The winners of The Courier’s 2025 Business House Challenge and Readers’ Tipping Competition have been crowned.
Narrabri Pharmacy claimed top honours in the Business House Challenge while Michael Knox was the winner of the Readers’ Tipping Competition.
With Narrabri Pharmacy being eight points ahead coming into the final round, and only having one tip different to second-placed Logan & Co and two tips different to third-placed Namoi Hotel, it was clear the Maitland Street business would be victorious.
Narrabri Pharmacy finished on 253 points, Namoi Hotel moved up to second place on 245 points and Santos finished the preliminary season in third place also on 245 points.
However, the Readers’ Tipping Competition was a closer affair than the Business House Challenge.
Michael Knox recently overtook last year’s champion Danny Laws, who had held top spot for a considerable portion of the season. While close, it was evident after the readers’ tips had been submitted that Michael would be victorious with only one tip different to second-placed Danny.
Michael finished the regular season on 263 points, Danny was second on 261 points and Garry Cuell was third on 255 points.
For Karen, who is a Sea Eagles supporter, she is tipping the Raiders to battle the Panthers for premiership honours. She is picking the Raiders to get the job done. Karen’s husband David will also join her for the grand final experience.
This year marks the fourth time the Maitland Street pharmacy has claimed top honours.
However, it will be Karen’s first time making it to the big dance as part of The Courier promotion, with her husband David and son Justin previously enjoying the first prize of the NRL tickets, return airfares and five-star accommodation in Sydney’s CBD.
Karen is no stranger to the electric atmosphere of the NRL grand final, having previously watched her beloved Sea Eagles claim the coveted silverware.
“It’s such a great atmosphere,” Karen told The Courier.
“It’s such a great promotion for the town,” Karen said of The Courier’s NRL tipping competitions.
Sponsor Paradox Sydney, previously the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, has provided the accommodation at its five star luxury hotel in the city’s centre. The Courier has again expressed its thanks to Paradox for its ongoing support of the tipping competition.
“A stay at the luxury hotel in the Sydney CBD is the perfect addition to our NRL grand final experience,” The Courier’s editor Dylan Smith said.
“Our thanks to the supporting businesses that make the competition possible.
“We encourage our Courier readers to support these wonderful businesses that support this annual promotion.”
The Business House Challenge continues throughout the finals in Finals Fever, culminating in the grand final with the format unchanged and including Beat the Biz.
In the readers’ competition, the top eight will participate in the Finals Fever contest.
The Courier’s editor Dylan Smith congratulates Karen and David Carter, Narrabri Pharmacy, for winning the 2025 Business House Challenge prize of NRL grand final tickets, flights and accommodation in Sydney.