NRL Traders 2025 Official Thread

[Brendan_B]

Unsure if it's a question that's frowned upon but just genuinely interested if there is much margin made on the sale of a box retail?

I've only recently come across box breaks on Facebook where some look to be making a fair margin. There can't be much to be made on a retail sale?

Assume it varies from reseller to reseller. Some get it straight from TGI, others have to purchase from another reseller, cutting the margins.

I don’t believe there is much in it, maybe $10 per box at a LCS.

Definitely much more profit if selling as breaks. Don’t forget postage is generally included in a break spot price and that would knock a further $50 off the margin.,

 

[MJD]

Converters is absolutely used in terms of goalkicking - "conversion attempts" etc, which given Reynolds as the featured card, the % in the corner and being 1 per team is definitely what the subset is based off.

Pretty standard affair for traders as usual, not too much to complain about. Remains to be seen if they ever fix the much complained about predictor problems

Yes to "conversion attempts" and "he missed the conversion" etc, but what I meant was no-one ever refers to goalkickers as "converters". It would be like doing an NFL quarterback set and calling it "Completists". If they used footy relevant terms: 'Between the sticks', 'Black dot', 'Straight down the middle' etc - it would convey some connection to the sport. Even Conversion kings would work better.
Given the number of cards that often barely have a ball in them, I do wonder if anyone at TLA has ever watched league.

I noticed one of the sell sheets mistakenly has Rising Stars as 1 in 3 boxes, instead of 1 in 3 packs. It made me think that it would be cool if they switched up this set and made it a numbered and rarer given it's often players' first card, rather than being super-common fodder.

 

[Avonc]

Select back at the table with TGI, maybe Fanatics and another local company, not sure of name.

Anyway, if the rumours are true, Select have lost AFL to Fanatics from 2026 as the AFL want one company to produce all their merchandise, cards etc.

So, Select don’t have a product after this year and they haven’t sold or indicated they have closed up shop so the rumour is they have the NRL and Cricket.

So, you might see an extra release or two this year from TGI but if the rumours are true, Select are back from 2026.

Boy, that's going to shake things up.

 

[saintsforever]

First impression is same ole Traders really. A lot of dead space on the base designs, and shame there's not a blade of grass to be seen on any of them. Would much rather the images depict them playing footy on a footy field. Bugs me that they use "The Converters" when it's a term not used in rugby league at all.
The Fan Faves cards look nice, and pleased to see the demise of authentic initials - though there was legitimate potential to do a set themed on players synonymous with their initials; DWZ, CNK, SJ etc.

Yeah, whats with the converters, what shit name.

 

[Brendan_B]

They used ‘Clutch Kings’ in 23 Elite as a subset.

This would have been far more apt for the ‘Converters Series’.

It was like 2019 Traders and the Last Line of Defence subset. They pretty much used middle forwards who are the front line….

Anyways, I always thought they should give run comps and give collectors some opportunities to name insert sets.

Red Zone Renegades - a nod to those who throw caution to the wind in attack.

Moments that Matter- an ongoing tribute series from releases to release highlighting key moments throughout the season, or even retrospectively.

 

[Muzza]

Can anyone clarify for me if there is any difference in the Starter Pack bonus cards between retail and hobby?
Do both versions contain variations of the Showcase inserts or have I missed something?

 

[Brendan_B]

Can anyone clarify for me if there is any difference in the Starter Pack bonus cards between retail and hobby?
Do both versions contain variations of the Showcase inserts or have I missed something?

It appears so, the sell sheet just doesn’t reference what the bonus card for hobby starters is.

Club hero parallels are listed as album cards this year (as opposed to Rising Stars from
Previous years).

 

[shane_sharks]

I'm glad they got rid of those World in League cards

 

[Brendan_B]

I'm glad they got rid of those World in League cards

They were designed by @Matt26

He wanted to put a 1/1 printing plate for that set in this years Traders but what was knocked back….

 

[Muzza]

It appears so, the sell sheet just doesn’t reference what the bonus card for hobby starters is.

Club hero parallels are listed as album cards this year (as opposed to Rising Stars from
Previous years).

The sell sheet actually has the Showcase cards being in Hobby Starters but no mention of Retail Starters.
So if Club Heroes parallels are in the albums and also have a Priority version, then these seem to be the only two. As opposed to last year where there were base, four parallels and Priority.
If Showcase is the only bonus card available in Starters I might steer clear.

 

[Brendan_B]

The sell sheet actually has the Showcase cards being in Hobby Starters but no mention of Retail Starters.
So if Club Heroes parallels are in the albums and also have a Priority version, then these seem to be the only two. As opposed to last year where there were base, four parallels and Priority.
If Showcase is the only bonus card available in Starters I might steer clear.

It will be interesting, pretty much back to the Startoons starter pack days.

I wonder if the Rising Stars will be the starter pack variant for retail as they no longer the album cards?

 

[Avonc]

They used ‘Clutch Kings’ in 23 Elite as a subset.

This would have been far more apt for the ‘Converters Series’.

It was like 2019 Traders and the Last Line of Defence subset. They pretty much used middle forwards who are the front line….

Anyways, I always thought they should give run comps and give collectors some opportunities to name insert sets.

Red Zone Renegades - a nod to those who throw caution to the wind in attack.

Moments that Matter- an ongoing tribute series from releases to release highlighting key moments throughout the season, or even retrospectively.

Like your thinking, what would add value is to have subsets where more star players from the past (license issues maybe)
more from major clubs. There's nothing worse than pulling a low numbered or signature cards and it's a dud team or player.
We could all real off ten greats from our club of choice that doesn't have a low numbered insert card.

 

[Brendan_B]

Like your thinking, what would add value is to have subsets where more star players from the past (license issues maybe)
more from major clubs. There's nothing worse than pulling a low numbered or signature cards and it's a dud team or player.
We could all real off ten greats from our club of choice that doesn't have a low numbered insert card.

@Matt26 can confirm but I believe you are 100% correct in regard to the licensing issues. When contracted to an NRL club, players would be obligated to sign for an official product.

Retired players however would each require a different contract, hence why we only see a few retired players signatures per year.

If you want the best product, having retired greats is necessary.

 

[redtorana]

The sell sheet actually has the Showcase cards being in Hobby Starters but no mention of Retail Starters.
So if Club Heroes parallels are in the albums and also have a Priority version, then these seem to be the only two. As opposed to last year where there were base, four parallels and Priority.
If Showcase is the only bonus card available in Starters I might steer clear.

So to confuse you even more ...I am hearing there are 3 different lots of starters this year ...Hobby only available at distributors , Newsagent exclusive not available at distributors and the third a Kmart EXCLUSIVE starter ....

 

[Matt26]

@Matt26 can confirm but I believe you are 100% correct in regard to the licensing issues. When contracted to an NRL club, players would be obligated to sign for an official product.

Retired players however would each require a different contract, hence why we only see a few retired players signatures per year.

If you want the best product, having retired greats is necessary.

Players aren't obligated to sign for a product even if they are current players under the RLPA banner.

There are also some players who just don't want to sign cards or will only do it for high prices.

Some managers even sign up the players to sign cards without them knowing! See J Lussick! haha

Generally a licence holder will send a request to the players manager/management company asking them to sign X amount of cards and for X per signature for a release as part of the NRL licencing programme.

In past NRL releases its not uncommon to see multiple players from the same management company sign for one release (say Traders), and a group from another management company sign for the next release (Elite).

In more recent time the NRL licence holders parent company actually purchased one of the player management companies which made things interesting.

There was a story of a well known player a few years ago who didn't have a manager but agreed to sign cards and then found themselves signing up with the card making company (who also managed players) which pissed off a lot of the other management companies who were trying to secure this high level player on their books. They saw it as using the NRL licence to steal away clients from other managers etc.

In saying that most players are happy to sign if it means a few extra dollars coming their way.

For retired players, the licencee would approach them and ask if they want to take part. The manufacturer would then have to licence an image of them (if they aren't part of the NRL images library) and then pay them to sign or appear on a card. A lot of older players are ok, some don't want to be involved......a few past legends had issues with the NRL so declined to be a part of some sets.

Cheers
Matt

 

[Avonc]

Players aren't obligated to sign for a product even if they are current players under the RLPA banner.

There are also some players who just don't want to sign cards or will only do it for high prices.

Some managers even sign up the players to sign cards without them knowing! See J Lussick! haha

Generally a licence holder will send a request to the players manager/management company asking them to sign X amount of cards and for X per signature for a release as part of the NRL licencing programme.

In past NRL releases its not uncommon to see multiple players from the same management company sign for one release (say Traders), and a group from another management company sign for the next release (Elite).

In more recent time the NRL licence holders parent company actually purchased one of the player management companies which made things interesting.

There was a story of a well known player a few years ago who didn't have a manager but agreed to sign cards and then found themselves signing up with the card making company (who also managed players) which pissed off a lot of the other management companies who were trying to secure this high level player on their books. They saw it as using the NRL licence to steal away clients from other managers etc.

In saying that most players are happy to sign if it means a few extra dollars coming their way.

For retired players, the licencee would approach them and ask if they want to take part. The manufacturer would then have to licence an image of them (if they aren't part of the NRL images library) and then pay them to sign or appear on a card. A lot of older players are ok, some don't want to be involved......a few past legends had issues with the NRL so declined to be a part of some sets.

Cheers
Matt

Thanks for that insight. I'm sure there's a lot of "star" players from the past that are doing it tough in their post playing
days that would be more than happy to get some extra cash. Not everyone can monetise on field success in their playing
retirement.

 

[Brendan_B]

I think this is why unlicensed releases do so well in the US.

Even the limited unlicensed releases we have seen here such as Regal ‘Greats of the Game’ were great.

 

[Matt26]

Thanks for that insight. I'm sure there's a lot of "star" players from the past that are doing it tough in their post playing
days that would be more than happy to get some extra cash. Not everyone can monetise on field success in their playing
retirement.

The whole NRL past players/stars/legends and even some coaches is an area that needs to be covered.

So many great players who could be used in releases and be highly collected.

Wont happen with TGI/TLA.

 

[Festa1234]

Select back at the table with TGI, maybe Fanatics and another local company, not sure of name.

Anyway, if the rumours are true, Select have lost AFL to Fanatics from 2026 as the AFL want one company to produce all their merchandise, cards etc.

So, Select don’t have a product after this year and they haven’t sold or indicated they have closed up shop so the rumour is they have the NRL and Cricket.

So, you might see an extra release or two this year from TGI but if the rumours are true, Select are back from 2026.

Interesting, haven’t heard this rumour but might explain why select have been smashing out so many releases, cashing in before it all ends

 

[MJD]

Anyways, I always thought they should give run comps and give collectors some opportunities to name insert sets.

Red Zone Renegades - a nod to those who throw caution to the wind in attack.

Moments that Matter- an ongoing tribute series from releases to release highlighting key moments throughout the season, or even retrospectively.

I think a real limiting issue with TLA when it comes to card concept ideas is the obsessive inclusivity of its inserts. We don't get 5-card or 9-nine set showcasing gun players, we get 17 or 34 card sets repping every club for almost everything but the Dally M set and patches. I'd love to chase a well-designed set of the nine best halfbacks or fullbacks, as Avonc got at, a set that framed the best 9 players in a position from the modern era, so including past players. But I have no interest in a large insert set where there's no sense of curation.

Select probably went the other way too far, particularly in the early years, and I hate how few inserts Penrith got 2000-2010. But at the same time, Panthers players prob didn't deserve many high end cards. But given TLA already does mojos, I don't think there needs to be so many every-club chase sets.

I still rate the 94 Gold cards and 10-card Supporters Choice set among my favourites in terms of concept and player selection. Dynamic did plenty wrong, but in terms of telling a story of the season, by showcasing the best players, including Origin, playoffs etc, they came out of the gate really well (before the wheels came off).

I still think a Series I and II, be it Traders or whatever, followed by a more premium set late season is the best release model we've had.