I've said it before and I will continue to repeat it - recruitment drives can make or break seasons.
We've seen the Bulldogs transform from competition also-rans to Finals competitors mainly due to a season upon season recruitment drive.
Meanwhile the Tigers signed a host of players over the past three seasons and finished last on all three ocassions.
Today we're here to run a look over nine of the 17 NRL teams and their recruitment decisions for 2025.
Some teams will attract average grades due to a lack of activity. Keep in mind that not all teams need to go out and sign five quality players.
That said, below are recruitment grades for the remaining eight teams heading into 2025:
In: Taj Annan, Matt Arthur, Francis Manuleleua, James Schiller
Out: David Armstrong, Jed Cartwright, Tom Jenkins, Myles Martin, Fletcher Myers, Daniel Saifiti, Enari Tuala
Re-signed: Bradman Best, Thomas Cant, Mat Croker, Dane Gagai, Tyson Gamble, Cody Hopwood, Brodie Jones, Dylan Lucas, Jermaine McEwen, Jacob Saifiti
I am a big fan of James Schiller. That is a handy pickup. Matt Arthur could start at nine or, at the very least, be in the mix.
Ultimately though, I don't feel as though the Knights improved enough to head into 2025 with any great degree of optimism.
Daniel Saifiti is the one major out. All the others can be replaced. So the Arthur/Schiller in for Saifiti is probably a draw.
Re-signing-wise, Bradman Best is a massive extension. He is set to become the game's next star in the centres. Brodie Jones and Dylan Lucas are brilliant business while Tyson Gamble is the heart of the Knights.
The Knights missed the Finals last year and really needed to add a starter or two to improve. I just don't see that here. Again, it feels like a season of Ponga or bust.
Grading: D
In: Karl Lawton, Kai O'Donnell, Jaxson Paulo
Out: Kyle Feldt, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Jack Gosiewski, Valentine Holmes, D'Jazirhae Pua'Avase, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Chad Townsend
Re-signed: Tom Chester, Jake Clifford, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Coen Hess, Zac Laybutt, Heilum Luki, Sam McIntyre, Jordan McLean, Thomas Mikaele, Griffin Neame, Semi Valemei
Let's be frank here; I have no idea why the Cowboys allowed Valentine Holmes to walk a year early. He threatened to beat the Sharks on his own back in the Final last year.
Finefeuiaki is a talent but not the biggest loss. He can be covered from within.
Recruitment wise ... well, it's not exeactly a thrilling class. Lawton, O'Donnell and Paulo are all solid footballers but won't have fans rushing out to buy their Grand Final tickets.
A lot of work was done in retention.
Tom Deardon's re-signing with a monster coup. There would have been six or seven sides after his prized signature. Reuben Cotter would have been a monster get elsewhere so I love the fact the Cowboys were able to tie him down.
Luki, Clifford and Neame all have their best footy ahead of them. Tom Chester could be special.
Despite losing Holmes, I'm not willing to say I expect the Cowboys to go backwards. They just didn't add anything of note.
They get better than a pass mark due to the Deardon re-signing. That was literal make or break!
Grading: C+
In: Josh Addo-Carr, Dean Hawkins, Isaiah Iongi, Zac Lomax, Joash Papalii, Jordan Samrani, Jack Williams
Out: Matt Arthur, Daejarn Asi, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Zac Cini, Clinton Gutherson, Morgan Harper, Jirah Momoisea, Lorenzo Mulitalo, Ky Rodwell, Ethan Sanders, Maika Sivo, Blaize Talagi
Re-signed: Matt Doorey, Charlie Guymer, Brendan Hands, J'maine Hopgood, Dan Keir, Bailey Simonsson, Jake Tago
The Eels went to market in a big way. They managed to sign some genuine future shaping signings. Zac Lomax being at the very top of that list.
Lomax was brilliant for both NSW and Australia last year while staring in an average Dragons outfit. His move back to the centres could make or break the Eels season.
Josh Addo-Carr was a luxury signing but a huge upgrade on anyone else available on the wing. Isaiah Iongi looks a real get after showing tremendous promise for the Panthers in the junior grades. Jack Williams is one of the most underrated pickups for 2025.
They have lost some serious cattle though. Reagan Campbell-Gillard was comfortably their best forward in 2024 while Blaize Talagi's loss will sting for a decade.
The King has departed, which, as a neutral, hurts me to type.Otherwise, though, no real harm done.
Re-signing J'maine Hopgood was key for their future. That bloke is enormous in the middle and will help set the platform for the Eels. There are no excuses for the Eels after adding three genuine stars for 2025.
Grading: A
In: Isaiah Papali'i, Blaize Talagi
Out: Jett Cleary, James Fisher-Harris, Isaiah Iongi, Ativalu Lisati, Jarome Luai Francis Manuleleua, Taylan May, Tyrone Peachey, Sunia Turuva
Re-signed: Paul Alamoti, Luke Garner, Mitch Kenny, Daine Laurie, Casey McLean, Jesse McLean, Preston Riki, Luke Sommerton, Izack Tago
The Panthers have continued their quality-over-quantity approach in fixing their two needs.
In losing Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris they needed a halfback and a middle forward.
Isaiah Papali'i's signing with allow Liam Martin to move into the middle while Blaize Talagi could be literally anything in that Panthers system.
As usual, the Panthers have lost a lot. Luai and JFH are going to be near impossible to replace, while Turuva was a star out wide.
Flat chat though, I don't care who the Panthers lose. They've shown for three years they're able to replace them with the next Avenger to step up.
Alamoti, Garner, McLean x2 and Tago are all huge re-signings. So, too, Mitch Kenny, who just goes about his business with zero fuss.
I can't give them an A because they lost so much talent, but I just assume Cleary has nailed his recruitment until they stop winning titles for fun.
Grading: B
In: Euan Aitken, Lewis Dodd, Lachlan Hubner, Jamie Humphreys=, Josh Schuster
Out: Thomas Burgess, Damien Cook, Jacob Gagai, Dean Hawkins, Lachlan Ilias, Taane Milne
Re-signed: Jye Gray, Ben Lovett, Peter Mamouzelos, Shaquai Mitchell, Isaiah Tass
The Bunnies season may rest on Lewis Dodd's ability to hit the ground running. If he lives up to his potential as South Sydney halfback, this could be a masterstroke.
Euan Atiken is a brilliant pickup and will continue to thrive under Wayne Bennett. Josh Schuster is a no risk, high upside, pickup and I love it!
Losing Damien Cook will hurt, there's no sugarcoating that. I'm nore sure the re-signed Peter Mamouzelos is in the same class. We shall see. Thomas Burgess is a big loss despite getting up there in age.
Truthfully I don't really know what to make of this recruitment drive from Souths. They've signed one potential exciting star in Dodd, a very handy player in Aitken and a couple of potential stars.
They haven't really lost much after moving on from Ilias. Cook faded last year and needed a fresh start. Jye Gray is a super talent and has a huge future. That is a brilliant re-signing.
This, again, feels like a year that will be dictated by Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. So not a lot has changed.
Wayne Bennett's return should breathe new life into a squad that feels stale and not a whole lot different to the team who massively underachieved last year.
Grading: C
In: Damien Cook, Clinton Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, Lachlan Ilias
Out: Jack Bird, Max Feagai, Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, Jesse Marschke, Dan Russell, Savelio Tamale Paul Turner
Re-signed: Corey Allan, Jack de Belin, Tom Eisenhuth, Mathew Feagai, Francis Molo, Michael Molo, Tyrell Sloan, Jaydn Su'A, Moses Suli
You know what? I'm going to take the positive route here.
Zac Lomax is a monster out. Shane Flanagan arguably saved his career but Lomax sees himself as a centre and has moved on as a result. Ben Hunt will be missed, despite what Dragons fans will tell you, but he should have left 12 months ago.
Coming in are three, albeit aging, stars with rep experience. Clint Gutherson will be the heart and soul of the Red V. I do worry about the fact injuries are piling up but I love this signing.
Damien Cook is a genius at nine and should form a magnificent partnership with Jacob Liddle. Valentine Holmes is one of the best centres in the game and a marquee signing. I cannot believe that the Cowboys allowed him to leave.
I don't know what to make of the Lachlan Ilias signing ...
Re-signing with, Jaydn Su'A and Moses Suli are massive holds. The others are fine, but nothing I can find too much excitement in just yet.
I am extremely worried about the halves combination sans Hunt but Flanagan has proven himself to be culture first and in that regard, he's nailed this drive.
On paper, they've lost their two best players from 2025, but in reality, they've added three stars who have bought in. That is a huge win.
Grading: B-
In: Chad Townsend
Out: Kahu Capper, Michael Jennings, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Terrell May, Lewis Murphy, Dylan Napa, Joseph Suaalii, Sitili Tupouniua, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Re-signed: Rex Bassingthwaighte, Nat Butcher Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Junior Pauga, Toby Rodwell, Billy Smith, Sandon Smith, Daniel Tupou, Connor Watson, Naufahu Whyte, Siua Wong
Honestly, this may be the single worst recruitment drive in the history of the NRL.
A fringe First Grade halfback comes in while two world class, rep centres exit, as well as multiple time Premiership winning half, two rep quality forwards and the club's most damaging, young forward.
On the re-signing front they did manage to lock down a plethora of a talent. They will still be dangerous in 2024 as a result.
I just can't see past the fact they've lost so much match-winning talent and failed to replace them.
By adding Reece Robson for 2026, the plan is very clear. Get through 2025 then stack the side in a lightning fast rebuild.
It looks a solid plan but in terms of names lost vs names added, I don't ever remember seeing such a substantial gap.
Grading: F
In: Jack Bird, Royce Hunt, Jarome Luai, Terrell May, Jeral Skelton, Sunia Turuva
Out: Solomon Alaimalo, Asu Kepaoa, Jordan Miller, Isaiah Papali'i, Aidan Sezer, Jake Simpkin, Junior Tupou, Stefano Utoikamanu
Re-signed: Will Craig, Adam Doueihi, Solomona Faataape, Reuben Porter
Late last month I rated the Tigers recruitment spree as the second best, behind the Eels, heading into 2025.
Adding Terrell May arguably has them in the number one spot. What an absolute gift from the Roosters.May caps off an almighty haul of players joining the club in 2025.
NSW, Samoan and premiership-winning regular Jarome Luai arrive and will be the long-term halfback. Jeral Skelton and Sunia Turuva will form the Tigers new wing combination.
Meanwhile, Terrell May and Royce Hunt add size, power and metres to a forward pack that looks much more intimidating moving forward. Jack Bird has brilliant utility value.
Ok they did lose Isaiah Papali'i and Stefano Utoikamanu but I'd argue the club is better off a result. Both are incredible players who had decided it was time to move on.
There was no real need for mass re-signings as the club needed new blood in a big way. A brilliant effort from the Tigers off field that will surely translate to a big improve on the field.
Grading: A+