Former NRL star Corey Parker has launched a scathing attack on the league administration after the Canberra Raiders were shockingly excluded from next year's Magic Round in Brisbane.
Minor Premiers Denied Showcase Event
The decision to omit the Raiders has generated widespread disbelief given their outstanding performance during the 2024 season. Canberra finished as minor premiers, two wins clear of second-placed Melbourne Storm, establishing themselves as one of the competition's most consistent and entertaining teams.
"I'm having a dig at the NRL," Parker declared during his appearance on SEN radio. "Magic Round, one of the most carnival-like rounds for the NRL, a festival of stars come to Brisbane and descend on Suncorp Stadium. The minor premiers, the best team, the most consistent team throughout the course of the season last year, are not there."
Parker didn't mince words when describing the scheduling decision, labelling it "an absolute disgrace" that the competition's top team would be missing from one of the NRL's premier events.
Raiders' Strong Magic Round History Ignored
The exclusion becomes even more puzzling when considering Canberra's impressive record in previous Magic Round appearances. The Raiders boast a 5-1 record across six editions of the Suncorp Stadium festival, demonstrating their ability to deliver exciting football on the big stage.
"They're not a boring team to watch," Parker emphasised. "They've got young superstars, like Kaeo Weekes, Ethan Strange, Joe Tapine and these players - why wouldn't they be on show? Look at the game they played this year, I think they played Melbourne on the last game in the Sunday night game, it was an absolute epic."
The veteran commentator questioned the logic behind excluding the team that had proven both successful and entertaining throughout the previous season. "Why aren't we seeing the minor premiers this year, on the big stage here at Suncorp next year? I think it's ridiculous."
Magic Round 2025 Fixtures Revealed
The NRL has scheduled what could be the standout match of Magic Round 2025 with Cronulla versus Canterbury at 6pm on Friday night. This marquee fixture follows women's State of Origin II, which kicks off the event the previous evening.
Other notable fixtures include:
- South Sydney versus Dolphins in the other Friday night encounter
- Manly and Wests Tigers opening Saturday's proceedings
- Sydney Roosters recruit Reece Robson facing his former club North Queensland
- Parramatta and Melbourne closing out Saturday night
- Sunday features Gold Coast versus Newcastle, Warriors versus Brisbane, and Penrith challenging St George Illawarra
The scheduling of Brisbane and Penrith on Magic Round's final day presents potential complications for State of Origin coaches, with both teams likely to enter camp that night or the following morning.
Additional Fixture Highlights
In other scheduling news, Melbourne will host Brisbane in a grand final rematch at AAMI Park in Round 3 on March 20. The Storm will be seeking revenge after their heartbreaking 26-22 defeat in last month's decider, though they'll do so without Ryan Papenhuyzen following his departure from the NRL.
Defending premiers Brisbane face a challenging start to their title defence, heading to England for the World Club Challenge on February 19 before returning to host Penrith in Round 2, followed by their tough away trip to Melbourne.
The women's Magic Round has been relocated from Newcastle to Wagga Wagga, with Geohex Park - capacity 10,000 - set to host the event after previously staging four NRL games, most recently in 2023.
The NRL will officially unveil the complete 2025 draw on Friday, providing fans with full details of the upcoming season's fixtures and scheduling.
