One player with a point to prove at every Super League club in 2025 including 5 signings

More than two months out from the opening fixture, there are still more questions than answers as Super League clubs prepare for the 2025 campaign.

Only all-conquering Wigan Warriors could feel they truly achieved their potential in 2024, though Hull KR, Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils all made big strides, which means plenty of players have question marks hanging over them going into the new year.

Here we select a player from each of the 12 top-flight clubs who has a point to prove in 2025.

Every Super League club’s player with a point to prove

Castleford Tigers

Australian outside-back Zac Cini hasn’t played a top-flight game since a handful of NRL appearances with Wests Tigers in 2021. His three years at Parramatta Eels were spent entirely in their second-string New South Wales Cup side, so can he justify Castleford’s faith and establish himself as a key man in Super League?

Catalans Dragons

Former England star Sam Tomkins has done it all in rugby league, but at 35, has he still got what it takes? Tomkins’ return from retirement midway through last season wasn’t a roaring success as he made only six appearances and couldn’t help Catalans secure a play-off spot. He has re-signed for next year and, as one of the modern greats, will want to make a bigger impact.

Huddersfield Giants

Experienced Australian half-back Adam Clune was tipped as a player who could get Giants back into the play-off picture when he joined them a year ago from Newcastle Knights. It didn’t work out that way, though he played 26 times in his debut campaign. Can he make the most of what go-forward England prop Tom Burgess will bring to the side next year and add to his 2024 Super League tally of four tries and seven assists?

Hull FC

It’s more a case of who doesn’t have a point to prove after Hull’s disastrous 2024 campaign when only points difference separated them from relegated London Broncos. They’ve made a host of signings including former Man of Steel nominee Aidan Sezer, who was at NRL wooden spoonists Wests Tigers last year. He didn’t set Super League alight during two seasons with Leeds Rhinos so can he inspire Hull to better things?

Hull KR

Veteran Kiwi prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is arguably the biggest signing at any club ahead of 2025. There’s no doubting the former Sydney Roosters man’s ability or what he’ll bring to the Grand Final runners-up when he plays, but he served four bans this year, so can he adjust to Super League, where referees aren’t slow to brandish yellow or red cards, or will he spend more time suspended than on the pitch?

Leigh Leopards

Veteran winger Josh Charnley has a place in the record books within his sights. The 33-year-old will go into 2025 just six tries behind Super League’s all-time leading try scorer Ryan Hall. After touching down 17 times in 25 games in the competition this year, can he overhaul the Leeds Rhinos man in 2025?

Leeds Rhinos

After being dropped a couple of times in the first half of the 2024 campaign, Matt Frawley found some good form under Rhinos’ new coach Brad Arthur, but now has Jake Connor pushing him for a starting spot in the halves. Can he develop a trophy-winning combination with stand-off Brodie Croft and secure a new contract after his current deal expires next autumn?

Salford Red Devils

Prop Justin Sangare joined Salford a month ago after being released from the final year of his contract with Leeds Rhinos. At 1.93 metres and 115kg, the French international has the physical prowess to be a top-line ‘middle’, but was accused by Leeds fans of not playing to his size and strength. Can he go through the gears under the Devils’ inspirational coach Paul Rowley and achieve his undoubted potential?

St Helens

Pacy 22-year-old winger Lewis Murphy burst onto the Super League scene with Wakefield Trinity in 2022 and earned a surprise move to Sydney Roosters at the end of the following year. He couldn’t break into their NRL side but has secured a dream return to England with Saints, where he could be a long-term replacement for Tommy Makinson. Can he recapture the sparkling form he showed before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury early in 2023?

Wakefield Trinity

Australian winger Lachlan Walmsley has scored tries for fun in the Championship, with Whitehaven, Halifax Panthers and Wakefield, but is he able to do it in Super League? The 26-year-old Scotland international has pace to burn, but this season is his first chance to show what he is capable of at the top level.

Warrington Wolves

Full-back Matt Dufty had a stellar 2024 season with 17 Super League tries and 19 assists. He made more metres than any other player, was a Man of Steel nominee and played a huge part in Warrington’s improvement last term, when they went agonisingly close to a Grand Final appearance. The key question now is, can he maintain that form and take them a step further in 2025?

Wigan Warriors

As a team, Wigan don’t have anything left to prove after winning every available trophy this year. But on a personal note, forward Sam Walters was the 18th man for both domestic finals in 2024, which must have hurt. In his second season, can he show he has what it takes to be a regular starter in the big matches?