NRL 2025 draw: Brisbane Broncos gifted dream fixtures to kick off season
Brisbane’s quest to break its 19-year premiership drought under coach Michael Maguire has received a massive boost, with the Broncos given a free run to start the season. Every Queensland club’s draw revealed.
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New Broncos coach Michael Maguire has outlined his plan to turn Suncorp Stadium into an all-conquering Fortress after being given a golden draw in his bid to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.
Maguire has a glorious chance to hit the ground running following the departure of Kevin Walters and ignite the Broncos as a title force following the release of the 2025 NRL premiership draw on Thursday.
The Broncos play seven of their first 11 games at Suncorp Stadium - including a blockbuster 2023 grand final replay in Magic Round on May 4 against Penrith, who are shifting their home game to Brisbane’s fortress.
But the challenge for Brisbane players is delivering on home soil as Maguire’s Broncos prepare to enter the 2025 premiership with a mediocre history at Suncorp.
Over the past five years, the Broncos have posted a losing record at Suncorp, having won just 27 of 58 regular-season matches at their marquee home for an uninspiring success rate of 46.5 per cent.
Brisbane’s Suncorp record is in stark contrast to the Penrith juggernaut, who have built their charge to four consecutive premierships on the back of an 86 per cent strike rate at home.
The Broncos had a paltry 2-8 home record in their wooden-spoon finish in 2020 and even last season, Brisbane lost more matches than they won at Suncorp (5-7) in their slide to 12th.
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While many opposition teams relish playing at the home of Queensland rugby league, Maguire says it’s crucial the Broncos turn Suncorp into a cauldron to clinch the club’s first title since 2006.
Including two ‘away’ clashes against the Dolphins and Penrith, the Broncos will play 14 of their 24 games next season at Suncorp. Maguire says it’s time to capitalise on the statistical advantage.
“It’s nice that we have plenty of games at Suncorp but it’s important we win those ones,” he said.
“Whether it’s a Fortress or whatever you want to call it, I want us to be at our best every home game and that will bring our fans into the contest.
“We have more than 50,000 members and there’s nothing better than knowing we have an army of fans in the stands that will get behind the team.
“We have to play our way so they can get behind us and we become very hard to beat at home.
“Whether opposition teams love coming to Suncorp or not, I have coached opposition teams there, but Suncorp is our home and we have to make a statement there.
“The players are aware of the history of the club and what the Broncos means to the fans.
“Coming here to see the culture of this great club, the players recognise they are fortunate to have so much support and we will definitely be calling on them to get behind what we are doing.”
Under pressure to hit back as a finals force in 2025, Brisbane play four of last year’s top-eight teams twice - the Roosters, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Storm - with both of the Broncos’ games against the Bondi club completed by round 6.
While they play last year’s grand finalists the Storm on two occasions, the Broncos will enjoy bye weekends in the lead-up to the first two State of Origin games.
That gives the Broncos no excuses to come flying out of the blocks and position themselves for a top-four spot by mid-season ahead of the traditional post-Origin grind.
The Broncos will kick off their season with a round 1 clash against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Thursday, March 6 before their first Battle of Brisbane with the Dolphins in round 4 on Friday, March 28.
The Broncos face the Dolphins again in round 24 and will be desperate to atone for this year’s shock 40-6 loss to Redcliffe which sent Brisbane crashing out of the finals race.
Maguire is not afraid to lay down a performance marker. He expects the Broncos to be challenging for next year’s premiership and says Brisbane need to build momentum early - starting against the Roosters in Round 1 in Sydney.
The Roosters beat the Broncos 20-10 in this year’s historic season opener in Las Vegas.
“I don’t worry too much about draws, but we now know our journey and our way of getting to playing in October, which is where I want us to be,” he said.
“We will be going to Sydney for round one, so at least we don’t have to worry about Vegas.
“Allianz is a great stadium, I’ve been there many times and I’m looking forward to it being my first time in charge of the Broncos.
“It’s crucial to start well. That’s why I will have a big emphasis on our first performance against the Roosters.
“The season is a marathon and that’s why it’s so special, because it’s a long journey to the top and every little win matters along the way because they are the successes that get you to a premiership.”
Meanwhile, new Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has an opportunity to get off to a flying start with his team only leaving Queensland once in the opening seven rounds.
The Dolphins kick off their third season with a blockbuster against Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs in round 1 before facing the Knights in Newcastle.
They then spend the next five weeks in Queensland with games against the Tigers (home), Broncos (home), Titans (away) and Panthers (home) before a Good Friday blockbuster against Melbourne at Suncorp.
The Dolphins also only leave Queensland once in the final five rounds of the regular season which eases the travel burden before what they are hoping will be a maiden finals appearance.
The Dolphins have opted to play nine games at Suncorp next year, instead of eight, which means they will reduce their appearances at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium to two.
They host the Tigers (round 3) and Raiders (round 27) in Redcliffe, going nearly six months without playing at their spiritual home.
The Dolphins have once again opted to sell a home game to Perth which has coincided with a tough draw.
They face the Cowboys in Townsville in round 15 without any Origin players then fly to Perth to “host” the Knights in round 16 a few days after Origin II in the west.
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Des Hasler’s Titans will have to wait until round 3 to play at home, with their first match of the season to come against the Bulldogs at Belmore in round 2 following a first round bye.
David Fifita will make his first appearance against the Roosters in Sydney since backflipping on a contract with the club in round 4.
The Titans have byes before the first and last Origin games and only leave Queensland once in the final six rounds, with four home games against Panthers, Rabbitohs, Warriors and Tigers to finish.
The Cowboys, buoyed by last year’s return to the finals, will open their account with a round 1 road trip to Manly on Saturday, March 8.
North Queensland always relish their XXXX derbies with the Broncos and the NRL has duly delivered with Brisbane clashes in round 3 on Friday, March 21 at Suncorp before a Townsville return bout in round 26 on Saturday, August 30.
The Cowboys have been given 10 home games in their preferred Saturday night timeslot and have just one five-day turnaround, with the NRL mindful of North Queensland’s logistical issues with travel for away fixtures.
The Cowboys have a tough start with three clashes against finals teams in the first five rounds, including an away game against premiers Penrith in round 5, but North Queensland bosses are privately happy with their draw.
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