KIERSTEN DUKE: Kalyn Ponga, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Ronaldo Mulitalo lead top NRL players list

The much-anticipated official launch of the NRL season is only days away.

We’ve survived a long five months without rugby league and we’re now so close to all-out action resuming with the 2025 season’s kick-off fittingly returning to the US entertainment capital of Las Vegas.

As per usual, the off season typically has not been shy of drama.

Marquee players were making more moves than you’d find in a yoga studio, taking pay cuts to prove their loyalty to their clubs or finding new homes for more cash, while others worked hard to bounce back from season ending injuries.

So who will star in 2025?

I’ve picked seven players who I can’t wait to see set the league-verse on fire in 2025 and there are some big names missing that will surprise you.

7. NATHAN LAWSON

The Dragons have made some exciting signings this year and it would be easy to get distracted by the big name additions of Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook.

However, the man who I think is going to play a significant role for the Big Red V will be winger Nathan Lawson

A rugby sevens convert, Lawson played in 25 tournaments for Australia, wearing the green and gold at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

He scored an impressive 69 tries throughout these tournaments and finished this season with the Australian Rugby Sevens Player of The Year award. Lawson shows stacks of athleticism and will provide coach Shane Flanagan a strike weapon out wide.

6. JAMES FISHER-HARRIS

The best prop in the world made the tough decision last year to leave the all-conquering Penrith Panthers to return home to New Zealand.

Originally from the North Island in New Zealand, Fish made the move to Sydney to play for at the foot of the Blue Mountains more than decade ago.

It was three premiership wins later and with another still on the way, that a trip back to visit his family that left Fish feeling homesick.

The Panthers agreed to an early contract release on compassionate grounds, handing the Warriors one of their best signings in a decade.

Fisher-Harris averaged nearly 130 metres a game last year and only missed 26 tackles the entire season.

The 183-game NRL veteran is not only one of the hardest-hitting forwards in the league but the Kiwi captain’s experience makes him a perfect leader to fill the experienced shoes of Shaun Johnson.

5. TYRONE MUNRO

Big speedster Ty Munro is one of the Rabbitohs’ most promising junior talents.

Rising through the club’s ranks, Munro’s terrific turn of foot and athletic ability helped him make an instant impact during the 2024 season, notching up six tries from his seven appearances.

Last year was a season most Souths fans would like to forget. From a sacked coach to an unbelievable number of injuries, there weren’t too many moments where the Rabbitohs faithful didn’t have their heads in their hands while watching the season unravel.

But amongst the chaos was a moment that sent chills down my spine. At just 20 years old, during the lead-up to round 26, Munro had to navigate the loss of his mother.

Just days after her passing Ty bravely stepped out to produce the game of his life. Despite also losing his uncle that morning, <FZ,1,0,21>Munro managed to score two outstanding tries that evening.

He was awarded the NRL’s Provan-Summons Medal at last October’s Dally M ceremony. The award is given to the player who has displayed the true spirit of the game.

If raw talent wasn’t enough then it’s that spirit that will see Ty go on to a fantastic 2025 season.

4. RONALDO MULITALO

Dreaming of remaining a one-club player, high-flying winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is set to continue his pursuit of the Sharks all-time try scoring record after signing a three-year extension with the club.

Having scored 83 tries in 110 NRL matches for the Sharks, Mulitalo will now remain in the Shire through to the end of the 2028 season and currently sits third on the list.

Andrew Ettingshausen holds the record with 166 tries.

His ability to gain valuable metres returning a kick can not be understated with Mulitalo averaging nearly 150 metres a game last year.

3. RYAN PAPENHUYZEN

Ryan Papenhuyzen has had one of the worst injury runs over the last five years of any star player.

But that has not daunted him and despite rumblings the Storm were looking to move him on, he signed another one-year deal last December. The Storm’s No.1 continues to display an incredible level of resilience and found top form towards the end of 2024 after a fractured kneecap sidelined him for more than 12 months.

At the ripe age of just 26, the Storm’s star fullback has returned to the path of being one of the game’s best.

In 20 matches in 2024 he scored 13 tries and averaged 118 metres per game.

2. HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW

One of the Dolphins marquee players, 23-year-old Hammer has had several seasons to remember.

As one of the game’s elite speedsters it’s hard to believe he left North Queensland in 2022 with no specific role in the team, often playing off the bench.

The growth the fullback has shown in such a short period of time at Redcliffe is unparallelled.

We only have to think back to his hat-trick of tries in the first Origin game last year which helped cement his place in the Kangaroos squad.

A hamstring and shoulder injury sidelined him for parts of the 2024 season but he still managed to notch up 15 tries in 16 games, including one amazing solo effort against the Sharks from his own tryline.

The Dolphins failed to reach great heights last year but the return of Tom Gilbert and arrival of new coach Kristian Woolf is likely to see the Queensland side make a run for the top eight.

It’s almost frightening knowing we’re yet to see the best of Hammer. What will he achieve in 2025? The sky seems to be the limit.

1. KALYN PONGA

Since arriving at the Knights as just a teenager in 2018, Ponga has evolved into one of league’s premier game players.

Known as a skilful athlete with game-breaking plays, Ponga has still faced his fair share of setbacks.

But despite repeated concussions which ruled him out of State Of Origin in 2023, he still managed to go on to win that year’s Dally M medal.

For the past few years it’s felt like the weight of the Knights’ top eight, or even premiership success, has landed squarely on his shoulders.

A lisfranc injury ruled him out for several months of the 2024 season but he came back with vengeance to lead the Knights to a top eight finish.

But this year feels different.

Young talent Fletcher Sharpe has been outstanding as five-eighth throughout the pre-season and with more changes in the halves at the Knights, could it finally relieve some of the pressure on their star fullback?

If this becomes the case then I wholeheartedly believe that Ponga, with the support of his men with mullets, could lead the Knights to finals success.