NRL 2022 draw: Tom Trbojevic’s brilliance hands Manly 12 free-to-air games worth a cool $3m

Superstar fullback Tom Trbjoevic and the Sea Eagles have emerged as the NRL’s ‘hottest property’ after being awarded 12 free-to-air games in 24 rounds next season.

Welcome to Turbo TV.

Manly’s Tom Trbojevic has been identified as the superstar behind an extraordinary NRL decision to award Manly a staggering 12 free-to-air games in 24 rounds next season.

News Corp has been told the 12 games on Channel 9 will be watched by 15 million viewers and be worth an estimated $3m in exposure and value. It was a bold decision from 9 based around the brilliance of Trbojevic and his free-flowing Sea Eagles.

Manly chief executive Stephen Humphreys has predicted around three million additional fans will watch Sea Eagles games next season compared to 2021, when the club finished inside the top four.

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Tom Trbojevic and Manly will feature plenty of times on free-to-air TV next season.

An NRL insider described Manly as “hot property.” It is the first time in Manly’s history the club has been assigned 50 per cent of free-to-air games in a single season.

The Sea Eagles had four games on the high-rating Thursday and Friday timeslots last season. The club will have 11 in 2022. Those Thursday and Friday night broadcast audiences are around 30 per cent higher than the Sunday afternoon time slot.

Manly’s massive boost comes after the NRL released its 2022 draw on Tuesday with the major discussion topics being:

^ Penrith being allocated just one Sunday afternoon home game.

^ St George Illawarra having to travel to Queensland four times throughout the season.

^ Canterbury playing a game at its spiritual home, Belmore Sports ground, after a two-year hiatus.

^ Manly having just one Sunday afternoon home game at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale.

Trbojevic completed a dominant season by winning the 2021 Dally M Medal.

Parramatta, Manly, North Queensland and Wests Tigers drifted in premiership betting after the draw was released with Melbourne, Sydney Roosters, Souths and Cronulla firming, according to TAB bookies.

Penrith remain premiership favourites at $5 with St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers being equal $51 outsiders.

Trbojevic, meanwhile, ignited the NRL last season, posting 28 tries, 31 try assists, 32 line breaks, 45 line break assists and busting 131 tackles – all in 18 games.

“We have half of our matches – 12 – on free to air. That’s the most anyone at the club can remember having. That many games on free-to-air shows people are enjoying our brand of footy. That is why the broadcasters have picked us,” Humphreys said.

“We had a successful 2021 where we played an open, attacking brand of footy. We’ve got some real stars of the game including, of course, Tom, the reigning Dally M Medalist. That would all have all been factored into that schedule.

“The Channel 9 schedule - with so many marquee Thursday and Friday night games featuring the high-flying Sea Eagles - will result in an estimated three million additional viewers tuning in to watch Manly play in 2022.

“We only have one Sunday afternoon match. That is probably the sting in the tail, if you like, of being successful and popular. Our first game at 4 Pines Park on a Sunday afternoon is against the Bulldogs in round three. That’s it for Sunday but we do have five Saturday games at home in good timeslots. We have six Thursday night games and eight Friday night matches across the year.”

Penrith’s only home Sunday game in 2022 comes against Canberra.

While comfortable with the draw, Penrith has been issued just one Sunday afternoon home game – a 4.05pm game on April 24 against Ricky Stuart’s Raiders.

It continues a lean run of Sunday afternoon home games. The Panthers have enjoyed just one Sunday afternoon game in two years – a round 10 match against North Queensland in 2020.

And that was played before a Covid-restricted crowd of just 2891. Next year’s solitary match will mean only two Sunday home games for Penrith in three years.

“People do like Sunday games and, yes, another Sunday would have been nice for the locals and the kids who want to attend,” said Panthers CEO, Brian Fletcher. “We have a big leagues club across the road from BlueBet Stadium which we’d packed after the game.

“But we have a lot of Friday night games and that means Channel 9 coverage, which is great for our sponsors, so you can’t have it both ways. The way we have played the last two years, it probably wouldn’t matter what day we played or what night because we would still get a good crowd. We’ve got no problem with the draw.”

St George Illawarra is also content with the draw although club chief executive Ryan Webb pointed out his club would travel to Queensland four times through the season.

“The only challenge is we have four trips to Queensland – that would be at the high-end, I would have thought,” Webb said.

The Dragons have four trips to Queensland, including a match against the Cowboys.

“Magic Round, the Warriors (at Sunshine Coast Stadium in round one) and we’ve also got the Broncos and Cowboys.

“But with everything that has happened in recent years, it’s not something we can worry about – the guys have got pretty used to travelling and being flexible. We don’t want it to be something we get too worked up about. It is what it is – you’ve just got to attack it head-on.”

Canterbury has a tough start to the season but will play a one-off game at Belmore in round 12 against St George Illawarra.

‘It’s obviously a tough draw early on. We get to play a lot of the top teams, but that will also give us a chance to see where we are as a football team,” said Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton.

“From an overall perspective we get the chance to play a match in Bundaberg for the first time and thank the local community for their support, as well as seeing football back at Belmore Sports Ground after a two year gap.”

Asked for his opinion on the draw, Souths chief executive Blake Solly said: “We’re happy with our draw - we just can’t wait for the footy to roll around again.” 

Full round-by-round fixtures

Check out who, when and where your club is playing each round in the 2022 NRL draw fixture below,

*All times AEDT and AEST

ROUND 1

Thursday, March 10

Panthers v Sea Eagles, BlueBet Stadium, 8.05pm

Friday, March 11

Raiders v Sharks, GIO Stadium, 6pm

Broncos v Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 8.05pm

Saturday, March 12

Roosters v Knights, Sydney Cricket Ground, 3pm

Warriors v Dragons, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 5.30pm

Tigers v Storm, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, March 13

Eels v Titans, CommBank Stadium, 4.05pm

Cowboys v Bulldogs Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6.15pm

The Panthers will kick off their premiership defence with a monster match-up against the Sea Eagles. Picture. Getty

ROUND 2

Thursday, March 17

Storm v Rabbitohs, AAMI Park, 8.05pm

Friday, March 18

Dragons v Panthers, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6pm

Roosters v Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 8.05pm

Saturday, March 19

Titans v Warriors, Cbus Super Stadium, 3pm

Sharks v Eels, PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm

Cowboys v Raiders, Qld Country Bank Stadium 7.35pm

Sunday, March 20

Knights v Tigers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.05pm

Bulldogs v Broncos, Stadium Australia, 6.15pm

ROUND 3

Thursday, March 24

Dragons v Sharks, WIN Stadium, 8.05pm

Friday, March 25

Tigers v Warriors, Campbelltown Stadium, 6pm

Rabbitohs v Roosters, Stadium Australia, 8.05pm

Saturday, March 25

Panthers v Knights, Carrington Park, Bathurst, 3pm

Storm v Eels, AAMI Park, 5.30pm

Raiders v Titans, GIO Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, March 27

Broncos v Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm

Sea Eagles v Bulldogs, 4 Pines Park, 6.15pm

ROUND 4

Thursday, March 31

Titans v Tigers, Cbus Super Stadium, 8.05pm

Friday, April 1

Sharks v Knights, PointsBet Stadium, 6pm

Panthers v Rabbitohs, BlueBet Stadium, 8.05pm

Saturday, April 2

Warriors v Broncos, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe 3pm

Sea Eagles v Raiders, Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee 5.30pm

Cowboys v Roosters, Qld Country Bank Stadium 7.35pm

Sunday, April 3

Storm v Bulldogs, AAMI Park, 4.05pm

Eels v Dragons, CommBank Stadium, 6.15pm

ROUND 5

Thursday, April 7

Knights v Sea Eagles, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, April 8

Warriors v Cowboys, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 6pm

Broncos v Roosters, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, April 9

Raiders v Storm, McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga, 3pm

Rabbitohs v Dragons, Stadium Australia, 5.30pm

Titans v Eels, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, April 10

Sharks v Tigers, PointsBet Stadium, 4.05pm

Bulldogs v Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 6.15pm

ROUND 6

Thursday, April 14

Raiders v Cowboys, GIO Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, April 15

Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, Stadium Australia, 4pm

Panthers v Broncos, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, April 16

Sea Eagles v Titans, 4 Pines Park 5.30pm

Storm v Sharks, AAMI Park, 7.35pm

Sunday, April 17

Roosters v Warriors, Sydney Cricket Ground, 2pm

Dragons v Knights, WIN Stadium, 4.05pm

Monday, April 18

Eels v Tigers, CommBank Stadium, 4pm

ROUND 7

Thursday, April 21

Sharks v Sea Eagles, PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, April 22

Broncos v Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, April 23

Cowboys v Titans, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5.30pm

Tigers v Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, April 24

Knights v Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm

Panthers v Raiders, BlueBet Stadium, 4.05pm

Monday, April 25

Dragons v Roosters, Sydney Cricket Ground, 4pm

Storm v Warriors, AAMI Park, 7pm

ROUND 8

Thursday, Apr 28

Broncos v Sharks, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, Apr 29

Titans v Panthers, Cbus Super Stadium, 6pm

Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Apr 30

Warriors v Raiders, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 3pm

Bulldogs v Roosters, Stadium Australia, 5.30pm

Eels v Cowboys TIO Stadium, Darwin, 7.05pm

Sunday, May 1

Knights v Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm

Dragons v Tigers, WIN Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 9

Thursday, May 5

Rabbitohs v Broncos Stadium Australia, 7.50pm

Friday, May 6

Raiders v Bulldogs GIO Stadium, 6pm

Panthers v Eels BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, May 7

Sea Eagles v Tigers, 4 Pines Park, 3pm

Roosters v Titans, BB Print Stadium, Mackay, 5.30pm

Cowboys v Knights Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, May 8

Storm v Dragons, AAMI Park, 2pm

Sharks v Warriors PointsBet Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 10

Friday, May 13

Bulldogs v Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 6pm

Sea Eagles v Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 8.05pm

Saturday, May 14

Warriors v Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 3pm

Titans v Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 5.30pm

Storm v Panthers, Suncorp Stadium,7.45pm

Sunday, May 15

Sharks v Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 1.50pm

Roosters v Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm

Tigers v Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 6.25pm

ROUND 11

Thursday, May 19

Knights v Broncos, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, May 20

Tigers v Bulldogs, Leichhardt Oval, 6pm

Eels v Sea Eagles, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, May 21

Dragons v Warriors, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 3pm

Cowboys v Storm Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5.30pm

Roosters v Panthers Sydney Cricket Ground, 7.35pm

Sunday, May 22

Rabbitohs v Raiders Apex Oval, Dubbo, 2pm

Titans v Sharks Cbus Super Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 12

Thursday, May 26

Storm v Sea Eagles, AAMI Park, 8.05pm

Friday, May 27

Panthers v Cowboys, BlueBet Stadium, 6pm

Broncos v Titans, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, May 28

Warriors v Knights, Moreton Daily Stadium, 3pm

Rabbitohs v Tigers, Stadium Australia, 5.30pm

Sharks v Roosters, PointsBet Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, May 29

Bulldogs v Dragons, Belmore Sports Ground, 2pm

Raiders v Eels, GIO Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 13

Thursday, June 2

Titans v Cowboys, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, June 3

Panthers v Bulldogs, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, June 4

Sea Eagles v Warriors, 4 Pines Park, 7.35pm

Sunday, June 5

Raiders v Roosters, GIO Stadium, 4.05pm

Byes. Broncos, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Storm, Tigers

ROUND 14

Friday, June 10

Cowboys v Dragons, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, June 11

Titans v Rabbitohs, Cbus Super Stadium, 3pm

Roosters v Storm, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 5.30pm

Broncos v Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, June 12

Tigers v Sea Eagles, Campbelltown Stadium, 2pm

Knights v Panthers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.05pm

Warriors v Sharks, Moreton Daily Stadium, 6.15pm

Monday, June 13

Bulldogs v Eels, Stadium Australia, 4pm

ROUND 15

Thursday, June 16

Dragons v Rabbitohs, WIN Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday June 17

Sea Eagles v Cowboys, 4 Pines Park, 6pm

Storm v Broncos, AAMI Park, 7.55pm

Saturday, June 18

Sharks v Titans, C. ex Coffs International Stadium, 3pm

Warriors v Panthers, Mt Smart Stadium**, 5.30pm

Eels v Roosters, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, June 19

Raiders v Knights, GIO Stadium, 2pm

Bulldogs v Tigers, CommBank Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 16

Thursday, June 30

Sea Eagles v Storm, 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm

Friday, July 1

Knights v Titans, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm

Panthers v Roosters, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, July 2

Bulldogs v Sharks, CommBank Stadium, 3pm

Cowboys v Broncos, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5.30pm

Rabbitohs v Eels, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm

Sunday, July 3

Warriors v Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium**, 2pm

Dragons v Raiders, WIN Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 17

Thursday, July 7

Sharks v Storm, PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, July 8

Knights v Rabbitohs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, July 9

Tigers v Eels, Leichhardt Oval, 7.35pm

Sunday, July 10

Broncos v Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm

Byes. Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Titans, Warriors

ROUND 18

Friday, July 15

Cowboys v Sharks, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6pm

Eels v Warriors, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, July 16

Roosters v Dragons, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 3pm

Sea Eagles v Knights, 4 Pines Park, 5.30pm

Titans v Broncos, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, July 17

Tigers v Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 2pm

Storm v Raiders, AAMI Park, 4.05pm

Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Stadium Australia, 6.15pm

ROUND 19

Thursday, July 21

Eels v Broncos, CommBank Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, July 22

Dragons v Sea Eagles, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6pm

Knights v Roosters, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, July 23

Raiders v Warriors, GIO Stadium, 3pm

Panthers v Sharks, BlueBet Stadium, 5.30pm

Rabbitohs v Storm, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm

Sunday, July 24

Bulldogs v Titans, 2pm

Cowboys v Tigers, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 20

Thursday, July 28

Sea Eagles v Roosters, 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm

Friday, July 29

Warriors v Storm, Mt Smart Stadium**, 6pm

Eels v Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, July 30

Titans v Raiders, Cbus Super Stadium, 3pm

Sharks v Rabbitohs, PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm

Broncos v Tigers, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, July 31

Knights v Bulldogs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm

Dragons v Cowboys, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 21

Thursday, August 4

Roosters v Broncos, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 7.50pm

Friday Aug, 5

Storm v Titans, AAMI Park, 6pm

Sea Eagles v Eels, 4 Pines Park, 7.55pm

Saturday, August 6

Rabbitohs v Warriors, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 3pm

Raiders v Panthers, GIO Stadium, 5.30pm

Sharks v Dragons, PointsBet Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, August 7

Bulldogs, v Cowboys, Salter Oval, Bundaberg, 2pm

Tigers v Knights, Campbelltown Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 22

Thursday, August 11

Panthers v Storm, BlueBet Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, August 12

Warriors v Bulldogs, Mt Smart Stadium**, 6pm

Eels v Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, August 13

Roosters v Cowboys, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 3pm

Tigers v Sharks, Scully Park, Tamworth 5.30pm

Broncos v Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, August 14

Raiders v Dragons, GIO Stadium, 2pm

Titans v Sea Eagles, Cbus Super Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 23

Thursday, August 18

Rabbitohs v Panthers, Stadium Australia,7.50pm

Friday, August 19

Cowboys v Warriors, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6pm

Broncos v Storm, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, August 20

Eels v Bulldogs, CommBank Stadium, 3pm

Sea Eagles v Sharks, 4 Pines Park, 5.30pm

Roosters v Tigers, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 7.35pm

Sunday, August 21

Dragons v Titans, WIN Stadium, (Fox) 2pm

Knights v Raiders, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 24

Thursday, August 25

Broncos v Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, August 26

Panthers v Warriors, BlueBet Stadium, 6pm

Storm v Roosters, AAMI Park, 7.55pm

Saturday, August 27

Raiders v Sea Eagles, GIO Stadium, 3pm

Sharks v Bulldogs, PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm

Rabbitohs v Cowboys, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm

Sunday, August 28

Tigers v Dragons, CommBank Stadium, 2pm

Titans v Knights, Cbus Super Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 25

Thursday, September 1

Eels v Storm, CommBank Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, September 2

Bulldogs v Sea Eagles, Stadium Australia, 6pm

Roosters v Rabbitohs, TBC, 7.55pm

Saturday, September 3

Warriors v Titans, Mt Smart Stadium**, 3pm

Dragons v Broncos, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5.30pm

Cowboys v Panthers, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, September 4

Knights v Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm

Tigers v Raiders, Leichhardt Oval, 4.05pm

* subject to availability

** subject to government restrictions and biosecurity advice