NRL 2025: every club’s first impressions after Round 1, coaches under pressure, Benji Marshall, Cowboys, Todd Peyton, Dolphins, Rabbitohs

The season started with so much promise after a summer full of expectations but after just one round it already feels like Groundhog Day at most clubs.

The first impressions are, well, not much has changed. The Storm and Panthers juggernauts rolled on, while the struggles of the Eels and Tigers continued.

The are however two clubs bucking the trend and appear to be changing their fortunes in 2025, it’s early days but the Raiders and Broncos look primed to play finals football.

In the order of the current ladder, foxsports.com.au has analysed how each team is faring now an entire pre-season has been crunched into 80 minutes.

EELS

Jason Ryles endured a brutal induction to NRL head coaching when his side was thrashed by premiership favourites Melbourne.

Ryles has made mass changes at Parramatta but nothing will leave you wondering if you got it right over the summer like leaking 46 points in the first 40 minutes of your season.

But to his credit, the rookie coach rallied his men at halftime and they were able to come out and win the second half 12-10.

Verdict: This is going to time, like a lot

ROOSTERS

The Roosters’ roster management has been called into question after they let almost 1000 games of NRL experience leave in the off-season and were then were belted by the Broncos in Round 1.

They looked well off the pace and became the first side in 15 years to concede 50 points in the opening round of the season.

But coach Trent Robinson has done this before – back in 2016 when the club finished second-last before winning consecutive premierships in 2018-19.

Verdict: It’s going to be a long season

COWBOYS

Well who saw that Round 1 shellacking coming? A very similar Cowboys side to the one that fell just short of a preliminary final last year got pumped by the Sea Eagles.

They looked nowhere near a finals-bound side and coach Todd Payten wasted no time swinging the axe, dropping Maroons backrower Jeremiah Nanai after just one game.

They’ll play their first home game of the season on Saturday against the Sharks and if we don’t see a response there will be more axings to follow.

Verdict: Payten’s rocket will get them back on track

WARRIORS

In an alarming sign, the second-year syndrome that plagued Andrew Webster’s side in 2024 looks to have seeped into 2025.

You’d think a side who finished 13th last season would have turned up in Vegas with their game face on, but they were thrashed by the Raiders.

The Warriors get a chance to redeem themselves at home on Friday night but they’ll need a serious attitude adjustment to beat the red-hot Sea Eagles.

Verdict: There’s a trouble brewing across the ditch

DRAGONS

Life after Ben Hunt was always going to be tough and then when one of your best forwards stops showing up to training the pre-season, well, suffice to say Shane Flanagan has his work cut out for him.

The Dragons finally clicked into gear in the second half against the Bulldogs and scored the final three tries of the game but it was too little, too late.

Flanagan’s big-name recruits Clint Gutherson, Val Holmes and Damien Cook will take time to click but the trio might just have enough experience between them to drag this side into finals.

Verdict: They’ll only get better as the season progresses

SHARKS

The Sharks looked good in their opener, the only problem was they were playing the four-time reigning premiers.

Craig Fitzgibbon’s men broke their finals duck last season but were no match for the Panthers in the preliminary final.

After a summer of pondering and planning, it appears the gap between the clubs has shortened but no closed.

Verdict: About where you’d expect them to be

WESTS TIGERS

Another season rolled around and it was another tough watch for the Tigers faithful as Benji Marshall’s side failed to find the knockout punch against the Knights.

The game was there to be won but they say winning is contagious but so is losing and it was the same old story for the Tigers as they fell short.

The halves combination of star recruit Jarome Luai and prodigious talent Lachlan Galvin will understandably take time, but if these close losses start mounting then Marshall’s going to run out of it.

Verdict: Another frustrating season but it will bear fruit in 2026

DOLPHINS

It was always going to be a bit unfair pitting rookie coach Kristian Woolf up against Wayne Bennett in the opening round – and it pretty much went as expected.

The understrength Rabbitohs scored late and found a way to hold on for a tight victory as Woolf was left wondering what could have been.

The Bennett Curse is very real and it looks set to continue because on paper, the Dolphins should have won last weekend.

Verdict: They’ll find themselves in a wooden spoon battle

RABBITOHS

Souths supporters were all wondering one thing after watching their side return to winning ways last weekend – why the hell did we ever let Wayne go?

The super coach is back and so are the Bunnies who, while fielding an understrength side, came from behind to beat Bennett’s old mob.

Bennett has brought the energy back to Heffron Park and when they get all the troops back on deck, this side has September written all over it.

Verdict: In Wayne we trust, finals awaits

KNIGHTS

Can Dylan Brown play this weekend? Asking for a friend called Adam. It wasn’t pretty but Newcastle, or more accurately Kalyn Ponga, found a way to oust the Wests Tigers.

O’Brien might have the man with the richest contract in NRL history coming next season, but if those performances continue he won’t be there to coach him.

Fletcher Sharpe is a serious talent but will take time. The more pressing issue is that after an entire summer, O’Brien still hasn’t worked out his best halfback.

Verdict: Ponga won’t be able to save O’Brien this season

PANTHERS

The Panthers have once again last key players, with Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris departing.

But in true Ivan Cleary fashion, his Penrith outfit didn’t skip a beat in their Las Vegas clash with the Sharks, beating a fellow premiership contender abroad.

Four premierships in as many years and a host of young guns ready to stamp their mark, including Jake Cole and Blaize Talagi, has Cleary and the Panthers primed for more success.

Verdict: The five-peat is on like Donkey Kong

BULLDOGS

Cameron Ciraldo’s side were the fairytale of 2024 but now it’s time to back it up – and so far so good.

The Dogs looked polished against the Dragons and despite letting in the final three tries they held on for a relatively comfortable win.

While not the most talented squad in the NRL, this is a tough football side that plays for their coach and with a bit of luck and creativity could make a finals run.

Verdict: The good times will keep rolling

RAIDERS

We’ve had a bit of everything already from the Raiders this season, an off-field drama, a grumpy coach and a stunning 30-8 victory over the Warriors in Vegas.

Seemingly out of nowhere Ricky Stuart has pulled together one of the most balanced squads in the NRL with an impressive blend of youth and experience.

Canberra couldn’t be off to a better start this season but it’s never smooth sailing all year in the capital so strap in for the heavy winds ahead.

Verdict: Top six berth is there for the taking

SEA EAGLES

The Sea Eagles looked seriously impressive as they put the cleaners through the Cowboys with a 42-12 win at Brookvale last week.

Anthony Seibold’s men have picked up where they left off last season as Daly Cherry-Evans continues to age like a fine wine.

All they need is for their spine to stay healthy all season and Manly could be in position to win a drought-breaking title.

Verdict: Humming

BRONCOS

The Broncos are officially back and so is Michael Maguire following the club’s thumping 50-14 victory over the Roosters.

The Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds combination in the halves has immediately worked to the point there are already questions over whether Ezra Mam will earn his spot back.

Reece Walsh is flying and next up it’s the Raiders in Canberra who it feels like won’t be able to keep up with Brisbane’s attack.

Verdict: Top four will be the bare minimum

STORM

The fact Craig Bellamy decides every single year, on his own terms, whether he is going to coach for a further season says everything you need to know.

The 65-year-old has now won 22 straight Round 1 fixtures, downing the Eels 56-18 last week in a performance that sent shivers down the spines of rival coaches.

Bellamy once again has his Melbourne outfit primed for a huge season, and Storm fans will be waiting with bated breath to see if he extends into 2026.

Verdict: Premiership favourites for a very good reason

– with Tom Sargeant

N/A: TITANS