Key Highlights from the Draw:
Magic Round: As announced on Monday, Newcastle Rugby League will return to No 1 Sportsground for the first time in over a decade, with Round 1 featuring all five Denton Cup matches at the venue on Saturday, 12th April
ANZAC Round: ANZAC Day falls on a Friday in 2025, with four of the five Denton Cup matches being played on ANZAC Day itself. Those matches will be hosted by Wyong, Central Newcastle, Lakes United, and Cessnock, while Maitland will host their match on the Saturday 26th April
Charity matches: Lakes United will host Central Newcastle in round 4 in the annual Emma’s Warriors Day, while the famous Sleapys Day will be on Saturday 9th August to Townson Oval, when South Newcastle will again host Maitland for the third consecutive year
Indigenous Rounds: 2025 will see two indigenous rounds take place in rounds 12 and 13 – which are at either end of NAIDOC week, which runs from 6th to 13th July
Final Series: The final series will kick off on Saturday 30th August with grand final day being Sunday, 21st September at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Newcastle Rugby League General Manager Adam Devcich says ‘As the countdown to the 2025 season begins, the excitement among players, volunteers, coaches, and fans continues to build. This year promises to be one of the most competitive yet with some key player movement and big-name signings across the competition’.
