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NRL Players Poll 2025 Part One: Best young star, coach, most underrated player, worst stadium
Who is best young star in rugby league? Who is the most underrated? And which team has the worst stadium? NRL players tackle the burning questions in part one of our Players Poll.
Michael Carayannis
and
Brent Read
3 min read
September 20, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
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Ethan Strange will attempt to resurrect Canberra’s fortunes with the backing of his peers.
The Raiders playmaker has been anointed as the game’s best young player in an exclusive player poll conducted by this masthead in conjunction with the RLPA.
More than 500 players – making it the largest poll ever conducted – expressed views on a range of matters from on-field stars to off-field issues.
In the first instalment of the survey, players have spoken glowingly about Strange on the eve of his sudden-death final against the Sharks on Saturday night.
SEE THE RESULTS OF PART ONE OF PLAYER SURVERY BELOW
Ethan Strange has been voted as the game’s best young player by his peers. Picture: Getty Images
Ethan Strange has been voted as the game’s best young player by his peers. Picture: Getty Images
Strange, who is in contention to make his Kangaroos debut for the end of year Ashes series, pipped Warriors young gun Leka Halasima and Roosters centre Robert Toia for the honour.
The vote was for players aged 20 years or under before June 30.
Isaiya Katoa claimed the gong last year.
Canberra skipper Joe Tapine was full of praise for Strange, who has enjoyed a breakout season in the No.6 jersey for the high-flying Raiders.
“People always give him a lot of credit for the physical way he plays the game,” Tapine said.
“When he does play, it’s almost like he’s built of granite, but I think people underestimate his mental steel. For a playmaker so young, his mental strength is up there as well.
“You can’t do the things he does on the field, like the physical stuff and throwing your body on the line defence, without being mentally strong.
“It’s a credit to him and the way he has developed as a player. It’s a huge credit to the coaches that he has had, like his dad John, the way he has been playing this year.
“He’s going to be hugely important for us this finals series.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
While the Raiders five-eighth was given his due praise, the same cannot be said for Canberra’s home ground GIO Stadium.
NRL players have voted Canberra’s GIO Stadium in Canberra, as their least favourite venue. Picture: AAP
NRL players have voted Canberra’s GIO Stadium in Canberra, as their least favourite venue. Picture: AAP
SEE THE RESULTS OF PART ONE OF PLAYER SURVERY BELOW
The Raiders are pushing for the government to help redevelop the ground, but it has been ranked as the NRL’s least favourite venue by the players with 16 per cent.
Told about the poll results, Canberra chief executive Don Furner said: “Not surprised - it’s 50 years old and is not fit for purpose in this day and age.”
GIO stadium was ranked below 4 Pines Park (12 per cent) and Leichhardt Oval (11 per cent). Canberra’s home ground also finished as the worst last year.
Other results include: Suncorp Stadium sitting on top of the favourite away ground (41.5 per cent), easily beating Cbus Super Stadium (9.5%) and GoMedia Stadium (7.2%).
Craig Bellamy has dethroned Wayne Bennett as the coach players would most like to play for with 26 per cent.
Players have voted Craig Bellamy as the coach they’d most like to play under. Picture: Michael Klein
Players have voted Craig Bellamy as the coach they’d most like to play under. Picture: Michael Klein
Bennett – who won the poll last year with 26 per cent – dropped to third with 13 per cent. Ivan Cleary (15 per cent) was second behind Bellamy.
Roosters veteran winger Daniel Tupou was crowned the game’s most-underrated player.
The three-time premiership winger has just completed his 14th season in the top grade and is 11-short of the 300-game mark.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has been voted as the NRL’s most underrated player. Picture: Getty Images
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has been voted as the NRL’s most underrated player. Picture: Getty Images
Tupou beat out last year’s winner Mitch Kenny who finished in second place this time around. Blayke Brailey and Zac Hosking tied for third as the pair square off against each other on Saturday night. Roosters coach Trent Robinson heaped praise on Tupou.
“I’m seeing it as a respect thing from the players that they see the work he does in the shadows,” Robinson said.
“He just goes about his business without any fanfare. People respect how he plays and that’s the way he has played his whole career.
“It is a tip of the cap from the other players to say that we see you.”
Nah, I love you Aussies, some of my best relatives are Aussies. For a bit of balance Niukore was shit too.
