NRL Trials 2025: Players to Watch

We’re approaching the portion of the NRL preseason when reports of players being in the best condition of their careers start to leak out. SuperCoach and NRL Fantasy players are desperately reading into Instagram posts, looking for clues on who is taking reps with the top side and which young players might break into the 17 for Round 1.

For me, I’m thinking about players flying under the radar—those who may have slipped off last season or made their mark in the New South Wales Cup in the quest for a call-up.

From a State of Origin representative to a Super League champion, to New South Wales Cup standouts, I’ve picked out a few players to watch as the NRL Trials approach.

Players to Watch in 2025

Stefano Utoikamanu is the first player that comes to mind when thinking about players getting ready to surprise a few people this season. Joining the Melbourne Storm on a three-year deal, the 24-year-old arrives at an elite club about to enter the prime years of his NRL career.

He doesn’t have the big running metre numbers to his name like other props in the NRL. Utoikamani averaged 111 running metres per game for the Wests Tigers in 2023 before falling away slightly in 2024. He didn’t kick on as many had expected, but he can do so at the Storm. They’ll have a clearly defined role for him in a pack where he will be well supported. Like Nelson Asofa-Solomona, I think he will see a few touches close to the opposition goal line. Utoikamanu threw a career-high 21 offloads last season - a number he could well clear again in 2025.

Utoikamanu is a massive unit with a developing passing game. His push support around Josh King is something I’ll be keeping an eye out for early on, too. He has all of the physical tools to dominate in the right environment. History suggests that environment will be in Melbourne.

Hohepa Puru has landed with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for this season³ . He’s an injury or two away from a spot in the top side, but I think the 22-year-old has a future in first grade if he can string a few weeks together at NRL level. He’s a strong ball carrier and possesses a great pass for a ball-playing middle. He’s skilful enough to have played a fair bit of hooker for the Canberra Raiders New South Wales Cup side.

I love this try assist¹ as an example of his feet and ball playing.

He has the smarts to see the late man back (13) and two props defending at A and B. He takes the ball at speed, skips over to the B defender and isolates his half onto the other.

The spacing around the ruck is there to be capitalised on, and Puru didn’t miss a beat.

Nicho Hynes is a massive part of the Sharks attack. His touches per game are among the highest in the NRL. Having a creator like Puru, who doubles as a decent run threat, could open up Hynes to get more creative one pass wider.

Jeral Skelton has been waiting in the wings of regular NRL footy for a little while now and should get his chance with the Wests Tigers. There is little doubt he has the tools with the ball to do damage. He’s a big body who can start their sets well. It’s how he finishes them defensively that will determine how successful he is with the jump up from reserve grade. While he can execute the highlight reel jamming tackle, it’s a trait opposing teams will look to exploit.

In contrast, Tyrell Sloan has played enough in first grade that Shane Flanagan simply has to find a spot for him to start the NRL season. Clint Gutherson will take over at the back, moving Sloan to the wing. Again, like Skelton, he poses a big threat with the ball. He won’t be so effective in starting their sets but will be especially dangerous if the Dragons make moving the ball out of yardage part of their game plan. However, the concerns come in defence, where Sloan was often targeted while wearing the #1 jersey. He will have nowhere to hide if the attacking team strips the Dragons for numbers and leaves him in a tough spot out wide.

There hasn’t been a lot of talk about Lewis Dodd throughout the preseason, which is probably a good thing. Expectations are low for the young halfback in his first season with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

I looked into his game before Christmas and think we will see him target shortsides with Latrell Mitchell as a way of contributing to the attack early on. He does well to straighten the line and isn’t afraid to wear a shot to open up space for the outside backs.

It’s easy to see him playing deep into the line before Mitchell’s quick hands sends his winger down the sideline.

In a media circle that constantly hypes up young players before they’ve hit their straps, no news on Dodd is good news for the expectations being heaped on him for Round 1.

Savelio Tamale is one to keep an eye on the trials. The Canberra Raiders managed to poach him from the Dragons, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him nab a spot in the centres at NRL level this season.

Tamale is a destructive ball carrier with great feet. Spread across centre, wing and fullback for the Dragons NSW Cup side last season the 20-year-old led the competition in total linebreaks² , post-contact metres, tackle breaks and run metres. It’s also worth noting that his 38 errors also led the competition and ball security is a concern, but with the ball in his hands, he’s hard to handle and physically ready for the top grade.

Ivan Cleary: Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters - A Little Book Review

Like many people, the Christmas break is when I get a lot of my reading for the year done. It only took two days for me to get through Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters by Ivan Cleary. I couldn’t put it down and went so far as to nerd out and read it with a pen handy.

The title itself gives a pretty clear indication of why the Penrith Panthers have been so dominant over the last five years. They don’t take a training session or a game off. Even with Minor Premierships won or competition points banked for the State of Origin period, in times they could take their foot off the gas and cruise through games that don’t count for much at the time, they always matter when it comes to the final goal.

“What you do in the games that don’t really matter prepares you for the games when it does. On the biggest night, under the most pressure, against the best teams - that’s when your attention to detail and your strong habits pay off.”

The book offers an excellent insight into how Cleary came to be the coach he is today, the mistakes he made along the way, and the philosophy driving the extended period of success the Panthers are playing though right now.

I’ve not always been one for themes, but their quest to climb Everest to win the first NRL premiership, the Top Gun approach to defending it in 2022, and the drive to be undisputed in 2023 made for interesting reading. The players bought in and it paid off.

How Cleary created the current culture at Penrith and the shock he felt upon his return from the Wests Tigers, offers a glimpse into not only the Panthers but also other clubs around the NRL. Cleary sheds light on the New Zealand Warriors and some of the unique challenges he faced, too.

We don’t get many good looks behind the curtain in the NRL, but this is well worth reading.

NRL Offseason Podcast Schedule

There isn’t a lot going around on the NRL podcast circuit right now, but I have a few evergreen episodes that are worth adding to your queue over the summer.

Content Corner

NRL content is inconsistent at the best of times, so I’ll add any of the good stuff I find here.

1  Hohepa Puru | 2024 NSW Cup Highlights

2  Savelio Tamale | 2024 NSW Cup Highlights

3  Joining his brother, Niwhai, who is a gun half for the Newtown Jets.