2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge
| 2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 – 22 February 2026 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Premiers | Parramatta Eels (1st title) |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Points scored | 823 |
The 2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge of the National Rugby League was played from 7 to 22 February 2026, before a 7-day lead up until the beginning of the 2026 NRL season.[1]
Parramatta Eels claimed the A$100,000 prize for finishing atop the ladder at the end of the competition.
Background
The Brisbane Broncos did not participate in the Pre-season Challenge as they were in the United Kingdom contesting the 2026 World Club Challenge.[2]
Standings
The winner of the Pre-season Challenge receives $100,000 AUD. Twelve competition points are awarded for a win and six for a draw. One bonus competition point is awarded for each of the following: 5 or more tries, 5 or more line breaks, and 10 or more offloads.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 28 | +40 | 6 | 30 |
| 2 | Gold Coast Titans | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 24 | +42 | 5 | 29 |
| 3 | Wests Tigers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 38 | +30 | 5 | 29 |
| 4 | North Queensland Cowboys | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 54 | +46 | 3 | 27 |
| 5 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 30 | +28 | 3 | 27 |
| 6 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 34 | +24 | 4 | 16 |
| 7 | Dolphins | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 4 | 16 |
| 8 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 46 | +8 | 3 | 15 |
| 9 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 46 | +6 | 3 | 15 |
| 10 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 3 | 15 |
| 11 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 2 | 14 |
| 12 | Sydney Roosters | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 70 | −22 | 3 | 3 |
| 13 | New Zealand Warriors | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 71 | −19 | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | Newcastle Knights | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 56 | −38 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Melbourne Storm | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 74 | −56 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Penrith Panthers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 92 | −56 | 0 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 22 February 2026. Source: NRL.com
Fixtures
First week
| Saturday, 7 February | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 30–34 | North Queensland Cowboys | Jubilee Stadium, Sydney | |
| 16:30 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Matamua 37' Fitzgibbon 46' Toy 57' Grossemy 63' Rauqe 66' Nassar 77' Goals: Sua 38' (1/3) Fitzgibbon 67', 78' (2/3) |
Report |
Tries: Luki 5' Derby 15', 21' Laybutt 17' O'Donnell 26' Barber 75' Goals: Clifford 7', 19', 23', 28' (4/5) Sutton 75' (1/1) |
Attendance: 3,926 Referee: Liam Kennedy |
| Saturday, 7 February | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 28–18 | Newcastle Knights | Jubilee Stadium, Sydney | |
| 18:30 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Reed 12' Tu 23' Kerr 49' Feagai 69' Buchanan 75' Sloan 77' Goals: Reed 13', 25' (2/5) O'Neill (0/0) |
Report |
Tries: McCarthy 16' Jones 27' Schiller 31' Cant 64' Goals: Cant 66' (1/1) Smith (0/3) |
Attendance: 3,926 Referee: Peter Gough |
Second week
| Thursday, 12 February | Dolphins | 12–24 | Gold Coast Titans | Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe | |
| 19:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Flegler 50' Garton 55' Goals: Bowles 52', 56' (2/2) |
Report |
Tries: Ilias 9' Fotuaika 12' Ieremia 66' Steinwede 69' Morrin 77' Goals: Harrison 14' (3/4) Baira 78' (1/1) Sin bin: De Groot 46' to 56' |
Attendance: 10,023 Referee: Wyatt Raymond |
| Friday, 13 February | Canberra Raiders | 32–6 | Melbourne Storm | Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan | |
| 16:30 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Asomua 18', 35' Innes 44' Finau 50', 77' Afamasaga 53' Kris 67' Goals: Alaia 54' (1/3) Stewart 69' (1/3) Darmody (0/1) Sin bin: Tuialii 71' to 80' |
Report |
Tries: Williams 72' Goals: Murgha 54' (1/1) |
Attendance: 7,310 Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski |
| Friday, 13 February | North Queensland Cowboys | 66–24 | Penrith Panthers | BB Print Stadium, Mackay | |
| 19:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Burns 2', 13' Purdue 5' Drinkwater 11' Clifford 21', 32' Luki 35' Taulagi 40' O'Donnell 52', 60', 64' Mikaele 78' Goals: Drinkwater 7', 12', 15', 22', 36', 40' (6/8) Sutton 53' (1/1) Clifford 61', 79' (2/3) Sin bin: Laybutt 26' to 36' |
Report |
Tries: McLean 42' Liddiard 67' Skipps 70', 76' Goals: Falls 43' (1/1) Clarke 68', 72', 77' (3/3) |
Referee: Jarrod Cole |
| Saturday, 14 February | New Zealand Warriors | 18–33 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | McLean Park, Napier | |
| 12:40 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Leiataua 4', 38' Tauafiafi-Iutoi 71' Tafua 75' Goals: Boyd 40' (1/2) Norris (0/1) Inch (0/1) |
Report |
Tries: Bryan 10' Hart 30', 43' Faulalo 34' Wilson 58' Muagututia 78' Goals: Wakeham 11', 32', 59', 79' (4/6) Drop goals: Walsh 80' (1/1) |
Attendance: 13,575 Referee: Ashley Klein |
| Saturday, 14 February | Wests Tigers | 42–26 | Sydney Roosters | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | |
| 14:50 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Attendance: 8,358 Referee: Kieren Irons |
| Saturday, 14 February | Newcastle Knights | 0–28 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | |
| 17:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
1st: 0–16 2nd: 0–12 Report |
Tries: Sua 15' Burton 19' Salmon 33' Kikau 64' Toy 74' Goals: Crichton 2/3 21', 35' O'Sullivan 2/2 65', 75' |
Attendance: 8,358 Referee: Liam Kennedy |
| Saturday, 14 February | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24–28 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | |
| 19:10 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Referee: Gerard Sutton |
| Sunday, 15 February | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 6–40 | Parramatta Eels | Henson Park, Sydney | |
| 17:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Attendance: 8,972 Referee: Tyson Brough |
Third week
| Friday, 20 February | New Zealand Warriors | 34–38 | Dolphins | Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | |
| 17:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Tries: Ford 4' Egan 24' Watene-Zelezniak 36', 58' Leiataua 54' Ieremia-Toeava 60' Goals: Boyd 6', 26', 37', 55' (4/5) Tuaupiki 62' (1/1) Sin bin: Ford 12' to 22' |
Report |
Tries: Cobbo 9' Schneider 19' Fuller 42' Isaako 46' Naufahu 69' Fineanganofo 72' Pouniu 75' Goals: Isaako 20', 44' (2/4) Schneider 70', 73', 76' (3/3) Sin bin: Molo 53' to 63' |
Referee: Grant Atkins |
| Friday, 20 February | Wests Tigers | 26–12 | Penrith Panthers | Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | |
| 19:10 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Referee: Ashley Klein |
| Saturday, 21 February | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 48–6 | Canberra Raiders | polytec Stadium, Gosford | |
| 14:50 AEST (UTC+11:00) |
Report |
Referee: Gerard Sutton |
| Saturday, 21 February | Sydney Roosters | 22–28 | Parramatta Eels | polytec Stadium, Gosford | |
| 17:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Referee: Wyatt Raymond |
| Saturday, 21 February | Melbourne Storm | 12–42 | Gold Coast Titans | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast | |
| 19:10 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Attendance: 10,062 Referee: Peter Gough |
| Sunday, 22 February | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 30–6 | Manly Sea Eagles | Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee | |
| 15:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) |
Report |
Referee: Todd Smith |
See also
References
- ^ "2026 Draw Debrief: Witzer Pre-Season schedule revealed". NRL.com. 14 November 2025.
- ^ "Brisbane Broncos to Face Hull KR in 2026 World Club Challenge". broncos.com.au. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.