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.
2. Ethan Strange
Heading into 2025, Ethan Strange was hardly an unknown. He played 21 games for the Raiders last year and had some big moments.
That said, his 2025 season was otherworldly. So much so that he is currently in England as part of the Ashes squad. I'd love to see him get a game in the third game of the series.
His 14 tries, up from two last year, combined with his 12 try assists (up from nine in 2024) made sure he was one of the game's most potent threats close to the line.
Strange had a massive part from play in the Raiders run to the Minor Premiership. It was a huge shame he was unable to play against the Sharks in the second week of the Finals as it may have changed the game.
