- Schedule for upcoming season was released on Thursday
- First games begin with Vegas double header on March 2
They’ve long been accused of receiving the softest draw in the NRL, but 2025 looks brutal for the Sharks, one of three clubs to play 13 games against top-eight teams from last season.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s men ended their finals drought and got within 80 minutes of a spot in the decider, but they face a brutal run of games next year that begins in Las Vegas against the defending premiers.
They then face the Cowboys in Townsville in round 2, with North Queensland out for revenge after Cronulla ended their finals campaign in Sydney.
It’s a stern test for the Sharks, the only finals side from 2024 that will have to play 13 times against top-eight teams next season, while the Eels and Rabbitohs have also been handed horror draws as they look to bounce back in 2025.
Souths start the year against two other teams that missed out on the finals, but it’s a gauntlet after that with matches against the Sharks, Panthers, Roosters, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Storm and Knights in consecutive weeks.
We’ll learn plenty about Wayne Bennett’s team in the opening two months, while it’s a different story for the Bulldogs who only have to play three fellow top-eight sides in the opening 16 rounds.
Nicho Hynes (pictured) and his Cronulla Sharks are the biggest losers from the 2025 draw
Latrell Mitchell (pictured) and the Rabbitohs will face a very rough start to the year
The Knights have also been blessed with a favourable draw given they only play nine matches against teams that were in this year’s finals series.
The Storm, Panthers, Dragons and Tigers all have 12 games against 2024 top-eight sides while the Roosters, Cowboys, Dolphins, Broncos and Titans have 11 games, and the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Raiders and Warriors have 10 games.
The draw will feature the fewest five-day turnarounds in history, 21, with the Bulldogs and the Eels leading the way with 14 games on free-to-air TV.
The Storm also face a brutal finish to the season with the Panthers, Bulldogs, Roosters and Broncos waiting for them in the final month The minor premiers have their last bye in round 15.
Melbourne won’t have to wait long for grand final revenge, with Melbourne to open round 3 against Penrith at AAMI Park.
The Panthers lost both of their regular season matches against the Storm this year but got the job done when it mattered most, with the premiers also belting Brisbane – the team they beat in the 2023 decider – back in round 3.
The teams will square off again in round 24, just as they did this year when Nathan Cleary got hurt and the Storm snuck home by two points.
Jarome Luai will carry the weight of an entire fan base on his shoulders next year, with Tigers supporters hoping the four-time premiership winner can save them after three-straight wooden spoons.
Other teams will be envious of the Bulldogs’ draw over the first 16 rounds – and the club will also feature in a league-leading 14 matches on free-to-air TV (pictured, Stephen Crichton)
Luai has to wait until round 14 to face his former side, with Penrith taking on the Tigers at CommBank Stadium in what should be a Sunday classic that will be full of emotion as he takes on his great mates.
Josh Addo-Carr could be back for Parramatta’s game against Canterbury in round 3 if he’s allowed to serve part of his ban in the All Stars game, with the winger also set to face his former side in the King’s Birthday clash in round 14 when there’ll be fireworks at Olympic Park.
Bulldogs fans are still upset over what he did on the eve of the finals, with Addo-Carr set to bring the speed the Eels have desperately missed out wide.
‘This is an exciting time for fans as we unveil the season 2025 integrated NRL and NRLW schedules,’ NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
‘The schedule is bigger and bolder than ever with 32 weeks of jaw-dropping action which will see rivalries, excitement and unparalleled skills at every turn.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .