Hello and welcome to our coverage of the final Friday night of the 2025 NRL regular season. It’s Dom Brock on blog duties tonight, with Christian Nicolussi reporting in from Manly where the Sea Eagles face the Warriors, while Dan Walsh is at Allianz Stadium for the Roosters-Rabbitohs clash.
Try machine: Alex Johnston.Credit: Getty Images
First up, it’s Daly Cherry-Evans’ farewell to the Sea Eagles after 15 seasons with the club. Technically Manly can still finish eighth if they smash the Warriors and the Roosters get thumped by Souths, but they would both have to be 40+ margins so we can pretty much rule that out.
But it’s still a huge event for the Sea Eagles, who say goodbye to one of their great modern players after 351 NRL matches, plus 26 Origins, 21 Tests and a premiership. He’s expected to join the Roosters next season.
The only team in action tonight guaranteed to play finals footy is the Warriors, who will finish fifth or sixth depending on the weekend’s results, while the Roosters can lock up a finals berth if they beat their old rivals the Rabbitohs. But Souths still have plenty to play for – both the chance to end the Chooks’ season, and to give Alex Johnston the three tries he needs to surpass Ken Irvine’s all-time record of 212.
Kick-off is at 6pm, then 8pm. Follow all the action as it happens, right here.