Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women's has been a breeding ground for the future of Australian Rugby, especially over the past couple of years.
2024 was the year of 'The Junkyard Dog' and 'Baba' as Tim Ryan and Waiaria Ellis lit up the competition.
Watch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live, exclusive and on-demand on Stan Sport.
With the SRP season exactly 30 days away, 'The Debate' put the question to Rugby.com.au's writers to predict who will follow in their footsteps and be the breakout star of the competition from the Australian teams.
Despite the likes of new recruits Dylan Pietsch and Sio Tompkinson bolstering the Force backline, Ronan Leahy shapes a genuine trump card for Simon Cron's side in 2025.
Leahy, 20, endured a torrid 44 minutes on debut last year as Queensland ran three tries down his wing in a 59-13 rout and had limited opportunities a week later against the Brumbies (save an impressive bump on Andy Muirhead).
Yet the Papua New Guinea-born flyer was among Australia's best age-grade performers either side of his two Super Rugby Pacific appearances.
Tries against Georgia and Italy during the U20 World Championship capped a sparkling season that included selection in the U20 TRC team of the tournament at inside centre.
Equally dangerous in the midfield and out wide, Leahy's strength in contact and leg drive was evident as he led Australia U20s for carries (45) and metres gained (345) through 2024.
Leahy also earned selection for the Western Force's three-game South Africa tour with a wing start against Emerging Ireland before shifting to outside centre against Western Province.
With Wallaby duo Hamish Stewart and Harry Potter likely frontrunners for the Force midfield unit, Leahy's versatility could see him snag the 23 jersey or even a starting role in the back three through 2025.
Ipswich State High and Sunnybank sensation Sky-Yvette Faimalie has all the talent and potential to make 2025 her year.
Faimalie, 17, is already hot property in the 13-woman code after earning Queensland City honours and captaining her school to a national title last year.
Yet it's her front-row exploits for Sunnybank in Queensland's Premier Women's competition that spun heads through 2024 with Faimalie's explosive running, scrummaging and power game on full display for the Dragons.
Faimalie's talent has been clear since she first picked up a Gilbert at Springfield Hawks Rugby Club but last year's performances in green and black made her selection in this year's Reds squad a formality.
The teenager has trained with Queensland's seniors since October and will push for a starting berth under the watchful eye of Wallaroos powerhouse Eva Karpani.
“The naming of the squad is something I’ve really been looking forward to. I’ve definitely learnt a lot already around skills and knowledge from the experienced team-mates I’ve been training with," Faimalie told Reds media earlier this week. Now, it's just a matter of when, not if, we see the headgear-clad Faimalie scattering defenders in Super Rugby Women's.
The Brumbies’ ability to create talent is unmatched and Lachlan Hooper has all the ability to be the next in a long line of star back-rowers.
His performance in the U19 Super Rugby Final against the Waratahs was one of the best by an individual in 2023.
Like Ryan, he featured in the 2023 U20s Australian side that defeated their New Zealand counterparts and was excellent in the U20 World Championships.
The reality is had he not been injured, he would’ve likely made his Super Rugby debut and potentially captained the U20s at last year’s World Championships.
His presence over a breakdown is elite, plus he has the set-piece skills that are adored in the nation’s capital.
He’ll push brother Tom for a spot in the 23, with the chance for them to play together limited after the Wallabies' decision to head to the UK.
Darcy Swain's and Jahrome Brown's departures open the door for Hooper to stake his claims and use 2025 as the perfect platform to break out.
The news of Layne Morgan moving to the Queensland Reds shocked fans on either side of the Tweed but it’s produced a prime opportunity for Tatum Bird to step into the spotlight.
Bird has bided her time behind Morgan and Iliseva Batibasaga but has been anything but complacent.
The speedy scrum half has taken the chance to expand her craft by joining Irish club Blackrock College in 2022 whilst spending the off-season playing Sevens for NSW and Australia A.
In 2024, Bird was limited to just 15 minutes per game. Now, the Manly product has the perfect chance to shine behind a world-class backline
Having a halves partner like Arabella McKenzie will be pivotal for Bird, with her running game offering up further attacking opportunities for the Waratahs.
The only thing that could scupper Bird’s ascendancy would be if the Waratahs looked for further reinforcements at the base of the ruck, which couldn’t be ruled out at this stage.
But Bird has shown more than enough to be trusted to guide the Waratahs around the park and thrive.
