2025 NRL CAST Championships: Victoria out for success on home soil

Victoria will be hoping it can tap into a home field advantage when the NRL Combined Affiliated States Championships kicks off on Friday. Watch every match LIVE here.

For the first time in four years, Victoria will shoot for double delight at the annual NRL Combined Affiliated States and Territories (CAST) Championships.

The tournament, which kicks off Melbourne’s Seabrook Reserve this weekend, will see the reintroduction of the Opens Women division for the first time since 2021.

Every match of the CAS Championships will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV from June 6-8.

Victoria will shoot for its third-straight Opens men title at the Championships, and will look to a big home crowd to give the state a leg up on the competition.

The CAST is a national rugby league championships which is competed for by states that aren’t traditional rugby league powerhouses including Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory.

NRL Victoria pathways coordinator Mohammad Hussaini said the return of the women’s division to the CAST Championships was a welcome addition.

Western Australia won the women’s title at the last event in 2021, while the host state will chase its first women’s title since 2019.

“Our goal is to be as competitive as possible,” Hussaini said.

“We don’t know what we are expecting from other sides.

Action from the 2024 NRL Combined Affiliated States Championships. Picture: AGD Images

“They’ll come out with a lot of fire looking to stop us winning at home.”

The success of the team will come through the spine with plenty of experience at fullback and in the halves.

“We’re led by our captain Jade Te Aute (at fullback), alongside experienced halves Maria Nelio and Rochelle Teiri,” Hussaini said.

“The team has shown strong leadership, unity and a hunger to perform.

“This is an exciting group with skills right across the team.”

For the men, Keni Blair returns as co-captain with Giovanni Kubick to join him in the leadership group.

“They have been leading from the front and the group has been working hard over the past five weeks with one clear goal, to claim the men’s CAS title on home soil once again,” Hussaini said.

“There’s been a strong focus on building combinations, discipline and pride in representing Victoria and the energy around the group has been outstanding.”

Action from the 2024 NRL Combined Affiliated States Championships. Picture: AGD Images

Hussaini said other players to look out in the open men included John Schwalger who comes back after playing Queensland Cup and Codey Jerkovich who will be a key playmaker during the championships.

Western Australia is expected to be the main rival to Victoria in men’s and women’s but other states need to be respected.

“NT are always a dark horse, we never rule them out,” Hussaini said.

“SA also put up a good fight against us.”

VICTORIAN SQUADS

MEN: Keni Blair (Captain), Giovanni Kubick (Captain), Faamai Aleni, Haki Edwards, Tyreece Falamone, Lakopo Falefitu, Sale Finau, Setu Faavae, Mannasseh Gudgeon, Andrew Henry, Codey Jerkovich, Anisi Salani, John Schwalger, Kwest Rua, Alti Porter, Junior Tuapa Vaimoa, Emmanuel Tuariki, Innocent Tuimavave, Okamaka Talagi, Bishop Walker.

WOMEN: Jade Te Aute (Captain), Winniefred Aumau, Katie Corbett, Chloe Ene, Katelyn Faifilli-Boon, Shawna Fifita, Georgina Hemopo, Tiana Kani, Morgan King, Moronieca Lepua, Brandi Makiri, Summah Mauafa Autalaga, Kirsty Matapa, Rebecca (Maria) Nelio, Lourdez Sakaria, Rochelle Teiri, Sorayah Tauati, Jyssie Tofete, Jaelyn Tonise, Myraa Vaeila.

REPLAYS

Victoria v South Australia (Womens) - 2025 NRL CAST Championships Day 1

Victoria made an early statement in the opening game of the NRL CAST Championships against South Australia on Friday.

The 50-0 romp at Seabrook Oval was a complete domination from the host city who look almost a lock to be crowned champions on Sunday.

It took just over a minute for the scoring romp to begin, with Shawna Fifita powering through South Australia’s defence to find the try line.

Myraa Vaeila followed some five minutes later before back-to-back scores from Sorayah Tauati extended the lead to 18-0 15 minutes into the game.

They finished the half up 28-0 with their second-half performace even better than the first.

While it was an all-round team performance for Victoria, Tauati’s game was terrific throughout with captain Jade Te Aute also one of the victors best.

Originally published as 2025 NRL CAST Championships: Victoria out for success on home soil