<p>Footy fans rejoice! The NRL is back in action this weekend. Well, technically the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/pre-season-challenge/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-newcastle-knights-10116608">NRL Pre-Season Challenge</a> is, but close enough!</p> <p>As has become tradition over the past few seasons, instead of simply just having a bunch of random trial games, the NRL has decided to organise all pre-season games into a mini tournament.</p> <p>This tournament is known as the Pre-Season Challenge and as previously mentioned, it is back once again for the 2026 season.</p> <p>All but one team will contest this year’s edition of the challenge, with the side who has the best overall record after three weeks of play being awarded the Pre-Season Challenge title.</p> <p>Ironically, it will be last year’s Pre-Season Challenge champions the Brisbane Broncos who will not be partaking this time around.</p> <p>As they are also the reigning NRL champions, they will be preoccupied with a trip to England to face&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/super-league">Super League</a> premiers Hull KR in the World Club Challenge.</p> <p>While the Broncos will definitely be missed, we’ve still got every other side in the competition ready to run out and put on a show for spectators and punters alike.</p> <p>First up we have the Bulldogs taking on the Cowboys and the Knights trying to slay the Dragons in a Saturday night double-header at Jubilee Stadium.</p> <p>For the latest news, odds and analysis ahead of the first taste of footy in 2026, check out our NRL Pre-season Challenge Week 1 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, February 7, 4:30pm AEDT – Jubilee Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite having to make the long trip south, the Cowboys have been installed as overwhelming favourites for this one.</p> <p>This is due to the North Queenslanders naming a far stronger and more experienced side, particularly in the engine room.</p> <p>Seasoned NRL forwards such as: Harrison Edwards, Thomas Mikaele and Sam McIntyre are set to start for Todd Payten’s side, while free-running backrower Heilum Luki makes his long-awaited return from an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for the entirety of last season.</p> <p>Experienced No.7 Jake Clifford should also steer his side around the park with far more assurance than his rookie counterpart Alex Conti, who looks an elite prospect but is unproven at this level.</p> <p>Conti isn’t the only rookie running out for the Dogs, with Cameron Ciraldo electing to name a side with virtually no NRL experience.</p> <p>This should prove to be a valuable hit out for both sides, but despite the exuberance of youth, we are inclined to side with the far more experienced Cowboys contingent here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/pre-season-challenge/canterbury-bulldogs-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-10116607">North Queensland Cowboys.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Heilum Luki anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, February 7, 6:30pm AEDT – Jubilee Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Justin Holbrook will take charge of the Newcastle Knights for the first time in the second game of Saturday’s Pre-Season Challenge double-header.</p> <p>His side will travel to face the Dragons at Jubilee Stadium and the H2H odds have them as the favourites, despite being on the road.</p> <p>St George are still searching for any sign of success after years in the wilderness and this will give their supporters a sneak peak of what could be in store for ’26. However, most of their stars will sit this one out.</p> <p>For the Knights, despite naming a relatively strong side, there’s no sign of star recruit Dylan Brown, who is now the best paid player in the game thanks to the bumper deal that delivered him to the Hunter Valley.</p> <p>Even though Brown and fellow million-dollar man Kayln Ponga will be sitting this one out, the named halves pairing of Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith is a solid one.</p> <p>With both men looking to put their best foot forward as they audition to partner Brown at the base of the scrum this season, expect them to put on some purposeful plays and put the Dragons to the sword.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/pre-season-challenge/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-newcastle-knights-10116608">Newcastle Knights</a>.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Fletcher Sharpe anytime try scorer.</p>