An argument can be made that the NRL has never been as talented as it is right now.
The league is littered with stars of all ages, from 36-year-old Daly Cherry Evans to 19-year-old Lachlan Galvin.
The quality of the competition is at an all-time high, which is, unfortunately, a reason why many young players are missing out on first-grade playing time.
Whether sitting in New South Wales Cup or playing minimal minutes off the bench, these five youngsters could be the next big thing for their respective clubs in 2025.
Many would remember that Latu Fainu was pegged to nab the No. 6 jersey at the Wests Tigers to start the 2024 season before Lachlan Galvin beat him to the finish line to make his debut.
Fainu was one of the most highly touted juniors coming through the Manly Sea Eagles' ranks. However, the buzz around his potential has slowed down since joining the Tigers.
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With both Galvin and Jarome Luai occupying the halves, it is unknown where Fainu could fit in this side, but if the Tigers don't implement him soon, they may lose the prodigious half.
Relatively unknown before his debut, Harry Hayes has been a revelation for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
His freakish athleticism and large motor has added a breath of fresh air to the Dogs' attack, but his playing time has been largely inconsistent since joining the first-grade squad.
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Hayes offers a range of versatility as an NRL player, being able to slot in at second row or prop, if needed, and potentially even centre.
While the Bulldogs' forward stocks are pretty set with Jacob Preston, Villiame Kikau, Max King, and Sam Hughes, the Western Sydney side will need to find a spot for Hayes on the bench to get consistent minutes, as the young forward is currently moving in and out of NSW Cup.
Standing in at 2.05m tall and weighing 122kg, Benjamin Te Kura has all the attributes to be a dominant force in the NRL.
He has made a name for himself coming through the ranks, but the enormous front-rower has had very little game time to start his young career.
As the tallest player to ever play in the NRL, Te Kura already has a certain level of expectation on his shoulders.
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However, in a side that features the likes of Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, and Jordan Riki, cracking into the top 17 is no joke.
While it may be some time until we see Te Kura play consistent rugby league, once the young prop gets some experience under his belt, he could very well be one of the best forwards in the game.
Touted as the halfback of the future for the Canberra Raiders, Ethan Sanders has been regarded as one of the best young halfbacks coming through the ranks.
After making the move from Parramatta to the Capital, Eels fans were shattered. Now that he has arrived at the Green Machine, Raiders fans will be hoping to see him in action.
After declaring, "I'm not here to play reserve grade, I want to play NRL,” to the NewsWire upon arriving at his new club, the young halfback is hungry for an opportunity.
Sanders shined in the U19's New South Wales team's Origin win back in 2023 and has been steadily working on his game since.
While it's assumed Ricky Stuart will want to use Sanders as a successor to Jamal Fogarty when he retires, it's clear that Sanders wants to make his mark in the NRL in 2025.
While it was Isaiah Iongi who won the race to Clint Gutherson's vacant fullback jersey to start 2025, he will need to be mighty impressive to keep Joash Papalii off his tail.
The speedy fullback made his way to the Parramatta Eels over the offseason, with the former Bulldog hungry for a crack at the NRL.
While Iongi has come from the impressive junior system of the Penrith Panthers, Papali'i has shown strokes of natural brilliance any chance he gets.
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While some could argue he is undersized, Papali'i takes advantage of defences with his electric footwork and dynamic speed, averaging over 100 metres per game in his last two seasons with the Bulldogs.
His new club will want to find somewhere to slot Papali'i in, as the 20-year-old is too good to be sitting in New South Wales Cup.