The NRL Pre-Season Challenge kicks off on February 15 and will feature 16 intense and intriguing clashes across two weekends of entertaining footy that sets the stage for the Telstra Premiership.
Reigning champions Manly will be out to defend their title as they unveil their new halves pairing of Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks, while a host of other clubs are set to unleash big-name recruits in their first serious hit-out for 2024.
The Pre-Season Challenge provides the perfect opportunity to fine tune combinations and get some serious game time under the belt ahead of the Telstra Premiership season kicking off in Las Vegas.
The pre-season challenge format and points system will remain consistent with 2023, which means there will be $100,000 in prize money up for grabs, split evenly between clubs and players. Teams will once again earn bonus points for tries, line breaks and offloads while playing squads will be capped at 28 players per week.
Starting with a showdown between the Bulldogs and Storm at Belmore Sports Ground on Thursday, February 15, the opening round of the Pre-Season Challenge also features mouth-watering clashes between the Cowboys and Broncos in Mackay and Roosters and Sea Eagles in Gosford.
The annual All Stars showpiece will be staged at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday, February 16 featuring the very best Indigenous and Maori talent the game has to offer.
The following day the Dragons and Rabbitohs renew a time honoured rivalry in the Charity Shield at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Round two of the Pre-Season Challenge features a double-header at PointsBet Stadium with old foes the Rabbitohs and Roosters squaring off before the Sharks take on the Bulldogs.
Defending champs Manly host the Broncos at 4 Pines Park while games will also be played in Mudgee, Queanbeyan and Ipswich as fans across New South Wales and Queensland get the first opportunity to see their club's new recruits in action as anticipation builds for the start of the NRL season.
NRL Pre-Season Challenge 2024
* All times listed in AEDT.
Thursday, February 15
- 7.00pm – Bulldogs v Storm at Belmore Sports Ground
Saturday, February 17
- 1.45pm – Knights v Sharks at Industree Group Stadium
- 3.45pm – Roosters v Sea Eagles at Industree Group Stadium
- 5.55pm – Eels v Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
- 8.05pm – Rabbitohs v Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Sunday, February 18
- 2.00pm – Warriors v Wests Tigers at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
- 4.00pm – Cowboys v Broncos at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
- 6.15pm – Dolphins v Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium
Friday, February 23
- 6.00pm – Rabbitohs v Roosters at PointsBet Stadium
- 8.00pm – Sharks v Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium
Saturday, February 24
- 1.45pm – Storm v Knights at Venue TBC
- 3.45pm – Warriors v Dolphins at Go Media Stadium
- 5.55pm – Sea Eagles v Broncos at 4 Pines Park
- 8.05pm – Dragons v Wests Tigers at Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee
Sunday, February 25
- 3.00pm – Raiders v Cowboys at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan
- 5.00pm – Titans v Eels at North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
NRL All Stars 2024
Friday, February 16 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
- Time TBC – Indigenous All Stars women v Māori All Stars women
- Time TBC – Indigenous All Stars men v Māori All Stars men