The 2025 Harrigan Cup season is set to kick off over the Anzac long weekend, having been reinstated by the NSWRL to major competition status.
As the defending premiers, Wests are rightfully the early favourites. However, all clubs have been active during the off-season, gearing up for their chance at the title.
In preparation for the opening round, we take a closer look at each team, including key roster changes, and talk to the coaches about their expectations for the season ahead.
Wests
After an impressive campaign last year, and boasting a roster full of talent and experience, defending premiers Wests begin their title defence against Collegians on Thursday 24th April at Collegians.
The Devils defeated Group 7 champions Gerringong 14-12 in the Premiers Challenge last month, confirming their status as the team to beat once again
Gains: Retained most of their first-grade grand final squad and back-to-back reserve grade premiership-winning team. They also have good numbers graduating into grade from last season’s U18s. Have recruited former Parramatta and Melbourne Storm backrower Tepai Moeroa.
Losses: Mitch Porter and Dylan Lauri (Retired); Kade Reed (Dragons)
What the coach said: “More consistent performances in the first half of the season and close the gap between our best and our worst performances.” | Peter McLeod
Thirroul
Thirroul, last year’s grand final opponents and 2023 Premiers, are expected to once again challenge Wests for the title. Motivated by last year’s loss in the decider that prevented them from winning back-to-back championships, the Butchers will be eager to go one better this season.
Rumour has it that club legend Jarrod Boyle (pictured below) has backflipped on his plans for retirement, and with many returning from last year’s grand final team as well as their U18 premiership winning side, the Butchers will be well-equipped to reclaim the trophy they last held in 2023.
Gains: Mitch Francis, Trent Griffiths, Luke Gallagher
Losses: Toby Huxley, Josh Martin, Jye Paterson, Marcus Moore
What the coach said: “Like everyone else, our goal is to be there at the last game of the year and win the premiership. More immediately, it is to start the first month of the competition well.
“I think it will be a tight comp, closer than last year. That first four or five-week block will be really important.
“We’d also like to be better through the middle of the season. Last season, we had a couple of draws and lost a couple of close games that we probably should have won, so that’s something for us to improve on and make sure we were better at closing out those tighter games.
“In the last couple of years, we’ve got the timing right and have been really good at the back end of the season. Picking up a couple more wins during the middle of the year will be important to us.” | Jarrod Costello
De La Salle
The Shire-based team will no doubt be in the mix again at the business end of the season and will be hoping they can overcome their finals struggles after being eliminated in straight sets for the past two seasons.
The rumour mill also has former grand final-winning Cronulla Sharks front-rower Andrew Fifita sizing up a De La jersey this year after playing for the club in pre-season trial games.
Giving little away Coach Trent Anderson says he will be relying on the mainstays from last year’s squad, along with several promising players from their successful development pathways, to break free from the burden of early exits and to make a deep run in the finals.
With a mix of fresh talent and seasoned players like Eli Levido and Fifita, De La Salle will be out to prove that they are serious contenders again this season.
Gains: Retained last year’s squad and added players from their successful pathways.
Losses: nil
What the coach said: “We have prepared well, and we are ready for the season ahead.” | Trent Anderson
Image: Andrew Fifita Facebook
Collegians
Collegians are looking to solidify their position in the top tier after missing out on a top two spot last season. New coach Jimmy Grehan has targeted defence and consistency as key areas of improvement.
Along with a host of new recruits the club also welcomes the return of classy fullback and 2023 Paul McGregor medallist Callum Gromek (pictured below) after a stint with the Sydney Roosters last season.
Gains: Blair Grant, Duke Grant, Dexter Grant, Nic Hall, Callum Gromek, James Lee, Riley Smith
Losses: nil
What the coach said: “To be a very consistent team week to week, fit and defensively sound, we want to be competing for titles.
“I think we need to be a sounder defensive team, we can’t be getting into who can score more points.” | Jimmy Grehan
Dapto
Dapto is looking to build on their promising performances from last year by bringing in experienced centre Patrick Herbert, who has previously played for the NRL Dragons and the Warriors.
They are also adding Tom Freebairn, who made 5 NRL appearances for the Wests Tigers in 2022 and has 87 NSW Cup appearances for St George Illawarra, Wests, and Norths.
Additionally, former Dapto junior Josh Daley, who has played in the NSW Cup and for the UK team York, will be joining the squad.
Pre-season signing Adam Quinlan will not turn out for the club after taking up an employment opportunity in Canberra.
Club legend Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor has returned to the club as the Director of Coaching, and he will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to fourth-year coach Blake Wallace and his coaching staff.
Gains: Josh Daley, Patrick Herbert, Tom Freeburn
Losses: Pita Godinet (pictured below), JB ‘Joey’ Leilua
What the coach said: “The end goal is to win the comp. We’re going to work back from that and put some systems in place that’s going to help us and be more consistent so that we can be there come finals at the end of the year.” | Blake Wallace
Corrimal
A big turnover of players at Corrimal and a new coach in Sean Tabet on board signals a new era for the Cougars this season after showing promising signs of a resurgence in the last two seasons.
While only winning two games in that time the Cougars have shown they can be competitive with any team on their day.
Tabet wants his charges to make a statement this season and elevate the Cougars standing in the league. His goal is to bring the winning culture back to the Corrimal Cougars, something the club has been searching for the last couple of years.
Gains: Tom Carr, Bailey Cantrill, Kam Cryer, Josh Briggs, Logan Dillon, Kai Raper, Joel Kingham, Jordan Morris, Sam Carr, Peni Misinale, Jordan Mcgrath
Losses: Jarrod Mullen, Tom Maloney, Nathan Mason, Billy Hayburn, Carni Manu, Keiren Wyld, Danny Yates, Tui Iremeia
What the coach said: “I feel like we have the right staff, players, and, most importantly, the right juniors to succeed now; we have so many juniors in multiple SG Ball squads around the state that it would be great to help them grow into their own Harrigan Cup side.” | Sean Tabet
Read More >> Harrigan Cup Draw | How Each Team Fared