In what was supposed to be a rebuild year, Trent Robinson’s men made the finals and showed glimpses of genuine premiership potential in the back-half of 2025.
So when you add in one of the greatest halfbacks of the modern era in Daly Cherry-Evans, as well as incumbent NSW hooker Reece Robson, the team should only improve.
There is quality all over the park at Bondi, from last year’s Dally M Medal winner in the form of James Tedesco, to freakish winger Mark Nawaqanitawase and one of the game’s rising stars Sam Walker pulling rabbits out of their hats on a weekly basis.
Naufahu Whyte announced himself as a top-line middle forward last year and Spencer Leniu is never far away from the action, while the back-row contingent of Angus Crichton and Victor Radley when he is back from suspension is class.
This squad on paper is arguably the best in the NRL heading into 2026 and it’s hard to see them not featuring deep into September along with the likes of the Broncos, Storm, Bulldogs and perhaps a dark horse like the Dolphins or Eels.
