The road to the NRL finals is a little clearer with the release of the completed schedule and venues for the final six rounds of the regular season.
The end of the season is deliberately left without fixed dates and venues to allow broadcasters to make the most of capitalising on the best games.
On the surface, the Parramatta Eels appear to have received one of the better schedules with only Thursday and Friday games to play until the finals.
Without Johnathan Thurston, a couple of marquee games have lost some of their lustre including the Cowboys vs Melbourne and the 2015 Grand Final re-match between the Cowboys and the Broncos.
However, there are still some exciting games to look forward to including a return to the Sydney Cricket Ground for retro round between St George Illawarra and South Sydney.
In great news for fans, it’s been confirmed Saturday night games will be simulcast on the Nine network for the final five rounds including Cooper Cronk’s final regular season home game against the Raiders in Round 26.
“The competition is already incredibly tight but we know that it will only get tighter the closer we get to the finish line,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“As always this will be a competition which will keep us all guessing until the very last round and the very last match.”
ROUND 21
Thursday (July 27)
Panthers v Bulldogs, Pepper Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Friday (July 28)
Warriors v Sharks, Mt Smart Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Eels v Broncos, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Saturday (July 29)
Knights v Dragons, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Rabbitohs v Raiders, ANZ Stadium (FOX), 5:30pm
Roosters v Cowboys, Allianz Stadium (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (July 30)
Storm v Sea Eagles, AAMI Park (FOX), 2pm
Titans v Tigers, CBus Super Stadium (NINE, FOX), 4:00pm
ROUND 22
Thursday (August 3)
Bulldogs v Eels, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Friday (August 4)
Dragons v Rabbitohs, Sydney Cricket Ground (FOX), 6:00pm
Cowboys v Storm, 1300Smiles Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 5)
Knights v Warriors, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Titans v Broncos, CBus Super Stadium (FOX), 5:30pm
Sharks v Raiders, Southern Cross Group Stadium (FOX, NINE), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 6)
Sea Eagles v Roosters, Lottoland (FOX), 2pm
Panthers v Tigers, Pepper Stadium (NINE, FOX), 4pm
ROUND 23
Thursday (August 10)
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Friday (August 11)
Eels v Knights, ANZ Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Broncos v Sharks, Suncorp Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 12)
Dragons v Titans, UOW Jubilee Oval (FOX), 3pm
Storm v Roosters, AAMI Park (FOX), 5:30pm
Panthers v Cowboys, Pepper Stadium (FOX, NINE), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 13)
Warriors v Raiders, Mt Smart Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Tigers v Sea Eagles, Leichhardt Oval (NINE, FOX), 4pm
ROUND 24
Thursday (August 17)
Eels v Titans, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Friday (August 18)
Rabbitohs v Warriors, ANZ Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Broncos v Dragons, Suncorp Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 19)
Knights v Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Roosters v Tigers, Allianz Stadium (FOX), 5:30pm
Cowboys v Sharks, 1300Smiles Stadium (FOX, FINE), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 20)
Raiders v Panthers, GIO Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Bulldogs v Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 4pm
ROUND 25
Thursday (August 24)
Broncos v Eels, Suncorp Stadium (NINE, FOX) 7:50pm
Friday (August 25)
Raiders v Knights, GIO Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Tigers v Cowboys, Campbelltown Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 26)
Titans v Bulldogs, CBus Super Stadium (FOX) 3pm
Storm v Rabbitohs, AAMI Park (FOX), 5:30pm
Sharks v Roosters, Southern Cross Group Stadium (FOX, NINE), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 27)
Warriors v Sea Eagles, Mt Smart Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Panthers v Dragons, Pepper Stadium (NINE, FOX), 4pm
ROUND 26
Thursday (August 31)
Cowboys v Broncos, 1300Smiles Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Friday (September 1)
Eels v Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 7:50pm
Saturday (September 2)
Roosters v Titans, Allianz Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Sea Eagles v Panthers, Lottoland (FOX), 5:30pm
Storm v Raiders, AAMI Park (FOX, NINE), 7:30pm
Sunday (September 3)
Knights v Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Dragons v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium (NINE, FOX), 4pm
Tigers v Warriors, Leichhardt Oval (FOX), 6:30pm
Broadly Speaking
Guest
Cowboys supporters now have to make very different plans to attend the Broncos game they circled on the calendar at the beginning of the year. Friday nights were successful in the past and the Saturday night telecast was possible and even a Sunday afternoon would been kinda OK with the least preferred option for the people of NQ being a Thursday night game. So of course what choice did Channel 9 make? Somehow I don't think the NRL would choose what the Cowboys' communities would prefer over what the Broncos Red Hill office expect. I sincerely hope I am wrong for the sake of all those clubs needing more exposure for sponsors and access to fans....
Joe
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. Just crazy decisions on the FTA games.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Know it is always the $$$ that makes the decisions, but how are the bottom tier clubs meant to move up the $$$ ladder if they don't get FTA exposure. If I was a sponsorship coordinator, I would be looking at the Big 6 who are always on FTA well before a Raiders/Knights who have passionate smaller footprints.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
And so they should. Most Broncos fans would agree with you, but we and the club don't control the draw the broadcasters do. Broncos fans would love less Thursday and Friday night games and more Saturday and Sunday afternoon games.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Even as a Tigers fan I agree with you mate! It defies belief that the Tigers are getting so much FTA coverage in the final weeks of the season.
tim
Guest
Agreed, but it's okay for the public to assume they'll miss out, but not okay for the NRL to do the same.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It gets worse...the Dogs have three Thursday night FTA games and two Sunday FTA games. Good news for anyone looking forward to regularly watching an out of contention, clunky, bewildered, obsolete side with substandard players in key spine positions who consider getting to 10 points a major achievement!!! I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy at the moment.
Jeff dustby
Guest
You never get the short back up after origin - convenient
Jeff dustby
Guest
You don't get Friday's after origin so you get extra rest
Jeff dustby
Guest
I would like my team to get more Friday night FTA exposure which helps financially
Jeff dustby
Guest
Agree
Craig
Guest
The broncos play the eels in round 22 and again in round 25. It is inexcusable that every team doesn't play each other once before playing again. It is inexcusable to play a team twice within 3 weeks. How hard is it to play every team once and then reverse the home team and cycle through. If the ladders falls and has the eels and broncos in the finals they could play each other 3 times in 6 weeks. Honestly, how hard is it?
Oingo Boingo
Guest
BIG IF .
tim
Guest
Yet again, the Warriors have to play a Sunday evening game in Sydney the last round before the finals. It didn't happen last year, but it had the previous three seasons or so. If they could ever get their act together and make the eight, they're screwed for the first week. With no Friday 6pm game in round 26, it actually seems intentional.
Renegade
Roar Guru
They are just out of touch.... people want to watch quality, the ratings support that too.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Looks like that doesn't it Jimmmy... hopefully the NRL will do a better job of it from next season
Renegade
Roar Guru
It's bizarre isn't it mate.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
But the trade off is the Broncos are a mega rich team rolling in $$$$ because of their constant FTA exposure. Just think of all the 3rd party deals that the broncos players and coaches enjoy but know-one knows about. Perhaps I would have sympathy if the Broncos were a bit friendlier to having a second team in Brisbane, then you and your kids would get lots of sunday arvo games.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
*3 Sunday home games in the last 5 seasons.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
A chap I follow on Twitter made the point that the Broncos haven't had a Sunday home game since Rd 19 2015 and only 3 Sunday games in the last 5 seasons. A lot of talk is always about the Broncos being favoured in the draw but the same fellow also pointed out that the Broncos this year have 8 Thursday games, play each of last year's top four twice and have to play away in NZ during Origin.