return date.
Dragons v Roosters, Sunday February 16, Jubilee Stadium
Dragons v Rabbitohs, Saturday February 22, Mudgee
Roosters
We’re about to witness a rare Roosters rebuild. There has been a mass exodus of talent including Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Terrell May, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Sitili Tupouniua, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Michael Jennings.
Trent Robinson has plenty of questions before him in 2025.Credit: NRL Imagery
The only addition of note is Chad Townsend, while injured stars Sam Walker and Brandon Smith will be sidelined for a chunk of the season. It’s a huge task for Sandon Smith to step up and cement a place as an NRL playmaker. Pre-season games will provide cross-code star Mark Nawaqanitawase valuable experience in the 13-man game.
Roosters v Dragons, Sunday February 16, Jubilee Stadium
Roosters v Knights, Sunday February 23, Gosford
Tigers
The Tigers have been the most active club in the player market and now we’ll see how the newbies come together.
Jarome Luai is the prized signing and his combination with young gun Lachlan Galvin will ultimately determine how far the side goes.The early reports are that Luai has already lifted the standards at training, but it’s game day that really matters.
Can the spine of Luai, Galvin, Apisai Koroisau and Jahream Bula click? This is also a chance for the other new faces – Terrell May, Jack Bird, Royce Hunt, Sunia Turuva and Jeral Skelton – to enjoy valuable game time together.
Tigers v Bulldogs, Sunday February 16, Jubilee Stadium
Tigers v Eels, Friday February 21, Leichhardt Oval
