The National Rugby League has revealed their 2019 draw today, with the season set to begin on Thursday, March 14.
Despite the NRL’s efforts to begin the season a week earlier in the USA, that plan will not go ahead, with the season set to begin instead at Melbourne’s AAMI Park between the Storm and Broncos.
Due to the later than usual October long weekend, the finals series will begin on Friday, September 13 and conclude with the grand final on Sunday, October 6. As was the case in 2018, the season will have 25 rounds, with each team receiving one bye in the form of a round off, and another bye during the standalone representative weekend between rounds 14 and 15.
» CHECK OUT THE FULL 2019 DRAW HERE
The NRL Brisbane Magic round has been locked in for round 9, and will take place from Friday, May 10 to Sunday, May 12.
Other highlights of the fixture include a grand final rematch at AAMI Park on Friday night in Round 6, with the Roosters and Storm set to play each other again on Friday night in Round 15.
The round 4 clash between Penrith and the Tigers is sure to be hotly-anticipated, especially if Wests coach Ivan Cleary does jump ship to the Panthers.
Some other interesting reunions include Korbin Sims travelling back to Suncorp as a Dragon in round 3, while Blake Ferguson will tackle the Roosters as a Parramatta Eel on the same weekend.
Round 5 will see Tyrone Peachey play his first game against Penrith as a member of the Titans. The traditional round 1 clash between the Roosters and Rabbitohs will also be Angus Crichton’s first game as a member of the tricolours.
State of Origin fixtures have also been confirmed, with the first match set to take place on Wednesday, June 5 in Brisbane, game two being played at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, June 23, before the series concludes on July 10 at ANZ Stadium.
The news comes just hours after a last-minute deal to end the stand-off between Parramatta and Western Sydney Stadium ensured the Eels would play home matches at the new venue in 2019. It will be christened at a special Monday night round 6 fixture between the Eels and Tigers.
The only team with unconfirmed venues is the Roosters, who are expected to move a large portion of their home games to the SCG.
A whole host of alternate venue matches have been locked in for 2019, including the Sea Eagles ‘hosting’ the Warriors at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium in round 3, while Penrith will take their clash with Melbourne on the same day to Bathurst.
The Rabbitohs will host the Warriors at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in round 5, before round 7 sees the Tigers tackle Gold Coast in Tamworth. The Raiders will travel to McDonald’s Stadium in Wagga Wagga for a home game against the Panthers in round 8, while round 10 sees the Dragons host the Knights in Mudgee.
The Bulldogs will play against the Storm at their spiritual home of Belmore Oval in round 11, while Parramatta will take a game against Canberra to Darwin’s TIO Stadium in round 15.
Gosford finally gets its first taste of NRL action in round 17, with the Roosters hosting the Cowboys there on the Sunday afternoon, before the Rabbitohs host the Storm there in round 21.
Thursday, March 14
Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos; 7:40pm, AAMI Park
Friday, March 15
Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks; 6pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs; 7:40pm, SCG
Saturday, March 16
Warriors vs Canterbury Bulldogs; 4pm, Mt Smart Stadium
Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles; 6pm, Leichhardt Oval
North Queensland Cowboys vs St George-Illawarra Dragons; 8pm, 1300Smiles Stadium
Sunday, March 17
Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels; 4pm, Penrith Stadium
Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders; 6:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium
MORE TO COME
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
They should have held off from releasing the draw until December, to keep rugby league in the headlines during the middle of the off season
a
Guest
Should be a good season
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Your latest fishing comment ,in the same"forensic" slant as the others, just confirmed indeed Bernie as well as the other aliases are indeed one and the same person. The mods are fully aware of it.You offer nothing except bagging rugby league. Any comments about the subject matter , the draw or does that interfere with your anti rl agenda?
Big Daddy
Guest
Check the raiders draw for the first six rounds. It looks as though they have copped six pm home and away for five of them.
Not Bernie
Roar Rookie
Crosscoder take a look at his comment history.. I AM NOT BERNIE! You dont realise how often you and Justin get it wrong hahaha
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Please Bernie, every one of your hate filled rl posts, has your fingerprints liberally sprinkled over it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And if they do, you can accept the plaudits.And keep the same alias.
Daz
Roar Rookie
Ok. Though i note that the warriors draw better than the blues.
Daz
Roar Rookie
Yep. NRL can't seem to work that one out. It would be winners all around but the NRL just doesn't care to build crowds.
Sludge McFlurrey
Guest
Blame it on the boogie ????
BA Sports
Roar Guru
It is the Roosters home ground in 2019 and they are the reigning Premiers. I think the Premiers should always start the season at home.
Not Bernie
Roar Rookie
So when attendances dont change what will be blamed next??
Not Bernie
Roar Rookie
Im not Bernie Justin.. you have the wrong bloke once again!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Still hate the 6pm games, but have to live with it, like traffic jams.The NRL at least is starting to get the message with Sunday afternoon derbies. That's how you maximise crowds, in family friendly timeslots . Not a fan of magic weekends, it's not as if most of the clubs are within a couple of hours drive to Suncorp. Looking forward to the new WSS setup, makes the ANZ in terms of rectangular purpose built stadium, look like a dinosaur.Close to the action.Atmosphere should be eelectric excuse the pun.
Emcie
Roar Guru
So I'm guessing you didn't look at the draw then. There's one every year...
Big Daddy
Guest
Round 1 is South's/ rooster's at scg. Is ANZ unavailable. I love the scg but anz is a purpose built ground which is more suitable and holds more people. People will say local Derby. Scg is yesterdays ground as far as league is concerned.
Doug Graves
Guest
According to this article the Dragons got the best draw. Lets see how long it takes them to botch it and choke their way out of minor premiership contention: https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/list/nrl-draw-2019-winners-losers-ladder-fixtures/1frzkvdp14ywx1xzlpbb8p9qvq
BA Sports
Roar Guru
The Western Sydney Stadium opener is an afternoon game, not a night game. Being Easter Monday, it means Ch 9 miss out on it. I assume the NRL soothed their ego by giving them the GF rematch that weekend (Friday night) instead. Not sure that is ideal planning by the NRL. Surely you want the opening of this stadium to be a huge stand alone event with prime time billing, not one that has to share the build up with a Grand Final replay and one that will only be seen by those with Fox....
Matt
Guest
I'm just waiting for Tim to do his analysis of the draw and state that the Broncos are a lock for the Minor Premiership because they play 13 games at Suncorp this year and that Alfie gives them an unfair advantage and for the Raiders to make the 8 as long as Rapana's wheels don't get tweaked. The Broncos have for years asked for more Saturday and Sunday home games. I know it was a few years ago now, but in 2012 they wanted their last home game of the year Petero retired to be on a Sunday afternoon so that he could do a lap of honour around the ground and let the fans onto the ground afterwards as well. It all fell on deaf ears. They played on the Friday night.
RM
Guest
The Broncos play each of the 4 Preliminary Finalists twice, and in the first half of the season, 7/11 of their games are against top 8 teams from last year, including the Premiers twice. One of those remaining 4 games is against the Cowboys which is a 50-50 local derby. We'll have to be good right from the get-go or the season could be over by the bye round. I'd certainly take a few less FTA matches if it meant getting a softer draw...