2023 NRL season draw: Nick Politis hits out at unfairness of ‘TV schedule’ release
Nick Politis has taken a massive swipe at NRL as the powerful Roosters chairman calls for change to the unfair season draw, writes Paul Crawley.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has doubled down on his ongoing frustration with the unfairness of the NRL draw, declaring “the AFL have got control of their draw but we roll over to the networks”.
“Please don’t call it a draw. Can we get it right? It is a TV schedule,” Politis quipped, after the Roosters were again handed a fixture list that will include two games against competition heavyweights Penrith, Melbourne, Parramatta and South Sydney next season.
It comes as the game’s most powerful club boss also said it was time to again investigate the possibility of adapting the NFL’s conference system to rugby league.
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis refused to use his club’s tough draw as an excuse, even though it resulted in the joint venture blowing out in premiership betting in what shapes as an initiation from hell for Tim Sheens’ NRL coaching comeback.
SEE THE FULL 2023 NRL DRAW BELOW
“I think if we are going to do well we are going to have to beat all these teams,” Hagipantelis said.
“So it doesn’t really matter when or where we have to play them.”
And while a first-up bye to kick off the 2023 NRL season has been sold as something of a dream start for under-fire Dragons coach Anthony Griffin, St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb put in context why it’s anything but in a competition that runs 27 rounds and ultimately becomes a survival of the fittest.
“I don’t think anyone would want the bye in round one,” Webb said.
“You’d like it in season when it is giving you a bit of a break from the wear and tear I think rather than before you have started your campaign.
“But it is what it is.
“Someone has to have it and we will be fine.
“I am sure our boys will do a good job regardless.”
There is no question the addition of the NRL’s 17th franchise the Dolphins, compounded by the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has made the new draw a logistical nightmare for the NRL.
But Politis’ main criticism relates to the fact that year after year the top teams seem to get roped into more so-called “blockbusters” simply because “we are good for the ratings”.
“Some clubs are lucky that they play the bottom-eight teams twice, and only the top ones once,” he said.
“And so you look at the table and say, ‘Gee, what a great competition’, because it’s so close.
“But it is manufactured by the TV schedule.”
Politis said former NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg spoke to club bosses some years back about possibly adapting the NFL conference model to our game.
Asked if he would support that, Politis added: “They need to do something. There is all sorts of models … the AFL have got control of their draw but we roll over to the networks.”
The Rabbitohs’ chief Blake Solly said overall he was content with Souths’ schedule despite it also being rated one of the toughest.
“We have a lot of travel, particularly in the back half of the season,” Solly said.
“But in the context of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and all of the stadiums in Sydney that are unavailable that is expected.
“We have had to put our three regional home games in that six-week period, so largely the travel through that back half of the season was unavoidable.
“It won’t have been an easy process from the NRL with the addition of the 17th team and those stadiums that are out of action. But from our point of view we are excited by a lot of the match ups.”
The Dragons’ boss agreed the draw tends to even itself out.
“We have got four trips to Queensland in the first half of the year which will be a challenge,” Webb said.
“But I am sure we can overcome that. We have a lot of games at Wollongong at the back-end of the year because Jubilee (Kogarah) is unavailable, so there is a lot less travel for us through that quarter.”
And Ricky Stuart responded to claims Canberra has arguably the easiest draw, given the Raiders have the most games against bottom-eight sides and equal most against bottom-four teams.
“I have coached at the NRL level for a very long time and I haven’t had an easy draw yet,” Stuart said.
“This year a lot of people were predicting the Cowboys to run last and they finished top four. We can’t all be experts.”
NRL BETTING SHAKE-UP AS BOOKIES REACT TO DRAW
—David Riccio, Michael Carayannis
The promise of a new dawn at the Wests Tigers has done little to sway the bookies, who have installed Tim Sheens’ side as equal favourites to run last with NRL rookies The Dolphins.
In an almost impossible notion, Wayne Bennett and Sheens — two of the greatest coaches of the modern era with a combined 11 premierships — are tipped to fight out the wooden spoon, according to the TAB.
Both 72 and back from coaching lay-offs, the wily veterans are convinced their respective Dolphins and Tigers will prove competitive in 2023.
Yet in the wake of the NRL releasing the 2023 season draw on Thursday, the TAB has rated the Tigers and Dolphins as rank outsiders at $67 to win the premiership.
NRL POSTERS: DOWNLOAD CLUB BY CLUB GUIDE, FULL SEASON DRAW
The Tigers were $51 for the title, but have blown on the back of a tough draw that includes 12 games against 2022 finalists, including two games each against Melbourne, South Sydney, North Queensland and Canberra.
It’s not the only surprise from the bookies, who have taken the first stand towards writing off Parramatta’s premiership claims.
The TAB has installed Brad Arthur’s Eels as rank outsiders in a blockbuster 2023 season opener against the Storm.
The exodus of grand final contributors Isaiah Papalii, Reed Mahoney, Oregon Kaufusi, Marata Niukore and Tom Opacic has been deemed concerning enough for the TAB to post Parramatta as outsiders, despite playing at home.
The Eels are $2.45 against the $1.55 favourites Melbourne in the first match of the new season, to be played on Thursday, March 2 at CommBank Stadium.
The clash is likely to feature Raiders recruit Josh Hodgson on debut for the Eels and what will be marketed as the beginning of what is expected to coach Craig Bellamy’s final season reign at the Storm.
GOOD BYE?
For the first time in NRL history, the competition will feature three byes.
The inclusion of a 17th team — The Dolphins — in 2023 has triggered the scheduling of three mandatory weeks off throughout the season for every team.
Debate has already begun on which teams have garnered the greatest advantage; those with byes early in the season, or those with byes towards the business end of the year?
For St George-Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin, clinging to his job at the Dragons, a Round 1 bye certainly looks better on paper than a potential first-up loss.
However, will watching from the sidelines leave Saints a step off the pace in round two against the Titans?
And what about the loss of momentum ahead of a potential finals series for the Rabbitohs and Eels, who have their byes in the last two rounds 26 and 27?
The best-served teams seem to be those with byes positioned in the middle of a long year, where strapping tape is wearing thin and depth is being tested.
The Bulldogs, Storm, Panthers, Tigers, Titans and Sharks all have byes between rounds 16 and 20.
NOMAD TIGERS
The choice of venues for teams generates as much intrigue as their fixtures.
For the Tigers, they have six home grounds in 2023 – Leichhardt, Accor, Campbelltown, Suncorp, CommBank and Tamworth, as well as taking a match to Hamilton in New Zealand. The women’s Soccer World Cup has disrupted a host of clubs with the SCG and GABBA in use. The Dragons will have seven matches in Wollongong and just five at Kogarah with their Sydney based designated as a training fixture for the World Cup.
“We’ve tried to keep our fixture as ‘normal’ as possible through the front half of the year, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy watching our team play games at Jubilee and WIN Stadiums,” Dragons boss Ryan Webb said. “Unfortunately with the unavailability of Jubilee Stadium for nine weeks due to the world cup, we have a stretch of home games at WIN Stadium towards the back end of the year which isn’t ideal.”
The Roosters are slated to play two games at the SCG depending on the venue’s availability.
Regional venues in NSW including Tamworth, Mudgee, Bathurst, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga will host matches.
HORROR STRETCHES
Some clubs are bracing for a tough section of the draw.
The Bulldogs will play the Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels and Sharks between round 5-8.
The Dragons have a soft start to the season but their stretch between rounds 7-15 includes playing the Roosters (twice), Raiders, Cowboys, Panthers and Rabbitohs.
The Eels’ opening five games include a tough start against the Storm, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Panthers and Roosters.
The Roosters take on the Eels, Storm and Sharks in three straight weeks from rounds 5-7.
The Rabbitohs start the season as favourites against the Sharks, they then face the Panthers, Roosters, Sea Eagles and Storm.
The Broncos’ run home is difficult with clashes against 2022 finals teams the Roosters, Cowboys, Eels, Raiders and Storm in the final six weeks.
In contrast, the Raiders do not play a top-eight side in consecutive weeks.
FULL 2023 NRL ROUND BY ROUND DRAW
ROUND 1
Thursday, March 2
Eels v Storm CommBank Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, March 3
Warriors v Knights Westpac Stadium 6pm
Panthers v Broncos BlueBet Stadium 8.05pm
Saturday, March 4
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs 4 Pines Park 3pm
Cowboys v Raiders Qld Country Bank Stadium 5.30pm
Sharks v Rabbitohs PointsBet Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, March 5
Dolphins v Roosters Suncorp Stadium 4.05pm
Tigers v Titans Leichhardt Oval 6.15pm
Bye. Dragons
ROUND 2
Thursday, March 9
Panthers v Rabbitohs BlueBet Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, March 10
Eels v Sharks CommBank Stadium 6pm
Broncos v Cowboys Suncorp Stadium 8.05pm
Saturday, March 11
Roosters v Warriors Allianz Stadium 3pm
Dolphins v Raiders Moreton Daily Stadium 5.30pm
Storm v Bulldogs AAMI Park 7.35pm
Sunday, March 12
Tigers v Knights Leichhardt Oval 4.05pm
Dragons v Titans Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Sea Eagles
ROUND 3
Thursday, March 16
Sea Eagles v Eels 4 Pines Park 7.50pm
Friday, March 17
Knights v Dolphins McDonald Jones Stadium 6pm
Roosters v Rabbitohs Allianz Stadium 8.05pm
Saturday, March 18
Titans v Storm Cbus Super Stadium 3pm
Cowboys v Warriors Qld Country Bank Stadium 5.30pm
Broncos v Dragons Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, March 19
Bulldogs v Tigers Belmore Sportsground 4.05pm
Raiders v Sharks GIO Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Panthers
ROUND 4
Thursday, March 23
Eels v Panthers CommBank Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, March 24
Storm v Tigers AAMI Park 6pm
Dolphins v Broncos Suncorp Stadium 8.05pm
Saturday, March 25
Cowboys v Titans Qld Country Bank Stadium 5.30pm
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles Accor Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, March 26
Warriors v Bulldogs Mt Smart Stadium 2pm
Knights v Raiders McDonald Jones Stadium 4.05pm
Dragons v Sharks Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Roosters
ROUND 5
Thursday, March 30
Roosters v Eels Allianz Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, March 31
Raiders v Panthers GIO Stadium 6pm
Rabbitohs v Storm Accor Stadium 8.05pm
Saturday, April 1
Sea Eagles v Knights Glen Willow Stadium 3pm
Dragons v Dolphins WIN Stadium 5.30pm
Broncos v Tigers Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, April 2
Sharks v Warriors PointsBet Stadium 4.05pm
Bulldogs v Cowboys Accor Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Titans
ROUND 6
Thursday, April 6
Storm v Roosters AAMI Park 7.50pm
Friday, April 7
Bulldogs v Rabbitohs Accor Stadium 4pm
Cowboys v Dolphins Qld Country Bank Stadium 8pm
Saturday, April 8
Panthers v Sea Eagles BlueBet Stadium 5.30pm
Broncos v Raiders Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, April 9
Titans v Dragons Cbus Super Stadium 4.05pm
Knights v Warriors McDonald Jones Stadium 6.15pm
Monday, April 10
Tigers v Eels CommBank Stadium 4pm
Bye. Sharks
ROUND 7
Thursday, April 13
Dolphins v Rabbitohs Suncorp Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, April 14
Sharks v Roosters PointsBet Stadium 6pm
Sea Eagles v Storm 4 Pines Park 8pm
Saturday, April 15
Warriors v Cowboys Mt Smart Stadium 3pm
Knights v Panthers McDonald Jones Stadium 5.30pm
Titans v Broncos Cbus Super Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, April 16
Raiders v Dragons GIO Stadium 4.05pm
Eels v Bulldogs CommBank Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Tigers
ROUND 8
Thursday, April 20
Rabbitohs v Panthers Accor Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, April 21
Eels v Broncos TIO Stadium 8pm
Saturday, April 22
Bulldogs v Sharks Accor Stadium 5.30pm
Cowboys v Knights Qld Country Bank Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, April 23
Dolphins v Titans Suncorp Stadium 2pm
Tigers v Sea Eagles Campbelltown Stadium 4.05pm
TUESDAY, April 25
Roosters v Dragons Allianz Stadium 4pm
Storm v Warriors AAMI Park 7pm
Bye. Raiders
ROUND 9
Thursday, April 27
Sharks v Cowboys PointsBet Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, April 28
Eels v Knights CommBank Stadium 6pm
Broncos v Rabbitohs Suncorp Stadium 8pm
Saturday, April 29
Raiders v Dolphins McDonalds Park 3pm
Sea Eagles v Titans 4 Pines Park 5.30pm
Panthers v Tigers Carrington Park 7.35pm
Sunday, April 30
Warriors v Roosters Mt Smart Stadium 2pm
Dragons v Bulldogs WIN Stadium 4.05pm
Bye. Storm
ROUND 10 (MAGIC ROUND)
Friday, May 5
Bulldogs v Raiders Suncorp Stadium 6pm
Sea Eagles v Broncos Suncorp Stadium 8.05pm
Saturday, May 6
Warriors v Panthers Suncorp Stadium 3pm
Sharks v Dolphins Suncorp Stadium 5.30pm
Storm v Rabbitohs Suncorp Stadium 7.45pm
Sunday, May 7
Tigers v Dragons Suncorp Stadium 1.50pm
Roosters v Cowboys Suncorp Stadium 4pm
Titans v Eels Suncorp Stadium 6.25pm
Bye. Knights
ROUND 11
Thursday, May 11
Storm v Broncos AAMI Park 7.50pm
Friday, May 12
Bulldogs v Warriors Accor Stadium 6pm
Panthers v Roosters BlueBet Stadium 8pm
Saturday, May 13
Rabbitohs v Tigers Accor Stadium 3pm
Cowboys v Dragons Qld Country Bank Stadium 5.30pm
Raiders v Eels GIO Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, May 14
Knights v Titans McDonald Jones Stadium 2pm
Sea Eagles v Sharks 4 Pines Park 4.05pm
Bye. Dolphins
ROUND 12
Thursday, May 18
Broncos v Panthers Suncorp Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, May 19
Dragons v Roosters Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 6pm
Rabbitohs v Eels Allianz Stadium 8pm
Saturday, May 20
Sharks v Knights Coffs International Stadium 3pm
Tigers v Cowboys Leichhardt Oval 5.30pm
Dolphins v Storm Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, May 21
Bulldogs v Titans Accor Stadium 2pm
Raiders v Sea Eagles GIO Stadium 4.05pm
Bye. Warriors
ROUND 13
Thursday, May 25
Dolphins v Dragons Moreton Daily Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, May 26
Eels v Cowboys CommBank Stadium 8pm
Saturday, May 27
Warriors v Broncos McLean Park, Napier 3pm
Rabbitohs v Raiders Accor Stadium 5.30pm
Sunday, May 28
Knights v Sea Eagles McDonald Jones Stadium 4.05pm
Bye. Bulldogs, Panthers, Roosters, Sharks, Storm, Titans, Tigers
ROUND 14
Friday, June 2
Tigers v Raiders Campbelltown Stadium 8pm
Saturday, June 3
Titans v Rabbitohs Cbus Super Stadium 3pm
Warriors v Dolphins Mt Smart Stadium 5.30pm
Sharks v Broncos PointsBet Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, June 4
Roosters v Bulldogs Central Coast Stadium 2pm
Cowboys v Storm Qld Country Bank Stadium 4.05pm
Panthers v Dragons BlueBet Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Eels, Knights, Sea Eagles
ROUND 15
Thursday, June 8
Titans v Tigers Cbus Super Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, June 9
Raiders v Warriors GIO Stadium 6pm
Sea Eagles v Dolphins 4 Pines Park 8pm
Saturday, June 10
Dragons v Rabbitohs Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 3pm
Broncos v Knights Suncorp Stadium 5.30pm
Roosters v Panthers Allianz Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, June 11
Storm v Sharks Qld AAMI Park 4.05pm
Monday, June 12
Bulldogs v Eels Accor Stadium 4pm
Bye. Cowboys
ROUND 16
Friday, June 16
Cowboys v Panthers Qld Country Bank Stadium 8pm
Saturday, June 17
Knights v Roosters McDonald Jones Stadium 3pm
Eels v Sea Eagles CommBank Stadium 5.30pm
Tigers v Storm Campbelltown Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, June 18
Sharks v Bulldogs PointsBet Stadium 4.05pm
Bye. Broncos, Dolphins, Dragons, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Titans, Warriors
ROUND 17
Friday, June 23
Dragons v Warriors WIN Stadium 8pm
Saturday, June 24
Dolphins v Eels Sunshine Coast Stadium 3pm
Panthers v Knights BlueBet Stadium 5.30pm
Storm v Sea Eagles AAMI Park 7.35pm
Sunday, June 25
Broncos v Titans Suncorp Stadium 2pm
Rabbitohs v Cowboys Accor Stadium 4.05pm
Roosters v Raiders Allianz Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Bulldogs, Sharks, Tigers
ROUND 18
Thursday, June 29
Sharks v Dragons PointsBet Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, June 30
Warriors v Rabbitohs Mt Smart Stadium 6pm
Storm v Panthers Melbourne TBC 8pm
Saturday, July 1
Raiders v Titans GIO Stadium 3pm
Cowboys v Tigers Qld Country Bank Stadium 5.30pm
Broncos v Dolphins The Gabba 7.35pm
Sunday, July 2
Bulldogs v Knights Accor Stadium 2pm
Sea Eagles v Roosters 4 Pines Park 4.05pm
Bye. Eels
ROUND 19
Thursday, July 6
Tigers v Sharks CommBank Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, July 7
Dragons v Raiders WIN Stadium 8pm
Saturday, July 8
Eels v Warriors CommBank Stadium 5.30pm
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs Accor Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, July 9
Titans v Dolphins Cbus Super Stadium 4.05pm
Bye. Broncos, Cowboys, Knights, Panthers, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Storm
ROUND 20
Friday, July 14
Knights v Tigers McDonald Jones Stadium 8pm
Saturday, July 15
Bulldogs v Broncos Belmore Sportsground 3pm
Sea Eagles v Cowboys 4 Pines Park 5.30pm
Roosters v Storm Sydney Cricket Ground 7.35pm
Sunday, July 16
Warriors v Sharks Mt Smart Stadium 2pm
Dolphins v Panthers Moreton Daily Stadium 4.05pm
Eels v Titans CommBank Stadium 6.15pm
Bye. Dragons, Rabbitohs, Raiders
ROUND 21
Thursday, July 20
Dragons v Tigers WIN Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, July 21
Warriors v Raiders Mt Smart Stadium 6pm
Rabbitohs v Broncos Sunshine Coast Stadium 8pm
Saturday, July 22
Titans v Roosters Cbus Super Stadium 3pm
Knights v Storm McDonald Jones Stadium 5.30pm
Cowboys v Eels Qld Country Bank Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, July 23
Panthers v Bulldogs BlueBet Stadium 2pm
Sharks v Sea Eagles PointsBet Stadium 4.05pm
Bye. Dolphins
ROUND 22
Thursday, July 27
Broncos v Raiders The Gabba 7.50pm
Friday, July 28
Tigers v Rabbitohs Scully Park, Tamworth 6pm
Storm v Eels Melbourne TBC 8pm
Saturday, July 29
Raiders v Knights GIO Stadium 3pm
Dragons v Sea Eagles WIN Stadium 5.30pm
Panthers v Sharks BlueBet Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, July 30
Bulldogs v Dolphins Salter Oval, Bundaberg 2pm
Titans v Cowboys Cbus Super Stadium 4.05pm
ROUND 23
Thursday, August 3
Roosters v Sea Eagles SCG 7.50pm
Friday, August 4
Titans v Warriors Cbus Super Stadium 6pm
Panthers v Storm BlueBet Stadium 8pm
Saturday, August 5
Cowboys v Broncos QLD Country Bank Stadium 3pm
Dolphins v Knights Optus Stadium 5.30pm
Rabbitohs v Sharks Optus Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, August 6
Eels v Dragons CommBank Stadium 2pm
Raiders v Wests Tigers GIO Stadium 4.05pm
ROUND 24
Thursday, August 10
Sea Eagles v Panthers 4 Pines Park 7.50pm
Friday, August 11
Sharks v Titans PointsBet Stadium 6pm
Broncos v Eels The Gabba 8pm
Saturday, August 12
Rabbitohs v Dragons Barlow Park, Cairns 3pm
Tigers v Warriors FMG Stadium Waikato 5.30pm
Roosters v Dolphins Allianz Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, August 13
Storm v Raiders AAMI Stadium 2pm
Knights v Bulldogs McDonald Jones Stadium 4.05pm
ROUND 25
Thursday, August 17
Cowboys v Sharks QLD Country Bank Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, August 18
Warriors v Sea Eagles Mt Smart Stadium 6pm
Eels v Roosters CommBank Stadium 8pm
Saturday, August 19
Tigers v Dolphins CommBank Stadium 3pm
Titans v Panthers Cbus Super Stadium 5.430pm
Dragons v Storm WIN Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, August 20
Knights v Rabbitohs McDonald Jones Stadium 2pm
Raiders v Bulldogs GIO Stadium 4.05pm
ROUND 26
Thursday, August 24
Panthers v Eels BlueBet Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, August 25
Warriors v Dragons Mt Smart Stadium 6pm
Dolphins v Cowboys Suncorp Stadium 8pm
Saturday, August 26
Storm v Titans AAMI Park 3pm
Roosters Tigers Allianz Stadium 5.30pm
Raiders v Broncos GIO Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, August 27
Bulldogs v Sea Eagles Accor Stadium 2pm
Knights v Sharks McDonald Jones Stadium 4.05pm
ROUND 27
Thursday, August 31
Broncos v Storm Suncorp Stadium 7.50pm
Friday, September 1
Sea Eagles v Tigers 4 Pines Stadium 6pm
Rabbitohs v Roosters Accor Stadium 8pm
Saturday, September 2
Dolphins v Warriors Suncorp Stadium 3pm
Panthers v Cowboys BlueBet Stadium 5.30pm
Dragons v Knights Nestrata Jubilee Stadium 7.35pm
Sunday, September 3
Titans v Bulldogs Cbus Super Stadium 2pm
Sharks v Raiders PointsBet Stadium 4.05pm
Originally published as 2023 NRL season draw: Nick Politis hits out at unfairness of ‘TV schedule’ release
Storm ‘grubbery’ finally comes back to bite
The Melbourne Storm are licking their wounds after another tough grand final loss, but they only have themselves to blame for falling short.
Cleary comment that provoked Panthers towards another title
Ivan Cleary revealed he questioned the desire of his ‘complacent’ Panthers during the season, a moment that stung the players and ultimately sparked their run towards a fourth-straight premiership.