Premiers Penrith kick off their NRL title defence against Manly on Thursday March 10, while the State of Origin dates have also been locked down as the NRL released its season draw on Tuesday.
Canterbury get under way with games against North Queensland and Brisbane before the blowtorch increases on Trent Barrett with a run against last season’s top four – Manly, Melbourne, Penrith and South Sydney.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE DRAW
Barrett is just one of several coaches who will start the season under immediate pressure.
St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin faces games against Penrith, Parramatta and South Sydney over the opening five weeks. Things are slightly better for Wests Tigers boss Michael Maguire. Thie Togers face a Melbourne side missing Brandon Smith and Cameron Munster through suspension then meet Newcastle, the Warriors, Gold Coast and Cronulla.
Canberra Raiders will play their home games during day time – to beat the cold conditions and CEO Don Furner to the Telegrapgh he expected it to be “really helpful for our crowds.
“The winter months are June, July and August although May is when it starts to get cold. We have one 5.30pm game in winter but the rest are 2pm and 3pm. No 7.30pm or 8pm games. We’re pretty happy.
“July and August can be brutal when you’re trying to get young families to the football.
“The other option is people can sit at home in the warmth and watch matches. Day games are what we asked for. It’s the reverse of the Cowboys who want night games because it’s so hot.”
Canberra has also been given three games in regional towns – Wagga (home), Mudgee (away) and Dubbo (away).
South Sydney won’t have to wait long for a shot at grand final revenge next season after the NRL scheduled their grudge match against Penrith for round four.
The NRL, in a statement, revealed the following draw highlights.
– A potential homecoming match for the Warriors in Auckland against Premiers Penrith Panthers in Round 15 – the first match in New Zealand since 2019.
– The Melbourne Storm’s return to AAMI Park for the first time in 9 months for a Round 2 Blockbuster against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
– The third Magic Round in Brisbane, featuring all matches at Suncorp Stadium, and with a Queensland-based team featured on each of the three days in Round 10.
– Back-to-back marquee rounds in Easter (Round 6) followed by ANZAC Round (Round 7), the latter featuring matches in Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Newcastle and Melbourne.
– An equal record number of regional fixtures, with matches to be played in Darwin, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Bathurst, Mudgee, Tamworth, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Mackay.
– The Craig Fitzgibbon-led Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks returning to PointsBet Stadium in Round Two against Parramatta Eels
– The all Queensland-derby, Brisbane Broncos against North Queensland Cowboys, shifting to daytime for the first time in 16 years, in Round Three.
– The return of Indigenous Round, Harvey Norman Women In League Round, Beanies For Brain Cancer and the creation of a new Multicultural Round
– The season launched with All Stars fixtures on Saturday, February 12.
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the schedule celebrated the return of clubs to their heartlands.
“The 2022 schedule celebrates the tribalism of our biggest rivalries back in their home towns,” Abdo said.
“It is wonderful to be scheduling matches in NSW, ACT and Victoria again after the relocation in 2021 and we’re confident we will see the homecoming of the Warriors to New Zealand.
“Fans will be back at games right across the country and this schedule takes the Telstra Premiership to 20 cities and towns to maximise the opportunity for rugby league fans to watch their heroes live in person.”
WEEK ONE
March 10-13
Panthers v Sea Eagles
Warriors v Dragons
Broncos v Rabbitohs
Roosters v Knights
Sharks v Raiders
Wests Tigers v Storm
Eels v Titans
Cowboys v Bulldogs
2022 Origin series
Origin I: Wed, June 8 – Sydney
Origin II: Sun, June 26 – Perth
Origin II: Wed, July 13 – Brisbane
mach4
Roar Rookie
Taken on the chin even had a laugh lol.
KenW
Roar Rookie
I felt bad leaving that comment, but couldn't resist.
mach4
Roar Rookie
LOL
DavMan
Roar Rookie
Great to see more games being played in the bush. Should be more of it if viable. Another suggestion I would add is that as soon as practicable would be to give the Warriors more home games eg 3 out of 4 in NZ. Them and their families really went through the mill during covid and deserve to be rewarded. Might also help encourage people to go to the "proper" football instead of that other game!
KenW
Roar Rookie
Yep the NRL have it in for them I think. Did you notice that every single round next year they play teams that won more than twice as many games as them last season? How can that be fair?
KenW
Roar Rookie
Coming into this year you would have said playing Manly twice (13th in 2020) rather than the Raiders (5th in 2020) would be a good draw. Getting Penrith twice in 2020 would have looked good after they finished 10th in 2019, rather than the Broncos who made the finals in 2019 and came last in 2020.
KenW
Roar Rookie
You can never really be sure of a good draw until you're in the back half of the year and you know which teams are the good teams. Timing is also key, getting teams in different runs of form, injuries etc. The only real judgement on a good draw you can make now are how many short turnarounds and long away sections.
mach4
Roar Rookie
Another tough draw for the Dogs, good luck boys, with you all the way.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
It's still the dragons
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Also worth noting, while it is exciting for "Magic Round" to have a QLD team featured on each day, only Melbourne and the Warriors, and their home fans are based further from Suncorp Stadium than Townsville. So it would seem a mute point (unless the boarders are closed to QLD).
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the schedule celebrated the return of clubs to their heartlands. … In Round 2…. If you were actually celebrating it, the Storm and Sharks would be home in week 1 and the Broncos and Cowboys would be away (instead of home games against the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs who have been away from fans for a long time).
John Shaw
Roar Rookie
The Dragons have a very good draw. They play Panthers, Storm, Manly and Eels only once.