NRL great Corey Parker has criticised the league for excluding the Canberra Raiders from next year's Magic Round, calling the decision a 'disgrace'. The Raiders, who finished as minor premiers in 2025, two wins ahead of the second-placed Storm, will not feature in the festival round at Suncorp Stadium.
Parker highlighted the Raiders' strong record in Magic Round, with a 5-1 win-loss record across six editions. He noted that the team has become one of the most entertaining in the competition, featuring young stars such as Kaeo Weekes, Ethan Strange, and Joe Tapine. 'The minor premiers, the best team, the most consistent team throughout the course of the season last year, are not there,' Parker said.
The exclusion follows a pattern where Manly had the bye during Magic Round this year, while St George Illawarra sat out in 2024 and Newcastle in 2023. The NRL has scheduled marquee matches for the round, including Cronulla versus Canterbury on Friday night, and South Sydney versus Dolphins in the other Friday night game.
The scheduling of Brisbane and Penrith on the final day of Magic Round could cause headaches for State of Origin coaches, as both sides will likely enter camp that night or the following morning. Meanwhile, women's Magic Round has been moved from Newcastle to Wagga Wagga, with the 10,000-capacity Geohex Park set to host the event.
The NRL will officially unveil the full draw on Friday, after confirming opening-round fixtures and Daly Cherry-Evans' return match at Brookvale. One of the most anticipated matches in the opening weeks is the Round 3 Friday night fixture between Melbourne and Brisbane at AAMI Park, a rematch of last season's grand final.
