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The NRL season kicked off in Las Vegas with the Raiders and Panthers securing impressive victories.

The 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership season opened with a thrilling double-header in Las Vegas on March 2, featuring the Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors, followed by the Penrith Panthers against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The Raiders triumphed over the Warriors with a decisive 30-12 victory, led by star player Joseph Tapine, who scored two tries and amassed 150 meters. Despite Shaun Johnson`s two tries, the Warriors struggled to keep pace.

In the second match, the defending champions, Penrith Panthers, showcased their dominance with a commanding 38-14 win against the Sharks. Nathan Cleary was instrumental for the Panthers, scoring a try and successfully kicking 7 goals, totaling 18 points. Will Kennedy of the Sharks managed to score two tries, but it wasn`t enough to turn the tide.

This historic event at Allegiant Stadium attracted a sellout crowd of 65,000 fans, marking a significant step in the NRL`s initiative to expand rugby league`s presence in the United States. Other notable matches included the Sydney Roosters defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-14, with James Tedesco shining with two tries, and the Brisbane Broncos overcoming the North Queensland Cowboys 30-18, highlighted by Reece Walsh`s hat-trick.

The current NRL ladder sees the Penrith Panthers, Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters, and Brisbane Broncos leading with 2 points each, while the New Zealand Warriors, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs, and North Queensland Cowboys are yet to score.

#NRL,#RugbyLeague,#CanberraRaiders,#PenrithPanthers,#LasVegas