Every year at every NRL club, several people – players and staff alike – lose their job.
The intensely results-driven nature of the business creates a pressure cooker environment that not everyone can handle.
For every premier, there are 16 clubs who fall short each season but even at the best clubs, Penrith and Melbourne, there are people under pressure heading into 2025.
The highs are high but the lows are low, and with the game under a constant microscope, rugby league isn’t always fun at the highest level.
Latrell Mitchell needs to put a disappointing couple of seasons behind him and repay the Rabbitohs’ huge investment in his services.
Selwyn Cobbo is playing for his future and needs to convince Michael Maguire he is in the Broncos’ long-term plans.
And Nicho Hynes needs to live up to his pay packet after being overshadowed by his halves partner Braydon Trindall last season.
BRONCOS
Selwyn Cobbo
There aren’t too many 22-year-old State of Origin players who clubs allow to hit the open market, but Selwyn Cobbo has been a 2026 free agent for two months now.
The talented outside back has played six games for Queensland since debuting in 2022 just a few days after his 20th birthday, while he has also played one Test for the Kangaroos.
But several off-field controversies have seen Cobbo fall out of favour at the Broncos and it’s doubtful he’ll earn a new deal when his current one expires at the end of next season, especially given that the Broncos are trying to keep fellow big-money centre Kotoni Staggs.
With 43 tries in 68 NRL games, Cobbo has the potential to be a superstar in the NRL at either fullback or centre, but he needs a big year to convince Michael Maguire he is in the Broncos’ long-term plans.
Hynes played a reduced role in the Sharks’ drought-breaking finals win but he’ll need to play to his $1 million price tag next year if they’re going to be genuine contenders.
Turning 29 in 2025, Hynes now has 23 tries in 100 NRL games and the time has come for him to take ownership of the team and lead them to a first premiership since 2016.
DOLPHINS
Kristian Woolf
There’s no sugar-coating it: rookie coach Kristian Woolf will be feeling the heat to do something that hasn’t been done in decades.
Wayne Bennett has been replaced at NRL clubs six times and it’s 30 years since any of his successors tasted sustained success; and that was Tim Sheens at the Raiders.
Dolphins officials believe Woolf will end the curse because he’s the product of a succession plan years in the making, but try telling that to Jason Demetriou, who did the same thing at Souths and lasted just 58 games.
The loss of retired skipper Jesse Bromwich can’t be understated and Woolf needs to get his leadership team in place to set the standards going forward if the Dolphins are to make a maiden finals appearance in 2025.
RABBITOHS
Latrell Mitchell
The most polarising player in the NRL will start the 2025 season suspended over his white substance scandal, unless he is allowed to count the All Stars game towards it.
Mitchell has reportedly quit drinking alcohol and dropped around 5kg since the scandal and now it’s time to deliver on his enormous potential.
The 27-year-old is back playing for his favourite coach, Wayne Bennett, but he’ll need to justify his $1 million pay cheque.
With 106 tries and 1,165 points in 171 NRL games, there is no doubting Mitchell’s class, but he needs to show more consistency on both sides of the ball as a fullback and lead Souths to a drought-breaking title.
