While some clubs are known for their big boppers and others for their speedy backlines, it's long been known that to stand above the pack in theย NRL, you need an elite half-pairing to steer the ship.
With newly formed combinations preparing for their debuts in round one and tested duos gearing up for another crack at a premiership, these halves pairings look set to lead their team to glory in 2025.
5Dylan Brown & Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
While the 2024 NRL season was a disastrous year for the Parramatta Eels, fans of the historic club can take solace in the fact that their halfback has gained some much-needed rep success to bring in for next year.
Moses stood up in the 2024 State of Origin series, steering the Blues to their first win in a Suncorp decider in 40 years.
Moses' Origin duties and ongoing injuries throughout the year saw him playing just eight games for the Blue and Gold. While this wasn't ideal for the Eels, it gave Dylan Brown the opportunity to step up for his side.
Brown played the majority of his 24 games as the dominant half, which saw him gain experience as the go-to guy for the first time in his career. This was crucial to his development and will be a boon to his team's premiership hopes in 2025.
With Moses regaining control of the side and Brown looking to elevate his game to the next level under newly appointed coach Jason Ryles, our bets are on the pair leading this Eels outfit to a much-improved record next year.
What a load of crap, storm halfs r No.1 they have been together 4 years and are AVG as, reno an hunt kill it as a pairing to the storm halfs. Bronx have a betta kicking games and way betta game players. Storm finish 6th Bronx top 2.
I’m always dubious when I see articles like this which compare the _existing_ with the _potential_. Though I understand that if the author didn’t do that then he would have very little to write about !
OK, Reynolds and Hunt are certainly the Oldest pair going around, and they are the most experienced of the players. They should be good. I say “should” because they are two dominant halves who haven’t played together before. It may be a match made in heaven or it may be a fight between the two alpha males.
Hunt seems to be always fit, and Reynolds less so. Mamm will be out for only nine weeks, so – leaving personalities aside – the pairing for greatest continuity would be to play Hunt at 7 and Reynolds/Mamm at 6. I can’t see that happening.
The Wests pairing may have a lot of potential, but if the Wests forwards are not going forward, then maybe Luai and Galvin will look pretty ordinary. Who knows ?
The Storm halves are not as effective as they were a few years back because Munster has been regularly injured, or up and down in form. Notwithstanding, those two have played a lot together and know what each other is likely to do under any circumstances. So, maybe – as a tried and tested combination – they deserve their #1 spot in the article.