NRL Pre-season Challenge
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The National Rugby League (NRL) Pre-season Challenge is a two week Australian rugby league pre-season competition held annually before the beinging of each year's National Rugby League (NRL) season.
Current season, competition or edition: 2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| First season | 2023 |
| No. of teams | 16 or 18 |
| Country |  Australia(16 teams)  New Zealand(1 team) |
| Current premiers |  Parramatta Eels(1st premiership) |
| Most premierships |  Brisbane Broncos(2 premierships) |
| Related competitions | National Rugby League |
Background
The competition was introduced in 2023 in attempt to formalise pre-season fixtures. The competition also aims to encourage a more attacking style of rugby league with bonus points being awarded for teams for scoring tries, making line breaks, and making offloads. The winner of the competition recives AU$100,000 as prize money.[1]
Participation
The Pre-season Challenge is either a 16-team or an 18-team competition. In odd number years where Australia hosts the World Club Challenge, the traveling Super League team has participated in the Pre-season Challenge with the World Club Challenge being held as part of the competition.[2] In even number years where the UK hosts the World Club Challenge, the traveling NRL team does not participate in the Pre-season Challenge.[3][4] As a result of the cancellation of the 2025 World Club Challenge, the 2025 Pre-season Challenge saw 17 teams compete.
Results
| Season | Winner | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
[5] |
| 2024 | Brisbane Broncos |
[6] |
| 2025 | Brisbane Broncos |
[7] |
| 2026 | Parramatta Eels |
[8] |