Official 2026 NRL Draw

Capital_Shark said:
The could be 2 almost reserve grade sides resting up for finals. No doubt we would need it seeing as our last bye will have been 10 weeks ago.
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If we are in that position, great!

Think we'll be a top side again but probably with just enough dumb losses to mean we get to round 27 still with something further to play for.
 
bort said:
If we are in that position, great!

Think we'll be a top side again but probably with just enough dumb losses to mean we get to round 27 still with something further to play for.
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Cursing the fact that the Storm now seem to rest players in the second last round rather than the last.
 
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Gumby said:
****ing disgraceful there is no game next season down in Melbourne. Especially after the turnout we put on for the prelim.
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We've played their the last three seasons, why should we have played there again this year?

Edit: The last 5 seasons actually. Makes sense to me.
 
Yeah I feel for you Melbourne folk, but if the goal is to win games taking Melbourne away out of the draw is my first step.
 
HaroldBishop said:
We've played their the last three seasons, why should we have played there again this year?

Edit: The last 5 seasons actually. Makes sense to me.
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Without a balance draw (1 home 1 away vs all teams) makes sense you wouldn't have too many teams you play away to 6+ years in a row.

I get his gripe after all that effort though.... but I guess while the sharks appreciate that the NRL couldn't care less.

All good, as long as I keep getting my Sharks WA game every year...
 
Although we see plenty of Henson Park throughout the regular season while keeping tabs on those turning out for the Jets, seeing the Sharks play a preseason trial there next year will, for me at least, be something special.
While the modern game has left many of these traditional grounds behind, seeing first grade rugby league back at such a storied venue is a welcome thing in my book.
 
RivShark said:
Plus its a game most teams lose 9 out of 10 times, for some its 10/10. Who cares.

We couldnt get a better draw if we did it ourselves.
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Every NRL team’s 2026 draw ranked – from easiest to toughest​

Truth is, there are innumerable ways to spin a team’s schedule as easy or tough, with the Herald analysing the fixture list for all 17 clubs and rating their opponents based on where each team finished last season.

Premiers Brisbane are ranked as No.1, wooden-spooners Newcastle No.17 and the rest fit in accordingly – with every team playing every other club once, and eight teams twice. So, the identity of the teams they play twice determine whether teams have a “tough” draw or an “easy” one.

Our base analysis doesn’t consider aspects of the draw such as travel, short turnarounds or the State of Origin schedule – so we’ve pointed out the devil in those details in a quick snapshot of which clubs face the toughest opponents in 2025.

Panthers​

Penrith’s eight games against the 2025 top four – starting with premiers Brisbane in round one – is easily the most of any side next year, and Ivan Cleary’s outfit only plays each of the bottom four (Newcastle, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and South Sydney) once. Again, Penrith will enjoy an Origin reprieve with byes before the first two interstate games and another after Origin III. No five-day turnarounds is another fillip, but the Panthers face plenty of travel – with four trips to Queensland and another to Darwin.
Difficulty: 1st

Rabbitohs​



The Bunnies have drawn heavyweights Melbourne, Canberra, Canterbury, Cronulla and the Roosters among teams they play twice. Those big games tend to fall in clumps of three- and four-week stretches, too, for Souths, whose past two seasons have been two of the more injury-riddled on record. The Rabbitohs are on the road early in 2026 with trips to Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Suncorp Stadium before the Origin period.
Difficulty: 2nd

Storm​

Melbourne will appreciate two byes during the Origin period and another after their round 23 home game against Manly in Perth. Especially considering clashes with Penrith, Brisbane and Cronulla round out their regular season. Only two of their last seven games are at AAMI Park, while they play their fellow top-four sides Brisbane, Canberra and Canterbury twice in 2026.
Difficulty: 3rd

Tigers​




There is potential for early wins in the Tigers draw (they face the Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels and Knights in the first six weeks) – and they need them. The next two months brings arguably the toughest run for any side next season: Brisbane, Canberra, Cronulla, Melbourne, Manly, Canterbury and Penrith (with a bye in the middle) is nothing short of brutal.
Difficulty: Equal 4th

Broncos​

Three byes during the State of Origin period is a blessing, with 12 games against last year’s top eight. Marquee clashes against Penrith and Melbourne in the first three weeks are only trumped by what is effectively an early start to the finals – Brisbane have drawn the Warriors, Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs in rounds 24-27. The broadcast favourites have 13 games on free-to-air TV this season, equal with Melbourne, Canterbury and South Sydney.
Difficulty: Equal 4th

Cowboys​




North Queensland play 11 games against last year’s top eight and take on Queensland rivals Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Dolphins twice in 2026. The Cowboys have the equal most games (four) against teams coming off the bye, but unlike other sides in that scenario who have also had a bye, North Queensland will have played the week before.
Difficulty: 6th

Titans​

Premiers Brisbane are the only top-four side the Gold Coast face twice next season, along with the Cowboys, Dolphins, Dragons, Sea Eagles, Knights, Sharks and Warriors. Their five-day turnaround at least falls between home games against the Warriors and Cowboys in rounds 22 and 23. The Titans have just two games on Channel Nine in 2026 - that Thursday night clash against North Queensland and a June 14 trip to Leichhardt Oval to play the Tigers.
Difficulty: Equal 7th

Roosters​

Typically slow starters to a season, the Chooks face the Warriors (away), arch rivals South Sydney and Penrith in a tough opening. Two of their byes land before Origins I and III but in between it’s a rough old run on the road with away trips to Melbourne, Canberra and Suncorp Stadium, where they play the Dolphins and then return a fortnight later against the Broncos.

Difficulty: Equal 7th

Bulldogs​

A round-two bye after hosting the Dragons in Las Vegas is a godsend before a trip to Canberra. Canterbury’s finish to the year is among the toughest of any team, with clashes against the Warriors, Storm, Roosters, Panthers and Broncos featuring in their last seven weeks. The caveat, though, is that after Magic Round in late May, the Bulldogs only leave Sydney twice for the rest of the season – a round 17 trip to the Gold Coast, and round 22 in Melbourne.
Difficulty: 9th

Dolphins​


No five-day turnaround for Kristian Woolf’s side and 12 games on free-to-air TV next year – a reflection of their growing popularity and entertainers status. Rounds 7-12, where the Dolphins face Penrith, the Warriors, Melbourne, Canterbury, Souths and Canberra, could either make or break their season. Especially given they will host the Panthers in Darwin and eight days later travel to Wellington, New Zealand.
Difficulty: Equal 10th

Dragons​

St George Illawarra only play Brisbane, Melbourne, Penrith, Canberra and the Roosters once in 2026 and their clash with the Broncos falls a few days after Origin I, when the premiers’ biggest stars could well be rested. The Dragons’ first bye isn’t until round nine – even with a Las Vegas season-opener rolling into a home match against Melbourne in round 2 – but from round 19, they don’t leave Sydney.
Difficulty: Equal 10th

Knights​


Newcastle have 11 games against last year’s top eight and five against the top four – Canberra are the only one of those heavyweights who they play twice. Two byes fall leading into Origin I and II while the Knights have a two-week turnaround from their season-opener in Las Vegas into a round-two trip to Brookvale. Six free-to-air games is among the fewest in the NRL, with only the Titans (two) and Warriors (three) getting fewer on Channel Nine.
Difficulty: Equal 10th

Eels​

Season starts don’t get any tougher than Parramatta’s – they’ve drawn 2025 grand finalists Melbourne and Brisbane. Penrith await just around the corner as well in round four. That said, their run into the finals (and plenty fancy them as a smokey this year) is favourable, with Cronulla the only top-eight side they’ve drawn from round 22 onwards.
Difficulty: 13th

Raiders​




Canberra have drawn the Panthers, Storm, Bulldogs and Sharks twice in 2026, and once again they’ll be road warriors early on. Two home games follow a round-two trip to Auckland but three games in Newcastle, Perth (against South Sydney) and Canberra (against Melbourne) in 13 days is tough by any measure. A mid-season run with games against 2025 bottom nine sides Wests Tigers, Gold Coast, the Dolphins and Cowboys follows.
Difficulty: 14th

Sharks​



Along with Manly and the Warriors, Cronulla are the only side to draw seven games against 2025 also-rans Newcastle, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and South Sydney. The Sharks’ third and final bye lands in between Origins II and III this year, which will make for a long run home. But of the expected heavyweights, they will only play Brisbane, Melbourne, Penrith and Canterbury once.
Difficulty: 15th



Sea Eagles​

No complaints from Manly. They start the year with three home games at Brookvale, don’t have a single five-day turnaround and play just 10 games against last year’s top eight (equal fewest with Cronulla and the Warriors). Premiers Brisbane only feature once on their radar, as do Canberra, Canterbury, the Warriors, Panthers and Roosters, while Melbourne have moved their home game against the Sea Eagles from AAMI Park to Perth.
Difficulty: 16th

Warriors​



The Warriors’ draw always comes with the most travel of any side (once US jaunts are discounted) but is offset by playing the Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs just once. Along with 14 games against last year’s bottom nine, it’s a favourable run. Like Cronulla, their last bye comes before Origin III and is followed by a run home that features only the Bulldogs, Panthers and Broncos from last year’s top eight in the final nine weeks of the regular season.
Difficulty: 17th
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The salty tears about our draw once again, along with comments about going out in finals straight sets.

It’s like people are dumb
 
Tiger Shark said:
The salty tears about our draw once again, along with comments about going out in finals straight sets.

It’s like people are dumb
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Peoples brains are sorting out the possibilities and excuses. Why their team was ripped off and why other teams were unfairly advantaged if they don’t go as well as hoped. If their team does do well they can pivot back to the adversity they overcame. It’s just a coping mechanism.

As we know from 2016 none of that noise matters when you are holding the trophy on grand final day. Soft draw? Yes please and thank you very much!
 
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