While some clubs are known for their big boppers and others for their speedy backlines, it's long been known that to stand above the pack in theย NRL, you need an elite half-pairing to steer the ship.
With newly formed combinations preparing for their debuts in round one and tested duos gearing up for another crack at a premiership, these halves pairings look set to lead their team to glory in 2025.
3Blaize Talagi & Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
There are very few halfbacks in rugby league history that have instilled genuine fear in their opposition, regardless of who's on the other side.
Nathan Cleary is one of those halfbacks, and after being rested for the majority of 2024 and coming off his fourth-straight premiership, he looks set to dominate once again. The only test for him now is how well he does with his new five-eighth, young star, Blaize Talagi.
For the first time this decade, Cleary is not a part of the best halves pairing in the NRL. With his long-time teammate Jarome Luai heading to the Tigers, he must show that he can dominate regardless of who is next to him.
While anything seems possible for the two-time Clive Churchill medallist, this may just make or break his chances at NRL Immortal status.
Insert Blaize Talagi, the 19-year-old prodigy who moved from the Parramatta Eels over the offseason.
After being promised a key role in rugby league's best system, Talagi packed his bags to join Ivan Cleary's ranks. He enjoyed a terrific rookie season for the Eels, winning their Rookie of the Year award after playing most of the season in the backline.
There are hints of a truly great footballer in Talagi, and all signs point towards him blazing through the competition alongside Nathan Cleary next year.
What a load of crap, storm halfs r No.1 they have been together 4 years and are AVG as, reno an hunt kill it as a pairing to the storm halfs. Bronx have a betta kicking games and way betta game players. Storm finish 6th Bronx top 2.
I’m always dubious when I see articles like this which compare the _existing_ with the _potential_. Though I understand that if the author didn’t do that then he would have very little to write about !
OK, Reynolds and Hunt are certainly the Oldest pair going around, and they are the most experienced of the players. They should be good. I say “should” because they are two dominant halves who haven’t played together before. It may be a match made in heaven or it may be a fight between the two alpha males.
Hunt seems to be always fit, and Reynolds less so. Mamm will be out for only nine weeks, so – leaving personalities aside – the pairing for greatest continuity would be to play Hunt at 7 and Reynolds/Mamm at 6. I can’t see that happening.
The Wests pairing may have a lot of potential, but if the Wests forwards are not going forward, then maybe Luai and Galvin will look pretty ordinary. Who knows ?
The Storm halves are not as effective as they were a few years back because Munster has been regularly injured, or up and down in form. Notwithstanding, those two have played a lot together and know what each other is likely to do under any circumstances. So, maybe – as a tried and tested combination – they deserve their #1 spot in the article.