NRL Magic Round set to bring some awkward reunions
Over 600 NRL players, coaches, staff and media personalities will cram into Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round – and there are bound to be some awkward encounters. We reveal the top 10 reunions with potential for drama.
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There’s nothing like a family reunion and all the awkward encounters that come with it.
And that’s exactly what this weekend’s Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium will produce as the NRL fraternity comes together in Brisbane.
For one weekend only, Queensland becomes the epicentre of the rugby league universe and everyone who’s anyone will be in town.
Administrators, ex-players, managers and media commentators will flood into Brisbane along with 16 NRL clubs for the three-day extravaganza.
But with that comes the potential for drama and there are bound to be some awkward encounters given the amount of long-running feuds in the game.
Here are our top 10 looming awkward encounters at Magic Round.
PHIL GOULD V ANDREW ABDO
‘Gus’ Gould is arguably the NRL’s most powerful person. A respected former player, coach and now administrator, there are few bigger figures in the game. Whether it be pursuing a player or campaigning for change, Gould usually gets his way. The Bulldogs boss has been accused of using his media platforms within Channel 9 to peddle agendas and influence decisions. Last year, NRL chief Andrew Abdo whacked Gould with a $20,000 breach notice for repeatedly calling the game “stupid” on television. Gould successfully appealed the fine and had it wiped. It was another example of Gus getting his way.
BILLY SLATER V MICHAEL MAGUIRE
Last year’s State of Origin series was as exciting off the field as it was on it. Former Blues coach Michael Maguire won the media war against Slater and then beat Queensland on the field, clinching a 2-1 series win for NSW. Maguire’s famous “glass houses” sledge of Slater’s Maroons set the tone for a spicy series and the brutal knockout of Reece Walsh, a favourite of Slater’s, was a controversial moment. Maguire is now in charge of the Broncos while Slater is on deck commentating for Nine.
TERRELL MAY V TRENT ROBINSON
We may never know the real reason for Roosters coach Trent Robinson kicking Terrell May out of Bondi, but what has become clear is May is a gun player who has been an enormous signing for the Wests Tigers. May played every game for the Roosters last season, and signed a contract extension, before being informed he could leave the club. It made little sense at the time and makes even less now given his start to the season.
SPENCER LENIU V JOHNATHAN THURSTON
The biggest NRL feud of 2025 so far belongs to Roosters firebrand Spencer Leniu and Queensland great Johnathan Thurston. Leniu and Thurston went hammer and tongs during, and after, a game between the Roosters and Broncos earlier this month at Suncorp Stadium. The stink centred around the Ezra Mam “monkey” scandal which landed Leniu an eight-game suspension last year. The Roosters are back in Brisbane and Thurston is expected to be on deck with Channel 9.
DAVID KLEMMER V BENJI MARSHALL
Dragons prop David Klemmer will make his first appearance against the Tigers since being shown the door by Wests coach Benji Marshall. Klemmer played 44 games across the past two years for the Tigers before relations broke down during the most recent pre-season. He was eventually released to the Dragons and may have a point to prove on Saturday night.
RICKY STUART V JAEMAN SALMON
It was one of the most extraordinary sledges the NRL has ever seen when in 2022 Raiders coach Ricky Stuart called Salmon a “weak-gutted dog” in a post-match press conference. Salmon was playing for Penrith at the time and caught the ire of Stuart after appearing to kick Raiders hooker Tom Starling in the genitalia. Stuart later apologised for his outburst. Salmon is now at the Bulldogs and will be occupying the away dressing room at Suncorp on Sunday afternoon that Canberra will move into ahead of their clash with the Storm later that night.
WAYNE BENNETT V DARREN LOCKYER
Wayne Bennett has a list of feuds as long as your arm, but few have been more explosive than his dramatic 2018 exit from the Broncos which remains one of the most tumultuous periods in the club’s 37-year history. Fearing Bennett was on the wane, the Broncos attempted to execute an “elegant transition” and move him into a coaching director position. Bennett refused, setting off a remarkable chain of events which culminated in his sacking and the arrival of Anthony Seibold at Red Hill. Bennett blames Broncos chairman Karl Morris, former CEO Paul White and board member Darren Lockyer for manoeuvring to end his coaching career. He’s still going seven years later, back in charge of South Sydney.
BLAKE SOLLY V NICK POLITIS
There is no love lost between the bitter rivals and relations between South Sydney and the Roosters continue to bubble away over the latest stadiums saga. Rabbitohs CEO Solly is one of the NRL’s most outspoken administrators, regularly taking on head office and his rivals. In the other corner is Roosters chairman Politis, a billionaire and the game’s longest-serving club boss. They rarely miss a chance to get one on each other.
GORDEN TALLIS V ADAM REYNOLDS
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds became the latest in a long line of Tallis targets last year. A former Broncos captain himself, Tallis was incensed that Reynolds chose to replace teammate Billy Walters on Triple M after the Broncos hooker refused to go on the radio station following criticism of his father and coach, Kevin. Tallis said it was reflective of Brisbane’s issues as the club plummeted from the 2023 grand final to miss the play-offs. Reynolds took the criticism in his stride and has bounced back with a tremendous start to this season.
KALYN PONGA V MAL MENINGA
He was out, then in, then out. Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga found himself in the centre of a stunning representative scandal at the end of last year.
Ponga initially ruled himself out of contention for the Kangaroos without a genuine reason.
After the decision exploded, he ruled himself in, but then wasn’t selected by Australia coach Mal Meninga anyway.
There has always been whispers that Ponga, who has Maori heritage, would rather play for New Zealand, but that isn’t possible given he has already represented Queensland.
Regardless, it was an awkward situation all around.
Ponga’s Knights play the Rabbitohs, with Meninga usually part of Fox League’s Super Saturday coverage.
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