NRL 2025: what you need to know

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As news comes to hand across the off-season we'll bring you updates and news on the 2025 NRL season, in the lead up to the anticipated release of the draw on Thursday 21 November.

Looking for 2025 NRL Player Movement, ins & outs? Click here.

As they're released, we're showing you all the 2025 NRL Jerseys right here.

Sun 17 Nov

And just like that, the NRL drops Round 1 (sort of). We have days and times for all games now (times AEDT). Aside from Las Vegas, venues are not confirmed:

• Sun 2 Mar 11am: Canberra v Warriors (Las Vegas)
• Sun 2 Mar 3:30pm: Penrith v Cronulla (Las Vegas)
• Thu 6 Mar 8:00pm: Sydney v Brisbane
• Fri 7 Mar 6:00pm: Wests Tigers v Newcastle
• Fri 7 Mar 8:05pm: Dolphins v South Sydney
• Sat 8 Mar 5:30pm: St Geo Illa v Canterbury
• Sat 8 Mar 7:35pm: Manly v North Qld
• Sun 9 Mar 4:05pm: Melbourne v Parramatta
• BYE: Gold Coast

The NRL's "draw explainer" for Round 1 is here.

While the NRL insists all venues for the six games being played on March 6-9 are "Stadium TBA", several reports and even some clubs have confirmed venues - Allianz (SYD v BRI), Suncorp (DOL v SOU), 4 Pines (MAN v NQL) and AAMI (MEL v PAR) have all rated a mention as of 8am Sunday morning.

Manly's article on the season opener confirms the NRL draw will be released on Thursday 21 November.

Sat 16 Nov

The SMH reports in a story about Latrell Mitchell that the annual All Stars fixture is likely to remain in the pre-season schedule, despite discussions around moving it to after the Grand Final as part of a larger Indigenous set of games including the Koori Knockout. The same article suggests the NRL Draw for 2025 is expected to be released at the "end of next week".

Tue 12 Nov

WWOS reports a potential rule change is being discussed for the 2025 NRL season, with long kick-offs set to attract a punishment of a seven tackle set. Under the proposed new rule, a team kicking off will concede a seven tackle set if the kickoff lands beyond the opponent's 20 metre line.

The concept is designed to combat an increasing number of head injuries stemming from kickoff returns across the last couple of seasons.

Mon 11 Nov

With the end of Manly's duties hosting Brisbane at Magic Round, News Corp reports that Manly have requested the Broncos be drawn to play at Brookvale - and if granted it would be the first time since 2014.

Manly have also submitted a request to play the Eels and Roosters at home.

Sat 9 Nov

A new report out of News Corp says the NRL has pencilled in its State of Origin dates:

• Game I: Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), Wednesday 28 May
• Game II: Optus Stadium (Perth), Wednesday 18 June
• Game III: Accor Stadium (Sydney), Wednesday 9 July

Clubs have reportedly been told to expect the reveal of the draw "within the next fortnight".

Thu 31 Oct

News Corp leaks begin! This report suggests Brisbane's new Magic Round opponent will be reigning premiers Penrith, who themselves are a home team in 2025 as a result of their temporary home ground arrangements.

The same masthead suggests the Dolphins could host the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1, which would bring former Dolphins boss Wayne Bennett back to face his former charges in the first competitive game of the year.

The draw "should be released mid-November", per Dean Ritchie's reporting.

Wed 9 Oct

• Accor Stadium - home to the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs - will be out of action on the weekend of Round 1 (March 7-8) with the "Race of Champions" to be hosted at Sydney's largest stadium. More info here.

Thu 3 Oct 2024 - what we know so far

• Season opener will again be Rugby League Las Vegas. The two matches will be Penrith v Cronulla, and Canberra v Warriors on Sat 1 Mar (US) which is Sun 2 Mar AEST. The event will also include a Super League clash involving Wigan and Warrington, and a women's test between Australia and England.
• Wests Tigers venue split - 4 games at Commbank, 4 games at Campbelltown, 3 games at Leichhardt and one at Magic Round
• Penrith are moving to Commbank Stadium while Penrith Park is being rebuilt - they'll play 8 games there, with 1 at Mudgee, 1 at Bathurst, 1 in Vegas and 1 at Magic Round
• South Sydney will play a home game at Perth's Optus Stadium in 2025, and will also head back to Mudgee in the pre-season where they'll host the Dragons in the Charity Shield
• Manly will no longer take home games to alternate venues, or host a Magic Round 'home' game - they will play all 12 games at 4 Pines Park Brookvale
• The Warriors have an agreement to continue to play at least one home game in Christchurch. They have confirmed 10 games to be played at Go Media Stadium in Auckland
• St George Illawarra have a 6-6 split between Kogarah and Wollongong, with the Roosters hosting ANZAC Day next season
• Gold Coast will host 11 games at Cbus Super Stadium with one at Suncorp (Magic Round)
• The 2025 NRLW season will expand to twelve teams, with Canterbury coming into the competition and the Warriors re-entering after a four-season hiatus. As such, it will likely expand to 11 rounds next season.

Other things we know

• Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane will host Magic Round with the NRL extending its agreement with the QLD government for three more years to 2027.
• Optus Stadium in Perth will host the 'neutral' Origin match in 2025.
• Should the NRL Grand Final remain on the Sunday of the NSW Labour Day weekend, it will be held on Sunday 5 October. The venue for the match is not yet confirmed.

State based feeder clubs for 2025 are as follows:

Brisbane Broncos
QRL: Burleigh Bears, Souths Logan Magpies, Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Canberra Raiders
NSWRL: Canberra Raiders

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
NSWRL: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
NSWRL: Newtown Jets (NSW Cup), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (all other grades)

Dolphins
QRL: Central Queensland Capras, Norths Devils, Redcliffe Dolphins

Gold Coast Titans
QRL: Ipswich Jets, Tweed Seagulls

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
NSWRL: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
(agreement with Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles ended)

Melbourne Storm
NSWRL: North Sydney Bears (NSW Cup), Melbourne Storm (all other grades)
QRL: Brisbane Tigers, Sunshine Coast Falcons

Newcastle Knights
NSWRL: Newcastle Knights

North Queensland Cowboys
QRL: Mackay Cutters, Northern Pride

Parramatta Eels
NSWRL: Parramatta Eels

Penrith Panthers
NSWRL: Penrith Panthers

St George Illawarra Dragons
NSWRL: St George Illawarra Dragons

South Sydney Rabbitohs
NSWRL: South Sydney Rabbitohs
QRL: Townsville Blackhawks

Sydney Roosters
NSWRL: Sydney Roosters

Warriors
NSWRL: Warriors

Wests Tigers
NSWRL: Wests Tigers, Western Suburbs Magpies, Balmain Tigers

Note: several NRL clubs have pathways affiliate agreements with state-based clubs but these are not "feeder" clubs to NRL teams.