Rivalries reignited and stars in new colours: The 10 must-watch NRL games of the 2025 season
The official NRL draw has been unveiled, with another trip to Las Vegas and some early blockbusters set to kick-start the campaign.
There will be new coaches in Jason Ryles and Michael Maguire at some big clubs, while high-profile players across the board will switch colours in 2025.
Rivalries - whether traditional or new - will be reignited across the course of the season, while the State of Origin period always finds a way to level the playing field.
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Wide World of Sports previews 10 must-watch games for the 2025 season, all of which will be broadcast live and free on Nine.
Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks - Round 1
Nicho Hynes looks on after Cronulla's prelim final loss against Penrith. Getty
One of two games that will be held in Las Vegas again next year, reigning premiers Penrith will be in action against one of their biggest rivals for the title, Cronulla.
While the Sharks fell out of the finals once again in 2024, they managed to snap an ugly recent hoodoo by booking a spot in the prelim before losing to the champs.
Their roster will only improve with the addition of Addin Fonua-Blake, who is among the game's best front-rowers, while there will be plenty of attention on Nicho Hynes.
For the Panthers, all eyes will be on how the likes of Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards fare without playmaker Jarome Luai and spiritual leader, James Fisher-Harris.
Two of the competition heavyweights playing in front of a bumper crowd in Sin City feels like a box-office attraction that will kick off the NRL season in style.
Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos - Round 1
Spencer Leniu will be publicy enemy No.1 against the Broncos. Getty
The bad blood between two of the biggest brands in Australian sport spilled over in the opening round last season in Las Vegas and there's still plenty of hatred between them.
While star playmaker Ezra Mam won't be there due to off-field issues, Spencer Leniu will still have a target on his back for Broncs players and will become the forward leader for the Roosters after the departure of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Both sides will also be heading into 2025 with plenty to prove.
All the noise around the Tricolours in recent years is about their inability to win big games and compete with the top teams, while Brisbane have begun yet another new era under incoming head coach Michael Maguire, who will want to hit the ground running.
In front of what should be a solid crowd at Moore Park despite the Thursday fixture, this promises to be an exciting way to kick off the NRL season on home soil.
Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers - Round 3
Jack Howarth is denied a try in the NRL grand final. Getty
Every year when the draw comes out, the grand final rematch is always a fixture that is circled by fans, coaches and players alike.
Melbourne will be absolutely desperate to enact a level of revenge on the premiers early in the season, but there will be a few underlying storylines as well.
In the second half of the decider, Paul Alamoti alleged that he was bitten by Cameron Munster, sparking plenty of post-game debate before the Storm star was cleared.
Munster is the ultimate professional, but there's no doubt he and the rest of the Storm side will be fuming by the way things panned out against Penrith.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona should be back from suspension and will be like a caged animal ready to unleash, while Stefano Utoikamanu will have an opportunity to show the value he can add to Melbourne's premiership hopes.
The grand final rematch will also be a major test for how the Panthers look without Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris, who will be major losses heading into 2024 and an away trip to AAMI Park will give the club a strong idea of where they are sitting.
Parramatta Eels vs Canterbury Bulldogs - Round 3
Josh Addo-Carr has joined the Eels. Parramatta Eels
Another clash that should spark plenty of interest will be a showdown between traditional rivals Canterbury and Parramatta in front of a packed CommBank Stadium.
While this rivalry draws eyeballs regardless of when it's played and how both teams are going on the ladder, there will be some added drama surrounding Josh Addo-Carr.
The speedster was sacked by the Bulldogs after testing positive to a roadside drug test on the eve of the finals and club officials were disappointed by the way it played out.
Addo-Carr landing with their biggest enemy just a few weeks after being ousted from Belmore will leave a sour taste in the mouths of many rusted-on blue and white fans.
"The Foxx" is slated to play his first game for the Eels against his now-former club.
It should be a bumper crowd in Sydney's west and all eyes will be on the new-look Eels and head coach Jason Ryles, who allowed two of their best players to walk out the door in the off-season in a bid to take them back to finals footy.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters - Round 5
Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco come together in 2024. Getty
When it comes to feuds in rugby league, there are none fiercer than the battle of Anzac Parade, which has created plenty of headlines over the years.
These two clubs and their fanbases despise each other and while the first of their two encounters for the 2025 season being played away from the local area at Accor Stadium, there should still be plenty of hype around the clash.
Wayne Bennett's return to the Rabbitohs, the roster changes at the Roosters and the latest chapter of Latrell Mitchell taking on his former club make this game a must-watch.
Where both teams finish on the table never matters in this fixture and in round five, there will be plenty to play for as the arch-rivals go head-to-head.
Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons - Round 8
The prestigious Anzac Day Cup. Getty
A game that is circled by everyone in rugby league land at the start of each season is of course the traditional Anzac Day showdown between the Roosters and Dragons.
In the 23 meetings between the two sides in this fixture, the Red V have won 12 of them - but recent history is certainly with the Chooks, who have won five of the last six.
The most recent edition of the rivalry saw Moses Suli knocked out on the opening play before the Roosters put on an absolute clinic to win 60-18 at Allianz Stadium.
The animosity could still go up another notch depending on where Ben Hunt opts to sign for next year, with the Tricolours among the favourites to land the former Saints skipper.
Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos - Magic Round
Reece Walsh sporting a black eye after a loss to Penrith in 2024. Getty
It's the biggest weekend of the regular season, with thousands upon thousands of rugby league tragics descending upon Suncorp Stadium for the eight-game extravaganza.
But there has been a major tweak to this year's edition of Magic Round, with the hometown favourites Brisbane knocked out of their usual Friday night time slot.
Instead, the Broncos will take on reigning premiers Penrith on Sunday afternoon and it looms as the game of the round given the names who will feature on the field.
Michael Maguire will have plenty of early tests in his time at the Broncos, but taking on the benchmark of the NRL on the biggest stage will tell the tale.
Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers - Round 14
Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary celebrate together for the final time. Getty
Wests Tigers and "must-see footy" hasn't exactly gone together smoothly in recent years, given the fact they have finished with three-straight wooden spoons.
On paper, a clash with the Panthers - even during the State of Origin period - would be chalked up as an easy win for the champions.
This time around will be very different however, with Jarome Luai heading to Concord and this round 14 clash will be the first time he squares off against his former club.
Luai is a proud Penrith local junior and played his entire career up until 2025 with the club, winning four titles and creating countless memories along the way.
But when he steps out onto the field, don't expect Luai to take a backward step in a bid to assert his authority - even against some of his long-time friends and teammates.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles - Round 21
Tolu Koula celebrates the match-winning try against the Bulldogs. Getty
Once the representative period is done and dusted by mid-July, there will be one clash that Bulldogs players, coaches and fans will be eyeing off.
After a much-improved 2024 season, Canterbury suffered a heartbreaking loss against Manly in the first week of the finals and vengeance will be on their minds.
The game will fall towards the business-end of the season as well, this fixture looms as one that could have top-eight or even top-four repercussions given the quality of both sides and the expectations on the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles to compete for the title.
As it stands, there is no venue listed for the game, but the Dogs have hinted that it could be at Allianz Stadium - the same venue they defeated Manly in the 1995 grand final.
Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs - Round 22
Wayne Bennett returns to the Rabbitohs this season. Getty
It will be a full-circle moment for two coaches when these two powerhouse rugby league entities face off towards the end of the NRL season.
Wayne Bennett - who is back for a second stint at the Bunnies - will return to his old stomping ground against one of his former clubs in the Broncos.
Brisbane comes to a halt whenever Uncle Wayne comes to won and this will be no different, especially after his brief tenure up the road at the Dolphins.
On the other side of the equation, Michael Maguire will be up against the team he began his coaching career and won a premiership with a decade ago.
Maguire also coached a few Souths players at Origin level in 2024 before turning his back on the Blues to take up a head coaching job at Red Hill.
