Can the Melbourne Storm continue their phenomenal record of being undefeated in Round 1 since Craig Bellamy took charge in 2003?
Can defending champs Penrith launch their chase for a fifth straight premiership with a win over the Sharks in Las Vegas?
Can Jarome Luai launch a new era at Wests Tigers with a win over the Knights?
pan66.com runs the rule over an intriguing opening round of the 2025 season that kicks off on March 2 at the magnificent Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and rounds out with the Storm hosting the Eels.
How's This For Openers
Sunday March 2 - Raiders v Warriors at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 11am (AEDT), 4.00pm (local time) - Fox
New Warrior James Fisher-Harris squares off against Kiwi teammate Joseph Tapine in a battle of the enforcers set to rock Allegiant Stadium. Both sides will be out to make an early statement after missing the finals in 2024. The speed and athleticism of Xavier Savage, Ethan Strange, Kaeo Weekes, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Taine Tuaupiki should ensure a free-flowing and entertaining encounter.
Fogarty back with a bang
Sunday March 2 - Panthers v Sharks at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 3.30pm (AEDT), 8.30pm (local time) - Nine/Fox
The second of the NRL games in Vegas pits the four-peat Panthers against perennial finalists Cronulla, who have had no trouble making it to September in recent seasons but are still seeking a second title to go with the drought-breaking 2016 triumph. Watch for superstar halves Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes to produce an array of magic tricks to try and steer their team to a first-up win.
Thursday March 6 - Roosters v Broncos, 8.00pm (AEDT), 8.00pm (local time) - Nine/Fox
On the back of the Las Vegas spectacular, the first Thursday night game of 2025 promises to be an absolute corker between Trent Robinson's Roosters and Michael Maguire's Broncos. How will the Roosters shape up without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu and Joseph Suaalii? How will the Broncos respond to their new coach as they look to restore pride after a disastrous 2024 campaign, which began with a 20-10 loss to the Roosters in Vegas?
Roosters v Broncos - Round 1, 2024
Friday March 7 - Wests Tigers v Knights, 6.00pm (AEDT), 6.00pm (local time) - Fox
The first chance for Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva to strut their stuff for the Tigers, who will be desperate to climb out of the cellar after three consecutive wooden spoons. They face a tough assignment against the Kalyn Ponga-inspired Knights, who snuck into the finals last season only to be bundled out in week one by the Cowboys.
Friday March 7 - Dolphins v Rabbitohs, 8.05pm (AEDT), 7.05pm (local time) - Nine/Fox
A mouth-watering Friday night clash to launch the season as the supercoach Wayne Bennett returns to Redfern and squares off against the team he helped build and led to some memorable victories in their first two seasons. Kristian Woolf takes the reins at the Dolphins and has a formidable squad at his disposal with Tom Flegler returning to lead a pack that includes new arrivals Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Daniel Saifiti.
Saturday March 8 - Dragons v Bulldogs, 5.30pm (AEDT), 5.30pm (local time) - Fox
The Red V welcome Clint Gutherson, Val Holmes and Damien Cook to the fold as they set about making amends for a late fadeout in 2024 that saw them drop from eighth to 11th in the last three rounds with losses to the Sharks, Eels and Raiders. In stark contrast the Bulldogs powered into their first finals series since 2016 under the astute guidance of Cameron Ciraldo and inspirational leadership of Stephen Crichton.
Flanagan: 'We can start at another level'
Saturday March 8 - Sea Eagles v Cowboys, 7.35pm (AEDT), 7.35pm (local time) - Fox
With Tom Trbojevic coming off a magnificent Pacific Championships campaign and evergreen skipper Daly Cherry-Evans playing as well as he ever has, Manly are set to again be a force in 2025. Their first-up assignment pits them against Todd Payten's Cowboys, who have been part of the finals in two of the past three seasons and boast firepower across the park with Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater, Jason Taumalolo and Reuben Cotter leading the charge. The last time the clubs met in Round 1 was 2004 in Townsville, when Manly overcame a 14-0 half-time deficit to win 24-20 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
Grant steals it in Golden Point
Sunday March 9 - Storm v Eels, 4.05pm (EST), 4.05pm (local time) - Nine/Fox
What a way to finish as first-up specialists Melbourne look to continue their remarkable run of success in Round 1 matches. The Storm are unbeaten in Round 1 since Craig Bellamy took the helm in 2003 and two years ago it was the Eels becoming another notch in their belt after an almighty fight at CommBank Stadium. We know what to expect from the Storm under Bellamy but the Eels are an unknown quantity under new coach Jason Ryles so plenty of intrigue surrounds the final game of the opening round.
