Some 124 days after clinching a remarkable fourth premiership on the trot, the Penrith Panthers kick-start their 2025 campaign with a trip to the Shire to face the Raiders.
The Panthers took no part in last year’s Pre-Season Challenge due to their World Club Challenge commitments in England, but in 2025 they get a shot at the $100,000 prizemoney and more silverware.
For the Raiders, new signing Ethan Sanders gets a chance to impress in the halves alongside Adam Cook while lock Myles Martin and back-rower Matty Nicholson wear the green jersey for the first time.
Former Rabbitoh Izaac Thompson is on a train and trial deal at the Raiders and has been listed on the bench along with development players Noah Martin, Joe Roddy, Peter Taateo and Jake Clydsdale.
Follow all the action from the second night of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on NRL.com’s live blog.
Saturday, February 8, Pre-Season Challenge Round 1
Panthers v Raiders at Sharks Stadium
Key injuries
Panthers lock Matt Eisenhuth was a late withdrawal from the match before kick-off and was replaced in the starting line-up with Trent Toelau.
Key takeaways
Canberra’s young guns impressed, with new signing from the Eels Ethan Sanders looking good in the first half and Monto-born hooker Owen Pattie doing the damage in the second.
While the possession by the end of the game evened up to be 50% each way, the Panthers will rue their missed opportunities in the first half where they had the bulk of possession and made fewer errors than the Raiders.
There was plenty of feeling shown by players in both teams in the match, with the wet conditions doing nothing to put a dampener on the ‘enthusiasm’ on display in their first proper hit-out of 2025.
Full-time: Despite a fast finish from the Panthers, the Raiders have held on to claim a 22-16 win in their opening Witzer Pre-Season Challenge match.
Played at times in pouring rain, Canberra opened up the game at the start of the second half and seemed on track for a comfortable win, before the Panthers hit back with some quick-fire tries late.
While there were more than a few errors, it was an entertaining match where some stars of the future shone for both teams.
Elsewhere, the Broncos have recorded a 22-0 win over their Queensland Hostplus Cup affiliate Burleigh Bears, while the NRL Dolphins went down to their feeder club Central Queensland Capras 22-20 in Gladstone.
71st minute – Another Panthers try! Zack Lamont slides over for Penrith as they go back-to-back. The try scorer Lane put in a good run to help set up the try, with Toelau converting once more to narrow the score to 22-16.
69th minute – Try! The Panthers claw back some momentum with Samuel Lane going over to score after collecting a nice kick. Trent Toelau converts to bring the scores to 22-10 with 10 to play.
64th minute – Try! Raiders second rower Noah Martin helps himself to a try to put Canberra even further in front in what has been a dominant second half. The New South Wales Under 19 Origin representative in 2024 juggled a pass 20 metres out before charging through the defensive line to go over to score.
48th minute: Try! He’s in again, Pattie goes back-to-back for the Raiders, with the side capitalising on a Jed Stuart break. The conversion missed, but Canberra lead 16-4.
45th minute: Try! He came off the bench and has made an impact, with the Central Queensland product scoring the first try of the second half for the Raiders to extend their lead. He had plenty of attention from defenders in his dummy-half dart to the line, but the Bunker confirmed at try.
Half-time: The teams head to the sheds with a try apiece, with the Raiders holding a two-point 6-4 lead thanks to an Ethan Sanders conversion. The former Eels half has looked good for his new side, but Penrith have had the majority of possession and should have put on more points with their opportunities. Raiders will be happy with their commitment shown in defence.
35th minute: Try! David Fale hits back for the Panthers before half-time with a committed run to the line, carrying the defending Sanders on his back to score. Five-eighth Jack Cole’s conversion attempt is waved away, with the Raiders leading 6-4.
26th minute – Try! After absorbing a heap of pressure at their own end, the Raiders are the first on the board, with Simi Sasagi holding onto a short ball at the line in the wet to score. Was some nice play in the lead up with today’s captain Adam Cook combining with Ethan Sanders who put on a step before finding his second rower as he was falling to the ground in a tackle. Sanders converts for a 6-0 lead.
20th minute: Scores remain locked at 0-0, but Penrith have looked the most likely in attack and have built some pressure with a line drop out.
ICYMI – former Storm forward Chris Lewis has joined the Raiders coaching staff in the off-season. The former school teacher is up in the box for Ricky Stuart in this game and will coach the club’s NSW Cup team this season.
10th minute: Still no score at Sharks Stadium, with both sides unable to build pressure. Unsurprisingly as their first match of the Pre-Season Challenge, there have been a few errors from both sides.
7.30pm AEDT: We have kick-off between the Panthers and Raiders in the second of the Round 1 matches, with Penrith getting first use of the ball.
6.30pm AEDT: Welcome to the second of the Pre-Season Challenge matches, with the Panthers taking on the Raiders.
Both teams have some late changes to the line-ups named on Tuesday.
For Canberra, Shaun Packer will start the match at hooker, with Owen Pattie to come off the bench. Panthers lock Matthew Eisenhuth has dropped from the side with an injury and been replaced in the starting line-up with Trent Toelau.
