Buzz’s off-season NRL predictions: Kalyn Ponga to take Reece Walsh’s Origin jersey, Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs won’t play finals
With our attention now turning to 2025, PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals his 11 bold predictions for the NRL season – from Reece Walsh losing his Maroons jersey to Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs return falling flat.
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And now for the NRL off-season and season 2025 – Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield reveals his 11 big predictions, including the 2025 Feud/Falling Out of the Year, Sam Walker’s monster payday, and the 2025 top eight.
1. Who will win the Andre Ponga–Dennis ‘Bullfrog’ Ritchie 2025 Feud/Falling Out of the Year. There are so many possibilities ... Madge and Gordie, Richo and lethal Lee Hagipantelis, Braith and Blake, Sammy Ayoub and Parramatta, Readie and Robbo, Dessie and Dave Fifita, Benji and Bateman, Joey and Matty (again) and as for your columnist … there are probably too many to mention although Gus is paying $1.04.
2. Another Panthers v Storm grand final next season. These two clubs are so far ahead of rival outfits on class and culture it’s not funny. Sure the Panthers will miss Luai and Fisher-Harris but they’ve still got Cleary, Edwards, Yeo, Martin, Leota, Brian To’o, the best pathways development system in the world – and a kid called Blaize Talagi.
3. Willie Peters has emerged as a serious contender for the next NRL coaching job that becomes vacant, having knocked off Sam Burgess’s Warrington last weekend in the UK Super League semis. The Hull Kingston Rovers coach just happens to be close to Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson from their time together at Gateshead. Peters has been an assistant at Manly and Newcastle.
4. Turmoil in the ranks of Australian rugby union with massive player unrest over Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and his monster contract. There are already signs of disgruntlement among jealous Wallabies players who have worked hard and come through the traditional rugby pathways. These guys will be earning a quarter of his salary. This story will potentially explode after two or three losses.
5. High drama at wooden spoon favourites Wests Tigers. They’ve got a great signing in Jarome Luai but he won’t be surrounded by anywhere near the quality of Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards or playing behind Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris, Liam Martin or Moses Leota. The club has a huge issue with veterans John Bateman and David Klemmer, both of whom don’t get on with coach Benji Marshall.
6. In two years – by the time expansion clubs are up and preparing – Sam Walker could be worth anything. The champion young halfback will sign a two-year contract extension with the Sydney Roosters very soon, keeping him at Bondi Junction until 2027. We’re hearing he will be upgraded for next season and then be on $1 million a year for the extension. It is a very fair outcome considering he will miss half of next season in ACL rehab.
7. Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga to snatch the Maroons State of Origin fullback jersey from Broncos favourite Reece Walsh. Ponga is your columnist’s favourite player … the most breathtakingly brilliant attacking superstar. He can do things on a footy field that no other player can. He’s a must selection if Billy Slater is to win back the shield.
8. The Wayne Bennett comeback to South Sydney will be a fizzer.
Look at his middle forwards compared to a club like the Titans with Reagan Campbell-Gillard, a fully fit Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Mo Fotuaika.
Yes, Souths will improve from 16th on the ladder but won’t be playing finals football.
Superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell will be under more pressure than any other player in the comp after his write-off 2024 season.
10. The 2025 rookie of the year – I’m practising how to say ‘Mark Nawaqanitawase’ all off-season and will nail it for the first episode of NRL 360 next year. The former Wallabies winger is an exceptional talent and could even play centre next year and will be the rookie of the year. The Roosters have lost a stack of experience but also have boom rookies, centre Robert Toia and lock Blake Steep, coming through.
11. And finally, who is going to coach the NSW State of Origin side? There is a push for Ivan Cleary but there is more pressure on the Panthers coach next year with the Las Vegas game, road trips to Mudgee and Bathurst — and no home ground at Penrith. I keep hearing Laurie Daley – and I hope the mail is right. He had only a 40 per cent win record in his last crack – but that was against the best Maroons side ever assembled.
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Originally published as Buzz’s off-season NRL predictions: Kalyn Ponga to take Reece Walsh’s Origin jersey, Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs won’t play finals
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