Rugby league is back and the action gets underway this month with the 2026 NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
In total, 16 matches will be played across three weekends in February as 16 of the 17 NRL sides prepare for the opening round of the 2026 season in early March.
The only side not to feature in the Pre-Season Challenge for 2026 is the defending premiers Brisbane who travel to England to play the World Club Challenge against Hull KR on Friday February 20 (AEDT).
In addition to traditional NRL home grounds like Jubilee Stadium, WIN Stadium, Leichhardt Oval and McDonald Jones Stadium, 2026 pre-season matches will be taken to Napier, Mackay, Sunshine Coast, Redcliffe, Gosford, Queanbeyan and Mudgee.
The Sporting News has all the pre-season fixtures and latest results.
NRL trials 2026: Fixtures, schedule and results for Pre-Season Challenge
Week 1
Date
Fixture
Time (AEDT)
Venue
Sat. Feb. 7
5:30 pm
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Sat. Feb. 7
7:30 pm
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Week 2
Date
Fixture
Time (AEDT)
Venue
Thu. Feb. 12
8:00 pm
Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Fri. Feb. 13
5:30 pm
Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan
Fri. Feb. 13
Cowboys vs. Panthers
8:00 pm
BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Sat. Feb. 14
Warriors vs. Sea Eagles
1:40 pm
Mclean Park, Napier
Sat. Feb. 14
Tigers vs. Roosters
3:50 pm
McDonald Jones Stadium
Sat. Feb. 14
Knights vs. Bulldogs
6:00 pm
McDonald Jones Stadium
Sat. Feb. 14
Dragons vs. Rabbitohs
8:10 pm
WIN Stadium
Sun. Feb. 16
Sharks vs. Eels
6:00 pm
Henson Park
Week 3
Date
Fixture
Time (AEDT)
Venue
Fri. Feb. 20
Warriors vs. Dolphins
6:00 pm
Leichhardt Oval
Fri. Feb. 20
Tigers vs. Panthers
8:10 pm
Leichhardt Oval
Sat. Feb. 21
Sharks vs. Raiders
3:50 pm
Polytec Stadium, Gosford
Sat. Feb. 21
Roosters vs. Eels
6:00 pm
Polytec Stadium, Gosford
Sat. Feb. 21
Storm vs. Titans
8:10 pm
Sunshine Coast Stadium
Sun. Feb. 22
Rabbitohs vs. Sea Eagles
4:00 pm
Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee
MORE: NRL draw 2026 – Full 27-round fixtures and schedule for every clubNRL 2026 Pre-Season Challenge ladder
Position
Team
GP
Wins
Draws
Losses
Bonus Points
P/D
Points
1
St George Illawarra Dragons
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
New Zealand Warriors
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Cronulla Sharks
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Wests Tigers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Dolphins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
Manly Sea Eagles
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Gold Coast Titans
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
Parramatta Eels
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
Penrith Panthers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Canterbury Bulldogs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11
Canberra Raiders
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
South Sydney Rabbitohs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
Sydney Roosters
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
Newcastle Knights
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
Melbourne Storm
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
North Queensland Cowboys
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Who won the NRL Pre-Season Challenge last year?
The Brisbane Broncos claimed the 2025 Pre-Season Challenge title.
After winning both of their trial games and accumulating 29 points, they edged the Dragons on points differential.
Brisbane won their opening 2025 pre-season match 50-12 against the Titans before beating the Bulldogs 30-14 the following week to lock in a perfect record.