The NRL draw for 2026 was released in its entirety on Friday and, as always, among the 17 teams are winners and losers.
Sharks, Warriors, Sea Eagles and Cowboys fans have all received early Christmas presents in the form of favourable draws.
CLICK HERE to see the full printable PDF of the NRL draw for 2026.
CLICK HERE to see the full printable PDF of the NRLW draw for 2026.
On the other hand, the Panthers, Wests Tigers, Storm and Rabbitohs copped tough draws.
As usual, every team has been given three byes.
Wide World of Sports runs an eye over the winners and losers from the draw reveal.
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WINNERSSharks
Games against top-eight teams: 10
Games against top-four teams: 5
Games against bottom-nine teams: 14
Games against bottom-four teams: 7
Bye rounds: 7, 12, 17
With all due respect, the Sharks couldn’t have asked for an easier start to the season, having drawn a home game against the Titans.
Away games against the Panthers and Raiders in the first month of football are set to prove difficult, but the going should then become far easier between rounds seven and 10 with Cronulla scheduled for a bye and three matches against bottom-nine teams from 2025.
Nicho Hynes and his team will get another easy run later in the season when they face five bottom-nine teams from 2025 between rounds rounds 19 and 23.
They will have to face Melbourne in their final game of the regular season but should certainly have at least a top-eight spot sewed up well before then.
Cronulla, in light of its roster and draw, should make the top four next season.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon. Getty
Warriors
Games against top-eight teams: 10
Games against top-four teams: 5
Games against bottom-nine teams: 14
Games against bottom-four teams: 7
Bye rounds: 10, 14, 18
The Warriors will be able to settle into the season in the comfort of their home venue with Andrew Webster’s side set to play three of its first four games in Auckland.
Difficult road trips against Melbourne and Canterbury await the Warriors in the middle of the season, and they will twice play reigning premiers Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
But they will finish the regular season with games against the Rabbitohs, Knights and Sea Eagles, all of whom missed the finals in 2025, and will play their last two matches at home.
Warriors captain James Fisher-Harris. Getty
Sea Eagles
Games against top-eight teams: 10
Games against top-four teams: 5
Games against bottom-nine teams: 14
Games against bottom-four teams: 7
Bye rounds: 3, 15, 22
After a miserable season derailed by Daly Cherry-Evans’ bombshell early-season announcement that he would be exiting at season’s end, a favourable 2026 draw awaits the Sea Eagles.
They will face the Raiders and Knights at Brookvale Oval in the first two rounds, enjoy a bye, play another home match against the Roosters in round four, then play consecutive games against the Dolphins, Dragons, Cowboys and Eels, all of whom missed the finals in 2025.
They will get another comfortable run later in the season with a couple of home matches against the Dolphins and Dragons and a game up the highway against Newcastle, before finishing their regular season against the Warriors in Auckland.
Cowboys
Games against top-eight teams: 10
Games against top-four teams: 6
Games against bottom-nine teams: 14
Games against bottom-four teams: 5
Bye rounds: 15, 18, 25
The Cowboys won’t suit up in North Queensland until round three with Todd Payten’s men set to play in Las Vegas and at Leichhardt Oval against the Tigers first up.
They are awaiting difficult away games against the Storm, Bulldogs and Raiders, but will end their regular season with two home games in a row.
Tom Dearden of the Cowboys. Getty
LOSERSPanthers
Games against top-eight teams: 13
Games against top-four teams: 8
Games against bottom-nine teams: 11
Games against bottom-four teams: 4
Bye rounds: 12, 15, 19
No team in the league has copped as tough a draw as the Panthers, who are the only side dealt 13 matches against top-eight teams from last season and the only side lumped with eight games against top-four opposition.
And Ivan Cleary’s side will be up against it from the get-go, forced to take on the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in round one.
Tough away trips against Canberra and Melbourne will also pose mighty challenges as Penrith aims to return to the pinnacle.
Nathan Cleary and his Panthers teammates. Getty
Tigers
Games against top-eight teams: 12
Games against top-four teams: 6
Games against bottom-nine teams: 12
Games against bottom-four teams: 6
Bye rounds: 1, 12, 23
The Tigers have a cushy early-season draw, scheduled for an opening-round bye and then games against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval and the Rabbitohs in Gosford.
But daunting away trips against the Sharks, Storm, Bulldogs and Raiders are set to greet them, and they may well have to beat the Panthers at CommBank Stadium in round 27 to qualify for finals for the first time since 2011.
Storm
Games against top-eight teams: 12
Games against top-four teams: 6
Games against bottom-nine teams: 12
Games against bottom-four teams: 5
Bye rounds: 15, 18, 24
The Storm will get their season under way against the Eels and Dragons, both of whom missed finals in 2025, but away games against the Raiders, Bulldogs, Roosters and Broncos are awaiting them.
After a bye in round 24 they will be up against the Panthers, Broncos and Sharks on the run home, including away games against Brisbane and Cronulla.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy. NRL Imagery
Rabbitohs
Games against top-eight teams: 12
Games against top-four teams: 7
Games against bottom-nine teams: 12
Games against bottom-four teams: 4
Bye rounds: 4, 13, 16
Wayne Bennett’s men will begin their season on the road against the Dolphins, before taking on arch-rivals the Roosters at Allianz Stadium in round two.
Tough away games against Melbourne, Canberra and Cronulla await South Sydney, as does a round 27 grudge match against the Roosters.