With three rounds played in the 2025 Hospital Cup, there’s been 12 matches completed, as fans slowly find out more about the style and identity of their team this season. 

With that in mind, Rugby News decided to analyse how each side is shaping up this season, with a look at the positive and negative aspects across the competition. 

Easts: (1^st: Played three, won three – 14 points)

Good: Everything. Last year’s eight-place team have started the season in swashbuckling style, winning three games on the bounce. The side has shocked many fans, and are a genuine premiership threat. 

Bad: At this stage of the season – which is early – Rugby News cannot fault Easts. 

Souths: (2^nd: Played three, won two, lost one – 12 points)

Good: Souths have been solid so far, winning all matches except one. The side has also won four bonus points. Lachlan Stewart (10) is another positive, and he’s had a good start to the year. 

Bad: Souths got out-muscled last week by an in-form Norths outfit, which coach Rama Chand would be disappointed about. 

Brothers: (3^rd: Played two, won two – 10 points): 

Good: Brothers won their first two games of the season, and have played some really smart footy, with good performances from forwards. An undefeated start to the season means Brothers are favourites to win the comp this year, which would be a third straight premiership. Brothers will be hard to stop.  

Bad: Not much. The only criticism is the side has only won two bonus points. Ben McCormack always looks for improvement, and with an almost perfect side, he’ll be looking at the one-percenters. 

Norths: (4^th: Played three, won two, lost one – 10 points)

Good: Norths are the other surprise package this year, starting exceptionally well. Norths put on 71 points against UQ a few weeks ago, showing the rest of the comp, it really means business this season. Norths have a lot of home-grown talent, and the side is playing with cohesion. 

Bad: Norths finished seventh last year, and its round one loss to Easts, by 27 points, highlighted that the side still has some work to do, particularly in defence. This looks to have improved since then. 

Wests: (5^th: Played three, won one, lost two – seven points) 

Good: Elwee Prinsloo’s men looked set for a big season after the side’s opening day win against Bond. Wests have a lot of new players, and while the side have lost its last two matches to Easts and UQ, both games were extremely tight affairs, with Wests unlucky to lose. Prinsloo will believe his new players, like recruit Denzel Samoa are starting to gel with the core group. 

Bad: Two losses to start the season for last season’s beaten grand finalists. While Wests’ losses were tight, champion teams should always find a way to win matches. 

GPS: (6^th: Played three, won one, lost one – 6 points)

Good: The opening day win against UQ, 33 points to 10, was a really good away performance. Winger Ryley Bierton has had a decent start to the season. 

Bad: The side conceded 40 points against Souths, and 33 against Brothers, both losses. GPS will need to tighten up its defence if it has any chance of making the finals. 

UQ: (7^th: Played three, won one, lost one – 4 points)

Good: UQ executed its game plan to a tee in the side’s one-point win over Wests last weekend, which was won off the back of a dominant kicking game.  The game, played in muddy conditions, showed UQ that despite being better on a dry track, it can win a scrappy contest. 

Bad: Having come third last year, UQ’s losses to GPS and Norths – particularly the latter, where the side conceded 71 points, probably shocked a few fans. UQ also has the worst point differential (minus 74). 

Bond Uni: (8^th: Played two, lost two – 2 points)

Good: Bond created plenty of opportunities in its narrow losses to Wests and Easts, but couldn’t capitalise. Kobe Walters (6) and Syris Schmidt (15) have started the season strongly. 

Bad: Two losses to start the season, even by a narrow margin, has frustrated coach Mick Heenan. 

Sunnybank: (9^th: Played two, lost two – two points)

Good: Sunnybank are always a really exciting team to watch, and this theme has continued this year. In losses to Souths and Brothers, the side, which loves throwing the footy around and has an attack-first philosophy, has scored a combined 53 points. 

Bad: Last year’s wooden spooners, Sunnybank are still occupying last-place. Throwing the footy around is all good and well, but sometimes – especially in the wet conditions which have started the season – its better to play it safe.