BRISBANE — The NRL’s Magic Round kicked off tonight at Suncorp Stadium, a rugby league carnival where fans pack the stands for a weekend of relentless action. Leading the charge, the Parramatta Eels, with halfback Mitchell Moses steering the ship, squared off against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in a clash that set the tone for the round. The air buzzed with anticipation as 40,000-plus spectators poured in, ready for a game that promised grit, speed, and no shortage of bone-rattling tackles.
The Eels, coming off a mixed season, leaned hard on Moses, whose playmaking has been a lifeline for coach Jason Ryles’ squad. On April 30, the club confirmed their lineup, locking in Moses alongside Dylan Brown in the halves, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard anchoring the forwards. But injuries forced some shuffling—Kelma Tuilagi’s suspension opened the door for Charlie Guymer, a young gun itching to prove himself. Parramatta’s camp was tight-lipped but focused, signaling a game plan built on Moses’ kicking game and quick ball movement to exploit Cronulla’s edges.
Across the field, the Sharks weren’t here to play second fiddle. Cronulla’s roster, finalized on May 1, saw Kayal Iro return from injury, bolstering their backline. Nicho Hynes, the Sharks’ own halfback maestro, was set to counter Moses’ magic with his own brand of flair. The club’s match preview hyped their “playmaking wizards,” hinting at a strategy to stretch Parramatta’s defense with sharp passing and offloads. Up front, Toby Rudolf and Cameron McInnes were tasked with muscling through the Eels’ pack, setting a platform for Hynes to weave his spells.
Both teams had to tweak their squads late. On May 1, the Eels and Sharks trimmed their extended benches to 19 players, standard procedure to keep options open for last-minute injuries. By game day, the final 17 were locked in, with no major shocks—Parramatta stuck with their core, while Cronulla welcomed back Iro to add strike power out wide. The NRL’s official program for Magic Round, released on April 29, underscored the stakes: a win here could shift momentum for either side in a season where ladder spots are brutally contested.
Suncorp’s turf, pristine under the Friday night lights, was ready for a slugfest. The Eels-Sharks opener, scheduled for a 6:00 PM kickoff, was billed as a head-to-head between two of the game’s sharpest halves. Moses, with his pinpoint bombs and knack for late-game heroics, faced Hynes, whose running game and vision have made Cronulla a headache for defenses. Fans, draped in blue-and-gold or sky-blue, roared as the teams took the field, the stadium pulsing with the kind of raw energy only Magic Round delivers.
The NRL confirmed the match would be broadcast live across Australia, with streaming options for international fans. Referee Ashley Klein, a veteran whistleblower, was assigned to keep the contest clean, backed by bunker official Grant Atkins. Weather reports from Brisbane on May 2 predicted clear skies, ensuring no rain would dampen the spectacle. Ticket sales, per the league’s ticketing office, were tracking toward a sellout, a testament to Magic Round’s pull as rugby league’s answer to a music festival.
As the whistle blew, the focus was on execution. Parramatta aimed to dominate possession early, using Campbell-Gillard’s carries to tire Cronulla’s forwards. The Sharks, meanwhile, banked on Hynes’ quick hands to unlock Iro and Siosifa Talakai on the flanks. With eight games slated for the weekend, this opener was the spark to ignite Magic Round 2025.
The Eels named Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, and Charlie Guymer in their starting lineup. The Sharks started Nicho Hynes, Kayal Iro, Toby Rudolf, and Cameron McInnes. The match began at 6:00 PM on May 2 at Suncorp Stadium. Referee Ashley Klein officiated.