ACT Brumbies star Rob Valetini admits 2025 is the year the Brumbies must make their move if they wish to claim the Super Rugby Pacific title.
Close to 30 players will return from 2024, with a large core of that rolling over from the 2023 season.
Watch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
On both occasions, the Brumbies fell short after getting knocked out in the semi-finals.
“It’s been our goal this year to take one more step (and claim the title),” Valetini told reporters.
“The boys have been working pretty hard and if the trial is anything to go off, I was really impressed with a lot of the boys efforts and a lot of the new boys that came into our team.
“I think they fit into the system really well. I feel as though the group's a bit more connected than it was last year because the boys know each other.
“I think we have a few boys coming up from the academy as well that have trained with us last year as well.”
The Brumbies were embracing the challenge of facing the Fijian Drua in Suva, one of the few teams yet to play in Fiji.
Valetini, who has Fijian heritage and brother Kemu in the Drua side, knows the challenge that awaits them and what a win would do for their season, with clashes against finalists Chiefs and Blues in the first month.
“Only six teams can make (finals) and I think probably one of my biggest games will come in round one in Fiji which I don't think any Australian teams won over there, let alone many be honest with you.
“Obviously it's going to be a big challenge for us as a team but an exciting challenge as well for the boys.
"You can't take any team lightly, especially knowing that round could cost us towards the back end.”
