How Kaeo Weekes became one of the most improved players of the 2025 NRL season

For proof that everything has changed for Kaeo Weekes, look at the two matches the Canberra fullback played against Manly in 2025. 

The first one was back in Round 3 and it was a tough night for Weekes and the Raiders. Against his former club, Weekes had an awful time of it as he put down one bomb after another in a 40-12 loss.  

The rematch last Friday was a different story because in the time since, Weekes has become a star. 

When he fields a kick or finds a gap, voices rise and crowds stir. If he sees some space and goes for the pedal there’s every chance all he leaves behind is a cloud of dust, some burnt up grass and defenders grasping at shadows.  

There’s no flying under the radar any more for the Raiders or for Weekes — he is on opposition tip sheets and lists of the fastest players in the NRL and in television commercials for the club’s major sponsor. 

The ink has just dried on a contract extension at the Raiders which will keep him at the club until the end of 2029 and soon he’ll have to think about things like where his allegiances will lie in representative football.

The second match against Manly, a professional 28-12 Raiders win, didn’t feature much of the blinding football that has become Weekes’ trademark but it’s as good a time as any to reflect on exactly what one of the most improved players in the NRL has become. 

“A win’s always good, especially against the boys but after the last performance in Round 3 – that was a pretty rough day,” Weekes said. 

“I’ve found that belief in myself again (at Canberra). There was a time there where footy was mundane, I still loved it and was trying to get better but I wasn’t fully invested. 

“The boys at Manly were awesome, there were some great leaders and some great people, but coming here was a challenge and that was the freshen up I needed to believe in myself and enjoy footy again.” 

The 23-year old has long been a player of promise. His speed and balance as a runner made him a junior player of some renown as he came through the grades from Asquith Magpies and into Manly. 

His first season at the Raiders, where he started in the halves in relief of Jamal Fogarty before moving to fullback, was a strong one and ended with him winning’s the Coach’s Award. 

He came into the season as the club’s top choice fullback and after a patchy start, some of the things Weekes has done have proved astonishing. 

The chip and chase try against Melbourne at Magic Round would be a certainty for individual try of the season if not for his long-range effort against St George Illawarra a few weeks back where he beat seven defenders on a 90-metre run to paradise to complete his first NRL hat-trick.  

There was the other length of the field try he scored in the first half of that game, or when he knifed through on another kick return to set-up the match-sealing try against the Roosters the previous month.  

Weekes can bump off defenders and glide between them like a puck on an air hockey table. He can cut up on a kick return or take a gap out the back of shape and all of a sudden the opposition is huddled under the goalposts, shaking their heads and wondering what happened. 

He might not have the work rate of other elite fullbacks but he’s becoming more prominent from minute to minute as the season wears on to the point where he is now fourth in the league for tackle busts, third for kick return metres and eleventh for total run metres.

Weekes also has the happy knack of coming up with at least one big play – a run, an assist, a try or a tackle – just about every week.

He’s not always sure how he does it himself, or how the important moments seem to find him. He’s just glad they do.    

“You have to back your own ability and vision and you have to commit. If you half-commit, things go pear shaped. Sometimes it happens and time slows down, other times it happens really fast,” Weekes said. 

“They talk about that flow state, you see everything, you recognise things. Then it just happens.

“I’m just enjoying footy, enjoying being with the boys and the journey we’re on. I love playing the footy we play, it’s so enjoyable.” 

Weekes puts much of his improvement with the Raiders down to coach Ricky Stuart, and his steadfast belief helped carry him through the difficult patch he endured earlier this year. 

Errors aren’t as important as the response to them and there’s a focus on small processes – like take three quick breaths or focus on their next seven steps and nothing else – to help reset, which has helped Weekes find his best football. 

“I used to dwell on things, especially on the field. You mature a little bit and realise that when it’s done you can’t change and you have to get back on the horse to get back into your role and help the team,” Weekes said. 

“Once you’re done, that’s it. You leave it where it is. Stick always talks about how he doesn’t care if you make mistakes, he’s watching what you do after. 

“He doesn’t want you to go into your shell, he wants you to play footy.” 

As the Raiders gear up for their premiership charge, Weekes is still coming to terms with his new-found status as one of Canberra’s premium weapons and rugby league’s freshly minted stars.  

A few weeks ago, with the Raiders leading Newcastle by plenty with a few minutes to go Stuart gave him an early mark and Weekes wasn’t sure why. 

Key players get rested at this time of year when the game is in hand but Weekes had been so focused on proving himself, he didn’t realise he’d become one. 

He’s getting recognised more often as well, around Canberra and everywhere else. It’s taken some getting used to, because Weekes is laid back and low key by nature, but that’s what happens when you start to shine. 

“Being a one-team town you can get noticed and you can not. It’s a good balance in Canberra, everyone’s so nice and friendly when they have a chat or want a photo or whatever,” Weekes said.

“But I guess it is happening a bit more.” 

The most improved NRL players of 2025

Naufahu Whyte – Sydney Roosters 

Whyte proved himself a useful rotation forward for the Roosters in 2024, enough that he earned his Test debut for New Zealand in last year’s Pacific Championship. 

But this season the 23-year old has taken his game to new heights, averaging 157 run metres per game and acting as an example of consistency for a Tricolours side that hasn’t always found it easy to come by. 

For proof of how far he’s come, look at the statistical company he keeps — Whyte is third in the league among all players for post-contact metres and when it comes to props only Addin Fonua-Blake, Terrell May and Payne Haas have run for more metres. 

Gehamat Shibasaki – Brisbane Broncos 

By this point, Shibasaki’s story of rising from a train and trial contract to a berth in last month’s State of Origin decider is well-known but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable. 

After years wandering from club to club across Australia, as well as a brief stint playing rugby in Japan, Shibasaki has at last become the player his potential once promised. 

It’s been a slower few weeks for the Broncos centre since the night he entered Queensland folklore but his size and consistency on the left edge will prove crucial as Brisbane fight to finish the season strongly without starting halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam. 

Thomas Jenkins – Penrith Panthers 

After leaving Newcastle at the end of last season, Jenkins was preparing to play out the season with St Mary’s in the third-tier Ron Massey Cup before accepting an offer from Ivan Cleary to train with the Panthers over the summer. 

Since making his NRL return in Round 3 against Melbourne he’s been a fixture for Penrith and has reaped plenty of rewards. 

Jenkins is seventh in the league for line breaks, leads the Panthers try-scoring lists with 12 and has relegated last year’s grand final hero Paul Alamoti to reserve grade after striking up a fine combination with young centre Casey Mcealn. 

Kurt Donoghoe – The Dolphins

Donoghoe has been with the Dolphins since their inception – he played in their first ever match back in 2023 – but in the previous two seasons he’s mainly come off the bench as a utility. 

The club’s injury crisis in the forwards presented him with an opportunity at lock and he’s taken to it brilliantly. 

Donoghoe’s passing, and especially the way he creates space for Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima, has helped unlock the scorching attack that pushed the Dolphins on a top eight charge and his support play and speed – particularly his length of the field intercept try against the Rabbitohs – have also stood out. 

Erin Clark – New Zealand Warriors

Clark was one of the more underrated players in the competition during his time at the Titans, thriving once he moved from hooker to lock enough to make his Test debut for the Kiwis last year. 

But since signing for the Warriors, Clark has proven to be one of the buys of the season and while replacing retired captain Tohu Harris is no small order, Clark has risen to the challenge with aplomb.

Clark is third among lock forwards for tackles, second for runs, second for run metres and his passing has been a feature of New Zealand’s attack all season.