Tallon Smith

Rugby league players and supporters across the Northern Rivers region are looking towards the upcoming campaign after the release of the 2025 NRRRL draw yesterday.

A whopping 14 clubs are set to contest the 2025 season across five grades; First Grade, Reserve Grade, Ladies’ Tackle, Ladies’ League Tag, and Under 18s.

The opening round is headlined by a clash between defending premiers Ballina and a resurgent Casino side and a Lismore Derby between Northern United and Marist Brothers.

Other Round 1 action will see last year’s runners-up Bilambil host Tweed Coast, Tweed Heads tackle Mullumbimby, Lower Clarence travel to Kyogle, Cudgen square off with Murwillumbah, and Byron Bay face Evans Head.

The Grand Final rematch will take place in Round 10, with Bilambil playing host to Ballina in their only clash of the season.

The competition will have general byes over Easter, the weekend of May 3/4, the June Long Weekend and July 19/20, which is the traditional date of the Splendour in the Grass music festival in Byron Bay, though its future is uncertain after the 2024 edition was cancelled.

The regular season will comprise 16 rounds, with all rounds featuring a full slate of seven matches as teams face ten sides once and three twice.

The finals series will feature a top six system once again, beginning on the weekend of August 23/24, and concluding on September 14.

The full draw is attached below.