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:
An early theme of this list but the Panthers youngster enters under pressure that is through almost no fault of his own.
Talagi, albeit coming off a brilliant rookie season, is expected to step in for the departing Jarome Luai and continue the Panthers juggernaut run.
He's 19 and has two starts in the halves to his name. Big ask. Especially with Daine Laurie waiting in the wings if anything goes wrong.
Talagi is a potential marquee signing but there will need to be a honeymoon period, even in the best system in modern NRL history.
Aj Brimson is a brilliant player. I am an unashamed fan of his.
That said, he just signed a mega money contract extension despite not really having a first choice spot in the Titans lineup.
Do you move youngsters Keano Kini or Jayden Campbell? Do you try Brimson again at centre despite it not working last year?
Do you shelve Kieran Foran and enter 2025 with a new halves combo? Do you make Brimson the game's most highly paid utility?
Brimson has to find a spot and justify that monster extension. Early and often!
I will forgive those of you reading who had to google the name. Lewis Dodd has been signed by the Bunnies to replace Lachlan Ilias, who never really replaced Adam Reynolds.
Talk about pressure!
A Super League player, who was dropped mid-season no less, coming into one of the game's biggest clubs in the most important position on the field.
Good like young Lewis.
For the record he looks the goods. He had a brilliant run at St Helens and I have no doubt he'll play well under Wayne Bennett.
Ben Hunt's arrival is expected to see the Broncos rise from also-rans in 2024 to Premiers in 2025. That is the feeling up north.
Hunt's exit from the Dragons has been met with almost unanimous joy from his former side's fanbase. That can't feel good.
This despite Hunt being the Dragons best player for 99% of his tenure. Despite him being a QLD mainstay.
Pressure follows Ben Hunt. Millions of dollars of payments and talking about your next club, despite not being released yet, will do that to you.
Hunt is one of the few on here who brings about the majority of his pressure upon himself.
Looking at the Sharks side heading into 2025, in terms of their 1-17 they are strong. Very strong.
World class backline, incredible halves, elite number nine, AFB boosted forwards. Top class bench. The one spot where they lack is at fullback.
Kennedy, on his day, can be breathtaking. Under the high ball there is no one better. At his attacking best, he's a joy to watch.
That said, there are games where you have to check to see if Kennedy is even out there.
He is a world from the likes of Tedesco, Turbo, Walsh and Ponga. That could be an issue for a side with two future NRL fullbacks in their junior ranks.
Liam Ison has just signed a contract extension after making light work of the NSW Cup after his call up.
A few bad games and I guarantee you the fanbase will be calling for the younger. Kade Dykes, injury curse aside, is way too good for NSW Cup.
How long has he got? Especially given he is out of contract at the end of the 2025 season.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is a superstar of the game. His re-signing was a huge coup for the Storm as it looked as though he was Belmore bound.
Through no fault of Papenhuyzen's though, he enters 2025 under the spotlight.
Young gun Sua Fa'alogo is waiting in the wings. His future will be decided by the decisions made around Papenhuyzen.
If Paps is retained long-term then Fa'alogo will head elsewhere to apply his ridiculous talents.
Even if Papenhuyen wins fullback of the year, Fa'alongo's abilities will make him a superstar whenever he may land. Given that he is only 21, combined with the injury history of Papenhuyzen, people will talk.
He has to feel the pressure of the youngster breathing down his neck. That said, he backed himself via a one-year extension when he could have cashed in, long-term, at the Dogs.
Kyle Flanagan is the Ben Hunt replacement. He is the face of the club. He will decide if the Red V play Finals footy for the first time in a long time.
None of the above are true ... but that is exactly how fans are viewing young Flanagan heading into 2025.
Ben Hunt, who carried the Dragons on his own back for many years, is out, and the coach's son is in. On a recently extended contract. To partner a thrown aside half in Lachlan Ilias.
Talk about a pressure cooker!
For the record I am a huge fan of Flanagan. Have been since Sharks days. He was made, unfairly, the scapegoat during his time at the Roosters.
Unfortunately he'll likely be targeted again if the Dragons don't fire next year, whether he deserves it or not.
With every single off season, it seems, the Knights become more and more about one man. Kalyn Ponga.
I fully admit that the statement I just made is massively untrue and very much unfair. Perception matters though!
The past two seasons have proven that when Ponga fires, the Knights are great. When he doesn't, or is injured then they are dire!
Newcastle are now resigned to losing Leo Thompson. This off the back of losing Dom Young and Daniel Saifiti over the past two seasons.
The Knight's season falls almost entirely on the shoulders of their superstar fullback.
Jarome Luai is a magnificent player. Multiple time Premiership winner. Origin series winner. Samoan superstar.
He is being seen by the Tigers fanbase as the saviour. Rightfully so!
Luai has been everywhere since arriving in Tiger Town. He is the face of the club. Again, rightfully so.
With that though comes pressure. Tigers fans no longer expect to be also-rans. They have one of the game's very best halves wearing their club colours.
Luai has been on podcasts talking a big game. He will be expected to deliver.
No club's fanbase craves a winning season more than the Tigers, If Luai lands on his feet, there is no reason Benji's boys can't achieve something special in 2025.
Luai is arguably the game's most important player as his performances will literally decide the Tigers season. That's pressure.
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.