The 2025 NRL season proper is still a month away but the preliminary events kick off this weekend. Here’s an outline of what’s coming up in the next few weeks.
The pre-season Challenge gets underway tomorrow night, the first of three rounds over the next three weekends. Each club plays in only two of the three rounds. It’s a bit hard to read anything into these games as many of the leading players will sit out at least some these matches to be fully fit and ready to go in Round 1 early in March. The games do, however, offer up-and-coming players as well as club recruits the opportunity to showcase their wares in the hope of gaining senior selection come the season opener.
In this weekend’s pre-season first round matches, the Sharks host the Warriors tomorrow night at Shark Stadium at 7.30pm AEDT. Then, on Saturday night, the Panthers meet the Raiders, also at Shark Stadium, again at 7.30pm AEDT.
As well as the second round of the pre-season games, next weekend features the annual Indigenous v Maori All Stars clashes in both men’s and women’s formats. These games will be played at CommBank Stadium, the women’s game at 5.50pm AEDT with the men to follow at 8.10pm. Team lists are not available at this stage but should be close to finalised by next week’s column.
Come March 2, the Telstra men’s premiership opens in Las Vegas with the Raiders taking on the Warriors before the Panthers begin the defence of their premiership when they meet the Sharks. The remaining six Round 1 matches will be played at home from 6-9 March.
Follow the links below to see the full season draws in all major competitions.
Advance Notice: For now, please keep Saturday 29th March free in your diary because the Footy Almanac lunch caravan is coming to Sydney on that day. Final details are being put in place as you read this and we expect to make a full announcement next week and extend an invitation to attend. What I can tell you now is that the lunch will be held at South Juniors Kingsford. More to come next week.
Finally, throughout the footy season we circulate a weekly rugby league email to interested readers. If you or someone you know would like to be added to that mailing list, please let us know at [email protected]
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
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To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2025 click HERE.
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About Ian Hauser
A Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A Queenslander through and through, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, McWilliam's Cream Apera and a glass or three of wine. Footy Almanac's Thursday online editor who moonlights as a hobby editor.
many thanks for the summary, Ian, great detail as always
Year two of the ‘Las Vegas adventure’ … last year I was very interested in the buildup because Souths were playing, this year … we shall see!!
Time will tell,I wonder whether there will be any serious inroads into the U.S. market by the end of the fifth trip (apart from the gambling market)