NRL Draw 2024: Brisbane Broncos, Dolphins fixtures revealed, Battle of Brisbane dates confirmed
After charging to the NRL grand final in 2023, Brisbane are well placed to make another deep run. Each Queensland team’s 2024 draw analysed inside.
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The Broncos have been given a dream draw in their bid to snap an 18-year title drought as Brisbane brace for an early-season grudge match with Dolphins defectors Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth.
Brisbane have hit the jackpot following the release of the 2024 NRL draw, which has put Dolphins recruits Flegler and Farnworth on a collision course with the Broncos in round six on Friday, April 12.
Suncorp Stadium was once their home ground but Flegler and Farnworth will return to the hallowed field as enemies when the Broncos host Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in the third instalment of the Battle of Brisbane.
Farnworth is set for a thrilling centre showdown with his replacement Deine Mariner, while Flegler’s front-row clash with Broncos champion Payne Haas will be one of the best individual duels of the season.
The Broncos will enjoy another favourable draw in 2024 following the 2023 schedule that set them up for last year’s epic charge to the NRL grand final against the Panthers.
Kevin Walters’ troops will kick-off the premiership with a historic showdown with the Roosters in Las Vegas, before playing seven of their first 12 games at Suncorp Stadium.
The 2023 grand finalists will finish the regular season with three consecutive home games at Suncorp - the perfect prelude to what the Broncos hope will be another charge to the finals in their bid to win their first premiership since 2006.
The Broncos play just three of last year’s top eight sides twice (Roosters, Storm and Penrith), with their grand-final replay against the Panthers locked in for round three on Thursday, March 21 at BlueBet Stadium.
The Panthers and Broncos will then meet again in round 18 on Friday, July 5 at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos enjoy three byes after round 13, ensuring six competition points heading into the back end of the season. Brisbane have 16 games on Queensland soil and have just one five-day turnaround in a packed schedule.
The Broncos are also only one of five teams to play just once in the lead-up to the three State of Origin games, giving coach Walters the best season schedule possible to avenge last year’s grand-final heartbreak against the Panthers.
Broncos boss Dave Donaghy was rapt with the draw handed to the NRL glamour club.
“Kevvie and the boys will be locked in to bringing those two points home from Vegas, before a blockbuster start to the season back in Brisbane for our members and fans,” he said.
“Playing three top eight teams, as well as the Cowboys and Souths in the first five weeks when we get back, particularly off the back of last season is an exciting and big start, but we want to play those big games - so bring it on.
“The schedule sees us with a strong run of home games at the start, and a very ‘Queensland flavour’ at the business end of the season.
“It doesn’t get much better for (Broncos fans) ... we can’t wait to see you all soon.”
New Titans coach Des Hasler’s first game will be against the Dragons on Saturday, March 9 at Cbus Super Stadium, before his grudge match against the Manly club that sacked him Saturday, April 20 on the Gold Coast.
The Cowboys kick-off their season with a derby clash with Bennett’s Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, March 10.
After missing the finals last year, the Cowboys have a great run home with six of their last eight games at their home ground, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, plus two late byes in rounds 19 and 25.
North Queensland also avoid travelling to Newcastle, Auckland and Melbourne, three of their four toughest road trips.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins must start the season well after being handed a nightmare draw for the 2024 premiership.
In their second season, the expansion newcomers are the only NRL team to play all three games before each Origin fixture.
That means super coach Bennett will potentially be without his Queensland Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Gilbert and Flegler at a time when the Dolphins will be desperate to have their elite players on deck.
The Dolphins also have all three byes by round 18, meaning they will get no easy weekends off in the final two months of the season when injuries and the toll of a gruelling NRL season begins to kick in.
Dolphins enforcer Flegler arrives at the club with huge expectations and can’t wait to go toe-to-toe with his former front-row partner Haas and the Broncos.
“I’m excited to get across to the Dolphins and see what it’s all about,” Flegler said.
“It will be hard to leave the Broncos. I was there a long time, but time goes on and I’m onto a new challenge with the Dolphins.
“I’m really excited about what I can do there under Wayne Bennett, who is a great coach.
“I am ready to get to work and hopefully have a strong 2024 season.”
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