BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Despite an ugly-looking start to the season for the Sydney Roosters where they face the four-time defending champions Penrith twice before their annual ANZAC Day clash against St George Illawarra – the Tricolours might just have the best draw of any team going into the 2025 premiership.

The NRL officially announced the entire premiership schedule on Thursday – shockingly without a bunch of games dripped and leaked to media in the days leading in – with most fans appeased to what their respective clubs got.

While it isn’t the friendliest draw to start with, the Roosters have the biggest advantage through the State of Origin period when all three of their byes drop between round 10 and round 17.

Trent Robinson’s Roosters will also have very little travel outside of Sydney in 2025 [10, 371 km] with only Canterbury-Bankstown [8, 213 km] beneath them.

In fact, from the 1920 minutes of footy the Roosters will play in the 2025 premiership season, 1440 of those minutes of footy will be played in Sydney.

The Bulldogs play 19 of their 24 games in the harbour city.

Canterbury don’t leave Sydney until round 8 and have a fantastic run between rounds 11 and 18 which includes two byes.

Celebrating 90 years in top-class rugby league in 2025, the Bulldogs will host Manly to celebrate their 1995 premiership win with the venue yet to be decided.

“Coinciding with the Club’s 90-Year celebrations, the Bulldogs will host the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in honour of the 30-year anniversary of the unforgettable 1995 Premiership triumph,” bulldogs.com.au reads.

“The Blue and White will be keen on replicating the ‘95 side’s famous 17-4 victory against the Sea Eagles on the same patch of grass 30 years later – with a venue to be confirmed soon!”

Unsurprisingly, the New Zealand Warriors will again get their frequent flyers up and with the addition of heading to Las Vegas for the NRL’s second annual opening double header, clocking up 72, 529 kilometres.

The Warriors will also travel south to Christchurch to host the Newcastle Knights.

“We’re so excited to confirm our Anzac Day game in Christchurch next year,” said Warriors CEO Cameron George.

“We saw how much the fans from the city and surrounding areas got behind the One New Zealand Warriors for our trial against the Tigers and then our NRL match against the Raiders this year.

“The same happened again last month when the Kiwis played the Kangaroos.

“With Anzac Day falling on Friday, we’d anticipate even more fans travelling from out of town to make the most of the long weekend. It’s going to be a terrific occasion.”

The Knights will fly from Australia for the clash before both sides turn around and head back to Brisbane for Magic Round.

Redcliffe’s Dolphins will travel 24,608 km but basically stay in South-East Queensland up until Magic Round with a drive down to the Titans and an away game against the Chooks at Magic Round.

While Penrith Park is under construction, the Panthers will set up tent in Parramatta and play ten games their in 2025, with eight of them as the home team.

They’ll also spread the good word of the Panthers as the undisputed NRL champions in games in Las Vegas, Mudgee, Bathurst, Townsville, Melbourne and Auckland.

A trip to England for a World Club Challenge against Wigan would have added another 20, 000 kilometres to their schedule.

The Canberra Raiders and head coach Ricky Stuart has a gripe about their draw, despite the club agreeing to be part of the Vegas blockbuster.

Stuart may have an argument, however, as the club has been asked to travel almost 40,000 kilometres over the first nine premiership rounds including trips to Darwin, Townsville and Brisbane.

However, from their round 19 bye, they host Parramatta and Newcastle before a ride up the road to Wollongong to face the Dragons, back home against Manly, another bye, then play Panthers, Wests Tigers and then the Dolphins.

CLUB TRAVEL TRACKER

WARRIORS 72,529 km
RAIDERS 48,089 km
COWBOYS 40,145 km
SHARKS 40,000 km
PANTHERS 39,240 km
STORM 26,708 km
DOLPHINS 24,608 km
KNIGHTS 24,608 km
BRONCOS 18,678 km
TITANS 18,428 km
SEA EAGLES 17,784 km
WESTS TIGERS 15,600 km
RABBITOHS 14,371 km
EELS 13,874 km
DRAGONS 12,566 km
ROOSTERS 10,371 km
BULLDOGS 8,213 km

@woodward_curtis