The upcoming NRL Telstra Premiership Round 25 fixtures feature significant team news, including updates on player returns and coaching changes. Latrell Mitchell‘s anticipated return for the Rabbitohs has been postponed, while Tom Trbojevic is expected to rejoin the Sea Eagles.
Player Movements and Injury Updates
Latrell Mitchell, a key player for the Rabbitohs, will not be making his comeback in Round 25. He has been sidelined for 11 games due to nerve pain in his lower back, which has also affected his leg and calf. The Rabbitohs have won six and lost five matches during his absence. Coach Wayne Bennett had indicated Mitchell was a possibility for the match against the Warriors if he completed full training, but the club has decided to hold him back for another week. There have been no setbacks in his recovery, and the team is now targeting the Round 26 match against the Titans for his return, dependent on his ability to handle increased training loads. A potential bench role has been flagged for Mitchell, as he is unlikely to play a full 80 minutes in his initial games back.
In other injury news, Tom Trbojevic is set to return for the Sea Eagles in their game against Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium. His return is a boost for the team, which has not secured a win since his last hamstring injury in Round 20. The Sea Eagles will also see the return of Ben Trbojevic from injury, though halfback Joey Walsh is out with a fractured jaw. Jake Trbojevic spoke about his brother’s dedication to recovery, highlighting his professionalism.
The Storm‘s prop and Fijian Test captain Tui Kamikamica has announced his medical retirement from rugby league. This follows a stroke he suffered earlier in the year, which led to a seizure and subsequent surgeries to remove a blood clot and close a small hole in his heart. Kamikamica, who is in good health, had hoped to return to play but will now conclude his 142-game career with Melbourne. He was inducted as a life member of the club.
For the Raiders, centre Simi Sasagi is back from a shoulder injury, providing a boost for their finals aspirations. Josh Papalii has been promoted to the starting side for his final home game, which will be held at the specially renamed ‘Papa’s House’. The Raiders have averaged 35 points in their last four home games. For the Broncos, Hayze Perham will play his fifth NRL game of the season at fullback, replacing Reece Walsh, who is out with a syndesmosis injury. Veteran Ben Hunt will start at halfback for the first time since Round 18.
The Dolphins will see Origin star Max Plath join the starting side, with Connelly Lemuelu likely sidelined until the finals due to a hamstring injury. Jake Averillo and Brian Pouniu are new additions to the interchange bench. The Dolphins are currently on a seven-game winning streak at Suncorp Stadium. For the Eels, Jack de Belin returns at lock, moving Saxon Pryke to the bench. Dylan Walker is facing at least one game out due to a wrist injury.
Coaching Developments
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters is set to leave his role after this year’s World Cup. He will then move to England to become the head coach of St Helens. This early exit has opened up the possibility for Ivan Cleary, the four-time premiership-winning Panthers mentor, to be considered for the national coaching position. Cleary is expected to vacate his head coaching role with the Panthers at the end of 2027, with assistant Peter Wallace taking over.
Cleary has expressed interest in representative coaching, having previously served as an assistant coach for the Kiwis in a World Cup. Other potential candidates for the Kangaroos role include recent Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater, NSW counterpart Laurie Daley, and Cameron Smith. The ARL Commission is not in an immediate rush to find a replacement, as the Kangaroos are not scheduled to play again after the World Cup until the end of 2027.
Billy Slater recently stepped down from his role as Maroons coach after five years, indicating it was the right time for someone else to lead the team. He has consistently stated he is not interested in becoming an NRL head coach. Cameron Smith has also ruled himself out of contention for the Maroons role, citing the workload as too demanding. Broncos assistant Matt Ballin has emerged as a leading contender for the Maroons coaching position, with Queensland Origin assistant Ben Te’o considering a move to South Sydney next season.
The Warriors have announced a new four-year deal for coach Andrew Webster, which will keep him at the club until the end of 2032. This extension will make Webster the longest-serving coach in the club’s history, extending his tenure to a decade.
Round 25 Fixtures
The Round 25 schedule includes several matches:
- Raiders v Broncos, Friday 6:00 pm at GIO Stadium
- Dolphins v Eels, Friday 8:00 pm at Suncorp Stadium
- Knights v Sea Eagles, Saturday 3:00 pm at McDonald Jones Stadium
Match officials for the Raiders v Broncos game include referee Adam Gee, touch judges Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski and Phil Henderson, and senior review official Chris Butler. For the Dolphins v Eels match, Gerard Sutton will be the referee and Ashley Klein the senior review official.
Source: nrl.com
