Check out what happened in the round 1 Las Vegas games of the National Rugby League competition (and the Women’s Test Match).
Round 1 (Las Vegas)
Review
Embed from Getty ImagesCanberra and Penrith opened the 2025 NRL season with wins over the New Zealand Warriors and Cronulla-Sutherland respectively.
The Raiders brushed aside a “scandalous” lead up to dominate the Warriors, swapping the inflatable baseball bats for tries, with two each to Xavier Savage and Sebastian Kris. Savage’s second try was a 90-metre intercept to put Canberra up 16-0.
Penrith showed their class against the Sharks, leading 24-10 after 53 minutes (despite losing Casey McLean to a failed HIA in the third minute). But Cronulla, who are expected to be a premiership contender this season, hit back with tries to Kayal Iro and Addin Fonua-Blake, cutting the lead to two with 10 minutes left. Daine Laurie’s second try sealed the win for Penrith.
The Jillaroos destroyed England in the Women’s Test Match. The Jillaroos picked up where they left off from last year’s Pacific Championship (where they won all three games and outscored their opponents 122-4), running in 17 tries against England. Tamika Upton scored five, Julia Robinson three, and Isabelle Kelly two, while Tarryn Aiken kicked 11 goals.
Embed from Getty ImagesResults
Canberra Raiders 30 (Sebastian Kris 2, Xavier Savage 2, Matthew Timoko tries; Jamal Fogarty 5 goals) defeated New Zealand Warriors 8 (Kurt Capewell, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tries)
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 17. Ata Mariota 22. Jed Stuart
Players cut from final squad: 18. Danny Levi 19. Trey Mooney 20. Ethan Sanders 21. Chevy Stewart
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 15. Jackson Ford 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 10. Mitchell Barnett 13. Erin Clark 14. Dylan Walker 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 21. Eddie Ieremia
Players cut from final squad: 18. Samuel Healey 20. Te Maire Martin 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
Referee: Grant Atkins
Bunker: Gerard Sutton
Penrith Panthers 28 (Daine Laurie 2, Isaah Yeo, Izack Tago, Paul Alamoti tries; Nathan Cleary 4 goals) defeated Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22 (Jesse Ramien, Briton Nikora, Kayal Iro, Addin Fonua-Blake tries; Braydon Trindall 3 goals)
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Luron Patea 18. Brad Schneider
Players cut from final squad: 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Jesse McLean 21. Luke Sommerton 23. Blaize Talagi
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Players cut from final squad: 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Liam Kennedy
Match Review
Xavier Savage (Canberra Raiders), Grade 2 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – 1 match.
Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders), Grade 2 Shoulder Charge. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – 2 match.
Briton Nikora (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Grade 1 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1000 fine.
