Here’s your briefing on the full NRL Pre-Season rundown for 2024 — games, dates, times and more.
Although it’s not the start of the actual season, for many rugby league fans it’s the return of the sport they’ve waited four months for.
Kicking off in mid-February, there will be 16 trial matches across two weekends of footy, with interesting matchups that always offer us an early look at fresh squads.
So with a bunch of NRL Pre-Season games on the cards this February, here’s everything you need to know, so you don’t miss a second of the action.
NRL Pre-Season Challenge 2024
Don’t forget that the NRL’s pre-season consists of a new-look format these days — it’s the second-ever Pre-Season Challenge, with $100,000 up for grabs.
That includes the defending NRL Pre-Season champs, Manly, who now have maligned former Tigers playmaker Luke Brooks. Let’s see if Sea Eagles megastar Tom Trbojevic lines up, after missing the second half of the 2023 season.
The NRL Pre-Season games for 2024 have been set up in many interesting ways including three double-headers at Belmore Sports Ground, Gosford and Kogarah, multiple games in regional towns and the always entertaining annual Charity Shield clash between South Sydney and St George.
All Stars game
Along with 16 of the NRL teams in action across the Pre-Season Challenge, there will also be the annual All Stars game between the Indigenous and Maori sides that will held in north Queensland this time.
When does the 2024 NRL Pre-Season start?
Thursday February 15, 2024
The upcoming NRL Pre-Season games begin mid-February, with the week one fixtures starting with an old rivalry, Bulldogs against Melbourne at Belmore Sports Ground.
This opening weekend also includes the Indigenous vs Maori All Stars game in Townsville, along with the Charity Shield match at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Week two games start Friday February 23 with the Belmore Sports Ground double-header which sees eternal rivals Souths and the Roosters face off at 6 pm followed by the Bulldogs and Sharks.
All of this is just a couple of weeks before the NRL’s Las Vegas games that will open up the 2024 season.
How to watch the NRL Pre-Season games
Kayo and Foxtel
Every men’s trial game will be broadcast on Foxtel live with Kayo also streaming it live and on demand.
Every 2024 NRL Pre-Season game
The NRL Pre-Season games are broken up over two weekends with a total of 16 games, plus the Indigenous vs Maori All Star game.
Penrith will not take part in the 2024 NRL Pre-Season Challenge as they are set to head to England to take on Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
Week One
Thursday February 15
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Melbourne Storm, Belmore Sports Ground, 7pm AEDT
Friday February 16
Women’s: Indigenous All Stars vs Maori All Stars, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 5:50pm AEDT
Men’s: Indigenous All Stars vs Maori All Stars, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 8:10pm AEDT
Saturday February 17
Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, Industree Group Stadium, 1:45pm AEDT
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Industree Group Stadium, 3:45pm AEDT
Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5:55pm AEDT
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 8:05pm AEDT
Sunday February 18
New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, 2pm AEDT
North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos, BB Print Stadium Mackay, 4pm AEDT
Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 6:15pm AEDT
Week Two
Friday February 23
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters, Belmore Sports Ground, 6pm AEDT
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Belmore Sports Ground, 8pm AEDT
Saturday February 24
Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights, Churchill Park, Laukota, Fiji, 1:45pm AEDT
New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, 3:45pm AEDT
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos, 4 Pines Park, 5:55pm AEDT
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers, Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee, 8:05pm AEDT
Sunday February 25
Canberra Raiders vs North Queensland Cowboys, Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan, 3pm AEDT
Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels, North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich, 5pm AEDT
How does the NRL Pre-Season Challenge work?
There will be plenty on the line this NRL Pre-Season, with $100,000 up for grabs for the team that wins the Pre-Season Challenge — but how will a winner be decided?
16 of the 17 NRL teams will be in action — Penrith is the only team not taking part because they are set to face Wigan in the World Club Challenge in England.
Following the 2023 system, 12 points will be awarded per win, six points each for a draw (as there is no golden point), plus additional points for teams that score 5+ tries, 5+ line breaks and 10+ offloads per game.
Obviously, the team with the most points after the two games will be crowned the winner of the Pre-Season Challenge.
In the event of a tie, a count-back system will decide the outcome based on point differentials and percentages etc.
