Brisbane Broncos and Rabbitohs dragged into ‘ridiculous’ NRL move for 2025 season

Broncos and South Sydney fans have been left disappointed with the NRL draw with supporters set to wait more than three weeks from the opening game to see Reece Walsh, Latrell Mitchel and their other stars take to the field at home. On Thursday the NRL draw for 2025 was released with fans waiting to see who their team would take on in the opening round.

Fans also look to plan their first visit to their home stadium for the new season. However, Broncos fans won’t get to see Michael Maguire’s new-look team up close until round three when they return home to play the Cowboys at Suncorp stadium.

From the opening game in Las Vegas to the Broncos playing the Cowboys in round three it will be close to three weeks before Suncorp welcomes home their superstars. While this has come as a letdown for supporters who watched the Broncos miss out on the top eight last year under Kevin Walters, a blockbuster match-up against the Roosters will open their season.

Maguire has already started putting players through a gruelling pre-season camp with Walsh, Payne Haas and co already back looking to prove a point. Despite a wait to return home, the Broncos then have an extremely favourable draw up until State of Origin.

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With a number of Friday night games, the Broncos will then play seven games at Suncorp – in nine rounds – before a bye. This will allow the Broncos to remain in Brisbane for the majority of the schedule before a number of players are inevitably selected for Origin, which can be seen as a huge advantage.

And the Rabbitohs will start life under new coach Wayne Bennett on the road with their first game in Accor Stadium set for round four against reigning champions the Penrith Panthers. From round three to round nine the Rabbitohs will only face teams that finished in the top eight in 2024.

Both sets of fans have been left divided over their draw with many calling out the wait to see their team play at home. Others have once again pointed to the amount of home games the Broncos receive with the reduced travel in the first half of the season a bonus for the club looking to rebound from a poor 2024 season.

Reece Walsh opens up on Michael Maguire training

Broncos fans will be excited to see star fullback Walsh return to the field having missed the final few games of the 2024 season with a foot injury. Walsh has signed a record deal for the Broncos in the off-season that will see him remain at the club for a further four years. And Walsh has spoken about new coach Maguire and some honest conversations he has had with about being more consistent in 2025.

“I think narrowing the gap between my best game and my worst, that’s a big thing that’s sticking out in my head,” Walsh said. “Consistency is a big thing I’m chasing. Madge (Maguire) is big on turning up here each day, putting your best foot forward and having a red hot crack, and I think that’s something I want to build in my game.

“You look at players like Payne (Haas), where every single game he’s turning up and every single training session he’s turning up. That’s a big thing for me.

“There have been some really good honest conversations. They are the conversations you want to have to get better. It is about me growing as a person and a player. I want to be that player that everyone wants to play with. Madge is driving that. I have got so much growth in me and that is what is exciting.

“I feel like the position I play … it’s time for myself to start taking on more of a leader role. I’ve got so much more to learn and it’s good having Madge and all the senior boys there I can lean on for advice.”