NRL announces 2018 draw

I see that the NRL are still 'fogging a dead horse' and persisting with that dreaded ANZ stadium, WHY??? Especially having the Tigers v Roosters game first up. The Roosters fans don't travel to Allianz stadium, how on earth will they travel to the ANZ stadium? At least in Round 3 they have a double header, Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles and Eels v Sharks, which makes more sense for that dinosaur of a place and in the majority of rounds, they have given that place 'the big miss' for allot of other rounds.

Flat out getting anyone there any other week. Madness they'd make it a night game.

A brave new world where NRL controls the draw so immediately the big Sydney teams dominate FTA TV. According to the SMH, Cowboys have to travel to Brisbane in Week 2 and then Melbourne in Week 3 - what happened to home and away...or is this a 300 game problem for someone but still Cowboys are the ones to suffer.

Yep ! That does seem ludicrous ! I thought my mob the Panthers' draw was pretty good again, featuring the playing of the Eels, Dogs & Cowboys twice in the first 9 rounds, and playing the Roosters, Broncos & Storm only once ( but all away games).

If it's based on performance, how come there are 8 teams getting more FTA than the Storm. I'm a Doggies supporter so I really can't complain as we always get good air time, but the Broncos just smash everyone else out of the park in this area. I don't think it's fair either..

FTS, The AFL doesn't start till NRL round 3, the Storm have a Saturday night home game round 2. I can't understand the obsession with a season kick off in Melbourne. Having the Warriors, Souths, Dogs and Storm play in Perth will be great. The chances are the next team in the NRL will be Perth based, I'd like to see 5 or 6 games in Perth a year till they get there own team.

That's bordering on ridiculous. They waffle on about blockbusters and double headers and if what your saying is correct that is absolutely incompetence.

Why bother kicking the season off at a 30k capacity ground though; waste of the occasion.

Handy - if Canberra lose to the Titans in round 1, I can give up straight away. No need to waste months of energy investing in hope, expectation or happiness.

Yeah, you're right, I did. I was okay with it. But it put a lot of no voter fans offside who couldn't care less about a couple of good headlines.

No storm games in Melbourne in first 2 rounds with no afl is stupid. Never have they been held in higher regard but hey - let's not play them at home when afl is not on. Regional games. Good initiative - but why Bathurst and Mudgee who are so close together? Play a game in Wagga - a shot in the arm to a proud league nursery that is currently in a fight with afl. Lastly and most importantly friday 6pm is so stupid. I didn't get to see 1 game this year as on way home from work and/or getting family fed etc. seriously- change it to 6pm on a Sunday night. The time is right. The day is wrong. Simple as that. Other than that the draw is pretty good.

Yes. Less is more.

Effectively, yeah we have lost a round of footy. Honestly though, we are losing one of those horrific four-game rounds, so we aren't losing much in truth. Probably gaining in quality.

didn't you say the NRL booking macklemore was a huge blunder, despite the many positive headlines they got for it?

Just had a look at parras draw. Play Penrith, manly, Cronulla and tigers twice in the first 9 rounds.

Perth doesn't have an NRL team. Melbourne does. It is a wasted opportunity. To kick off the season in Melbourne, with Storm as the reigning premiers, would be massive. The NRL wanted to book Perth stadium early to get a headline but it seems they are trumped already. Anyway, it's done now. It may work out okay but you can understand why people have their doubts.

FTS, Rugby League will be the first sport fixture at the new Perth Stadium. Good to see it opening with an international sport. Only the community opening ceremony and Ed Sheeran are scheduled prior to the NRL double header. Don't expect cricket there till late 2018, AFLW maybe 2019.

FTS, if you're paying the loot for broadcasting rights, then its fair you maxmise your audience to get as much per minute of advertising dollars to potentially make a profit. So yes it is fair, Broncos, Souths and Bulldogs are usually the teams with highest FTA viewers.

TV is still a business Liam. The Broncos are consistent performers and guaranteed raters. Knights have 3 wooden spoons and potential. Agree with the Storm but the Cowboys prefer Saturday because their fans have to travel. Their games contribute millions to the Townsville economy. It's hard to make an 8pm kick off after 3-4hrs travel, checking in to accom and getting to the edge of town to the stadium.

We won at Suncorp in 2016!