The Seattle Seawolves host the New England Free Jacks at Starfire Stadium in a Cross-Conference clash, a rematch of the 2024 Championship Game which the Free Jacks won 11-20 in San Diego. Both sides are looking to bounce back, with the 0-2 Seawolves suffering a close defeat at the hands of the Houston SaberCats last week, and the Free Jacks battered and bruised after a shock 36-7 defeat in Chicago. These teams have met 6 times in the past, with the Free Jacks holding a 4-2 series lead including last season’s final. As well as a rematch of the 2024 Championship Game, the winner of this game will also claim the ‘Coffee Cup’, an annual trophy awarded to the winner of the famous Starbucks v Dunkin’ rivalry.
Unlike the previous meeting between these two sides, on this occasion the Seattle Seawolves would get revenge for their 2024 Final defeat, taking a 27-24 victory in front of their crowd for their 2025 Home Opener thanks to a late score by Malacchi Esdale in his Seattle debut and his first MLR game since 2020! The reigning Champions started strong, with 2 tries and a 0-14 lead after 10 minutes, and come away with a losing BP but they were shut out in the second half and didn’t secure the try BP, falling to 1-2 on the season, while the Seattle Seawolves move into the win column for the first time in 2025, securing the Try Bonus Point for the full 5pts in the standings despite an off day from the tee, going just 1/7.