The NRL Pre-Season Challenge kicks off on February 15 and will feature 16 intense and intriguing clashes across two weekends of entertaining footy that sets the stage for the Telstra Premiership.
The Pre-Season Challenge provides the perfect opportunity to fine tune combinations and get some serious game time under the belt ahead of the Telstra Premiership season kicking off in Las Vegas on March 3.
The Pre-Season Challenge format and points system will remain consistent with 2023, which means there will be $100,000 in prize money up for grabs, split evenly between clubs and players. Teams will once again earn bonus points for tries, line breaks and offloads while playing squads will be capped at 28 players per week.
In addition to being the first chance to see off-season recruits run out in their new colours, the Pre-Season Challenge also gives fans and players their first look at the new rule which encourages more use of short dropouts and short kick-offs.
This year's competition will feature 16 teams, with premiers Penrith not taking part in 2024 as they travel to the UK to take on Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
The rules
Games will be played over 80 minutes as normal, with clubs able to field as many as 28 players with unlimited interchanges at their disposal in both weeks.
The NRL Bunker will be in use in all matches, while games which are tied at the end of regular time will be declared a draw, with no golden point to be played.
The points
Defending champs
The Sea Eagles downed the Rabbitohs and the Roosters last season to claim the inaugural Pre-Season Challenge and take home the $100,000 prizemoney. Manly kick off the defence of their title against the Roosters in Gosford on February 17 before hosting the Broncos at 4 Pines Park on February 24.
The top 10 plays from the NRL Pre-season Challenge
Bonus points
The addition of bonus points to go alongside points earned by winning or drawing a match will ensure teams have something to play for in every contest, no matter what's happening on the scoreboard.
Alongside points accumulated through results, the number of bonus points a team can snare each game could make all the difference on what is sure to be a congested ladder.
The club with the most points at the conclusion of the two rounds will be declared the winner of the Pre-Season Challenge and claim the $100,000 in prizemoney.
Tiebreaker process
Given the short duration of the Pre-Season Challenge, there is a good chance the winner will have to be decided via a countback, and the NRL has devised a system to find a winner should teams finish tied on points at the top of the ladder.
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge clash between the Panthers and Wigan on February 25 is not part of the Pre-Season Challenge. The Panthers won't be part of the Pre-Season Challenge in 2024.
The Schedule
Round 1
Match: Bulldogs v Storm
Round 1 -
home Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
away Team
Storm
11th Position
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Match: Knights v Sharks
Round 1 -
home Team
Knights
1st Position
away Team
Sharks
16th Position
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Match: Roosters v Sea Eagles
Round 1 -
home Team
Roosters
5th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
12th Position
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Match: Eels v Raiders
Round 1 -
home Team
Eels
13th Position
away Team
Raiders
4th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Match: Rabbitohs v Dragons
Round 1 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
away Team
Dragons
14th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
9th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
8th Position
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Match: Cowboys v Broncos
Round 1 -
home Team
Cowboys
15th Position
away Team
Broncos
2nd Position
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Match: Dolphins v Titans
Round 1 -
home Team
Dolphins
7th Position
away Team
Titans
10th Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Round 2
Match: Rabbitohs v Roosters
Round 2 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
11th Position
away Team
Roosters
2nd Position
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Match: Sharks v Bulldogs
Round 2 -
home Team
Sharks
14th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Match: Storm v Knights
Round 2 -
home Team
Storm
7th Position
away Team
Knights
5th Position
Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka
Match: Warriors v Dolphins
Round 2 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Dolphins
8th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match: Sea Eagles v Broncos
Round 2 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
16th Position
away Team
Broncos
1st Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 2 -
home Team
Dragons
9th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
12th Position
Venue: Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Match: Raiders v Cowboys
Round 2 -
home Team
Raiders
3rd Position
away Team
Cowboys
13th Position
Venue: Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan
Match: Titans v Eels
Round 2 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Eels
10th Position
Venue: North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich