Queensland power rankings: Every side ranked ahead of the 2025 NRL season after pre-season trials
While the Broncos are seemingly in full flight after trials, their cross-town rivals the Dolphins still have a number of key positional question marks. We rank and analyse every Queensland side ahead of the season.
The NRL Pre-Season Challenge has been run and won by the Brisbane Broncos for a second year running.
While the Broncos look locked and loaded for the season opener against the Sydney Roosters, cross-town rivals the Dolphins still have a number of key positional question marks.
We take a look at how the four Queensland teams fared during the trials period and rank each side ahead of the season proper.
1. BRISBANE BRONCOS
It’s not enough for Brisbane to be one of the most improved sides in 2025, Michael Maguire’s men are expected to bounce back as a finals force and the Broncos’ trial form has been very impressive.
Livewire fullback Reece Walsh looked like he was back to his elusive best against the Bulldogs last weekend, while veteran Ben Hunt has slotted into the halves seamlessly alongside Adam Reynolds, as an engine room shake-up with Pat Carrigan at prop and Kobe Hetherington at lock has given the pack a hard edge.
The strike in the outside backs – Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs, Deine Mariner and Jesse Arthars – is first class. This is an outfit packing genuine star and fire power.
There is the quality of depth across the park.
Cory Paix all but outplayed Billy Walters and Blake Mozer, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury, from the starting hooker role. Hunt will also come into contention at hooker once Ezra Mam returns from suspension in Round 10. While, highly touted back rower Brendan Piakura is in a battle to keep his spot on an edge ahead of Jack Gosiewski.
Defence is an attitude and already Maguire’s unapologetic approach during pre-season is paying off, with the Broncos only conceding 26 points in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
A statement performance in Round 1 against the Roosters will send the competition a clear message – the Broncos are back and in a big way.
Trials Gems: Wily rookie Latrell Siegwalt put his hand up as a worthy understudy to Walsh at fullback with a particularly impressive performance in Brisbane’s trial against the Burleigh Bears. Boom back rower Jett Bryce was also a standout in the same game, doing plenty of work in defence and busting tackles with ease. Bryce is only 18 but is edging closer to an NRL start.
First 6 Rounds: Roosters (Away), Raiders (Away), Cowboys (Home), Dolphins (Away), Tigers (Home), Roosters (Home)
Unavailable Round 1: Ezra Mam (Suspension, Round 10), Blake Mozer (Shoulder, TBC)
2. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
The Dolphins disposed of a second string Cowboys outfit in the first trial but Todd Payten’s best 17 bounced back in a big way against a Melbourne side headlined by stars Cameron Munster and Stefano Utoikamanu.
The Cowboys might not match a full-strength Brisbane for star power but have all the ingredients to be a finals contender again this season.
The spine was humming against the Storm as Tom Dearden and fullback Scott Drinkwater pulled apart Melbourne’s normally fortified wall. Drinkwater was a constant threat in attack and will create plenty of headaches for opposition defences.
Rookie halfback Tom Duffy was composed and played the perfect foil to Dearden, kicking the side out of trouble. Powerhouse Jason Taumalolo did not feature in the trials but should be a Round 1 boost alongside Reuben Cotter in the middle and a rejuvenated John Bateman. Former Tiger Bateman’s stinging defence was back on the weekend injecting a mongrel and grit that can elude Payten’s pack at times.
Jaxon Purdue adds a spark at centre but the Cowboys’ are stacked in the outside backs with the likes of Zac Laybutt likely to return from an ACL injury through reserve grade.
There’s still a question mark over this side defensively and while Payten’s troops should be competitive, Brisbane look poised to overtake the Cowboys on the ladder in 2025.
Trials Gems: Emarly Bitungane and Kai O’Donnell might not come into Round 1 contention but the young back rowers made the most of their NRL auditions with solid defensive performances on the edges.
First 6 Rounds: Sea Eagles (Away), Sharks (Home), Broncos (Away), Raiders (Home), Panthers (Away), Rabbitohs (Away)
Unavailable Round 1: Helium Luki (ACL), Tom Chester (ACL)
3. GOLD COAST TITANS
Des Hasler is known as the ‘mad scientist’ but is he a spine revolutionary?
The coach rolled out fullbacks Keano Kini, AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell as his starting one, six and seven against the Dolphins in the final trial.
Yes, the trio have skill and speed and it was on full display in the Titans’ win but game management and organising is still a key requirement in the spine.
And the Dolphins were hardly a litmus test for Hasler’s new-look spine.
Will Brimson or Campbell be able to wrestle control back or kick their side out of trouble when the screws are being tightened by a side like Penrith or Melbourne? Kieran Foran’s injury (bicep, 10-12 weeks) means Hasler doesn’t have the same luxury in chopping and changing his playmakers if it does turn out he needs a steady hand in the halves.
If the move is a stroke of genius the Titans will be one of the most dangerous sides, unleashing the electric Kini in attack and that’s before adding try scoring machine Alofiana Khan-Periera into the mix.
The return of skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui instantly made the Titans a better side on the weekend, which can be boosted even further if David Fifita finds his damaging best every week.
Veteran prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard (shoulder) should be available for the Titans’ season opener in Round 2, adding experience to a young but formidable pack that should also feature Josiah Pahulu, 20, on the bench.
The Titans can improve on their 2024 ladder position (14th) and the pack is evenly matched with the Cowboys, but the untried nature of the spine in the regular season is the biggest question mark over Hasler’s men.
Trial Gems: Big, strong and fast, Allan Fitzgibbon, who was a try-scoring machine for Bears in NSW Cup last year, delivered two strong trials against Brisbane and the Dolphins. So did fullback Jaylan De Groot. Both should be next in line in the NRL outside backs pecking order.
First 6 Rounds: Bye, Bulldogs (Away), Knights (Home), Roosters (Away), Dolphins (Home), Dragons (Away)
Unavailable Round 1: Kieran Foran (Biceps, Round 8-10)
4. DOLPHINS
Despite instantly having a bigger impact in the final trial when he moved back to centre, Jake Averillo started the Titans clash in the halves alongside Isaiya Katoa.
That uncertainty that coach Kristian Woolf seems to have about who his best halves combination for Round 1 does bode well for spine stability, especially if the Dolphins struggle early in the season.
Katoa looks to have the No.7 jumper locked in but a steady partner in the halves will only benefit his development and confidence.
After shutting down speculation Jack Bostock was shifting from the wing, Woolf eventually rolled out the NRL rookie of the year at centre last weekend. The positional experiment ended before it even started after Bostock was ruled out of the first two rounds with a knee injury in a blow to Woolf’s back five.
Daniel Saifiti and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki have added size to the pack but without Tom Flegler (shoulder) the engine room is a rung below the other Queensland sides.
Woolf rolled out his best 17, missing only hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, in the final trial but were outclassed by the Titans, especially through the middle.
What the Dolphins do have in their favour is the fact that the likes of Katoa, Finefeuiaki and Max Plath are yet to hit the peak of their powers.
But it might not be enough to catapult them above the other three Queensland teams this season.
Trials Gems: Rookie back rower James Walsh caused plenty of trouble for the Cowboys in the first trial and headlines the club’s next crop of rising forwards. Winger LJ Nonu got a run in both trials and bagged three tries.
First 6 Rounds: Rabbitohs (Home), Knights (Away), Tigers (Home), Broncos (Home), Titans (Away), Panthers (Home)
Unavailable Round 1: Thomas Flegler (Shoulder, Round 14), Trai Fuller (ACL), Jack Bostock (Knee, Round 2)
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