The draw for the 2025 Harrigan Cup has been announced as Illawarra Rugby League returns to major competition status this season. It will feature 45 regular-season matches, with clubs facing each other three times over 15 rounds before a five-team finals series.
Round one commences on Thursday, 24 April, with defending premiers Wests facing neighbours Collegians at Collegians Sporting Complex. Here’s how each team fared in the first leg (Rounds 1-5) of the three-leg home and away fixtures.
Full Season Draw >> 2025 Harrigan Cup Draw
Devils Ready To Defend
2024 Illawarra Rugby League champions Wests look ready to defend their crown after claiming bragging rights over Group 7 titleholders Gerringong 14-12 in the Premiers Challenge Cup last month.
The Devils will kick off their 2025 campaign against Collegians, who finished fourth last season, before hosting Thirroul in the highly anticipated 2024 Grand Final rematch in Round Two at Sid Parrish Park.
An away match against Corrimal (6th) is followed by a trip to Captain Cook Oval for a matchup with last year’s Minor Premiers De La Salle before a home clash with Dapto (5th) to round out their first leg of the home and away series.
First Five >> Collegians (A), Thirroul (H), Corrimal (A), De La Salle (A), Dapto (H).
Butchers On The Boyle Again?
Revitalised by the return of veteran five-eighth Jarrod Boyle, who had announced his retirement at the end of last season, the Butchers start their campaign with challenging back-to-back away games.
First up is a trip to the Shire to face last year’s Prelim Final opponents, De La Salle, who will be out for revenge after the Butchers got the better of them 29-4 to advance to the decider. Then, there is the mouthwatering clash against the defending premiers at Parrish Park.
Jarod Costello’s men play two consecutive games on home soil against Dapto and the Cougars before taking on Collegians away in round five.
First Five>> De La Salle (A), Wests (A), Dapto (H), Corrimal (H), Collegians (A).
De La Salle Out To Avoid Déjà Vu
Knocked out in straight sets in their last two finals series after winning the minor premiership, De La Salle have fared much better in the draw this year than last, where they played just one home game in the first five rounds.
They host the Butchers in their opening round before a trip to Dapto Showground to meet the Canaries.
They will then enjoy three consecutive home games against Collegians, Wests, and Corrimal to start their season.
First Five>> Thirroul (H), Dapto (A), Collegians (H), Wests (H), Corrimal (H).
Collies Buoyed By Return of Top Dog
Buoyed by the return of 2003 Paul McGregor Medallist Callum Gromek, who spent last season with the Sydney Roosters, Collegians will host the season opener against Wests, followed by a home game against the Cougars.
They hit the road in round three with a trip up the freeway for a clash with De La Salle followed by Dapto at Dapto Showground.
They wrap up the first leg of their home and away series against the Butchers at home.
First Five>> Wests (H), Corrimal (H), De La Salle (A), Dapto (A), Thirroul (H).
Canaries Singing New Tune
The return of former Dapto junior Paul McGregor, in an off-field capacity, and an influx of new players led by Adam Quinlan gives the Canaries faithful every reason to be excited this season.
Blake Wallace’s outfit will face the Cougars away in the opening round before hosting De La Salle at the Showground.
A trip to Gibson Park to play the Butchers beckons in Round 3 before a return to Dapto to face Collegians. The Devils at Sid Parrish Park will complete their first five games.
First Five>> Corrimal (A), De La Salle (H), Thirroul (A), Collegians (H), Wests (A).
Cougars Cultural Shift
New Corrimal Coach Sean Tabet has vowed to bring a winning culture back to the Cougars.
The Cougars have drawn Dapto at home first-up, the only team they beat last season, before facing Collegians away.
They take on the defending premiers in front of a home crowd in Round 3 before an away clash with the Butchers in the ‘battle of the beaches.’
A trip to the Shire rounds out the first leg of their campaign.
First Five>> Dapto (H), Collegians (A), Wests (H), Thirroul (A), De La Salle (A)