LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Recency bias may be at play here but I'm confident in saying that 2025's NRL season produced some of the best action we've seen.
Reece Walsh's heroics throughout the finals series are at a level we haven't seen since an Eels fullback produced similar all those years ago.
Mark Nawaqanitawase became a human highlight reel. State of Origin went to a decider. Canberra's rise was a thing of beauty.
Off the field, the game grew. Crowds were massive across the competition. The Perth Bears were officially added to the NRL competition.
Simply put, we were blessed this past season.
Below are 20 quick thoughts, covering all 17 teams, the two announced clubs joining the comp, and the officials.
1. The Brisbane Broncos had the perfect season! They timed their run perfectly and played their best footy at the business end of the season. No one remembers mid-season slumps or slow starts if you end up lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy. Reece Walsh was the best player in the competition in the big moments. Michael Maguire deserves so much credit for what he did over the span of one season.