Recruitment and retention can literally make or break a season.
We've seen the Bulldogs evolve from competition also-rans into a Finals force thanks to aggressive recruitment drives.
We've seen the Sharks routinely play Finals footy under Craig Fitzgibbon based mainly on a retention strategy.
Today, we look at five teams that have signed or re-signed extremely well for next year. Please note that re-signings only include players who re-signed for the 2025 season.
For instance, Briton Nikora and Braydon Trindall have re-signed at Cronulla but as both were contracted for the 2025 season anyway, they won't be taken into account.
Below are the top five recruitment and retention drives for the 2025 season:
Honourable Mention: New Zealand Warriors: Ultimately they lost too much to land on the top five list but the James Fisher-Harris pick up was marquee business. Erin Clark is supremely underrated and young Samuel Healey looks a future star in the number nine.
Ins: Addin Fonua-Blake, Hohepa Puru
Outs: Jack Williams, Samuel Healey, Royce Hunt
Re-Signings: Kayal Iro, Jesse Colquhoun, Niwhai Puru, Billy Burns, Oregon Kaufusi, Jayden Berrell, Mawene Hiroti
This may be controversial as the Sharks only added one star, as well as depth signing Hohepa Puru.
What a star signing it was, though! The literal perfect signing.
The Sharks have talent all over the park. They are deep. Their reserve grade team won the NSW Cup competition and their Flegg side was pipped in the Grand Final.
The only thing they have lacked in the past few seasons is a genuine pack leader. Someone to make 150 metres per game and break defences down.
Step forward Addin Fonua-Blake. He is undoubtedly a top-three middle in the game and a wish-list signing, in terms of his on-field skills, for those in the black, white and blue.
Re-signing Kayal Iro was an absolute coup. How they held off a host of other teams for the super-talented centre is beyond belief. Jesse Colquhoun is a super versatile star in the making.
Jack Williams is a loss, but Cronulla boasts three of four players at a similar level. AFB is the mother of all upgrades in the middle.
Ins: Isaiah Papali'i, Blaize Talagi
Outs: Tyrone Peachey, James Fisher-Harris, Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva
Re-Signings: Izack Tago, Paul Alamoti, Luke Garner, Casey McLean, Jesse McLean, Daine Laurie, Luke Sommerton, Mitch Kenny, Preston Riki
Truthfully, I don't even look at the outs anymore. Ivan Cleary has proven it doesn't matter who the Panthers lose; the next Avenger is ready to step up.
Penrith have lost two genuine superstars but they were quick to replace them. Isaiah Papali'i will magically re-find his career-best form, while Blaize Talagai will become the game's next star in the six.
Casey McLean somehow looks an upgrade on Sunia Turuva. The freak rookie scored four tries for the Kiwis and you just know he'll cross for tries for laughs in 2025.
Penrith managed to re-sign both their centres in Tago and Alamoti despite plenty of interest. Luke Garner was magnificent last year and has also extended his stay in Penrith.
This, much like Cronulla, was a case of quality over quantity. Other teams have signed more players but Penrith have managed to replace their two major outs and re-sign some of their future stars.
The entire Rugby League world, outside of those at the foot of the mountains, is crying out for a Penrith down year.
Doesn't look like it'll happen any time soon!
Ins: Damien Cook, Clinton Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, Lachlan Ilias
Outs: Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, Jack Bird, Max Feagai, Dan Russell, Savelio Tamale
Re-Signings: Jaydn Su'A, Moses Suli, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Michael Molo, Mathew Feagai, Tyrell Sloan
The Dragons have attracted three players with Origin experience, including a current Origin representative, as well as their new halfback.
Valentine Holmes is a genuine marquee signing. He threatened to overturn a huge deficit against the Sharks on his own back in last years Finals series prior to his injury.
Clint Gutherson is the leader and fullback they needed. I love this signing, despite worries about his durability. Damian Cook is a handy pickup, although he's not the player of two years ago.
Lachlan Ilias will largely make or break their 2025 campaign. If he and Kyle Flanagan can form a special partnership, they're in Finals contention. If not, it could be a long season.
On paper losing Zac Lomax and Ben Hunt is catastrophic. In reality though, neither bought in and the club is better for moving on.
Moses Sulu and Jayden Su'A are brilliant re-signings and should play huge parts in deciding the Dragons 2025 fortunes.
Once again the Dragons recruitment drive is more about the players they missed out on. They missed a host of marquee signings but have still improved on their 2024 selves.
Ins: Jarome Luai, Terrell May, Sunia Turuva, Royce Hunt, Jeral Skelton, Jack Bird
Outs: Isaiah Papali'i, Stefano Utoikamanu, Junior Tupou, Aidan Sezer
Re-Signings: Solomona Faataape, Heamasi Makasini, Sione Fainu, Adam Doueihi, Reuben Porter
The Tigers have recruited extremely well. Most importantly, they have recruited to need rather than to name value.
Jarome Luai was the literal perfect signing. His presence at halfback will do wonders for Lachlan Galvin's development.
Up front they have signed two monster props. Last year the Tigers middle was ... let's go with less than stellar.
Royce Hunt won't provide huge minutes or stats but he will provide impact. A potential starting combination with Terrell May will cause nightmares.
Sunia Turuva is a classy finisher and a huge upgrade on anything the Tigers had in 2024. I love the Skelton signing too as he'll provide big carries early in the sets.
Jack Bird isn't a big name anymore but he has title winning and Origin experience and is still a quality footballer.
They did lose rep quality forwards in Papali'i and Utoikamanu but neither showed the right mental application for the Tigers so the club is better for moving on.
The re-signing front wasn't overly busy, which I see as a positive. They've moved on to underperforming players.
Solomona Faataape showed some brilliant signs in 2024. He may have to bide his time early in 2025, but he's a talent.
Overall the Tigers enter the 2025 season as a supremely improved roster. If we don't see a big improvement this year, then it's time to officially give up.
Ins: Zac Lomax, Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Williams, Isaiah Iongi, Dean Hawkins, Joash Papalii, Jordan Samrani
Outs: Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Clinton Gutherson, Blaize Talagi, Matt Arthur, Daejarn Asi, Lorenzo Mulitalo, Maika Sivo, Ethan Sanders, Zac Cini
Re-Signings: J'maine Hopgood, Charlie Guymer, Bailey Simonsson, Brendan Hands, Jake Tago, Matt Doorey, Dan Keir
There will be pushback in the comments here instead of saying that the Tigers have recruited better. I'll hear an argument, but for me, the Eels have overseen the best drive for 2025.
Starting with the re-signings, J'maine Hopgood is a QLD Origin rep with all the skills in the world.
Charlie Guymer gets me excited as a football fan. He is going to cause some chaos! Bailey Simonsson looks a quality footballer.
As for the losses, yes they did lose the heart and soul of the club in King Gutho, but they've chosen to go with a youthful option and spend the money elsewhere.
Blaize Talagi is a monster loss, there is no covering over that one.
Although Reagan Campbell-Gillard was brilliant in 2024, they have priorities elsewhere so I am happy enough to write that move off.
In terms of gain, though, they've seen two superstars, one future star of the game and one of the game's most underrated players, arrive.
Isaiah Iongi shapes as the long-term option at number one. He has shown some freakish abilities in the Panthers system.
Jack Williams is a machine. Ok he has a bad drop in him but his good outweighs those errors in nine out of ten games. Great pick up.
Josh Addo-Carr, for his horror decisions made last year, is still a rep quality footballer with speed to burn.
Zac Lomax could end up being one of the signings of the season, if not the signing of signings!
He played a huge part in winning an Origin series for the Blues, was almost flawless for the Kangaroos and walked into the Dally M team of the Year despite playing for the Dragons.
If he can continue his run, albeit in the centres, he could transform the Eels back into a serious Finals threat.