Sean Maloney's guide to the Super Rugby season: The John Daly lookalike set to star for the Wallabies

Wow, that off-season has gone QUICK! I mean, real fast.

One second you're cheering in Max Jorgensen against England, then BAM, Christmas has come and gone, you've already broken your New Year's Eve resolutions and 'Jorgo' is ready to go again, this time vs the Highlanders.

In addition to the speed of the summer, it's been largely uneventful in a good way for Aussie rugby.

Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match ad free, live and on demand

This time last year we were still reeling from the Rugby World Cup, the Melbourne Rebels had announced they were in proper strife and Eddie Jones was off to Japan.

It was chaos.

Conversely, 2025 has seen a sad but early decision made around Joe Schmidt's future, a new broadcast agreement which seems to have most happy and the best covered and attended Super Rugby launch in years.

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The imminent arrival of the British and Irish Lions has also got us all up and about.

So, the energy around the game is good, now let's get rolling with the weekend to come.

Eleven teams and 11 years since an Aussie side won it.

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BUUUUUUUUULLLLLAAAAAA!

I'm a touch worried for the ACT Brumbies ahead of their season opener vs the Fijian Drua in Suva.

I'm genuinely concerned they'll melt.

Last month I was lucky enough to visit 'Rugby Town' Sigatoka for Fiji's famous Coral Coast Sevens alongside Lote Tuqiri, Nemani Nadolo, Alicia Lucas and Greg Clark.

Sky New Zealand callers Karl Te Nana and Rikki Swannell were also on deck for brilliant rugby in brutal conditions.

It's hard to describe just how taxing the island environment is at this time of the year, the heat comes at you from everywhere.

Sit in the shade, sweat. Eat a roti under a tree, sweat.

Drink a beer by the pool, also sweat.

The Brumbies are set to kick off at 3.35pm local time when heat and humidity are at their peak.

If they can find a way to win, it'll send a real message to the rest of the competition.

No Aussie Super Rugby side has won ever won on the island.

You'll hear 'Clarkie,' Sam Wykes and big Nemani as the new look Drua commentary team for their home games this year. Toso fellas.

SUAALII X SFS

It's rightly been headline after headline for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the lead up to the season starting.

Our friends at The Sydney Morning Herald - Iain Payten and Jonathan Drennan - have pulled together some great yarns and this stat from the latter blew me away.

"Suaalii has every reason to reach for the kicking tee, given he boasts the NRL's best kicking record at a ground, never missing from 29 attempts at Allianz Stadium."

Those numbers may mean he gets a shot at the SFS, maybe not, but the not knowing hasn't dissuaded punters from making the 21 year-old one of the most selected players in the newly launched Super Rugby fantasy league.

Over half of the sides have found a spot for the former Rooster.

Will Jordan of the Crusaders appears the most coveted player on the platform with almost 75 per cent of fantasy managers picking the try scoring whiz.

IN FOR A DOLLY GOOD TIME

The Western Force have huge depth up front in '25 with former England international and soon-to-be Wallabies qualified hooker Nic Dolly joining Simon Cron's men.

Dolly will be easy to spot, he's an absolute unit and has an identical haircut to iconic American golfer John Daly.

Helping the 25-year-old in the front row will be returning prop Tom Robertson, who has completed his studies at the world famous Oxford University in England.

'Throbber' now has a Masters in Philosophy and Public Health.

Other exciting signings in a quality squad include Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch and a bruising backrower set for his Super debut, Nick Champion de Crispigny.

The 28-year-old has been playing in France with Castres the last couple of years, before that he was terrorising opponents in the Shute Shield with Sydney University.

He's old school tough and there's plenty of him, definitely one to keep an eye on.

THE NAME GAME

There's been some quality content emerging coming out of the official social media accounts of Rugby.com.au and Super Rugby these last few weeks.

We got further insight with their latest post giving us insight into player's nicknames and what their teammates call 'em.

So, here's a few to remember for when you're cheering them along over the next few months.

'SU' - JOSEPH-AUKUSO SUAALII (Waratahs)

'BOBBY' - ROB VALETINI (Brumbies)

'BIG PAPI' - JEFFREY TOOMAGA-ALLEN (Reds)

'THE BUS' - JULIAN SAVEA (Moana Pasifika)

'STAG' - SEAN WITHY (Highlanders)

BURKEY'S NEW HOME

After a long run as a sports presenter with Channel 10, legendary Wallabies fullback Matt Burke has made the jump back to rugby and will call Stan home in 2025.

He hit it running on Between Two Posts this week alongside former teammate and fellow roulette enthusiast Morgan Turinui.

In the lead-up to his debut, NSW Origin coach and The Big Sports Breaky host Laurie Daley suggested: "he's one of the greats... and the best thing about 'Burkey,' is he does all his own hair and make-up."

As expected, he held his own on the niggle front and predicted Tim Ryan out of Queensland to top the try-scorers list this season.

Another new addition to the Stan team this year is ex-Aussie sevens star and Olympic gold medallist Alicia Lucas, who is fast becoming one of the leading commentators in the sport.

She's already done a run of tournaments with World Rugby and will expand on that across the year.

Alrighty, we'll see you all for the Waratahs opener vs the Highlanders from 7pm on Friday night at the SFS.

It's a massive year coming, can't wait to get into it alongside you all.