One of the most sacred days on the calendar, Anzac Day will again be a powerful day for rugby league.
The traditional Dragons-Roosters clash leads us off at 4.00pm at Allianz Stadium, with a full house guaranteed as devoted fans of both teams and those who have taken part in dawn services and the Anzac Day march make the pilgrimage to the stadium.
We then head to SKY Stadium in Wellington where the Warriors will host the Dolphins.
After hosting an Anzac Day game in Auckland in 2024 and Christchurch last year, the Warriors take the showpiece match to Wellington in 2026 and will look to continue their sensational start to the season.
The third match on a very special day of rugby league is the Storm taking on the Rabbitohs at AAMI Park.
The Anzac Day ceremony at AAMI Park has been a highlight on the calendar for a number of years and provides a fitting finish to a memorable day.
The Storm and Rabbitohs have met at AAMI Park on Anzac Day in the past two seasons and the home team have won both but the Bunnies are a very different proposition in 2026.
Follow all the action from Round 8 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
The Last Post: Dragons v Roosters, ANZAC Day
Dragons v Roosters at Allianz Stadium
Match: Dragons v Roosters
Round 8 -
home Team
Dragons
17th Position
away Team
Roosters
7th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
22 min: Siua Wong's flick pass is too high for Rob Toia who puts the ball down. That's the Roosters' first error after starting the game 14 of 14.
19 min: Reece Robson skips out of dummy half and puts James Tedesco into space before the fullback again finds Sam Walker in support for a fourth try for the Roosters. The halfback converts his own try. Roosters 22-0
17 min: The Dragons are made to pay immediately as Daly Cherry-Evans sends a superb long ball to Mark Nawaqanitawase who slides over in the corner. Sam Walker fails to convert from wide out. Roosters 16-0
16 min: Luciano Leilua is penalised and sent to the sin bin after making high contact on Sam Walker after the Roosters playmaker had kicked the ball.
12 min: Mat Feagai makes a mess of a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb and the ball spills to Rob Toia who sends it on to Siua Wong who crosses for the Roosters' second. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 12-0
Sam Walker Try
9 min: James Tedesco brushes off Luciano Leilua and explodes into the back field before picking up Sam Walker who races away for the opening try. The conversion from Walker is good. Roosters 6-0
8 min: Tyrell Sloan fails to control a catch off a Sam Walker bomb but Luciano Leilua is on hand to tidy up.
No try but what a first touch for Reed
4 min: The Dragons look to have struck first after Josh Kerr catches a high ball and offloads for Damien Cook to scoop the ball up and send it on to who Kade Reed who throws a long ball for Mat Feagai to cross but replays show Tyrell Sloan had knocked the ball on in the contest before Kerr came down with it.
3 min: Daly Cherry-Evans launches a high ball for the corner, Mark Nawaqanitawase soars high but can't control the catch and the Dragons come away.
Kick-off: After an emotional pre-game ceremony it's the Dragons who kick off and Naufahu Whyte brings it back on the first carry.
Late Mail
Dragons: One late switch for the Red V with Josh Kerr coming into the run-on side and Hamish Stewart reverting to the interchange. Interim coach Dean Young revealed during the week that Kyle Flanagan will act as hooker Damien Cook's back-up off the bench. Moses Suli is on track to line up in the centres after recovering from an eye socket injury. Emerging playmaker Kade Reed will make his NRL debut at halfback having impressed in the Pre-Season Challenge and the opening weeks of the NSW Cup season.
Roosters: No late changes for the Roosters with Egan Butcher the last man tp drop out of the squad 90 minutes before kick-off. Billy Smith has again fallen short in his bid to return from a knee injury and dropped out of the squad on Friday. Tommy Talau comes onto the six-man bench in jersey No.22.
Numbers Game
- The Roosters have won five of their last six Anzac Day clashes against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have won only two of their last 15 games against the Roosters.
- Roosters second-rower Angus Crichton will make his 150th NRL appearance.
- The Dragons have conceded 175 points in four games at the new Allianz Stadium.
Warriors v Dolphins at Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Match: Warriors v Dolphins
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
3rd Position
away Team
Dolphins
12th Position
Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Late Mail
Numbers Game
- The Warriors have won four of their last five games in Wellington.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored six tries in five games in New Zealand.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored six tries in his last three games.
- Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth has scored seven tries in his last five games against the Warriors.
- Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita will play his 100th NRL game.
Storm v Rabbitohs at AAMI Park
Match: Storm v Rabbitohs
Round 8 -
home Team
Storm
15th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
4th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL