Luai’s ultimate Tigers statement; Dolphins dethrone Broncos: 2025 games you can’t miss

The 2025 NRL draw has finally been revealed, with the Dolphins facing the Rabbitohs in an intriguing Round 1 match-up, while we won’t have to wait long for the grand final rematch.

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Here, foxsports.com.au looks at some of the biggest games of next season.

WE WON’T HAVE TO WAIT LONG FOR THE GRAND FINAL REMATCH

Storm vs Panthers @ AAMI Park — Round 3

Craig Bellamy didn’t shy away from the fact the Storm were “outplayed” in last season’s grand final.

Having already defeated Penrith twice in the regular season, Melbourne couldn’t put away the now four-time premiers when it mattered most, leaving a dejected Harry Grant to claim the Storm would be “more experienced and better for the run next year”.

Well, they’ll get a chance to prove that early in the season, with Melbourne scheduled to face the Panthers at AAMI Park on Thursday night in Round 3.

The Storm shut out Penrith 8-0 in last season’s opener before squeaking home 24-22 later in the year in one of the best games of 2024.

It will be hard for the grand final rematch to live up to that two-point game, although the Panthers were without Liam Martin for that game and lost Nathan Cleary to injury late.

Meanwhile, Cameron Munster was also unavailable for the Round 1 clash and so hopefully both teams will be full-strength again for the Round 3 meeting next year.

LUAI, EX-PANTHERS GET THEIR CHANCE TO MAKE A STATEMENT

Tigers vs Panthers @ Commbank Stadium — Round 14

This will be one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year, with Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva’s arrival at the Tigers only adding to the Panthers flavour at the club.

Add in Apisai Koroisau, Charlie Staines and even new addition Terrell May — who came through the Penrith system — and there will be plenty of added motivation.

There are a few former Tigers in Penrith’s team too, including Luke Garner and marquee recruit Isaiah Papalii.

Of course, most of the attention will be on Luai who could be the piece that finally unlocks the true potential of a Tigers team that has shown it in glimpses but failed to put it together over an entire season.

Leading the Tigers to a win against his former team, the four-time defending premiers, would be the ultimate statement from Luai.

The first match-up between the two teams is scheduled for Round 14 on June 8, which fortunately means it won’t be Origin-affected, with Game Two set for June 18.

GUTHO AND LOMAX FACE FORMER TEAMMATES

Eels vs Dragons @ Commbank Stadium — Round 5

When players have been at the one club for over five years, it starts to become hard to picture them in another jersey. Think Adam Reynolds going from the cardinal and myrtle to maroon or Shaun Johnson swapping his Warriors jumper for the black, white and blue.

Maybe the same doesn’t quite apply for Zac Lomax, but it will still be odd to see him running out in the green and gold after playing for the Dragons since making his debut in 2018.

But it definitely will be strange to see Clint Gutherson no longer leading the Eels out after securing an early exit to link up with the Red V.

Either way, Round 5 will give NRL fans their first look at Gutherson and Lomax playing against their former sides when the Dragons and Eels meet at 3pm on Saturday.

For Lomax, he has made it quite clear he will start at centre for Parramatta after his strong performances on the wing for the Dragons sparked debate over his best position last season.

Lomax was moved out of his preferred right centre position by then-coach Anthony Griffin early in 2023 and dropped from the team entirely shortly after.

He went back to right centre after Griffin was sacked but was then shifted to the wing and reportedly grew increasingly unhappy before eventually securing his move to Parramatta.

As for Gutherson, even if there is no ill-feeling, it will be an opportunity for him to prove his best football is in front of him after the Eels decided to build towards the future with Isaiah Iongi.

DOLPHINS IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR MAGIC ROUND BLOCKBUSTER

Roosters vs Dolphins @ Suncorp Stadium — Round 9

For the first time since its inception, the Broncos have been booted out of the prime time Friday night slot.

In their place, the NRL’s newest franchise — the Dolphins — will get a chance to continue their rapid rise when they host the Roosters in a blockbuster match-up.

The Roosters and Dolphins already have a history of thrilling games, with the Tricolours winning a high-scoring epic 40-34 earlier this year while the Redcliffe-based side pulled off a stunning upset 28-18 in the 2023 season-opener.

More than anything though, the decision to give the Dolphins the Friday night fixture is a clear indication of the NRL’s confidence in the franchise and their growing influence in the battle for rugby league supremacy against Brisbane in Queensland.

KRISTIAN WOOLF’S NRL COACHING DEBUT COMES AGAINST BENNETT

Dolphins vs Rabbitohs @ Suncorp Stadium — Round 1

Everyone knows about the infamous Wayne Bennett curse, with the successors to the supercoach consistently struggling and Jason Demetriou becoming the latest to lose his job.

So, can Kristian Woolf buck the trend?

Well, he immediately gets an opportunity to put the Dolphins on the right track when they play South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1’s Friday night’s 8.05pm game.

It also doubles as Woolf’s debut as a full-time NRL coach, having briefly taken over on an interim basis for Newcastle after Nathan Brown stepped down from the role in 2019.

Woolf has plenty of other experience to draw from too, having won three Super League titles and a Challenge Cup while also helping Tonga to a third-place finish at the 2017 World Cup.

The pressure cooker of being an NRL coach is completely different though and Woolf will get an early taste of it not just in Friday’s game but in the week leading up to as he fields several questions about the man he replaced.

JASON RYLES COACHES AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM

Eels vs Roosters @ Commbank Stadium — Round 25

Speaking of coaches coming up against former teams and mentors, there was reportedly tensions between the Roosters and Jason Ryles before he was granted a release in 2023.

Fox League’s James Hooper reported at the time that then defensive coach Ryles signed with the Roosters to replace Craig Fitzgibbon he signed a three-year contract under the expectation he would honour it.

Instead, Ryles was said to have held meetings with Dragons board member Ben Creagh and was a heavy favourite to take over as the new St George Illawarra coach.

That obviously didn’t end up happening, with Ryles later returning to the Storm ahead of the 2024 pre-season before the opportunity to become Parramatta’s head coach came up.

Ryles had long been viewed as an NRL coach in waiting and so you can’t blame him for looking out for his best interests, having served as the apprentice for so many years.

Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what the build-up is like ahead of his first game coaching against the Roosters and fans will have to wait a while for it to happen, with the Eels scheduled to face the Tricolours in Round 25.