The off-season may have just officially started, but rugby league fans are already looking towards 2025.
The highly anticipated NRL draw has just dropped, meaning fans of every team are now mapping out their calendars, booking their trips and getting in their predictions.
I'll leave the strength of draw breakdowns to others, instead today focusing on playing hype man.
As a lover of the greatest game of all, all (almost) rugby league fixtures are must-watch. That said, some stand out above the rest.
Obviously this is an opinion piece and not a prediction on the ten best games for next year. Let us know which games you are most looking forward to.
Below are the top 10 fixtures to look forward to in 2025:
This feels like a cheat entry, but I always look forward to the first game of the NRL season.
2025, as with 2024, will see the NRL kick off in Las Vegas. On paper this isn't the most anticipated matchup per say, but I personally cannot wait.
I was very negative going into the Vegas games in 2024. I'm more than happy to admit I was wrong and a very much looking forward to it for 2025.
Both the Raiders and Warriors endured horror 2024 seasons and will be looking to start the new year with a win. This should be a belter in front of a rabid crowd!
The King returns!
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing what both of these new-look teams can produce in the new year, but let's be real here: the story is all about Clint Gutherson.
King Gutho reigned over the Eels fan base for many, many years prior to his shocking move to the Dragons.
We'll only have to wait until Round Five with the fixture kicking off a fun Super Saturday of action.
I never thought I'd see the day that Clint Gutherson would be booed at Parra stadium, but set your watches. It could happen on this very day!
A Western Sydney derby game is always one to circle on the NRL calendar. Especially when half of a team's line-up used to play for the opposition.
Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva made the short move and will run out for the Tigers, while Isaiah Papali'i went the other way.
Throw in Apisai Koroisau's post Grand Final comments and Daine Laurie's Grand Final celebration photos and you have yourself a series of storylines.
A new look Penrith side will expect a win but an equally new look Tigers team should be up and fully firing by the time Round 14 rolls in.
There are few things I enjoy more in the NRL season than seeing Manly and Parra fans battle it out. It's almost as good as the game itself!
Brookvale Oval is the place. Sunday afternoon. The "Sold Out" sign will be up, well in advance.
Both teams should have genuine Finals aspirations. Higher I'd argue, if both rosters can stay fit and focused.
As Gus Gould says, "We love Sunday afternoon footy," especially when the game is as big as this one!
There's no real "rivalry" here. There's the Wayne Bennett thing but that's in the past now. NSW vs QLD I suppose, but this game is just fun.
The biggest team in Brisbane vs the supposed biggest team in Sydney. Both teams hugely underdelivered in 2024 and will be looking to bounce back.
New coaches and stacked rosters!
Friday night footy will host this monster clash. This is right before Origin too so there should be a plethora of talking points heading into this one.
There is absolutely no chance in the world that this Round One fixture just happened to land the way that it did.
Wayne Bennett returning to the Dolphins as coach of the Bunnies (again) in the very first round!? Sign me up!
Both sides are capable of scoring a mountain of points. There will be a monster crowd on site. Bennett vs his apprentice. Oh, this is just perfect.
I would be shocked if this doesn't sell out Suncorp Stadium on the opening Friday night of the season.
Tradition. History. Rivalry!
This fixture literally has it all. Plus hatred. Like, at a different level than any of us can really understand.
I have very reasonable mates on both sides of this rivalry. For a week they turn rabid. It's hard to explain how different they are on game day.
I plan on sitting back, lemonade in hand aand watching the battles on and off the field. Round 5's headline act should see Accor jam packed!
As a Sharks fan, I always circle the games vs the Dragons, Manly and the Storm. The first two are local rivals but the Sharks/Storm rivalry is very real.
The Storm smashed the Sharks in the Finals last year, returning serve on the upset of the season. No one will soon forget the 2016 Grand Final.
Both teams are seen as 2025 heavyweights. The Sharks have added Addin Fonua-Blake, meaning they look as though they can finally match the Storm in the middle.
Both teams should have players in the Origin discussion, so Round 11 is a perfect time to see these two rivals clash!
Although I still see the Roosters/Rabbits rivalry as the game's most fierce, as a neutral the Dogs/Sea Eagles rivalry is right up there!
Manly knocked the Dogs out in a chaotic cracker of a Final in 2024. The rematch can't possibly match those heights but there will be a massive crowd on hand WHEN THEY PLAY.
Both sides look very capable of a deep Finals run in 2025. Wins over sides at the same level are super valuable.
This fixture has all the ingredients. It should be an offence to make us wait until Round 21 of the season. Still, this means it will have huge Finals implications!
The Grand Final 'rematch' is more often than not the most anticipated game of the next season.
Again it looks as though the Panthers and Storm will set the pace for 2025. Truthully this game is a marquee fixture whenever it is played.
Throw in the fact that Penrith denied the Storm in the Decider last season and this, once again, is the game I am most looking forward to.
I love the Round Three fixture. It's early enough that we're starving for it but it's far enough in that both teams will have two games under their belts. Perfect!