Every NRL season, clubs make numerous signings and in every single season, the fans of those same clubs are filled with hope and excitement, convinced their team has made the moves that will rocket launch them into contending for a premiership.
Sometimes they have, but a lot of the time, they haven’t.
Whether it be due to injuries, poor form or falling out with the coach, the aforementioned hope and excitement quickly fizzles out, slowly transitioning fans into a waiting period for the following year’s signings to be announced, so they can just repeat the same cycle.
Now this is certainly a topic up for debate, how much of a let-down one signing has been compared to another will differ based on who you’re talking to.
If you’re talking to me, though, these are the six most disappointing signings of the 2025 NRL season.
1. Lachlan Ilias
It’s hard not to feel bad for Lachlan Ilias, he has had maybe the worst 24 months an NRL player can have.
He was dropped by the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 3 last year, only to fracture his tibia two rounds later in the NSW Cup.
He came to the St George Illawarra Dragons this year and was expected to fill the shoes of Ben Hunt, who had left following his best season in a Dragons jersey.
He was then dropped to the NSW Cup again after the Dragons were humbled by the Roosters on ANZAC Day.
Since then, he hasn’t been recalled to the NRL side, despite shining in the NSW Cup and according to Danny Weidler, the Saints are now reportedly trying to move him on.
It doesn’t get much more demoralising than that.
The argument could be made that Ilias would not be on this list if Shane Flanagan had backed him over his son, but he didn’t, which, unfortunately for Ilias, keeps him on this list.
While he certainly has been hard done by, the halfback has ultimately still been a disappointing signing for the Dragons.
2. Lewis Dodd
This doesn’t require much explaining.
Signed on a three-year deal, worth $650,000 a year, big things were expected of Dodd, yet he has failed to live up to any and all expectations of him and his price tag.
Six NRL appearances, six losses, twice an unused interchange, one try assist and averaging less than forty minutes a game is rather underwhelming to say the least.
Everyone knew Wayne Bennett wasn’t consulted about this signing, but the Rabbitohs coach truly stoked the fire when he conceded the club made a mistake signing the Englishman.
3. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
This is a signing that has gone under the radar with how disappointing he’s been due to an underperforming Gold Coast Titans outfit.
Signed on a three-year deal till the end of 2027, Campbell-Gillard was brought in by Des Hasler after the Dragons wouldn’t budge on their two-year offer, but I think the Saints will be happy they let this one get away.
The man they call ‘RCG’ was coming off the back of one of his most dominant seasons, with Hasler claiming his high work rate would be pivotal for this Titans pack.
However, his work rate this season has been far from high.
He has averaged only 89 metres a game, the lowest in any season of his career and his minutes are down to 47 per game, 10 less than the 57 per game he was averaging in 2024.
There is no doubting he was a force to be reckoned with in the Eels forward pack, but maybe age is catching up to Campbell-Gillard.
4. Morgan Harper
When compiling this list, I was dumbfounded to learn Morgan Harper was still contracted in the NRL.
While the Warriors only signed him on a one-year deal and it was primarily for depth, Harper has yet to make his debut for the New Zealand side.
The Warriors have seemingly preferred every other option when it comes to covering the centres, with Rocco Berry filling in, Kurt Capewell being moved from the forward pack, or even shifting Charzne Nicoll-Klokstad from fullback.
Truth be told, not much was ever expected of him, but one would’ve expected Harper, a former Maori All-Star, to be at the very least on the cusp of NRL selection.
However, it seems his name doesn’t even make it to the extended bench on Tuesdays when the team lists are announced.
High expectations? No.
Still disappointing? Yes.
5. John Bateman
Many at the North Queensland Cowboys were hoping that Bateman would bring the talent and form that saw him win the 2019 Dally M Second Rower of the Year, yet he has left much to be desired in his first season at Townsville.
With a career average low of only 87 run metres a game and a career high of 65 missed tackles in a season, Bateman is clearly struggling in both attack and defence.
Unfortunately for the Englishman, despite his consistent 80-minute efforts this season, he hasn’t quite hit the heights that helped the Canberra Raiders reach a grand final all those years ago.
However, with another year on his contract, Bateman still has time to repay the Cowboys’ faith in him.
6. Mikaele Ravalawa
The last two seasons have truly been a fall from grace for the Fijian winger.
Ravalawa scored 21 tries in as many games for a Dragons side that narrowly avoided the wooden spoon in 2023.
However, with Shane Flanagan’s arrival the following year, Ravalawa has since been exiled from the side for his shocking defence, so much so that he was sent out on loan to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2025 season.
Yet, even a change of scenery hasn’t helped the try-scoring freak, who has only featured three times for the Rabbitohs this season.
In those three games, Ravalawa has actually missed more tackles than he has made, which pretty much sums up why he was exiled from the Dragons in the first place.
Not to mention, a defensive howler against the Cronulla Sharks in Round 3, where Ravalawa retreated beyond his own try line, watching Braydon Trindall score in the corner untouched.
It should be noted that, in Ravalawa’s weak defence (no pun intended), the winger has been battling a hamstring injury, which has kept him out for most of the season.
But when called upon, he has seemingly gone missing, meaning his place on this list cannot be contested.
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