WRAP-UP: 2025 NRL Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Week 3

All the results and scorers from the final weekend of the NRL Pre-Season.

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

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

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22
Penrith Panthers 38

In what was largely considered an upset, a second-string Penrith outfit dominated Manly at Leichhardt on Friday night. After Manly's winger Navren Willett - a breakout star in last week's win over South Sydney - opened the scoring, Penrith piled on four unanswered tries to lead 22-4 at the break. Manly did narrow the gap to just four points in the ten minutes after halftime, before the Panthers streaked away late to claim a 16-point win and eliminate Manly from the Pre-Season Challenge.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (22)
Tries: Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 2, Ethan Bullemor, Navren Willett
Goals: Aaron Schoupp 3/3

Penrith Panthers (38)
Tries: David Fale 2, Preston Riki, Trent Toelau, Harrison Hassett, Poutoa Hotere-Papalii, Thomas Jenkins
Goals: Trent Toelau 3/4, Zakauri Clarke 2/2

Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal. Date: Fri, 21st February. Kickoff: 6:00 PM. Halftime: Penrith 22-4. Penalties: Penrith 10-5. Bonus Points: Penrith 2-1. Referee: Grant Atkins.

JUDICIARY: Riley Wake (PEN) - 1 match

Manly: Faulalo, Hopoate, Koula, Garrick (C), Willett; Matterson, Arthur; Taukeiaho, Simpkin, Bullemor, Chee-Kam, Waddell, Brown. Int: Patolo, Sipley, Chan Kum Tong, Navale, Schoupp, Tuaimalo Vaega, Wakeham, Swann, James, Sykes, Dunford.
Penrith: Fonua, Fale, Jenkins, Lane, Kepaoa; Luke, Toelau; Riki, Scott, Dias, Lipowicz, Hassett, Apelu. Int: Lamont, Sagaga, Phillips, Wake, Letoi, Edgar, Murphy, Hotere-Papalii, Bunting, Vailalo, Clarke, Armstrong.

Wests Tigers 30
Parramatta Eels 18

After thumping Newcastle in Week 2, Parramatta were in a strong position to stake their claim for the $100,000 prize offered in the Pre-Season Challenge. But at Leichhardt on Friday night, the Wests Tigers had other ideas. After the Eels went ahead early through Isaiah Iongi, the Tigers hit back, taking the lead by the half hour mark. Parramatta drew level at 12-all before a try on halftime to new Wests Tigers signing Jeral Skelton saw the hosts lead by six. After halftime Parramatta evened things up once more before the Tigers went on with the job late in the game.

Wests Tigers (30)
Tries: Jack Bird, Brent Naden, Tristan Hope, Solomona Faataape, Jeral Skelton
Goals: Adam Doueihi 5/5

Parramatta Eels (18)
Tries: Jack Williams, Sean Russell, Isaiah Iongi
Goals: Zac Lomax 2/2, Ronald Volkman 1/1

Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal. Date: Fri, 21st February. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: Wests Tigers 18-12. Penalties: Parramatta 8-5. Bonus Points: Wests Tigers 3-0. Referee: Ashley Klein.

JUDICIARY: Kit Lauliilii (WST) - $1000

Wests Tigers: Mason, Skelton, To'a, Naden, Staines; Galvin, Doueihi; May, Da Silva, Pole, Fainu, Seyfarth (C), Twal. Int: Fainu, Hunt, Bird, Fainu, Faataape, Hope.
Parramatta: Iongi, Russell, Penisini, Lomax, Tago; Twidle, Volkman; Williams, Lussick, Greig, Cartwright, Tuilagi, Hopgood. Int: Matterson, Moretti, Doorey, Tuivaiti, Lynn, Mataele.

St George Illawarra Dragons 46
South Sydney Rabbitohs 26

A scintillating first half saw the Dragons reclaim the Charity Shield in Mudgee on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Leading 34-0, St George Illawarra winger Sione Finau had four tries inside the opening half hour before being removed under head injury rules. The incident that forced Finau from the field in the 28th minute saw Rabbitohs' half Lewis Dodd sin-binned at the 40-minute mark under an experimental rule allowing officials to sin-bin players within 15 minutes of an injured player being removed due to foul play.

The Rabbitohs scored 5 tries either side of halftime - two before and three after, to close the gap to 34-26 before the Dragons scored twice more after the hour mark to end any hope of a Rabbitoh revival. The win also delivered the Dragons hope of the $100,000 prize coming their way depending on the results to come later on Saturday.

St. George Illawarra Dragons (46)
Tries: Sione Finau 4, Moses Suli, Lachlan Ilias, Mathew Feagai, Ryan Couchman
Goals: Valentine Holmes 5/6, Kyle Flanagan 2/2

South Sydney Rabbitohs (26)
Tries: Keaon Koloamatangi 2, Jayden Sullivan, Jamie Humphreys, Jye Gray
Goals: Isaiah Tass 3/5

Venue: Glen Willow Regional Stadium, Mudgee / Wiradjuri. Date: Sat, 22nd February. Kickoff: 3:00 PM. Halftime: St George Illawarra 34-10. Penalties: St George Illawarra 6-0. Bonus Points: St George Illawarra 3-2. Referee: Adam Gee.

JUDICIARY: Lewis Dodd (SOU) - 1 match

St George Illawarra: Gutherson (C), Finau, Suli, Holmes, Feagai; Flanagan, Ilias; Couchman, Cook, Guler, Leilua, Su'A, De Belin. Int: Muhleisen, Faitala-Mariner, Couchman, Stewart, Buchanan, Sloan, Sele, Glover, Reed, Pasifiki Tonga, Egan, Lawson.
South Sydney: Gray, Myers, Tass (C), Wighton, Munro; Sullivan, Dodd; Keppie, Mamouzelos, Moale, Koloamatangi, Fletcher, Duncan. Int: Hubner, Humphreys, Le Blanc, Ataata, Ward, Webley, Penitani, Bentley-Hape.

Brisbane Broncos 30
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14

Brisbane all-but wrapped up the 2025 Pre-Season Challenge with a convincing 16-point win over Canterbury at Redcliffe on Saturday evening. Leading 18-0 at the break, Brisbane went further ahead after the break, up 18-0 before the Bulldogs piled on three quick tries to open the contest up. Two late tries and a slew of line breaks and offloads for Brisbane ensured not only victory, but the three bonus points needed to leapfrog the Dragons, and leave the Dolphins with a high watermark in the following game to surpass them.

Brisbane Broncos (30)
Tries: Adam Reynolds, Delouise Hoeter, Jock Madden, Jesse Arthars, Deine Mariner, Benjamin Te Kura
Goals: Tyson Smoothy 2/2, Adam Reynolds 1/1

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (14)
Tries: Blake Wilson, Jacob Preston, Ratu Rinakama
Goals: Matt Burton 1/3

Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe / Kabi Kabi. Date: Sat, 22nd February. Kickoff: 4:30 PM. Halftime: Brisbane 14-0. Penalties: Brisbane 9-6. Bonus Points: Brisbane 2-0. Referee: Todd Smith.

JUDICIARY: Max King (CBY) - $1000; Josh Curran (CBY) - 1 match

Brisbane: Walsh, Cobbo, Staggs, Shibasaki, Arthars; Hunt, Reynolds (C); Carrigan, Paix, Haas, Gosiewski, Riki, Hetherington. Int: Siegwalt, Karapani, Hoeter, Madden, Rogers, Mariner, Walters, Jensen, Smoothy, Piakura, Te Kura, Taupau, Hunt.
Canterbury: Tracey, Wilson, Xerri, Crichton (C), Montoya; Burton, Sexton; King, Mahoney, Hughes, Kikau, Preston, Mann. Int: Hayward, Curran, Morrin, Salmon, Rinakama, O'Neill, Tia, Taaffe, Hayes, Sua, Smith.

Dolphins 18
Gold Coast Titans 26

In a dramatic turnaround from last week's performances from both sides, Des Hasler's Titans appeared to dominate the Dolphins for much of the evening at Redcliffe. Gold Coast led 12-6 at the break, and although the 'Phins got close on a couple of occasions, they were rarely pressured as the away team went on to record an eight-point win, knocking them out of the challenge and handing the $100k to big brother Brisbane.

Dolphins (18)
Tries: Mark Nicholls 2, Jake Averillo
Goals: Jamayne Isaako 2/2, Sean O'Sullivan 1/1

Gold Coast Titans (26)
Tries: Aj Brimson 2, Beau Fermor, Jojo Fifita, Keano Kini
Goals: Jayden Campbell 3/5

Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe / Kabi Kabi. Date: Sat, 22nd February. Kickoff: 6:30 PM. Halftime: Gold Coast 12-6. Penalties: Gold Coast 6-3. Bonus Points: Gold Coast 3-1. Referee: Gerard Sutton.

JUDICIARY: no charges

Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Bostock, Farnworth, Tupou; Averillo, Katoa; Saifiti, Donoghoe, Kaufusi (C), Finefeuiaki, Plath, Gilbert. Int: Nikorima, Bromwich, Nicholls, Stone, Kerr, Lemuelu, Graham, O'Sullivan, Tawha, Naufahu, Nonu, Quai-Ward.
Gold Coast: Kini, Fifita, Kelly, Sami, Francis; Brimson, Campbell; Fotuaika, Verrills, Jolliffe, Haas, Fermor, Fa'asuamaleaui (C). Int: De Groot, Fitzgibbon, Foran, Randall, Fifita, Pahulu, Weaver, Gray.

Sydney Roosters 10
Newcastle Knights 48

On a warm Sunday afternoon in Gosford, Newcastle thrashed the Roosters with an eight-try romp as a final tune-up for the clubs' respective 2025 campaigns. After a 2nd minute sin bin for Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu, the Knights ran in six tries before halftime, including doubles for Jacob Saifiti and Fletcher Sharpe, to lead 36-4 at the change of ends. A much quieter second half on the scoreboard saw the Knights score two more tried while the Tricolours nabbed a late consolation of their own.

Sydney Roosters (10)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Sandon Smith
Goals: Sandon Smith 1/2

Newcastle Knights (48)
Tries: Jacob Saifiti 2, Fletcher Sharpe 2, Jayden Brailey, Kalyn Ponga, Thomas Cant, Connor Votano
Goals: Kalyn Ponga 7/7, Will Pryce 1/1

Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung. Date: Sun, 23rd February. Kickoff: 3:15 PM. Halftime: Newcastle 36-4. Penalties: Sydney 7-4. Bonus Points: Newcastle 2-1. Referee: Peter Gough.

JUDICiARY: TBC Monday

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Nawaqanitawase, Toia, Young; Smith, Townsend; Collins, Watson, Leniu, Crichton, Radley, Wong. Int: Foketi, Butcher, Whyte, Steep, Dockar-Clay, Elliott, King, Rodwell, McCathie, Losalu, Savala, Roberts.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Schiller, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Sharpe, Cogger; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Lucas, Pearce-Paul, Croker. Int: Brailey, Hetherington, Jones, Cant, McCarthy, Aoake, Pryce, Hastings, Hopwood, Salesa leaumoana, Thompson, Votano, Taukamo, McEwen, Hunt.

Melbourne Storm 24
North Queensland Cowboys 36

The pre-season came to an end in Melbourne's outer east on Sunday afternoon with the Cowboys taking advantage of a below-par performance from the Storm's usually resilient defence. The Cowboys led by eight at the break, the scoreline belying their dominance, but four tries in eleven minutes mid-way through the second half secured the result before a three-try run in Melbourne's favour in the final ten minutes gave them back some scoreboard respectability. Play was stopped for some time inside the final fifteen minutes, after Melbourne rookie Hugo Peel appeared to be knocked out after an aerial contest with Coby Williamson. The club later confirmed he was responsive and talking, and had been taken to hospital as a precaution.

Melbourne Storm (24)
Tries: Shawn Blore, Nick Meaney, Stefano Utoikamanu, Sualauvi Faalogo, Keagan Russell-Smith
Goals: Nick Meaney 1/2, Tyran Wishart 1/2

North Queensland Cowboys (36)
Tries: Scott Drinkwater 2, Braidon Burns, Jaxson Paulo, Tom Dearden, Viliami Vailea, Jaxon Purdue
Goals: Thomas Duffy 3/4, Scott Drinkwater 1/3

Venue: Casey Fields, Cranbourne East / Woiworrung. Date: Sun, 23rd February. Kickoff: 5:15 PM. Halftime: North Qld 18-10. Penalties: Melbourne 6-5. Bonus Points: 2-all. Referee: Chris Butler.

JUDICIARY: TBC Monday

Melbourne: Fa'alogo, Bradley, Howarth, Meaney, Anderson; Munster, Wishart; Kamikamica, Grant (C), King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Utoikamanu, Garlick, Chan, MacDonald, Jennings, Vaalepu, Huen, Russell-Smith, Peel, Page-Wilson, Roache, Conn.
North Qld: Drinkwater, Burns, Purdue, Vailea, Taulagi; Dearden (C), Duffy; McLean, Robson, McIntyre, Bateman, Nanai, Cotter. Int: Edwards, Lawton, Neame, O'Donnell, Hess, Derby, Mikaele, Paulo.

2025 Pre-Season Challenge final ladder

Brisbane have won the Pre-Season Challenge for the second year in a row, collecting the $100,000 prize again.