I have done the sums. From the day the draw is released (November 14th) there are 85 days until pre-season rugby league.
Thats only 12 weekends of horrible, hot and sweaty, rugby league-less-ness.
It may seem like a long, long way away, but with the NRL, NRLW and Pre-Season Cup draws being released, hope is suddenly on the horizon.
The mad scramble on Friday morning sent us all into a level of frenzy.
Some planned their away trips, others looked for rivalry games. Most proclaimed 2026 was “our season”.
Every fixture next season is exciting in its own way, but some just stand out above the rest.
We’ve compiled ten such fixtures below. The reasons vary, but they all promise to be hot encounters.
Here are ten must watch fixtures for 2026.
1. Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers, Round 1
The undoubted highlight of the Round One fixtures sees a “rematch” from the 2025 preliminary final.
The 2025 Premiers host the 2021/22/23/24 Premiers in what is sure to be a sold out Friday night blockbuster.
Reece Walsh lines up against Dylan Edwards in a potential Origin battle while Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan will be opposing Moses Leota and Lindsay Smith. An all rep middle contest!
Round 1 is always a bit of a lottery but this a game we, lucky, won’t have to wait long to see.