2025 represents the best time for the Australian sides to claim their first Super Rugby Pacific after early Kiwi dominance.
The Blues are the team to beat after their 2024 heroics but the four Australian teams are loaded with talent ready to take it to them and their Kiwi counterparts.
Watch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live, exclusive and on-demand on Stan Sport.
With this in mind, 'The Debate' for this week has the Rugby.com.au writers present an argument as to why every Australian team can win the Super Rugby Pacific title.
This is the year the Brumbies can get over the hump and bring an elusive title to Canberra.
Continuity is a major factor on their side, with close to 30 players returning from another season.
It’s back-to-back years where they’ve been able to keep a large core of their squad and it’ll prove the difference in 2025.
They have a ton of superstar talent that can change the game, with the likes of Len Ikitau, Noah Lolesio and Tom Wright returning to their Wallaby best.
It’s a deep squad in all positions, with a stack of Australia A/XV talent complementing the 14 Wallabies in their squad.
This includes the likes of new recruit David Feliuai and Corey Toole, both motivated to perform after spending time firmly on selector’s radars.
They have turned Canberra into a fortress and have a fair claim to suggest had they hosted a semi or grand final, the title would already be in Canberra.
It’s a tough opening month for them but once they get past that, they’ll have the chance to build momentum and launch their way to the title.
There have been international sides with less star power than what the Waratahs will roll out this year.
In their trial on the weekend, there were ten Wallabies in the starting side and two off the bench.
Oh, and this doesn’t include this player by the name of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who just casually tore up Test Rugby in his first test of Rugby since school.
Behind these stars lie the future of Australian Rugby in players such as Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Henry O’Donnell and Leafi Talataina.
The Waratahs had a brutal run of injuries in 2024 but all indications from training suggest they will come into this season fit and firing.
Dan McKellar is one of the sharpest coaching minds in the country and has established an all-star staff to help take this team to the next level.
No team has gone from wooden spooners to premiers but if any team can do it, it’s this Waratahs side.
Say it in whispers, Queensland fans, but it's very easy to draw comparisons between your 2010 and 2024 seasons - and we all know where that could take you...
The Reds electrified Super Rugby in 2010 under first-year coach Ewan McKenzie with eight wins and five losses seeing them finish fifth and narrowly miss the top-four playoff system.
What followed in 2011 remains etched in Queensland folklore - and why shouldn't history repeat itself under Les Kiss?
In his debut season, Kiss took a hard-nosed but predictable Reds unit to new heights and with the added firepower of Lukhan Salakai-Loto, Josh Canham and Filipo Daugunu (to name a few), this is now a side to be feared
There's Test talent aplenty up front - none more so than a backrow featuring Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright and Seru Uru - and Queensland's backline depth is enviable with Wallaby halfback Tate McDermott feeding the likes of Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook.
All eyes will be on young flyhalf Tom Lynagh who is favoured to run the cutter following James O'Connor's departure and whether he can help engineer a fast start to their 2025 campaign.
The Reds' first four games are against last year's bottom four outfits and if they can rocket out of the blocks while picking up key home wins against the Brumbies (Round 9) and Blues (Round 11) either side of a mid-season bye, there's no reason they can't finish top three and secure a home finals run.
Dark horses? For sure, they're almost pitch black to the bookies - but write this Western Force side off at your own peril.
This is no longer a team of misfits and raw-boned talent. This is a Test-laden squad with a point to prove and a finals drought to break.
Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain will form an all-Wallaby crux up front while the likes of Nic White, Ben Donaldson and Hamish Stewart are poised unlock some of the nation's best wing talent out wide.
Remember, Harry Potter and Dylan Pietsch are just the tip of that iceberg - there's good money on Reds convert Mac Grealy tearing it up out West and fans should keep those eyes peeled for Australia U20 graduates Divad Palu and Ronan Leahy.
Now entering his third season in Perth, coach Simon Cron has gone within a whisker of finals both years prior and is expected to deliver in 2025.
Travel fatigue will continue to be a talking topic but the Force only depart Australian shores once before April 25 (Round 5 vs Crusaders on March 15) and are well equipped to bank early home and derby wins.
A first-up victory at home against Moana Pasifika on February 15 is vital for setting the tone. From there, there's no reason the Force can't get on a roll and break their finals hoodoo.
And the Super Rugby Pacific title? Why not? After all, no one's playing to lose.
