The NSWRL is pleased to announce The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Team of the Year (TOTY) for 2025, featuring five players from today’s Grand Finalists the St George Illawarra Dragons and Warriors. Selections for TOTY are based on the opinions of nswrl.com.au from the performances of players in the 2025 season.

Dragons skipper Cody Ramsey is named at fullback, capping off an inspirational comeback having only returned to the Rugby League field in February after 896 days out of the game. He finished the home-and-away season third for try assists (20), scored 10 tries along with 13 line-breaks and 61 tackle-busts.

Ramsey is joined by team-mate Jonah Glover at five- eighth, who recorded seven tries, nine line-breaks, 21 try assists and 20 line-break assists as well as an average of 279 kick metres from his 23 regular season games.

Asu Kepaoa (Penrith Panthers) and Tom Rodwell (Sydney Roosters) take up the wing spots, after both finished the season as the leading try-scorers with 21 and 20 respectively. Rodwell also topped the competition for run metres (3,637) and made his NRL debut in Round 18, while Kepaoa finished third for line-breaks (20) with 169 average run metres.

The centres include Cassius Tia (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), whose early season switch to the outside backs paid dividends with 10 tries, 11 try assists, 13 line- break assists and 49 tackle-busts, and Michael Gabrael (Newtown Jets), who made the most of his full-time promotion to the NSW Cup with 17 tries, 14 line-breaks, seven try assists and 47 tackle-busts from 19 matches.

Fellow Jet Niwhai Puru is the No.7 after featuring in every game of the regular season and playing a key role in their 13 wins. The 2024 Grand Final Player of the Match was unable to compete in this year’s finals series after a pectoral injury in Round 26, but ended the season with 12 tries, 21 try assists (second), 19 line-break assists, 11 forced drop-outs and 362 average kick metres.

In a TOTY forward pack dominated by the Canberra Raiders and Warriors, Kiwi international Danny Levi (Raiders) lines up at hooker after producing 14 try assists, making six line- breaks and 27 tackle-busts from a competition-high 122 dummy-half runs, and averaging 30 tackles.

The prop pairing sees departing Raider Trey Mooney secure his second TOTY selection (his first was in 2023) with 62 tackle-busts, six tries, 29 offloads (fourth) and 32 tackles on average, then Tom Ale (Warriors) at No.10 with 132 average run metres (52 post-contact) and 56 tackle-busts in 19 matches.

The second row features recently re-signed Kayliss Fatialofa (Warriors), another from their production line of explosive edge forwards with 14 tries, 12 line-breaks and 61 tackle- busts. Alongside him in a similar mould is Noah Martin (Canberra) – an NRL debutant in 2025 – scoring 13 tries, making 15 line-breaks, and leading the NSW Cup forwards with 67 tackle-busts and averaging 28 tackles.

Rounding out the 13 is Warriors lock forward, captain and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year Kalani Going, who will lead the Minor Premiers out for today’s Grand Final after steering his side to a remarkable 21-2 regular season.

Going totalled 2,646 run metres – the most of any forward – and scored eight tries, had 56 tackle-busts and averaged 27 tackles with 93.6 per cent efficiency.

THE KNOCK-ON EFFECT NSW CUP 2025 TEAM OF THE YEAR

1) Cody RAMSEY (St George Illawarra Dragons)

2) Asu KEPAOA (Penrith Panthers)

3) Cassius TIA (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

4) Michael GABRAEL (Newtown Jets)

5) Tom RODWELL (Sydney Roosters)*

6) Jonah GLOVER (St George Illawarra Dragons)

7) Niwhai PURU (Newtown Jets)

8) Trey MOONEY (Canberra Raiders)

9) Danny LEVI (Canberra Raiders)

10) Tom ALE (Warriors)

11) Kayliss FATIALOFA (Warriors)

12) Noah MARTIN (Canberra Raiders)*

13) Kalani GOING (Warriors)**

*Denotes NRL debut in 2025

*Denotes 2025 The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year