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.
runs the ball during the round five NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors at Sunshine Coast Stadium on April 13, 2019 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
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.
I would have had Panthers and Sharks as my “top two” because, as you say, they have recruited quality rather than quantity.
Good luck to Parra trying to integrate seven new faces, or Wests trying to fit in six. With that many, no-one knows what the others are going to do.
Anyway, I’d be interested to read a follow-up article, saying who you think are the five _worst_ recruiters for 2025