The NSWRL will continue to build on its proud tradition of providing players with the platform to pursue their dream of playing the game at the highest level when the 2025 season for Major Competitions kicks off this weekend (8-9 March).
The NSWRL officially launched its season at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence today with more than 120 guests in attendance, including Westpac NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley, Westpac NSW Blues Women’s coach John Strange, NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden, NSWRL Chair Carolyn Campbell, NSWRL Directors and player and club representatives from NSWRL Major Competitions and Junior Representatives Competitions.
In 2024, a record number of players (60) graduated to play in the NRL including 59 from the state’s premier competition for men, The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, while boom Wests Tigers five-eighth Lachlan Galvin progressed straight from UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s).
Other success stories included Western Suburbs Magpies forward Tim Johannssen, who last year progressed from playing Sydney Shield, Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup to make his NRL debut for Wests Tigers.
The success of players making their NRL debuts last year was also a significant increase from the 44 players who graduated from The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup in 2023, and 46 in 2022.
“The launch of the NSWRL season is always exciting as it means the great game of Rugby League is back in full swing,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.
“Our Junior Representatives Competitions kicked off in February and have already produced plenty of highlights and I am certain our Major Competitions will do the same thing when they start this weekend.
“The NSWRL has always offered valuable pathways for players from grassroots right through to elite competitions, and it is great to see so many players from last year progress to the NRL.
“I am confident that trend will continue this season, and I wish all clubs, teams and players the very best of luck for 2025.”
Other highlights for the NSWRL in 2025 include:
- leading automobile manufacturer Hyundai announced as a new partner which will include representation in State of Origin right through to Community Rugby League;
- the Player of the Match from the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Grand Final to now receive the Paul Griffin Medal in honour of the Hills Bulls Life Member who passed away in tragic circumstances last year;
- the return of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles to The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, who will play under their own logo for the first time since 2016;
- a Regional Magic Round to be staged in Tamworth in May which will feature 11 games from the state’s premier competition, The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, and the regional Group 4 competition;
- the return of Illawarra’s Major Competition, the Harrigan Cup, which will feature six teams;
- Blacktown Workers and Cabramatta Two Blues joining the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup;
- The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Grand Final rematch between Newtown Jets and North Sydney Bears on Sunday 22 June at North Sydney Oval;
- the annual Country v City weekend to be held on the weekend of 17-18 May; and
- a strategic alliance between NSWRL TV and BarTV Sports that will provide fans with access to more than 900 games in 2025.
NSWRL also announced its revamp of Club Hub, an online resource centre developed to assist volunteer administrators driving grassroots participation growth across the state.
The Club Hub is an innovation developed by League and Club Support staff and volunteers, creating a one-stop shop for centralised administrative information and enquiries for volunteers. It is aimed at increasing efficiency in the NSWRL’s communication with League, Club and Association leaders to help Community Rugby League thrive in 2025 and beyond.
Click here to access Club Hub.
The representative calendar will include the Westpac NSW Blues kicking off their State of Origin campaign in Brisbane on 28 May, before heading to Optus Stadium in Perth (18 June) and then returning home to Sydney (9 July).
The Westpac NSW Blues Women will start their campaign again as an opener to the NRL’s Magic Round on 1 May, before returning to NSW for Game Two in Sydney (15 May) and Game Three in Newcastle (29 May).
The NSWRL will manage nine Major Competitions and seven Junior Representatives Competitions in 2025.
The NSWRL Major Competitions feature The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, Jersey Flegg Cup, Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield, Men’s and Women’s Country Championships, Denton Engineering Cup (Newcastle) and Harrigan Premiership (Illawarra).
The NSWRL Junior Representatives Competitions, which started in the first two weekends of February, feature the UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s), Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s), SLE Laurie Daley Cup (Under 18s), UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s), Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup metropolitan and regional competitions (Under 17s), and SLE Andrew Johns Cup (Under 16s).
