KIERSTEN DUKE: NRLW Cowboys Makenzie Weale, Tallisha Harden Coldplay Kiss Cam the No.1 Try July celebration

The annual Try July campaign has returned for a sixth year and once again players will have a chance to score $5000 per celebration to raise much needed funds for the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation and the Player Hardship Fund.

A total of 53 games will be played this July across the NRL and NRLW, which means more tries, more celebrations and more donations.

Since kicking things off in 2020, Try July has raised over $1.4 million for players, families and charities that hit close to home. All while showcasing the fun spirit of Rugby League across both the men’s and women’s games.

I don’t think I’m being biased when I say the girls absolutely smash this challenge each year.

So far this year, there have been some absolute corker celebrations. Here are the top 10 Try July celebrations for this season, in my opinion.

10. The Selfie

It had to be included for being a classic. The selfie. It became one of the world’s biggest buzzwords in 2012 and we’ve been taking them ever since. Complete with the millennial pout and peace pose, Tiger Caitlin Turnbull and her teammates nailed this oldie but a goody.

9. Too Flippin’ Good Chappo

NRLW Gold Coast Titans speedster Jaime Chapman was sure to feature in this year’s Try July campaign. Known for her athleticism our girl was true to form with a flipping good acrobatic display. Round off into a backflip? Too easy for our queen Chappo.

8. Piggy Riddell

Cast your mind back to 2002 to when St George’s own Mark “Piggy” Riddell scored a try and celebrated by jumping the fence, sitting in the front row and applauding himself. Bants. Fast forward to 2025 and NRLW St George captain Zali Hopkins recreated the iconic celebration. What better way to kick off Try July than by honouring a cult figure.

7. Keep On Swimming

Nick Meaney’s got the moves. The Storm winger showed displays of fancy footwork to beat Cowboys defenders before diving to score. From a team that is always so in sync it only made sense that the boys celebrated as synchronised swimmers.

6. Knight Hood

The Knights NRLW side shone in an opening home game against the Warriors with a 36-20 victory and with a strong victory came multiple strong celebrations. It wasn’t easy to choose a favourite but in the end, it was one celebration in particular that felt the most appropriate. A knighthood. No explanation needed, just a chef’s kiss.

5. Royal Wave

When local legend Quincy Dodd brought the Sharks up to 14-14 against the Eels in round one of the NRLW, she celebrated in a way only fit for one of the best. A royal wave. Her teammates lifted her up to imitate a chair as Dodd smiled and gracefully waved at the crowd. Give the girl a crown for her efforts.

4. Milkin’ It

If you’d turned the TV on 15 minutes in the second half of the NRLW’s opening round, you may have been a bit confused as to why one player was pretending to milk the other. You read that right. Canberra’s long-standing sponsorship with Canberra Milk was honoured during Try July thanks to teammates Chante Temara and Sophie Holyman celebrating like the udder legends they are … I’ll see myself out.

3. Nick Meaney Aura Farming

A few weeks ago an 11-year-old Indonesian boy went viral on social media after a video of him calmly dancing at the front of a canoe during the Pacu Jalur Festival surfaced. The kid’s sunglasses, swagger and chill vibe immediately made him an internet star. Meaney passed the vibe check and set the celebration standards high recreating this iconic video with his teammates at the beginning of the month.

2. Old Man DCE

He might have been under scrutiny for his old age during Origin, but Daly Cherry-Evans took control of the narrative at Brookvale Oval in Manly’s win over Souths. The 36-year-old snatched the padding off one of the corner posts and used it as a walking stick prop. Who says age defines us?

1. Caught on Kiss Cam

Coming in at number 1 in my favourite Try July celebrations is Makenzie Weale and Tallisha Harden. The pair hilariously recreated the viral video of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron being caught on Kiss Cam during a Coldplay concert with someone he should not have been hugging. It was iconic, on trend and quite frankly, smashed the brief out of the park.