NRL makes call on Magic Round bye, grand-final rematch
Scott Bailey |
Melbourne will only have to wait until round three to try and exact revenge on Brisbane, with the NRL scheduling a March 20 grand-final rematch at AAMI Park.
The league will officially unveil their full draw on Friday after already confirming the opening-round fixtures and Daly Cherry-Evans’ return bout at Brookvale.
It can now also be revealed Canberra will be the team to miss Magic Round with the bye, when Suncorp Stadium hosts from May 15 to 17.
Canberra’s omission comes after Manly were given the bye at the party weekend this year, while St George Illawarra sat it out in 2024 and Newcastle in 2023.
Women’s Magic Round will then move from Newcastle to Wagga Wagga next season on August 1 and 2, with the marquee weekend a travelling roadshow around regional NSW.
But one of the most anticipated men’s matches of the opening weeks will be the Friday night fixture between Melbourne and Brisbane in round three.
The Storm will still feel they did enough to win last month’s grand final, after blowing a last-minute chance in the 26-22 defeat.
They will arrive at the rematch with at least one significant change – Ryan Papenhuyzen has left after announcing his exit from the NRL.
The scheduling of the match also highlights the difficulties defending-premiers Brisbane will face in the opening stages of the season.
Michael Maguire’s team will head to England for the February 19 World Club Challenge, before returning to host Penrith in the opening round two weeks later.
The Broncos will also travel to Melbourne in round three, which remains among the toughest road trips in the NRL.
Lachlan Galvin will also avoid a return to Leichhardt or Campbelltown with Wests Tigers to host Canterbury on May 30 at CommBank Stadium.
Meanwhile, the NRL has put arguably the biggest game of Magic Round – Cronulla versus Canterbury at 6pm on the Friday night – after women’s State of Origin II kicks off the event the previous night.
South Sydney and Dolphins will meet in the other Friday night game, after also being slated to face each other at Suncorp Stadium in round one.
Manly and Wests Tigers will open the Saturday fixtures before Sydney Roosters recruit Reece Robson faces off against his old club North Queensland.
Parramatta and Melbourne close out the Saturday night before Gold Coast play Newcastle, the Warriors face Brisbane, and Penrith challenging St George Illawarra on the Sunday.
The scheduling of Brisbane and Penrith on the final day of Magic Round has the potential to cause headaches for State of Origin coaches, given both sides will likely enter camp on that night or the following morning.
The move of women’s Magic Round from Newcastle to Wagga Wagga comes after the NSW government indicated last year the event could shift around the state.
The 10,000-person capacity Geohex Park in Wagga Wagga hosted the most recent of its four NRL games in 2023, along with City-Country in 2015.
MEN’S MAGIC ROUND (May 15-17)
FRIDAY:
Cronulla v Canterbury
South Sydney v Dolphins
SATURDAY:
Wests Tigers v Manly
Sydney Roosters v North Queensland
Parramatta v Melbourne
SUNDAY:
Gold Coast v Newcastle
Warriors v Brisbane
Penrith v St George Illawarra
WOMEN’S MAGIC ROUND (August 1-2):
SATURDAY:
Cronulla v Wests Tigers
St George Illawarra v Sydney Roosters
Canberra v North Queensland
SUNDAY:
Canterbury v Brisbane
Warriors v Gold Coast
Parramatta v Newcastle
AAP
