Managing the salary cap is absolutely crucial when it comes to achieving success in rugby league.
Clubs can't just stack a team with 20 superstars on huge money and watch the wins pile up.
Coaches are paid big dollars to get the most out of players.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of each season is seeing which players develop into stars.
Today I am here to highlight ten such players who achieved that this year. Moreso those who improved in a big way.
Rookies won't be included for obvious reasons. Mark Nawaqanitawase was not considered for this reason.
These are ranked but honestly the difference between them is so small I'd be happy to swap any position, other than the undisputed number one.
Below are the 10 most improved players from the 2025 season:
Honourable Mentions: Jaxon Purdue, Jack Williams & Simi Sasagi.
6. Billy Burns
I am oh so happy to eat crow on this one. When Cronulla signed Billy Burns I wanted an enquiry.
The back rower won a NSW Cup Premiership last season but was still seen as purely a squad filler.
In 2025, his form was so good that he kept international back rower Britton Nikora out of the starting lineup for the Finals series.
He played 17 games for the Sharks in 2025. Last year he played four. I guarantee next season will be a lot closer to 17 than four, also.
