New Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has been handed the toughest assignment in rugby league for his first game in charge of the western Sydney powerhouse.

The Eels will take on the Storm in Melbourne in their season opener as Ryles looks to rebuild Parramatta following a disastrous 2024 campaign in which they narrowly avoided the wooden spoon. Ryles goes up against his mentor, Craig Bellamy, who has overseen an extraordinary streak of 22 consecutive opening-round wins.

It will also be a baptism of fire for premiership-winning mentors Wayne Bennett and Michael Maguire, who have been handed tough away assignments when they take charge of their new teams.

The NRL has released the draw for the first round of the season, which will again kick off with a double-header in Las Vegas, before the spotlight returns to a raft of domestic blockbusters.

The Raiders will take on the Warriors on Sunday, March 2 (AEDT) at Allegiant Stadium, before the Panthers and Sharks begin their campaigns in the second iteration of the game’s bold foray into the United States.

The focus will then return to the game’s heartland with a blockbuster Roosters-Broncos clash in Sydney on Thursday, March 6. In an intriguing twist, both sides are pursuing former Dragons captain Ben Hunt, who could be an X-factor for the club that finally gets his signature.

The clash will mark Maguire’s first game in charge of the Broncos, who are looking to rebuild after a disappointing 2024 campaign that resulted in the sacking of coach Kevin Walters. It is also a new era for the Roosters, who will be without Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sitili Tupouniua.

The marquee match-up is a huge win for broadcasters Fox and Nine, who were pushing for a clash between two top interstate teams to maximise ratings.