NRL 2021 draw: Every grudge match of season 2021 revealed

Josh Aloiai and his lawnmower, Addin Fonua-Blake v Manly, Penrith’s revenge - here are the best grudge matches of the 2021 season. DRAW HERE.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy will come up against his old mentor in round 1. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Josh Aloiai will bring his boots or his lawnmower when the Wests Tigers play Manly as part of a bumper Anzac Day round seven clash.

The Tigers and Manly grudge match will join the annual games between St George Illawarra and the Roosters and Melbourne playing the Warriors on April 25 – which falls on a Sunday next year.

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While it is likely Aloiai will be lining up for the Sea Eagles in that match, his future still remains uncertain ahead of his planned return to Tigers training on Monday.

The Tigers have ramped up negotiations with Broncos forward Joe Ofahengaue in recent days which would free Aloiai to join Manly immediately.

Tyson Frizell will tackle the Dragons in 2021. Picture: Brett Costello

The first half of next season is dominated by grudge matches and players seeking retribution against their former clubs. Payne Haas and new Titans recruit Tino Fa’asuamaleaui won’t have to wait long to renew their rivalry in what is a now highly anticipated local derby between Brisbane and the Gold Coast on the Gold Coast in round two. David Fifita will play against the Broncos for the first time.

A week later, the Roosters and South Sydney will showdown in round three after again dominating headlines in the off-season regarding the tug of war for the long-term signature of youngster Joseph Suaalii.

Tyson Frizell will get an early chance to impress against his former club St George Illawarra in round four when the Knights host the Dragons.

Josh Aloiai is expected to be in Manly colours next season. Picture: AAP/Dan Himbrechts

The Warriors have been slated to host games in Auckland despite the ongoing uncertainty regarding COVID-19. One of their first home games will be up against Addin Founa-Blake’s former club Manly in round five. The clubs clash again just four weeks later.

ARL chairman Peter V’landys said he expected the Warriors to be able to travel freely between Australia and New Zealand for matches.

“We’re very confident that the international borders will be open by that stage,” V’landys said. “We all know a vaccine is imminent – at last we hope it is.

“Every decision we’ve taken at the NRL, we have done on the scientific data and the expert advice from the best biosecurity expert in Australia, who is very balanced. He tells us that he believes we will be playing our games in New Zealand in the first round. If it doesn’t happen we have contingencies in place for all scenarios.”

Brothers Blayke and Jayden Brailey could finally get a chance to play against each other in round six when the Knights host Cronulla.

Warriors recruit Addin Fonua-Blake will come up against the Sea Eagles in round five. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

One of the game’s emerging rivalries Canterbury and Penrith will play in round 12. The Bulldogs have already pinched coach Trent Barrett, prop Jack Hetherington and rising half Matt Burton from the Panthers.

Barrett will also coach against his former club Manly in rounds 16 and 24.

St George Illawarra recruit Jack Bird faces his former club the Broncos in round 13.

While most of the high profile showdowns happen in the early part of the season, Kyle Flanagan will have to wait until round 17 when his Bulldogs play the Roosters. New Dragons coach Anthony Griffin won’t coach against his former club Penrith until round 22.

The full draw will be announced on Thursday.

NRL 2021 GRUDGE MATCHES

Round two Brisbane v Gold Coast

The fuse has already been lit for this local derby after Payne Haas and new Titans recruit Tino Fa’asuamaleaui traded fists in Origin II. The Titans have also signed ex-Bronco David Fifita on one of the richest contracts in the game.

Round three: South Sydney v Sydney Roosters

Bitter rivals who do not need any extra motivation to incite their fans. This off-season again put the two teams against each other for the long-term signature of youngster Joseph Suaalii. There is a suggestion Suaalii could be cleared to play before his 18th birthday in a potential showdown against South Sydney.

Round three: Penrith v Melbourne

The Panthers get to host the grand final rematch. While there is no way of avenging their premiership loss, the Panthers can show there is no lingering mental torment by beating Melbourne.

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Round four: Newcastle v St George Illawarra

Tyson Frizell won’t have to wait long to play his ex-club. And he gets to do so in front of his new home fans. Frizell was one of the highest profile defections.

Round five and round nine: Manly v Warriors

Manly will have to try and stop Addin Founa-Blake twice in five weeks. Founa-Blake wanted out of the Sea Eagles and quickly found a home at the Warriors.

Round six: South Sydney v Wests Tigers

Can the Tigers do what South Sydney couldn’t and ensure James Roberts stays on track? By round six we should know if the Tigers’ gamble is paying off or not.

Round seven: Wests Tigers v Manly

It could be BYO paintbrushes depending on what plays out for Josh Aloiai. It is unclear which team he will turn out for this week but there is little loved lost between the two clubs.

Round 12: Penrith v Canterbury

First Canterbury pinched Trent Barrett. Then it was Jack Hetherington and now it is Matt Burton. And you get the sense the Bulldogs aren’t done with rampaging through Penrith’s stocks.

Round 13: Dragons v Broncos

Jack Bird had an unhappy stint at Brisbane where he struggled with injuries. He gets the chance to show if he has returned back to his best at his junior club.

Round 17: Canterbury v Roosters

Kyle Flanagan was made the scapegoat at the Roosters. He has quickly been embraced by the Bulldogs faithful. He has to wait a while to show the Roosters what they are missing out on.

BENNY V BELLAMY BLOCKBUSTER TO LAUNCH SEASON

The NRL will launch next season with a face-off between supercoaches Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy in a South Sydney Rabbitohs v Melbourne Storm blockbuster.

The match will be played on Thursday, March 11, in a return home to AAMI Park after 10 months away from the Storm’s Melbourne fans.

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The Daily Telegraph can reveal the opening round of the competition also features Kevvie Walters debuting as Broncos coach against the Parramatta Eels on a Friday night. The Eels obliterated the Broncos 58-0 the 2019 finals at Bankwest Stadium and knocked them off twice last season, 34-6 and 26-12.

But it’s the Bennett v Bellamy showdown that will highlight the opening night. Bellamy was the man the Broncos tried to hire in 2018 which led to Bennett’s stormy departure at the end of that season once it was known he was not wanted.

Craig Bellamy’s premiers tackle Wayne Bennett’s Bunnies in the opening match of 2021.

Storm haven’t played at home since round four last season. It’s likely to be a new dawn for the Storm, who are expected to start the 2021 season without Cameron Smith in their playing squad for the first time since 2001.

Rabbitohs’ superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell will be back from injury, facing off against Melbourne’s Clive Churchill Medallist Ryan Papenhuyzen.

The Sharks and Dragons face off in a round 1 derby NRL match at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah. Picture: Brett Costello

The Warriors have been given a first-round Auckland home game on Saturday against the Titans — the venue dependent on borders being opened.

The Saturday games are still subject to late change with Fox Sports in discussions with the NRL over the schedule.

The Pay TV network will cover the traditional Dragons v Sharks local derby at Kogarah Oval in round one, in the Sunday 6.30pm timeslot.

The NRL is launching on the first two nights out of Melbourne, Newcastle and Brisbane.

However on Saturday the Roosters will host Manly and the Panthers will host the Cowboys.

The SCG is subject to availability and a possible clash with a Sydney Swans home game.

The NRL hopes to release the full season schedule on Thursday. Anzac Day games will see the Sea Eagles play the Bulldogs, the Roosters up against the Dragons and Storm hosting the Warriors.