WRAP-UP: 2025 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Week 2

All the results and scorers from the second weekend of the NRL Pre-Season, along with the current ladder and Week 3 fixtures.

All listed times are venue local - AEDT in NSW/VIC/ACT, AEST in QLD, NZDT in NZ.

RELATED: See the full list of 2025 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Draw and Results.

Canberra Raiders 10 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 40

Cronulla tuned up for Vegas in style with a convincing 30-point win over Canberra at GIO Stadium on Friday night. With both sides offering stronger lineups than their Week 1 teamsheets, the intensity and quality increase was immediately evident. The Sharks led 12-10 at the break before streaking away in the second half with 28 unanswered points after halftime.

Canberra Raiders (10)
Tries: Sebastian Kris, Ethan Strange
Goals: Jamal Fogarty 1/2

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (40)
Tries: Addin Fonua-Blake, Jesse Ramien, Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, Samuel Stonestreet, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Chris Vea'Ila
Goals: Braydon Trindall 4/4, Nicho Hynes 1/1, Daniel Atkinson 1/2

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra. Date: Thu, 13th February. Kickoff: 7:50 PM. Halftime: Cronulla 12-10. Penalties: Cronulla 7-2. Bonus Points: Cronulla 2-0. Referee: Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 3,580.

JUDICIARY: Jordan Turner (CAN) $1000

Canberra: Weekes, Savage, Timoko, Kris, Tamale; Strange, Fogarty (C); Papalii, Starling, Mooney, Young, Nicholson, Smithies. Int: Levi, Hopoate, Cook, Stuart, Stewart, Taumoepeau, Waitere, Martin, Sasagi, Sanders, Martin, Martin, Mariota, Saulo, Asomua.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Stonestreet, Ramien, Iro, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Fonua-Blake, Brailey, Kaufusi, Nikora, Wilton, McInnes (C). Int: Atkinson, Talakai, Hamlin-Uele, Hazelton, Burns, Berrell, Hau Tapuha, Vea'ila, Pollard, Ford, Gabrael, Dixon, Clark.

Newcastle Knights 18 Parramatta Eels 44

Parramatta thumped Newcastle with a four-try blitz in the final twenty minutes at a wet McDonald Jones Stadium to secure a 44-18 victory on Friday evening. The visitors led 22-4 at the break before the home side narrowed the gap to 22-18 at the hour mark, before Jason Ryles' first fixture as coach saw his side run away with the win comfortably.

Newcastle Knights (18)
Tries: Greg Marzhew, Kyle Mccarthy, Jermaine Mcewen, Logan Aoake
Goals: Connor Votano 1/3

Parramatta Eels (44)
Tries: Arthur Miller-Stephen 2, Jake Tago, Dylan Brown, Kelma Tuilagi, Jordan Samrani, Samuel Loizou, Joash Papalii
Goals: Ronald Volkman 3/4, Joshua Lynn 3/4

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium. Date: Fri, 14th February. Kickoff: 6:00 PM. Halftime: Parramatta 22-4. Penalties: Parramatta 7-5. Bonus Points: Parramatta 2-0. Referee: Belinda Sharpe. Crowd: 5,964.

JUDICIARY: No charges

Newcastle: Pryce, Schiller, McCarthy, Jones, Marzhew; Sharpe, Cogger; Jones, Brailey, Hetherington, Cant, Pearce-Paul, Frizell (C). Int: Gamble, Croker, Hastings, Su'a, Arthur, Votano, McEwen, Salesa leaumoana, Taukamo, Aoake, Decourcey, Hopwood, Thompson, Hunt, Smith.
Parramatta: Iongi, Tago, Penisini, Samrani, Miller-Stephen; Brown, Volkman; Ofahengaue, Hands, Greig, Kautoga, Tuilagi, Guymer. Int: Papalii, Tuivaiti, Mataele, Cartwright, Lussick, Smith, Pryke, Twidle, Parker, Latu, Lynn, Nanva, Loizou, Tupou, Brown.

North Queensland Cowboys 8 Dolphins 50

A strong Dolphins lineup put the cleaners through a relatively inexperienced Cowboys outfit in Cairns on Friday night. The Phins had crossed four times before the Cowboys struck back for their first, and ultimately led 34-4 at the halftime break before adding three more tries to notch up the half-century, including a hat trick to LJ Nonu.

North Queensland Cowboys (8)
Tries: Jarrett Subloo, Robert Derby

Dolphins (50)
Tries: Lj Nonu 3, Jake Averillo, Aublix Tawha, Mason Teague, James Walsh, Michael Waqa, Tevita Naufahu
Goals: Sean O'Sullivan 5/7, Ben Stevanovic 2/2

Venue: Barlow Park. Date: Fri, 14th February. Kickoff: 7:00 PM. Halftime: Dolphins 34-4. Penalties: Dolphins 6-1. Bonus Points: Dolphins 2-0. Referee: Damian Brady. Crowd: 6,936.

JUDICIARY: Thomas Mikaele (NQL) $1000

North Qld: Brown, Derby, Lenoy Sam, Ioka, Paulo; Subloo, Herdegen; Mikaele, Lawton, Hess (C), Kira, O'Donnell, Bitungane. Int: Kerrisk, Lenaz, Matautia, Radel, Trevilyan, Burns, Baira, Duffy, Rivett, Watts, Aukafolau.
Dolphins: Donoghoe, Nonu, Naufahu, Feagai, Quai-Ward; Averillo, O'Sullivan (C); Allen, Graham, Jackson, Tawha, Walsh, Teague. Int: Rasmussen, Symonds, Fineanganofo, Garton, Waqa, Marshall, Lipp, Doyle, Stevanović, James, Partridge.

Warriors 36 Melbourne Storm 10

A first half blitz saw the Warriors comprehensively defeat Melbourne in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon. In another contest where the lineups were fairly lopsided, the Wahs were 36-0 leaders at the break, with Tuaupiki, Tuivasa-Sheck and Leiataua all securing doubles. The Storm stood up much better in the second half as the Warriors cycled out their top-line players and ultimately won the second half 10-0.

Warriors (36)
Tries: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2, Taine Tuaupiki 2, Ali Leiataua 2, Chanel Harris-Tavita
Goals: Luke Metcalf 4/6

Melbourne Storm (10)
Tries: Ben Talty, Kane Bradley
Goals: Eli Morris 1/1

Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato. Date: Sat, 15th February. Kickoff: 3:30 PM. Halftime: Warriors 36-0. Penalties: Melbourne 7-2. Bonus Points: Warriors 3-0. Referee: Zbignew Przeklasa-Adamski. Crowd: 23,344.

JUDICIARY: No charges

Warriors: Martin, Tuivasa-Sheck, Leiataua, Ieremia-Toeava, Tuaupiki; Harris-Tavita, Metcalf; Afoa, Egan (C), Ford, Niukore, Capewell, Clark. Int: Vaimauga, Walker, Halasima, Ale, Kosi, Healey, Lussick, Doyle, Hanson, Going, Graham-Taufa, Kali, Pasikala, Cleary.
Melbourne: Fa'alogo, Bradley, Jennings, Williamson, Tu; Wishart (C), Russell-Smith; Utoikamanu, Garlick, Vaalepu, Billing, Chan, Hinchey. Int: Huen, Page-Wilson, Roache, Talty, Harper, Goulding, Peel, Pole, Sikahele, Conn, Williams, Morris, Lui, Katoa.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 34

On a bizarre afternoon in Gosford, Manly downed Souths by ten points, a scoreline that hid the dominance of the winning side. Kickoff was delayed in the contest due to confusion over paramedic attendance at the game, ultimately kicking off at 5:10PM instead of the originally scheduled 3:30PM. Manly led 16-0 before Souths hit the board and then led 34-6 with ten minutes to go before the Rabbitohs ran in three quick tries to save some face late.

South Sydney Rabbitohs (24)
Tries: Sean Keppie, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, Salesi Ataata, Jye Gray
Goals: Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3/3, Isaiah Tass 1/1

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (34)
Tries: Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 2, Navren Willett 2, Aaron Schoupp, Jake Simpkin, Clayton Faulalo
Goals: Clayton Faulalo 3/7

Venue: Industree Group Stadium. Date: Sat, 15th February. Kickoff: 3:30 PM. Halftime: Manly 16-6. Penalties: Manly 5-4. Bonus Points: Manly 2-0. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 5,679.

JUDICIARY: No charges

South Sydney: Gray, Myers, Casey, Tass (C), Penitani; Ward, Dodd; Keppie, Mamouzelos, Moale, McCarthy, Fletcher, Hubner. Int: Ataata, Taua, Gray, Le Blanc, Humphries, Havili, Bentley-Hape, Webley, Stuckey, Kaho, Lehmann.
Manly: Hopoate, Tuaimalo Vaega, Schoupp, Faulalo, Willett; Matterson, Arthur; Taukeiaho, Simpkin, Sipley (C), Chee-Kam, Waddell, Navale. Int: Chan Kum Tong, Patolo, James, Paseka, Dunford, Uesele, Thompson, Swann, Pua'avase, Hayley, Hart.

Brisbane Broncos 50 Gold Coast Titans 12

Brisbane - sporting a mixed lineup of fresh faces and first-team regulars - managed to put a half-century on a well-stacked (albeit also not full-strength) Gold Coast side at Toowoomba on a hot Sunday afternoon. A first half double to Cory Paix set the scene for the Broncos, who led 24-6 at the break before surging to 50-6 leaders as the game reached the 60 minute mark, allowing the Titans just one more try later in the contest.

Brisbane Broncos (50)
Tries: Cory Paix 2, Deine Mariner 2, Delouise Hoeter, Gehamat Shibasaki, Brendan Piakura, Latrell Siegwalt, Benjamin Te Kura
Goals: Jock Madden 7/9

Gold Coast Titans (12)
Tries: David Fifita, Jaylan De Groot
Goals: Tom Weaver 2/2

Venue: Toowoomba Sports Ground. Date: Sun, 16th February. Kickoff: 2:30 PM. Halftime: Brisbane 24-6. Penalties: 4-all. Bonus Points: Brisbane 3-0. Referee: Daniel Schwass. Crowd: 6,805.

JUDICIARY: Kieran Foran (GLD) - $3000

Brisbane: Perham, Karapani, Shibasaki, Hoeter, Mariner; Walters, Madden (C); Jensen, Paix, Te Kura, Gosiewski, Piakura, Hetherington. Int: Siegwalt, Philitoga, Leota, Black, Taupau, Smoothy, Rogers, Innes, Semu, Bryce, Koellner, Powell, Hunt, Gale, Coric.
Gold Coast: De Groot, Fitzgibbon, Fifita, Sami, Francis; Brimson, Foran (C); Fotuaika, Verrills, Jolliffe, Fifita, Fermor, Randall. Int: Weaver, Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui, Pahulu, Harrison, Hau, Simpkins, Maumalo, Foran, Gray, Stephenson, Patston, Kama, Bai, Hayman.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20 Wests Tigers 14

Canterbury overcame the Wests Tigers in a solid hitout at Kogarah on Sunday evening, with both sides fielding relatively inexperienced lineups at the start of their 2025 campaigns. The sides went try-for-try for the first hour, with several lead changes either side of the break. Canterbury secured victory when Jonathan Sua scored with 16 minutes remaining and the blue-and-whites held on to win by six.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (20)
Tries: Ratu Rinakama 2, Jack Todd, Jonathan Sua
Goals: Blake Taaffe 1/2, Cassius Tia 1/2

Wests Tigers (14)
Tries: Solomona Faataape 2, Heath Mason
Goals: Alex Lobb 1/3

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Date: Sun, 16th February. Kickoff: 5:30 PM. Halftime: Canterbury 10-6. Penalties: Canterbury 5-4. Bonus Points: Wests Tigers 2-1. Referee: Chris Butler. Crowd: 7,281.

JUDICIARY: No charges

Canterbury: Taaffe, Rinakama, Smith, Gabrael, Sua; Hutchison, O'Neill; Suluka-Fifita, Hayward, Hughes, Hayes, Hopoi, Salmon (C). Int: Moyle, Amone, Jones, Todd, Tia, Cochrane, Spinks, Maiu'u, Wavik, Toy, Otukolo, Reardon, Afualo, Underhill.
Wests Tigers: Mason, Skelton, Faataape, Feledy, Lobb; Galvin, Fainu; Johannssen, Da Silva (C), Laulilii, Sukkar, Fainu, Matamua. Int: Hope, Rahme, Saukuru, Craig, Broederlow, Tannous, Tavana, Liles, Haywood, Johannssen.

St George Illawarra Dragons 26 Sydney Roosters 8

A near-full-strength Dragons outfit recorded an easy win over a second-string Sydney Roosters on Sunday night in front of 7,000 fans at Kogarah. With an experienced spine starting the contest, half Kyle Flanagan and Damien Cook opened the scoring, with Finau's try before the half-hour mark having the Dragons up 18-0 before the Roosters could strike. Trailing 18-4 at the break and both sides giving youth a run, a low-scoring second half ensued.

St. George Illawarra Dragons (26)
Tries: Damien Cook, Kyle Flanagan, Mikaele Ravalawa, Sione Finau, Kade Reed
Goals: Valentine Holmes 3/3, Jonah Glover 0/2

Sydney Roosters (8)
Tries: Dominic Young, Tyreece Tait
Goals: Jake Elliott 0/1, Sandon Smith 0/1

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Date: Sun, 16th February. Kickoff: 7:30 PM. Halftime: St George Illawarra 18-4. Penalties: Sydney 7-3. Bonus Points: St George Illawarra 2-0. Referee: Wyatt Raymond. Crowd: 7,281.

JUDICIARY: No charges.

St George Illawarra: Gutherson (C), Finau, Suli, Holmes, Feagai; Flanagan, Ilias; Couchman, Cook, Guler, Leilua, Su'A, De Belin. Int: Muhleisen, Faitala-Mariner, Halangahu, Stewart, Couchman, Egan, Glover, Reed, Pasifiki Tonga, Ravalawa, Lawson, Rumble, Buchanan, Latu, Molo.
Sydney: King, Young, Nawaqanitawase, Toia, Pauga; Smith, Townsend; Whyte, Ioelu, Leniu, Foketi, Va'a, Wong. Int: Butcher, Radley, Losalu, Va'a, McCathie, Moriarty, Rodwell, Elliott, Johnson, Savala, Foley, Tait, Rodwell, Fekitoa, Toia.

Ladder after Week 2

Just seven teams are able to win the NRL Pre-Season Challenge after Week 1 - the Warriors, Broncos, Dolphins, Eels, Dragons, Sea Eagles and Bulldogs. All other teams have been ruled out after results to date.

The winner of the $100,000 will be decided by Saturday night next weekend, with the Sunday fixtures involving teams who all lost in Week 2.

Week 3 fixtures

Friday 21 February

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers - 6:00PM
Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels - 8:00PM
at Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal

Saturday 22 February

CHARITY SHIELD
St George Illawarra Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs - 3:00PM
at Glen Willow Regional Stadium, Mudgee / Wiradjuri

Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs - 5:30PM (4:30PM local)
Dolphins v Gold Coast Titans - 7:30PM (6:30PM local)
at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe / Kabi Kabi

Sunday 23 February

Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys - 2:00PM
at Casey Fields, Cranbourne East / Woiworrung
Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights - 4:00PM
at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung