It’s a wrap on the Pre-season challenge for the 2025 season. The Broncos came out on top and looked rather good, other sides less so. The Dragons are one of the sides that definitely impressed, whether that carries through to the season we will have to wait and see. Newcastle and the Cowboys are two sides that had a massive improvement from game 1 to game 2. The Roosters look to be struggling a little bit, with their younger, less experienced names in the side, and Melbourne suffer two losses in two, difficult to say if that is real or not being that the Storm always show up in the season proper, but results wise last years runners-up not having the greatest of times this pre-season.
Manly Sea Eagles vs Penrith Panthers (22-38)
If this game proved anything, even if it is only a pre season game, is that Penrith aren’t slowing down in 2025. Nathan Clearly will be just fine without Jarome Luai, as will the Panthers who put 38 on the board in including 12 in the last few minutes of the game. They did what Penrith usually does, so aggressive, and even some young names in that team, just still look so formidable. As for Manly, there are some good signs, had a couple of really nice tries, one of which through the middle via a brilliant pass to break through the line 10 minutes into the second half. There is still a gap between both sides but Manly clearly have the ability, can they put it all together?
Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels (30-18)
After many difficult years there may be some light finally for the Tigers, who picked up a win over Parramatta, who were a side that judging by last week, were looking rather good. It may be only a pre season match but taking away a win this close to the season could be very important. Lachie Galvin is proving a very handy player for the Tigers, and Luai to come into the halves in round one, it could get very interesting. Wooden spoon no more?
Parramatta. Definitely shouldn’t be too concerned as its not like the Eels played badly, because going into the last 10 minutes, it was 24-18, and they had a chance on the Tigers line, lost the ball, and the Tigers went up the other end to get another try to make it 30-18. However, only a 62% completion rate, which was down from last weeks 75%, so its not all doom and gloom but definitely something to be looked at going into round one against the Storm.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (46-26)
The Dragons clearly have found something that works because the first half they produced was insane. 34 points unanswered for most of the first half, up until the bunnies responded with a couple of tries late on in the first half. Holmes, Finau, just to name a couple were incredible. They tacked on more points around the end of the game but that display was phenomenal, the movement, the speed, it was working. We will see if that is real come round one.
The Rabbitohs have had a couple of big injury blows going into the season from this week. Looking to rebound from last year and even last week to an extent. There was a period in that second half where they turned it on and closed the gap to 12 points. The Dragons managed to gain back their advantage to end the game 46-26 which doesn’t sound too encouraging for Souths but heading into this year it does seem very much like rebuilding.
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs (30-14)
For whatever it’s worth, Brisbane have claimed the win of the pre season challenge, with the win over the Dogs up in Redcliffe. Now they did the same last year and we know how it went. But there is plenty of optimism to have for the Broncos. Some good performances from their younger players, and positive signs from the halves partners in Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt, and Jesse Arthurs is looking a very good winger, and with full back Reece Walsh, they have the squad to go one further than they did back in 2023. But lots of positive signs otherwise.
The Bulldogs didn’t really get going in the first half but hit back in the second going from 18-0 to 18-14, missing a couple of conversions to tie it up. Jacob Preston had an incredible run through the middle to open the Bulldogs scoring for the day as he ran through the defence in an incredible run. After Canterbury’s run to the finals last season there is a sense of expectation now on them, with a solid showing in the pre season, they are capable for sure, the question will be can they improve this year?
Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans (18-26)
After what was a complete hammering that Gold Coast received last week they needed to respond this week and they did, scoring the first two tries of the match. They did rather well starting the second half as well, scoring a very well worked try to score their third. The Titans attack proved very threatening, which is a big deal for them. Late on in the match winger Allan Fitzgibbon almost ran the length of the field after beautifully side-stepping around the Dolphins defence, but the defence of the Dolphins somehow stopped a try from being scored. Overall good signs from the Titans who will be hoping to improve on last years very poor start.
The Dolphins shelled out a hammering of their own last week against the Cowboys putting 50 points on the board last week, and in terms of attacking prowess, it was on display this week again. Full-back Tabui-Fidow continues to be excellent, providing so much to that side who in the last two years have started strong but tailed off during the year, they will be looking to carry on some very positive signs and performances into the new season.
Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights (10-48)
Both sides last week got beaten pretty soundly. The Roosters by the Dragons and Newcastle to Parramatta. So getting any sort of momentum coming out of this game was crucial. The Knights did just that, building an impressive first half score 4-36. This off the back of Kayln Ponga who was instrumental in making a lot happen. Fletcher Sharpe was also incredible, scoring two tries from his new position of five-eighth. Given the Knights problem with consistent halves selection, Sharpe should absolutely be the number 6. A key takeaway was the Newcastle defence which was very good for most of the game, unlike last week where they looked switched off times, this week was the complete opposite, the line speed was there, as was a certain aggression.
The Roosters are an interesting case, they struggled for a lot of the match, providing fragility in the defence but not too much attacking wise. Now part of that is probably due to the fact that there are some younger players in that side now with all the players that left over the off season, it may be a little bit of a rebuild. But maybe they just aren’t showing their hand yet and could go out and be on it from round one.
Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys (24-36)
The Storm were mostly on the back foot in this game and the end score does flatter them a little. But, in saying that, this is a side that is insanely consistent when it comes to the season proper and it feels tough to read into for Melbourne, and also important to keep in mind they have players that will be returning from injury early in the season, so it might be too early to know for the Storm. Although the one thing that might be a concern is the defence, conceding 36 points in this game.
The Cowboys can take positives out of the performance, especially after getting trashed last week. Their attack looked better served, and apart from the last 10 minutes of the game, looked fairly solid defensively. They will be staying in Melbourne for a week in preparation for the season, giving them a chance to prepare in a slightly cooler climate compared to Townsville, which helped them out last year, so maybe they can get off to a good start once more this year. But even with the defence looking okay in this game, round one will be a different challenge, especially because they struggled with that going through last year.
Pre-season is done and we are on to the 2025 premiership season starting next weekend with the Vegas games. In what should be an all round fascinating season, Penrith going for number 5 while every other side tries to stop them.