Who would have thought a train and trial deal struck in the pre-season would turn out to be one of the most impactful free agent signings in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Eels’ decision to release their captain to sign an unproven talent turned out to be a masterstroke.
However, it was a disaster on the recruitment front for Souths, who jettisoned a highly-regarded halfback after just one season.
Read on for the boom and bust signings from the 2025 NRL season!
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Gehamat Shibasaki (Townsville Blackhawks to Broncos)
Arguably the story of the NRL season!
12 months ago, Shibasaki’s career was in limbo.
The Broncos took a chance on the bruising outside back, signing him on an $85,000 train-and-trial deal. In one of several terrific decisions from Michael Maguire this season, Brisbane named Shibasaki as the opening round left centre.
Shibasaki took his chance with both hands. He not only locked down that centre spot but on the back of some excellent form, he also won a premiership, earned a maiden Maroons jersey and is set to make his Kangaroos debut against England this weekend.
A whirlwind season for the 27-year-old, who admitted he believes his rugby league career would have been over had the Broncos opportunity not worked out.
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TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 30: Gehamat Shibasaki of the Broncos celebrates after scoring a try during the round 26 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on August 30, 2025, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Isaiah Iongi (Panthers to Eels)
Given he only played one NRL game for Penrith before joining the Eels, there were so many unknowns around Iongi, but new coach Jason Ryles liked enough of what he saw to jettison captain Clint Gutherson and place his faith in the inexperienced fullback.
What a decision that turned out to be.
Iongi had always shown ability in the Panthers’ lower grades and performed well in his sole NRL appearance for Penrith, but I doubt many would have envisaged he’d have the type of season he wound up having this year.
Iongi did it all in his rookie year, but his playmaking skills were what stood out. In 20 games, he scored eight tries, 12 try assists and averaged more than four tackle busts a game.
He also finished runner up to Rob Toia for the 2025 Dally M Rookie of the Year.
With Iongi at fullback, Moses at halfback and now Jonah Pezet set to join the club to partner Moses in the halves, the Eels will be favoured to get back to the finals next year.
Erin Clark (Titans to Warriors)
A career year for the Auckland product in what his first season of his second Warriors stint.
Clark played one game for the Warriors in 2017 but was almost lost to the sport after that season, not featuring in the NRL again until 2020 for the Titans.
After four seasons on the Gold Coast, Clark returned to the Warriors on a three-year deal.
Returning home proved to work wonders for Clark, as the lock forward was a key cog for the top four Warriors.
His form was so impressive, he beat out Isaah Yeo to win the Dally M Lock of the Year award.
Clark was also selected in the Kiwis squad for the end of year Pacific Championships.
Terrell May (Roosters to Tigers)
Most fans believed it was a strange call from the Roosters to grant May an immediate release given how impressive his 2024 campaign was.
The Tigers were the beneficiaries, and May proved 2024 was no fluke in his first season at the joint venture club.
May played big minutes at prop for the Tigers and was at the top of the stat sheet for tackles and metres gained among middle forwards.
He was a big reason why the Tigers were able to improve significantly on last season and he’s part of an exciting crop of young players at the club.
He was probably pretty unlucky not to have made the Blues squad in 2025, but you’d think a maiden NSW jersey is only just around the corner.
Savelio Tamale (Dragons to Raiders)
Under the radar deal that worked out very favourably for the Raiders.
Tamale made the move from the Dragons to the nation’s capital after making his NRL debut in the final round of 2024.
Tamale impressed Ricky Stuart enough during the off-season that he was named in the Raiders’ starting side when Albert Hopoate missed the Vegas opener with injury.
He was one of the best afield in Vegas and in the first half of the season, Tamale was one of Canberra’s best backs until he suffered a knee injury.
In fact, he was among the league leaders in tackle busts up until his injury in June which kept him out for nearly 3 months.
The hard-running winger has plenty of upside for a Raiders team with an abundance of young talent.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 23: Savelio Tamale of the Raiders looks dejected during the round three NRL match between Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters at 4 Pines Park, on March 23, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ben Hunt (Dragons to Broncos)
10 years after his infamous grand final faux pas, Hunt was able to get his retribution for the Broncos this year.
The veteran playmaker had been bursting to leave the Dragons for a couple of seasons and his wish was finally granted at the end of 2024.
Hunt longed to link back up with Brisbane and despite interest from the Roosters, Hunt signed a cut-price deal with the Broncos.
He played five-eighth, halfback and hooker across the season and was a huge reason behind the Broncos’ late season resurgence
With Adam Reynolds out injured, Hunt starred in the No. 7 jersey.
With Hunt at halfback, the Broncos were five from five.
While it wasn’t his best game, Hunt came through in the clutch with a winning field goal in the qualifying final epic against the Raiders.
Dylan Walker (Warriors to Eels)
The versatile Walker was granted an early release from the Warriors to head back to Sydney and link up with the Eels.
It was one of many savvy signings by Jason Ryles.
Playing at lock forward either off the bench or in the starting side, Walker became a key cog in the Eels’ attack.
Later in the season, he formed a strong combination with the halves and Mitch Moses.
“Dylan Walker has been an exceptional pick-up… I think he’s been among the best signings this year,” Fox League’s Matty Johns said.
In the last four games that Walker started at lock forward, Parramatta won them all.
Stefano Utoikamanu (Tigers to Storm)
Had some moments of madness and poor discipline he’d like to have back, but overall, Utoikamanu was as good as advertised, if not better in his first year at Melbourne.
He helped the Storm to a second straight grand final appearance, which included a couple of dominant performances in Melbourne’s two finals wins against the Bulldogs and Sharks.
Those were two of his best games of the season and they came when the Storm desperately needed them as fellow enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona was out through suspension.
His form was also strong enough to warrant selection in the Blues’ side for Games 2 and 3 although it must be said he didn’t have too much of an impact in either.
Blaize Talagi (Eels to Panthers)
The Panthers’ four-year grip on the NRL may have ended this season, but Penrith fans will still be on pretty good terms with themselves knowing they have their long-term halves pairing.
With star playmaker Jarome Luai leaving in the off-season, new recruit Talagi was tasked with the big job of stepping into Luai’s shoes.
There were some growing pains early in the season, but Talagi came into his own as the season progressed.
“I think over the second part of the season we’ve seen Blaize develop and become more confident in what he needs to do to be a part of the team. Confident with those around him, and they’ve shown him some confidence,” Fox League’s Cooper Cronk said.
With Talagi, centre Casey McLean and winger Brian To’o, the Panthers have a potent attacking left edge who will only get better in time as Talagi and McLean are both relatively inexperienced (71 games between them).
Blaize TalagiSource: Supplied
BUST SIGNINGS
Lewis Dodd (St Helens to Rabbitohs)
Just a disaster no matter what way you look at it.
A Super League star for St Helens, Dodd signed a deal north of $2 million to become the Rabbitohs’ next halfback from 2025.
However, just one year into a three-year deal, Dodd was released. He is set to head back to the Super League having signed with Catalans.
Dodd seemed to be always out of favour with the Rabbitohs coaching staff.
He fell behind Jamie Humphreys in the pecking order to start the season but even when Souths dealt with several injuries in the halves, Dodd was rarely turned to.
In fact, Dodd only played 60 minutes at his first choice position of halfback across his debut NRL season.
He appeared in just six games, starting in three of those. Souths lost all six games Dodd played in.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels to Titans)
It’s not hard to understand why there was some pre-season buzz around the Titans this year.
With the addition of Campbell-Gillard, the Titans seemed to possess one of best forward packs in the game which included Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita and Moe Fotuaika.
However, the Titans struggled mightily to finish 16th and Campbell-Gillard was disappointing.
Barring a few games, he failed to provide much go forward.
After just one season, Campbell-Gillard was released early from his contract to link up with UK side, the London Broncos.
Tom Amone (Leigh Leopards to Bulldogs)
The Bulldogs signed the hulking prop on a two-year deal to add some much-needed size to their forward pack.
Given his stellar form for the Leigh Leopards, it was expected that Amone would be a genuine hope of earning a spot in the club’s best 17.
For whatever reason, Amone struggled to impress the Bulldogs’ coaching staff.
The 28-year-old didn’t get a crack in first grade and after five NSW Cup games, he requested and was granted an immediate release to head back to the Super League.
After finishing the rest of 2025 at the Castleford Tigers, Amone has signed with Hull KR for next season.
Pezet to sign unique two-team deal | 00:44
Junior Tupou (Tigers to Dolphins)
Joining the Dolphins in the off-season on a three-year deal, Tupou was expected to put some pressure on Jamayne Isaako and Jack Bostock for one of the club’s starting wing spots.
Tupou was given the chance early in the year, opening the season on the left wing with Bostock injured.
After two ordinary outings in Round 1 and Round 2, including a four-error game against Souths, Tupou was dropped to reserve grade.
It would end up being his final appearance for the club.
After spending half the season in the Queensland Cup, Tupou was granted an early release from his multi-year deal to sign with the Roosters.
John Bateman (Tigers to Cowboys)
Didn’t have the desired effect in his first season in Townsville.
The Cowboys signed the veteran forward to help add a harder, tougher edge to this team after Todd Payten’s men struggled to measure up defensively in 2023 and 2024.
However, the Cowboys regressed defensively this season and at times, some teams made it look far too easy to score points.
That is a reflection on the team as a whole and not just on Bateman, but the veteran struggled to make much of an impact in attack and he missed an average of nearly four tackles a game.
In fairness, he may have been brought up north to add some punch in small doses off the bench but his role changed when he was promoted to be a near 80 minute starter when edge forward Heilum Luki went down with an ACL injury.