The Bulldogs will reportedly host Melbourne at Belmore Sports Ground at 6pm (AEDT) in a round one fixture on the first Friday night of the new season.
It is a Canterbury decision to play at Belmore and not at ANZ Stadium, the Bulldogs home ground, according to News Corp Australia.
The clash precedes South Sydney hosting Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium – 10km from Belmore – as part of a Friday night double-header.
Premiers Cronulla are understood to kick off the season with a blockbuster home clash with Brisbane on Thursday night on March 2, while preliminary finalists North Queensland and Canberra will meet on the first Saturday.
“We’ll be in England for the World Club Championship but we get home nine days before the Broncos game and we’ll be ready for them,” Sharks coach Shane Flanagan told News Corp.
“It will be a great game and a great way to launch the season.”
The scheduling is believed to be part of the NRL’s $1.8 billion dollar broadcast deal, but the league has told AAP the draw isn’t finalised.
Belmore is 15km west of the CBD and it could take city workers negotiating Friday evening traffic more than an hour’s travel to get to the Bulldogs’ spiritual home.
In previous seasons Friday night doubleheaders, games would be played concurrently in a 8.05pm timeslot, with one televised on a delay.
With daylight saving, the Bulldogs-Storm clash at Belmore would be shown at 5pm (AEST) in Queensland if broadcast live.
Thursday, March 2
Cronulla v Brisbane
Friday, March 3
Canterbury v Melbourne
South Sydney v Wests Tigers
Saturday, March 4
Warriors v St George Illawarra
Gold Coast v Sydney Roosters
North Queensland v Canberra
Sunday, March 5
Manly v Parramatta
Penrith v Newcastle
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The TV Networks Monopoly of the Draw is Pathetic. In 2017 the Broncos will have ALL 12 home games PLUS 6 of their away games on a Thursday or Friday Night thus giving them a massive advantage with NO 5-Day turnarounds. Fortunately for all of us, the viewers and the other 15 clubs this will CEASE after 19 long years of pathetic draws favouring the SHONCOS. In 2018 the ARL Commission will take FULL control of the draw! It is not entirely the Broncos who are at fault as they always ask the NRL for family friendly Sunday afternoon games at which they never seem to get. Channel 9 are the ones to blame!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
It is NOT on Ch 9, it is only on FOX SPORTS.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
It was FOX SPORTS mate because they lost Monday Night Football.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Seriously games at 6pm on a Friday Night should only be played in either Melbourne or Auckland At least in Auckland, it will be 8pm local time so many have already knocked off work! In Melbourne with their Public Transport system and their Infrastructure, you can finish work at 5:30pm and be at the Game 12 minutes later. Belmore Oval is an absolute nightmare to get to with their single lane roads in Peak Traffic and ZERO Parking. You would need to finish work at 3 or 4pm to get there on time! City workers usually knock off at 5 or 5:30pm, they would have NO HOPE of getting there before 7pm.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Who rattled your chain anyway ?
Oingo Boingo
Guest
It's actually spreading like wildfire and the people who catch it have complete clarity and exude common sense. We have a different name for it here in Australia, it's called Hansonism?
Bexdog
Guest
It's actually less than 25% of adults. I heard a new vaccine comes into effect in about 4 years.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Yep more than half of the US of A have it .aint it great .. M.E.O.W do some research on what it stands for
Bexdog
Guest
Trumpism seems to be contagious it seems
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yep - puerile comment and when challenged came up with an even more childish response.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bulldogs usually play their Belmore games against out of town teams so probably not great communication between the NRL and club to schedule that round one. Belmore attendances have flagged since the 'back to Belmore' game against the Storm in 2015 so the club may think this is a way to boost attendances there. Double header at ANZ to start the season sounds pretty good though. Train from Central to Belmore only takes about 30 mins or so and the ground is 5 mins from the station so probably not the disaster for people in the city it's being painted to be. Not much difference (if any) getting to Belmore from the city as getting to ANZ. As for rivalry games, punters will go to round one regardless, so it might be better for season attendances to keep the big drawing rivalry games for a few rounds in.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I don't even understand how this is good for TV either?!?!
Bexdog
Guest
That's what I thought
jamesb
Guest
Whoever thought of the Friday 6pm timeslot deserves to be shot. A Sunday 6pm timeslot makes more commonsense. But unfortunately, the NRL doesn't deal with commonsense.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
6pm Fridays is an ordinary time slot as it is,however the TV stations have influential input, in just who plays at that time. 2017 will be a year we have to put up with the inconvenience,which will no doubt affect crowds. From 2018 the NRL controls the scheduling, so trust commonsense prevails and the 6pm slot is allocated to the clubs where it is most practical and where fans are least inconvenienced..
Epiquin
Roar Guru
What about people heading from work in the city and who want to grab a drink on the way?
maximillian
Roar Rookie
As a Warriors fan & NZ resident I would love that time slot. It avoids the Friday traffic for the locals & it also means the TV Stations can show both Friday night games live instead of having a clash.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
MEOW
Bexdog
Guest
Which Belmore residents do you mean? Care to elaborate on that dopey?
Bexdog
Guest
Don't forget burwood road into Belmore. It's hard enough getting in and out of there at lunch time let alone peak hour. Good job raelene!