Dragons-Tigers take grudge match to Magic Round as Sea Eagles snubbed

The rivalry between the joint-venture outfits will go to a new level in Magic Round next year when Terrell May and Sunia Turuva face the St George Illawarra outfit they snubbed before joining Wests Tigers.

The NRL has released its schedule for the Suncorp Stadium extravaganza, which will be played from Friday, May 2 to Sunday, May 4 next year. Manly traditionally play Brisbane during Magic Round, but the Sea Eagles are the team to miss out in 2025 after being handed the bye.

Instead, the Sharks will take on Parramatta in the first game on Friday night, in what could be Eels recruit Jack Williams’ first clash against his former club. The later Friday game will be an interstate blockbuster between the Roosters and Dolphins, with the winner taking home the Artie Legacy Medal, struck in honour of Immortal Arthur Beetson.

The Tigers-Dragons clash will be a highlight of the three Saturday fixtures given the number of players who have either played for, or been courted by, both teams.

The Dragons are considering a play for Adam Doueihi as a potential replacement for Ben Hunt, at a time when May and Turuva knocked them back to instead sign for Benji Marshall’s side.

There’s a growing rivalry between the Dragons and Tigers.Credit: Getty

Jack Bird was granted an early release from the Dragons to join the Tigers, while Moses Suli, Bud Sullivan and Luciano Leilua have spent time in both camps. The Red V were the big improvers in 2024, but faded out late in the season to miss the finals.

The Tigers will be looking to make their own rise up the ladder after a signing spree that includes May, Jarome Luai, Turuva, Bird, Royce Hune and Jeral Skelton.

The draw for the NRL’s Magic Round in 2025 in round nine

Friday, May 2

• 6pm - Sharks vs. Eels
• 8pm- Roosters vs. Dolphins

Saturday, May 3

• 3pm - Rabbitohs vs. Knights
• 5:30pm - Warriors vs. Cowboys
• 7:45pm - Tigers vs. Dragons

Sunday, May 4

• 1:50pm - Titans vs. Bulldogs
• 4:05pm Panthers vs. Broncos
• 6:25pm Storm vs. Raiders

Bye: Sea Eagles

All games played at Suncorp Stadium

The Saturday action kicks off between the Rabbitohs and Knights, clubs that have both been coached by Wayne Bennett. The middle Saturday game will be contested between the Warriors and Cowboys.

There will be three games on Sunday, headlined by the Penrith-Brisbane clash, which will be shown free-to-air on Nine. The Panthers were keen to have a home game at Magic Round given BlueBet Stadium is currently under construction, and head office has obliged.

That blockbuster will be book-ended by the earlier Titans-Bulldogs encounter, with Storm-Raiders wrapping up Magic Round.

Fine print in Addo-Carr’s Eels deal

Josh Addo-Carr is officially an Eel after signing a two-year deal, with Parramatta holding an option in the club’s favour in 2026.

Addo-Carr will link with his fourth NRL club immediately ahead of Jason Ryles’ first season in charge at the Eels in 2025.

In announcing the 29-year-old’s signing, the club made clear that the second season of his contract is an option in Parrramatta’s favour. The Eels roster has been hamstrung in recent years by player options in several deals, including those of Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Ryan Matterson and Maika Sivo, leading to regular conjecture about their futures despite being contracted to the club.

Ryles spoke glowingly of Addo-Carr’s speed and “ability to break open games” having worked previously with the sacked Bulldogs winger during their time together in Melbourne.

Addo-Carr has been in career limbo since being sacked by Canterbury after testing positive to cocaine at a roadside police drugs test. The premiership-winning winger maintains he has never knowingly taken drugs.

His arrival at Parramatta continues an overhaul under Ryles that sees him join Zac Lomax as a marquee signing following the departures of Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Sivo and Blaize Talagi.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity Parramatta and Jason have given me to continue my footy career and I’m ready to repay the faith they’ve shown in me,” Addo-Carr said.

“Coming here is a chance for me to start a new chapter, prove myself and show what I can do for the club and the fans. I can’t wait to put on the blue and gold and become a part of this club and the Eels community.”

NSWRL hunting for another Origin coach to halt Queensland hat-trick

A new NSW women’s Origin coach will be charged with preventing a Queensland threepeat after incumbent Kylie Hilder ended her four-year tenure coaching the Sky Blues.

Back-to-back series losses as the women’s Origin contest expanded to a historic three-game series this year have prompted Hilder to walk away from the role she held since 2021.

NSW have lost the last two women’s Origin series.Credit: Getty

The 48-year-old had been appointed on a 12-month contract each season but faced mounting pressure following the Maroons emphatic 22-6 series-deciding win in July, which came after NSW had won the series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

Hilder confirmed on Monday that she would not reapply for the position, with the NSWRL to begin canvassing for a replacement in 2025.

“I felt it was time for a change for the team, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and privilege of coaching the NSW women’s Origin team over the past four years and I take a lot of pride in the contribution I have been able to make in that short time,” Hilder said.

Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder has ended her Origin tenure.Credit: Getty Images

“To see women’s Origin grow from one game when I started coaching to a three-game series this year is a monumental achievement for the game and speaks volumes about the incredible talent pool in the women’s ranks.

“It also says a lot about the work that is being done at NSWRL in our pathways programs to develop genuine player depth at all levels, preparing them for NRLW and Origin honours.”

Ex-Dragons NRLW coach and former Blues five-eighth Jamie Soward has already expressed interest in the role, having previously served as Hilder’s assistant in 2022. The likes of Warriors NRLW coach Ronnie Griffiths and Tigers mentor Brett Kimmorley have also been touted as potential candidates.

The 2025 women’s Origin series is set to be played on its biggest stage yet following record TV ratings and crowd attendances this season, with the series to open Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday, May 1.

The Sky Blues will then host the final two games of the series, with the 45,000-capacity Allianz Stadium hosting its first women’s Origin game on May 15 before the third match in Newcastle two weeks later.

Hilder was involved in the NSWRL’s annual post-Origin review of this year’s campaign, which examined various aspects of the Sky Blues camp and interviewed players and staff involved in the Origin set-up.

She will remain on the NSWRL books in a pathways manager role.

The NSWRL board will meet later this week as discussions around Michael Maguire’s 2025 replacement continue, with Roosters assistant Matt King and former Blues mentor Laurie Daley are considered leading contenders to take charge.