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