2025 NRL CAST Championships: NT Titans chasing opportunity to impress

The NT’s best players will put their talent to the test at this week’s national titles bolstered by recent successes and the coaching of Wayne Bennett’s former assistant. Find out how to watch them LIVE.

Nathaniel Chambers

3 min read

June 6, 2025 - 12:13PM

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The NT’s best players will put their talent to the test at this week’s national titles bolstered by recent successes and the coaching of Wayne Bennett’s former assistant.

The Wayne Bennett effect is set to rub off on the Territory’s best league talents at this weekend’s NRL CAST Championships.

John Dixon, who worked with Bennett for a decade at the Broncos, has linked up with the NT Titans to coach the men at the NRL Combined Affiliated States and Territories Championships.

Every match of the 2025 CAS Championships will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV from June 6-8.

Dixon brings plenty of knowledge to the Territory team and has a talented squad to lead around including NRL NT club leaders Robbie Butcher, Brad Hansen and Aaron Kurnoth.

Aaron Kurnoth has taken over the captaincy of the Darwin Brothers in the 2025 NRL NT season. Picture: Patch Clapp / NRL NT

NRL NT Pathways and Education Coordinator and Titans women’s coach Duncan MacGillivray called it a big win for the Territory.

“To bring in John with his wealth of experience having been Wayne Bennett’s assistant coach for 10 years is great,” he said.

“He’s coached Wales, he’s coaches Super League and he’s coached Queensland Cup Reserves and has already got around the players in a couple of training sessions ahead of going away.

“There’s a few players to look out for with Laitham Shirley and young Dallas Caulton and we’ve got a real strong leadership group too.”

On the women’s side the NT has been punching above its weight, going undefeated and scoring crucial wins at national level in recent years.

The Territory women went to the Las Vegas Nines earlier this year and made a further name for themselves with the likes of Ellie Niki and Kel Nona among those to watch.

NT Titans coach John Dixon training with the 2025 men's side.

Eight players from the women’s comp will be selected to a combine testing in September with the chance of being offered NRLW contracts.

“We see ourselves as very similar standard, WA and Vic have more depth but that’s a challenge for us and we punch above our weight,” MacGillivray said.

“We accept we always come in as the underdogs and that gives us to showcase what we produce locally and we know there’s a proud history in the men’s CAS championships we’re a part of.

“It’s been a fantastic storyline of WA being dominant and Victoria finally getting there, but we’ve also won this event and we’re always chasing to get back there.

Darwin Brothers player Caleb Niki playing in the 2024 NRL NT season. Picture: Patch Clapp / NRL NT

“And this year with John at the helm and the group we have there’s a good chance we could shake it up, and ultimately to compete is our goal.

“For our women Vegas was huge, it’s not just about playing but the experience to build friendships and a bond, the women are putting credibility in playing under that NT banner.”

WOMEN’S TEAM

Jacinda Summers - Darwin Brothers

Jaymee Park - Northern Sharks

Debbie Gimini - Palmerston Raiders

Adrianne Furlane - Northern Sharks

Nelly Thomas - Northern Sharks/Parramatta Eels

Erin Luchetti - Litchfield Bears

Siniva Sa’anga - CARFL/South Sydney Rabbits

Liana Niki - Darwin Brothers

Mere Rasaku - Nightcliff Dragons

Zoe Kurnoth - Darwin Brothers

Kel Nona - Darwin Brothers