One thing EVERY team can look back fondly upon from 2025 season

With Christmas approaching, it is the happiest time of the year! A time to look back upon the good times that we all enjoyed in 2025. Each team across the competition, including the new boys, the Perth Bears, enjoyed some degree of success in 2025. Albeit to varying degrees. Today we look back wt what you, as a fan of your club, can hang your hat on from the 2025 season. This isn't designed to be a full-season review for each club, but more so a snapshot of why it was either a good season or a season that isn't as bad as you remember it. With that said, below is one thing that every single club can look back fondly upon from 2025: Perth Bears: Inaugural signings It has been slow, but steady as the Perth Bears start to compile their roster for the 2027 season. Toby Sexton and Harry Newman were the first two names announced by Bears Instagram before Luke Smith and Emarly Bitungane were added. Liam Henry and Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui were announced yesterday. It's an exciting team, with many more names to come! Canberra Raiders: Emergence of Ethan (and Kaeo) Not only did the Raiders capture the Minor Premiership in 2025, but they did it on the back of the game's two most exciting young stars. Ethan Strange banked Dally M five-eighth of the year honours and toured with the Kangaroos in the recent Ashes tour of England. Kaeo Weekes is the most electrifying, highlight reel of a young fullback in the game. He probably should have been on that same tour. The youngsters are not even close to their peak yet. They both have rep footy in their future and many, many years to enjoy for fans of the Green Machine. Melbourne Storm: Harry still number one Each and every time Blayke Brailey threatened to emerge as the best number nine in the game, Harry Grant lapped his Sharks equivalent. This is a brilliant sign for the Storm who will be relying heavily on their star rake in 2026. Ryan Papenhuyzen has left the club meaning they'll need the number one number nine in the game to take up an even larger role, at least initially in '26. Of course the Storm are more than just one player, but it never hurts to have the best in the business at a position on your roster. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Top Four despite fall The Bulldogs enjoyed a brilliant start to the season yet endured a not-so-pleasant finish to the season. Despite their huge fall off in the back end of the season, they were still able to finish in the Top Four and play in two Finals games. That just goes to show that when they get it right, they get it very right! The talent on this roster is brilliant. A full off-season together, with no distractions, will surely see them return to their early 25 form. Parramatta Eels: Moses parts defences at will Mitch Moses is one of the premier players in the competition. No one can convince me otherwise, because no one thinks otherwise. When Moses was fit, the Eels were a different proposition. It's never fun seeing your star player sidelined for long periods of time. It is fun though when your star player is able to tear teams to shreds at will once fit. Far from a Parra fan, the rugby league fan in me wants nothing more than a full season for Moses in 2026. St George Illawarra Dragons: Young forwards breathe fire Ok it's hard to find too many positives for those wearing the Red V in 2025 but there were a few standouts. Toby Couchman looks every bit a potential rep player. This despite just 39 games to his name. His 13 in 2025 proved he will lead the Dragons pack into the future. I very much like what I saw from Hamish Stewart this year. He is yet to play 20 games at NRL level but looks a long-term mainstay for the club. Dylan Egan also showed some great signs. At 22, 21 and 21 years of age respectively, the future is bright up front for the Dragons. South Sydney Rabbitohs: No Gray area at fullback moving forward Jye Gray was absolutely magnificent for the Bunnies last year. Better yet, he shunned interest from other codes go re-sign with the club moving forward. Gray looks set to take over at fullback moving forward with Latrell Mitchell shifting into the centres. Given Latrell's recent run of injuries, the Bunnies replied on Gray far too often in 2025. The positive was it allowed Gray to emerge as the undoubted fullback of the future. Souths will be better for having both players in the team moving forward. Wests Tigers: Tigers (somewhat) roar Ok forget all the nonsense in the news the last few weeks, 2025's NRL season was one that showed great promise for the Tigers. Terrell May was one of the signings of the season. His brother Taylan took to the club like a fish to water. Jahream Bula continued his rapid rise while Jarome Luai and Apisai Koroisau reunited and formed a dangerous combo in the spine. Throw in plenty of games for the Fainu brothers, and there is a lot to like about a much-improved season in Tiger Town. Cronulla Sharks: Addin adds value The Sharks spent big on Addin Fonua-Blake in hope that he would become their pack leader. Fast forward to the end of 2025 and AFB lead them in every stat, pocketed a Dally M prop of the year award and looked every bit the monster they needed. The lift he provided on and off the field, especially when dragging his fellow middles with him, justified the million-dollar-a-year investment. They fell just short of a Grand Final but it was through no fault of their superstar signing. New Zealand Warriors: Metcalf's mighty season The Warriors' season ended in less than stellar fashion, but I'm ok in saying injuries had a to do with their downfall. Mitch Barnett was on fire prior to his injury. Meanwhile, Luke Metcalf was running away, literally, with the Dally M medal prior to his season-ending ACL injury. If there's one player you want firing it's your young halfback. Luke Metcalf looks every bit the next star across the Tasman. Sydney Roosters: Fall from grace? Not in Bondi! There was plenty of negativity surrounding the red, white and blue-sters, heading into the 2025 season. They lost a mountain of experience and size in the middle, and with Sam Walker's delayed start to the season, it was relative doom and gloom. Not for the Roosters! Mark Nawaqanitawase's highlights, James Tedesco's Dally M winning season, Sam Walker's try assists upon return. A "bad" season saw them still play Finals. Penrith Panthers: Could be as bad as it gets ... Penrith started the season horribly. They were sitting last after eight rounds of the competition. All the experts said there was almost no chance of being able to feature in the Finals, let alone defend their Premiership for yet another record-breaking time. They played a Prelim Final! They had the game won for 70+ minutes too... If that's as bad as it gets in Penrith. Yikes! Newcastle Knights: Brown set for Sharpe future Forget the wooden spoon. Forget the fact they couldn't name a first choice halves combination all season. Moving forward, the Knights have to choose from young gun Fletcher Sharpe, the refreshed Dylan Brown or super talented Sandon Smith when it comes to the halves. The obvious choice looks to be a halves pairing of Sharpe and Brown. Given the form of both during their final games of the season, that is something to look forward to. A spine of Ponga, Sharpe, Brown and Smith is legit five times better than anything they've seen on the Hunter for many years. Gold Coast Titans: Campbell confirms Titans future The Titans suffered some painful losses in 2025. They would score 30 yet concede 40. Frustrating for fans. Fun for neutrals. Jayden Campbell looks like a player that you can build a club around. The Titans will! A massive, long-term contract was signed and announced despite massive interest from multiple other clubs. They have their star to build around for the next half-decade-plus. Brisbane Broncos: Walsh's all-time Finals series secures premiership This entry could be several pages long. What a season for the Broncos. Reece Walsh announced himself as the game's premier player. You can fight me in the comments but best on ground all throughout the Finals ... big game player. Payne Haas shrugged aside ridiculous rugby money and looks set to stay at the club for many years. Throw in Carrigan, a train and trial centre becoming a megastar, lightning fast backs ... it's suddenly fun to hate the Broncos again. North Queensland Cowboys: Dearden & Drinkwater Ok the season wasn't a great one for those up north but two players earned their money, and then some. Tom Dearden was incredible no matter what role he was asked to play. Unfortunately, he was often asked to carry the entire club on his back. Scott Drinkwater can absolutely find a missed tackle or an error but his 24 try assists kept the Cowboys in the hunt for far longer than they otherwise deserved. Both blokes earned their Mad Mondays. The Dolphins: Oh so close If not for a moment of brilliance from Toby Rufold, the Dolphins play Finals football in 2025. If not for a season-ending injury to Herbie Farnworth, the Dolphins absolutely play Finals footy in 2025. They were oh so close to their first go round at the pointy end of the NRL season. This is arguably the most exciting roster in the competition moving forward. Manly Sea Eagles: DCE distraction over for good This feels like a bit of a cop out but 2025 will always be remembered for the DCE debacle. The club legend, 350 gamer, Premiership winner... Captain! Allowed to leave. Forced out? Depends on who you believe. The DCE drama lingered over the season all year. Every single press conference ... I'm glad it's over, let alone how Manly fans are feeling. Joey Walsh looks like an incredible talent. DCE's move clears the path for the club's most hyped youngster to make his mark.