The NRL is a constantly evolving landscape of teams changing through injuries, players being signed, players being released, and youngsters breaking through.
New coaches, new talents, and varying form also have a significant say in who is and who isn't in the best 17.
Zero Tackle have run the rule over what every team looked like at the end of 2024 against what it looks like at the end of 2025 to determine where the changes, improvements, and failures are.
Penrith Panthers
With the exception of Nathan Cleary being out injured, the team listed in 2024 was essentially Penrith's full-strength outfit.
Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris are the two big absences for the men from the foot of the mountains into 2025, but there have been other changes, with Sunia Turuva also missing.
Brian To'o is being rested this year alongside Liam Martin, so Paul Alamoti claims a wing spot he otherwise hasn't had throughout the year, with Thomas Jenkins and Casey McLean part of the best 17.
Blaize Talagi has been an excellent addition at five-eighth, while Luke Garner takes Martin's spot in the second-row but would otherwise revert back to the bench role he held last year.
Brad Schneider is also likely to hang onto a bench spot during the finals, with Matthew Eisenhuth the likely man to drop out, owing to the continued emergence of Liam Henry and off-season signing of Isaiah Papali'i.
2024 Panthers
2025 Panthers
| Fullback |
| Wing |
| Centre |
| Centre |
| Wing |
| Five-eighth |
| Halfback |
| Prop |
| Hooker |
| Prop |
| Second Row |
| Second Row |
| Lock |
| Interchange |
| Interchange |
| Interchange |
| Interchange |
| Reserves |
