Parramatta Eels rookie sensation Isaiah Iongi leads ranking of NRL’s best buys for 2025 season
Some signings have been revolutions for their new teams, while other high-profile recruits still have a point to prove in 2025. After the mid-season movement, we rank the top contenders for the buy of the year.
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The pre-season player market frenzy promised to make for the most hotly contest field for buy of the year in recent memory after a flurry of high-profile movements.
But it didn’t end there.
The June 30 deadline also delivered some huge moves – none bigger than disgruntled Tigers Lachlan Galvin to Belmore.
Others like former Titan turned key Warriors forward Erin Clark’s move went completely under the radar.
Now the hard-nosed forward is a genuine smokey for the crown.
While other big name transfers like Jarome Luai and Stefano Utoikamanu still have a point to prove in 2025.
We rank the top contenders for the buy of the year, taking into consideration their output on the field, future potential and influence on the club they have joined.
1. ISAIAH IONGI (PENRITH TO EELS)
Contract: End of 2027
Even though he might not play again this season after suffering a broken hand, Iongi is still leading the pack as buy of the year. Not just for what he has produced on the field in his rookie season but for his enormous untapped potential and upside. Super confident and explosive off the mark, Iongi boasts speed, footwork and silky hands. The 22-year-old was averaging 154 metres per game before succumbing to injury. Many questioned Jason Ryles’ decision to move on veteran fullback Clint Gutherson but Iongi has answered those critics in emphatic fashion.
2. ERIN CLARK (TITANS TO WARRIORS)
Contract: End of 2027
There are no bigger shoes to fill at the Warriors than those Tohu Harris at lock but Clark has not only done so admirably, he is now a smokey for the buy of the year. Tucked away across the ditch, Clark’s form has gone under the radar in a pack that includes James Fisher-Harris and young guns like Leka Halasima. But his work ethic and tough runs through the middle have made Clark a key cog in the Warriors formidable pack, where he routinely tops the metre count every week.
3. GEHAMAT SHIBASAKI (RABBITOHS TO BRONCOS)
Contract: End of 2026
On a bottom dollar contract worth just $85,000 in 2025 and broke into the Queensland Origin team. Shibasaki takes the crown for best value for money buy this season. At 130 run metres per game this year, he is slightly bettering star centre Kotoni Staggs’ average per game. He also has his Broncos teammate covered for tackle busts, making seven more so far this year.
4. TERRELL MAY (ROOSTERS TO TIGERS)
Contract: End of 2027
Only Payne Haas and Addin Fonua-Blake are averaging more metres than the Tigers big man. He’s even overtaken Fonua-Blake for tackles busts so far this season. May is also doing a mountain of work in defence – his 733 tackles is only bettered by Blayke Brailey. He is making almost 40 tackles per game – the most for any prop this year.
5. BLAIZE TALAGI (EELS TO PANTHERS)
Contract: End of 2027
A slow burner at the foot of mountains but is starting to make his presence felt at the right time. The 20-year-old’s ball-playing is coming to the fore, and only has two fewer linebreak assists than Cowboys and Maroons halfback Tom Dearden. Talagi is showing all the signs that he is capable of forming a formidable combination with Nathan Cleary, just like Jarome Luai did. There is room for growth in his game defensively, he’s missing five tackles on average per game.
6. LACHLAN GALVIN (TIGERS TO BULLDOGS)
Contract: End of 2028
Many suggested Galvin was a signing for the future at Canterbury but he is proving to be key to the side’s premiership tilt right now. The cut-out pass Galvin for winger Jethro Rinakama to win the game at the death in Round 20 is exactly the clutch moment that vindicated the upheaval that his arrival created at Belmore. If he proves to be the missing piece for the Bulldogs in 2025, Galvin signature will be heralded as the most significant for the club in recent memory. Galvin will get the chance to land one final blow to his former club the Tigers, who are in a battle to avoid another wooden spoon, this Sunday.
7. ZAC LOMAX (DRAGONS TO EELS)
Contract: End of 2028
The Blues winger has been a metre eater all season long, churning out 20 metres more per game on average than what he did for the Dragons last year. Parramatta had been lacking a strong ball carrier out of yardage and Lomax has helped to rectify that. While he brings go forward, the star outside back can get caught out defensively, both positionally and in one-on-one tackles.
8. ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE (WARRIORS TO SHARKS)
Contract: End of 2027
His signing was supposed to turn Cronulla into a genuine premiership contender. Those title credentials look shaky but none of that is on the powerhouse forward. For props, he leads the competition for average run metres per game. He is by far and away the best at bending the line with almost 30 more eight-metre plus runs for props. Fonua-Blake’s presence is also starting to have a flow on effect on the forwards around him like Toby Rudolf and Oregon Kaufusi.
9. CLINT GUTHERSON (EELS TO DRAGONS)
Contract: End of 2027
He might not have the same run metres in his legs as the likes of James Tedesco and Connor Tracey but Gutherson’s impact on the Dragons’ attack is undeniable. In the fullback stakes, he’s only second to Cowboys’ Scott Drinkwater for try assists and line break assists this year. Only Canberra speeder Kaeo Weeks has more linebreaks in 2025.
10. JAROME LUAI (PANTHERS TO TIGERS)
Contract: End of 2026
There’s been a lot of talk about Luai’s lack of attacking stats but none of that takes away from the importance of his signing to the Tigers rebuild. The Blues playmaker has not only had to deal with shifting between roles at halfback and five-eighth but multiple halves partners in Galvin, Latu Fainu, Adam Doueihi and Heath Mason so far in 2025. Benji Marshall has backed Fainu at No.7 but Luai was signed on big money with the lure of running the side. If he can’t turn the Tigers into a finals hope from the No.6 jumper, his critics will only get louder.
11. JOSH ADDO-CARR (BULLDOGS TO EELS)
Contract: End of 2026
The veteran flyer is averaging 130 metres per game, up 10 metres on his final season at Belmore. The 30-year-old is third for tackle breaks in the competition for wingers, already more than doubling his tally from 2024. Only Murray Taulagi has made more line breaks for wingers. His move to Parramatta was described as a ‘lifeline’, but it’s proven yet another astute signing by rookie coach Jason Ryles.
12. JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (PANTHERS TO WARRIORS)
Contract: End of 2028
A pectoral injury has limited Fisher-Harris to just 13 games in his first season at the Warriors. His run metres are down around 10 metres per game on average from his final season at Penrith and his offload game has all but disappeared. He is working hard in defence, making 10 more tackles per game on average than in 2024. But the enforcer’s signature is less about the numbers and more to do with the leadership and standards he brings. With the Warriors’ title credentials to be tested in coming weeks, the impact of Fisher-Harris’ inspirational leadership could make or break the side.
13. DYLAN WALKER (WARRIORS TO EELS)
Contract: End of 2026
Went under the radar amid a slew of high-profile signings but has been a silver lining in the injury absence of halfback Mitchell Moses. A versatile playmaker, Walker has been used off the bench before a shift to starting lock in recent weeks, where his tempo, running threat and ball playing will give Parramatta’s attack another dimension. He’ll give Ryles another option at five-eighth in 2026 – but also a steady hand at lock given the inexperience likely the Eels spine next year.
14. STEFANO UTOIKAMANU (TIGERS TO STORM)
Contract: End of 2027
Played Origin but the prop has hardly set the world on fire since joining the Storm. His minutes are down to just 41 per game on average in 2025. He had his best game since joining the Storm against the Roosters last week, where he finished with 118 metres, four tackle busts, two offloads and a linebreak. At 25, Utoikamanu should be taking his game to the next level – at least he’s at the best club to help make that happen.
15. TAYLAN MAY (UNSIGNED TO TIGERS)
Contract: End of 2025
Played his first game in over 12 months back in Round 20 and quickly showed why the Tigers need to lock him in long-term before rivals swoop. The 23-year-old is a powerhouse ball runner and was emphatic against the Titans, finishing with 140 metres, nine tackle busts, two line-breaks and a try. His strike power to the Tigers’ outside backs will be crucial on their run home, and his upside invaluable beyond this season.
16. JAMIE HUMPHREYS (MANLY TO SOUTH SYDNEY)
Contract: End of 2026
At a bargain $150,000 a year, Humphreys is one the best value for money buys this season. And at South Sydney, he’s definitely proven the better halves buy over Englishman Lewis Dodd, who is setting back the club $750,000 a season. Composed and boasting a strong long kicking game, Humphreys showcased his abilities, leading the Rabbitohs to six wins from the seven games he played in the opening 11 rounds.
Originally published as Parramatta Eels rookie sensation Isaiah Iongi leads ranking of NRL’s best buys for 2025 season
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