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: 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.
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