It's a bit rough to say that someone is under pressure for 2025 before the pre-season has even begun, but for many NRL players that is reality.
Whether it be to retain a spot, justify a contract, or throwing the hopes of an entire fanbase on their shoulders, every NRL contracted player bares some type of pressure.
Today we are going to look at 10 who enter the 2025 under huge pressure.
Again, not all of these players are playing for contracts, or their future. Some even find themselves in a position not of their own doing, more-so down to pure circumstance.
With that said, below are the top 10 players entering 2025 under pressure:
1. Nicho Hynes
No player enters 2025 under more pressure than Cronulla's Nicho Hynes.
Hynes is often made the scapegoat, lazily in most cases, by the Sharks fan base.
With the arrival of Addin Fonua-Blake, the Sharks enter a Premiership window. Whether or not they reach the heights expected will come down to Nicho Hynes.
Hynes is a Dally M medal winning halfback who has been the best player for his side for two seasons. In his third he was the form player of the competition prior to a horror Origin showing and injury run.
Nicho is the ultimate confidence player. If he can't find confidence playing behind one of the game's premier middle forwards, beside a brilliant five-eight and inside a backline who score tries for fun, then he will deservingly have all eyes on him yet again.
Unfortunately Hynes, even when he is very, very good, still cops criticism from some parts of the rugby league fanbase.
He is a million dollar halfback and needs to accept that his every run, tackle, kick and pass will be put under the microscope.
If he fires, the Sharks can achieve anything. If he starts slowly, you just know the claws will be out. Especially now that Daniel Atkinon's future has been confirmed to be elsewhere.
