Super Rugby Pacific at last stands to make a splash in 2025.
An absence of depth across Australia’s Super Rugby franchises made the past decade an easy pass for the casual support.
Competition? That was in the rear-view mirror, a memory of years gone by when the tournament was humming and the Wallabies were too.
But the sorry, regrettable demise of the Rebels has, for now, at least helped Australia’s four remaining Super Rugby franchises.
For how much longer remains to be seen, with ravenous, cashed-up clubs constantly on the hunt for players seeking brighter futures.
For now, all four of Australia’s Super Rugby franchises should be competitive in 2025, with the Reds and Waratahs expected to be the big movers and the Brumbies likely to remain a finals contender.
The Brumbies have carried Australian rugby for the past decade. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Even the Force, who are significantly stronger in the tight-five, will pose a real threat for visiting teams.
And what about the players, who deserve more attention but have regularly been lost in the squabbling, politicking and infighting of Australian rugby over the past decade.
Here are the ten Australian Super Rugby players I’m most excited to watch in 2025.
Tom Wright – ACT Brumbies
Without a shadow of doubt, Wright was Australian rugby’s most improved player in 2024 and someone who kept you on the edge of the seat with every touch of the ball.
The difference between the Wright of 2024 and previous seasons was the fullback’s decision-making and execution.
It started during Super Rugby and continued throughout the international season, where Wright was the Wallabies’ best back.
Indeed, his scintillating runs against the All Blacks in Sydney and England at Twickenham gave hope to the Wallabies when all appeared lost.
Most of all though, Wright’s fun to watch. He runs with the ball in two hands and makes things happen.
Reesjan Pasitoa – Western Force
We know that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii starred out wide for the Australian Schoolboys during their drought-breaking win over New Zealand Schools, but the man who wore the No.10 jersey that afternoon, Reesjan Pasitoa, is finally back fit.
It comes after a two-year absence from Super Rugby, with multiple significant injuries delaying the 23-year-old’s progress since Tim Horan declared the rising talent a must in the Wallabies jersey.
Despite playing mostly at fly-half during his injury-disrupted career since debuting in 2020 under McKellar, Pasitoa shapes as more of a second playmaker under Simon Cron with Ben Donaldson set to wear the No.10 jersey.
Reesjan Pasitoa is back fit for the Force. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Although he’s got a couple of players likely in front of him for now, including two-Test Wallaby Hamish Stewart, as well as Sio Tomkinson, Paisota is a point of difference player with some weight behind too.
If Pasitoa gets back on the field and stays on, he’s one to watch.
Miles Amatosero – NSW Waratahs
Big, powerful and abrasive, Amatosero is exactly the type of lock Australian rugby needs.
Indeed, he shapes as someone who can put some sting in contact whilst also being technically proficient at the set-piece. The last few Wallabies who regularly did that was Rory Arnold and Dan Vickerman.
It might not happen overnight, but Amatosero is the project Australian rugby needs to get right.
Second-year NSW Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero has a big future ahead of him. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Fortunately, there’s few better around the technical areas of set-piece play than Dan Palmer and Dan McKellar, whose understanding at the maul is world-renowned.
Entering his second season, Amatosero will have benefitted from an off-season learning under McKellar.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Reds
He might not start in the No.10 jersey for the Reds, but don’t write off McLaughlin-Phillips playing plenty of minutes.
Although Tom Lynagh’s skill set looks tailormade for international rugby, HMP’s threat with ball-in-hand will allow Les Kiss to skin the cat another way.
Indeed, where Lynagh’s strength is his decision-making and kicking game, McLaughlin-Phillips takes the game head on and doesn’t mind taking on the line.
Hard as nails, McLaughlin-Phillips is the type of no-frills player who will run the ball and run it again if it doesn’t come off first time.
Tim Ryan – Queensland Reds
What a breath of fresh air this young man is, having delivered from the outset in his maiden season.
Those that saw him play for the Junior Wallabies were excited, but few could have anticipated just how outrageous his maiden season was.
Ryan made every post a winner becoming the first Reds player to score two hat-tricks in the professional era. Making it all the more extraordinary was that the then 20-year-old did inside his opening seven matches.
Then, of course, there was his fine brace of tries against the Crusaders to seal the Reds’ first win across the ditch in 25 years.
Rather than go into his shell, the so-called ‘Junkyard Dog’ has leaned into the nickname and embraced the tag.
Capable of making something out of nothing, the flying out side back has the perfect mentor in former Maroons winger turned Reds coach Les Kiss.
Corey Toole – ACT Brumbies
One of the most exciting wingers on either side of the ditch, the Road Runner has speed to kill but he’s also got a finisher’s instinct like few others.
Despite failing to earn a Test cap last year, Toole lit up Super Rugby with his incredible footwork that made plenty look silly.
His tryscoring feats came despite the Brumbies struggling at the scrum. If, as expected, Stephen Larkham’s men make some progress in that department expect Toole to only kick on further.
The 24-year-old managed to give Australians a taste of his scintillating speed at last year’s Olympics, but the decision to head to the Olympics probably delayed his progress in the 15-man game slightly.
Taniela Tupou – NSW Waratahs
He’s the million-man the Australian rugby desperately wants – and needs – to see stand up after a couple of injury-plagued seasons.
At his best, Tupou is thunderous on the field, capable of destroying scrums, making a mess of rucks and bulldozing defenders. He’s also shown an ability to play big minutes when fit and healthy.
It’s that Tupou Dan McKellar will desperately be hoping to draw out of the Tongan Thor because the giant tight-head prop can single-handedly change the course of matches with his raw power.
The question is whether he can get back to his best.
The early indications are that Tupou is focussed and recognises that he’s not done enough to ensure that he’s in the best possible shape.
Taniela Tupou is one of several new additions at the NSW Waratahs. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The arrival of Mike Cron – the world-renowned scrum doctor, who personal skills are just as useful as his technical prowess – is said to have been influential in his renewed focus.
Tupou will grow too under McKellar and new scrum coach Dan Palmer, having worked under them previously.
If Tupou can stay fit and healthy, everyone stands to be a winner because the giant prop remains one of the real characters of Australian rugby.
Fraser McReight – Queensland Reds
If Wright was the best Australian in Super Rugby last year, McReight wasn’t far behind him.
McReight is at Michael Hooper 2015 levels.
The best supporting forward in Australia, McReight arrived on the international stage in 2024 because he can now tango with the best and withstand the blows that come in the Test arena.
If the Reds deliver what many hope in 2025, the No.7 will be at the heart of their success.
Massimo de Lutiis – Queensland Reds
Two years ago the Junior Wallabies looked like doing a number on Ireland at the under-20s world championship. That was until de Lutiis went off.
Although he’s the strongest Red in the history of the franchise, the tight-head prop can do more than just lift tin.
De Lutiis can scrum but he’s also someone keep to get stuck in and truck the ball up.
If de Lutiis kicks on like many think he will, it won’t just be Kiss who’s excited but Australian fans across the country.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – NSW Waratahs
It had to be, didn’t it? It’s the $1.6 million man.
If he can do for the Waratahs what he did for the Wallabies he’ll do what Darren Coleman dreamed of by packing the Sydney Football Stadium.
Suaalii is following in the footsteps of Israel Folau, who was nothing short of incredible in his first few seasons in blue.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is the new face of Australian rugby. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Folau delivered the Waratahs their maiden Super Rugby title and the hope will be that Suaalii can do the same.
Although Folau was incredibly gifted in the air and was lethal running right to left because of his footwork, Suaalii has a significantly deeper understanding of rugby having starred for the Australian Schoolboys.
