Tallon Smith

The Castlereagh Rugby League will be contested by 10 teams this year after the return of Warren and Dunedoo to the First Grade competition was confirmed in the release of the league’s 2025 draw today.

The opening round is highlighted by the Warren Bulldogs welcoming last season’s runners-up Cobar to Victoria Park, as they mark their return to the competition following a seven-year absence.

Last year’s premiers Coolah will look to begin their title defence on the right foot when they host fellow contenders Narromine at Bowen Oval, while Dunedoo will travel to Coonamble in their first game back in the top grade.

Other round one matchups will see Baradine host Gilgandra and Coonabarabran face Gulgong, with all games taking place on Saturday, April 26.

The highly anticipated Grand Final rematch between Coolah and Cobar will take place in round two, on Saturday, May 3 at the Roos’ home ground of Bowen Oval, before the return clash in Round 10 at Tom Knight Memorial Oval.

The final day of the season will see some massive matchups that could well determine the make-up of the top five, highlighted by Cobar hosting Narromine in a rematch of the 2024 Preliminary Final. 

The other round 14 games will see Gulgong square off with Coonamble, Coolah host Coonabarabran, Warren face Baradine, and Dunedoo tackle Gilgandra.

The fourteen-round regular season will run over fifteen weeks, with a general bye over the June Long weekend, and all matches being played on Saturdays.

A five team, four week finals series will follow, expanded from last year’s top four system after the addition of the two extra sides this season.

The lower-ranked matchups of the first two weeks will be played on Sundays, with all other matches, including the Grand Final on August 30, taking place on Saturdays.

2025 Castlereagh Rugby League Draw

Round 1

Saturday, April 26

Coonamble v Dunedoo

Warren v Cobar

Baradine v Gilgandra

Coonabarabran v Gulgong

Coolah v Narromine

Round 2

Saturday, May 3

Gilgandra v Coonamble

Coonabarabran v Warren

Gulgong v Baradine

Narromine v Dunedoo

Coolah v Cobar

Round 3

Saturday, May 10

Dunedoo v Baradine

Narromine v Warren

Coonamble v Coolah

Cobar v Coonabarabran

Gilgandra v Gulgong

Round 4

Saturday, May 17

Coonabarabran v Narromine

Baradine v Coonamble

Warren v Coolah

Cobar v Gilgandra

Gulgong v Dunedoo

Round 5

Saturday, May 24

Gilgandra v Warren

Baradine v Coonabarabran

Coonamble v Narromine

Dunedoo v Coolah

Gulgong v Cobar

Round 6

Saturday, May 31

Cobar v Dunedoo

Coolah v Baradine

Coonabarabran v Gilgandra

Warren v Coonamble

Narromine v Gulgong

Round 7

Saturday, June 14

Dunedoo v Coonabarabran

Coonamble v Cobar

Gilgandra v Coolah

Baradine v Narromine

Gulgong v Warren

Round 8

Saturday, June 21

Coolah v Gulgong

Coonabarabran v Coonamble

Warren v Dunedoo

Narromine v Gilgandra

Cobar v Baradine

Round 9

Saturday, June 28

Narromine v Cobar

Coonabarabran v Coolah

Coonamble v Gulgong

Baradine v Warren

Gilgandra v Dunedoo

Round 10

Saturday, July 5

Coonamble v Gilgandra

Baradine v Gulgong

Warren v Coonabarabran

Cobar v Coolah

Dunedoo v Narromine

Round 11

Saturday, July 12

Narromine v Coolah

Gilgandra v Baradine

Gulgong v Coonabarabran

Dunedoo v Coonamble

Cobar v Warren

Round 12

Saturday, July 19

Gilgandra v Cobar

Coolah v Warren

Coonamble v Baradine

Dunedoo v Gulgong

Narromine v Coonabarabran

Round 13

Saturday, July 26

Baradine v Dunedoo

Gulgong v Gilgandra

Coolah v Coonamble

Warren v Narromine

Coonabarabran v Cobar

Round 14

Saturday, August 2

Gulgong v Coonamble

Coolah v Coonabarabran

Warren v Baradine

Dunedoo v Gilgandra

Cobar v Narromine

Finals Series

Qualifying – Saturday August 9

Elimination – Sunday August 10

Major Semi – Saturday August 16

Minor Semi – Sunday August 17

Preliminary – Saturday August 23

Grand Final – Saturday August 30

Cover Photo: The Cobar Weekly