The National Rugby League (NRL) Pre-season Challenge is a two-week Australian rugby league pre-season competition held annually before the beinging of each year's National Rugby League (NRL) season.
Background
The competition was introduced in 2023 in attempt to formalise pre-season fixtures. The competition also aims to encourage a more attacking style of rugby league with bonus points being awarded for teams for scoring tries, making line breaks, and making offloads. The winner of the competition receives AU$100,000 as prize money.
Participation
The Pre-season Challenge is either a 16-team or an 18-team competition. In odd number years where Australia hosts the World Club Challenge, the traveling Super League team has participated in the Pre-season Challenge with the World Club Challenge being held as part of the competition. In even number years where the UK hosts the World Club Challenge, the traveling NRL team does not participate in the Pre-season Challenge. As a result of the cancellation of the 2025 World Club Challenge, the 2025 Pre-season Challenge saw 17 teams compete.
Results
Season Winner Ref. 2023 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2024 Brisbane Broncos 2025 Brisbane Broncos 2026 Parramatta Eels
References