The Blues Watch series is back for the holiday break, where nswrl.com.au takes a look at some of the names coming off strong seasons who could find themselves in the frame for a potential Origin jersey in 2025. Keep an eye out for Blues Watch highlights over the next few weeks and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Lindsay Smith
In just his second full season of first grade with the reigning NRL Premiers, Lindsay Smith claimed a second consecutive Provan-Summons trophy as part of the Penrith Panthers’ historic fourth NRL Grand Final win in as many years.
Yet despite several personnel changes throughout the year, due to injuries or Origin representation, the ever-reliable Smith featured in every one of Penrith’s 27 matches for the season.
Smith, another recent success story from the St Marys junior club, has become a fixture of Ivan Cleary’s line-up and bench rotation, filling it at prop, lock forward, and occasionally second row. The 24-year-old can also take on big minutes when called upon, even playing the full 80 minutes in Round 13 and 24.
In 2024 he recorded four tries, five line-breaks and 30 tackle-busts while averaging 104 run metres and 33 tackles at 96.1 per cent efficiency, making his 50th NRL appearance in the Round 26 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs.
With another superb season at the foot of the mountains Smith was rewarded with a spot in Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships, making his Australian debut on home soil in their 20-14 Pacific Cup Final victory against Tonga.
Jacob Kiraz
Kiraz may have produced a career-best season in 2024, and it correlated in a big way to what was a breakthrough year for the new-look Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
As the Bulldogs secured their first finals berth since 2016, the powerful winger-centre’s durability was just as good as his work-rate on the flank, playing every minute of the season for his side in 2024.
By the end of the season Kiraz was leading the competition with 525 runs (21 average), equal-second for metres (4,727), and third for offloads (53). The Lebanon international also managed 12 tries, 18 line-breaks, and 111 tackle-busts at an average of 4.4.
At only 22, his week-to-week numbers over the past season saw Kiraz nominated in the NSWRL Team of the Week seven times – equal-second alongside Brian To’o and just one behind Isaah Yeo with eight.
The St Johns Eagles junior is certainly a favourite among the Dogs’ faithful since returning to his local NRL club in 2022, and more representative honours could soon be on the horizon if he keeps the momentum going in 2025.
Tyran Wishart
Wishart has been an invaluable addition to the Melbourne Storm squad since making his NRL debut in the opening round of 2022, but 2024 was truly a break-out year for the second-generation star.
While Wishart’s versatility is one his best assets, he never shirks the responsibility or lacks any effort in whatever role Storm coach Craig Bellamy requires. But particularly in the past season, his successful halves switch in the absence of Cameron Munster proved vital in the scheme of things for the eventual Minor Premiers.
The move caused little disruption and re-vitalised the season. Wishart became starting five-eighth from Round 12 in a narrow defeat, but remained in the No.6 after the bye for a seven-game unbeaten run producing five tries, two try assists, four line-breaks and 20 tackle-busts.
The 24-year-old finished the NRL season with a career-high 26 games missing just one, scoring a total 12 tries, forcing six drop-outs and throwing 13 offloads, while averaging 18 tackles and 80 run metres per game.
Then only a week after competing in the NRL Grand Final, Wishart earned his chance to wear the green and gold with a call-up to the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII, scoring a first-half try in the 42-20 win over PNG in Port Moresby.
Jesse Ramien
Four games shy of his 150th NRL appearance, Ramien is among the more experienced outside backs in the competition.
And during another solid season for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2024 – his eighth in the NRL - he put himself right in the conversation for possible NSW selection.
Under Craig Fitzgibbon he’s been ultra-consistent over the past few seasons, and was this year nominated in the NSWRL Team of the Week on five occasions – the most of any centre.
With a knack of winning a one-on-one battle or creating a numbers-mismatch on an edge, Ramien played 24 games in 2024, producing 13 try assists and six tries, 11 line-breaks, 84 tackle-busts and averaging a career-best 163 run metres.
As the Sharks look to build on their recent top-four finish heading into 2025, if Ramien’s form continues he certainly wouldn’t look out of place in the NSW back line if the opportunity came.
