Pre-season Challenge: Title goes down to the wire
Defending Pre-Season Challenge champions Brisbane are poised to go back-to-back after flexing their muscle in a 50-12 defeat of the Titans in Round 2.
The Broncos picked up the maximum 15 points in Toowoomba and now face off against the Bulldogs (13 points) in Redcliffe on Saturday in a game that could well decide who takes home the $100,000 prizemoney.
Calling the shots in the halves for Brisbane will be captain Adam Reynolds and prodigal son Ben Hunt, who bring 621 games of NRL experience to the table.
The Dolphins, Eels, Dragons and Sea Eagles are all lurking on 14 points after launching their Pre-Season campaign with wins in Round 2 and it's 2023 champions Manly who get first crack at climbing to the top when they face Penrith on Friday night at Leichhardt Oval.
The Sea Eagles looked good in a 34-24 win over the Rabbitohs in Gosford and coach Anthony Seibold will look to build momentum this week with speedsters Tolu Koula and Reuben Garrick looking to cash in on the work of their powerful pack.
A massive double-header at Leichhardt Oval also features the Eels and Wests Tigers, with Jason Ryles' men ready to strike should the Sea Eagles slip up in the earlier game.
Former Dragon Zac Lomax steps out for his first game as an Eel in the centres while Maroons forward J'maine Hopgood also launches his 2025 season.
The time honoured Charity Shield on Saturday in Mudgee gives the new-look Dragons the chance to make it two from two as they confront arch-rivals the Rabbitohs, who are set to roll out Latrell Mitchell and Keaon Koloamatangi as we build towards Round 1 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
- Watch every game of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge exclusive to Fox League, available on Kayo Sports.
- Round 3 Team Lists: Big guns back on deck
The Warriors (21) and Sharks (20) show the way after two rounds with a win and a draw on the board but they can only watch on this weekend as they turn their focus to Las Vegas.
With the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge set to go down to the wire, bonus points will be absolutely critical, with points up for grabs for 5+ tries, 5+ line breaks and 10+ offloads.
Tiebreaker process
Given the short duration of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge, there is a good chance the winner will have to be decided via a countback, and the NRL has devised a system to find a winner should teams finish tied on points at the top of the ladder.
Witzer Pre-Season Challenge All you need to Know
