NRL draw 2020: Round 3, 4 fixtures for May 28 return revealed
The wait is over. Rugby league will resume on May 28 with the Round 3 blockbuster between Parramatta and Brisbane, but when will the full draw be revealed?
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The NRL with kickstart its season by pitting all six unbeaten teams against each other in an opening-round battle royale.
The draw for the first two rounds to restart the competition were released yesterday with Parramatta likely travelling to Brisbane to play the Broncos on Thursday night, May 28.
Last year’s runners-up Canberra will play Melbourne for the first time since their dramatic preliminary finals show down last year while Newcastle and Penrith will square off minus two suspended stars in Kalyn Ponga and Nathan Cleary on Sunday.
Venues are yet to be confirmed.
Brad Arthur’s Eels started the season proper against Canterbury in round one and will again lead the charge on Thursday week.
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“Everyone has been sitting around waiting for some footy, at least we don’t have to wait seven games before we play,” Arthur said. “It will be a good test for us. The Broncos have played some good footy in the opening two games.
“I got a message when the boys were doing a bit of contact training (yesterday). We were able to tell them before they left. They are just keen to get some footy and keen to play Thursday night.”
Round three matches will be headlined by Latrell Mitchell’s South Sydney against his old side the Sydney Roosters on Friday night, while the earlier Friday game will be an all Queensland affair between North Queensland and Gold Coast.
Super Saturday pits the Dragons against the Warriors, Sharks playing the Tigers before the Storm-Canberra clash.
Des Hasler’s Manly play Canterbury on Sunday night to finish the round.
The Rabbitohs are boosted by not only being the only club to have prime billing on back to back Friday nights but they have kept their same next two opponents from the original draw.
The added-exposure of Friday night matches is a boost for the Rabbitohs according to chief executive Blake Solly.
“We are super excited to get back on the field,” Solly said. “I know Wayne and the players have had a good couple of weeks on the training field. (Being on consecutive Friday’s) is a positive for everyone associated with the club and everyone who loves and supports the club.
“Six weeks ago when the competition was suspended, everyone had a fear that we might not see any football again in 2020. It’s been a long road. Peter V’landys deserves a huge amount of credit for his belief in getting a date set.”
There is a return to Monday football in round four with the traditional Queens Birthday long weekend match between St George Illawarra and Canterbury closing out the round.
Brisbane host the Roosters to start round four on the Thursday night followed by the Friday games of Penrith against the Warriors and Melbourne against South Sydney.
Parramatta play Manly in one of two matches on Saturday, June 6, and will be followed by Valentine Holmes taking on his former club for the first time with North Queensland playing Cronulla.
The Sunday matches are Canberra against Newcastle and Titans playing Wests Tigers.
The full draw will be announced on Thursday at 4pm with the NRL hopeful of securing the broadcast deal by then.
Venues remain undecided as the NRL works through biosecurity concerns with a handful of grounds expected to be used including Bankwest Stadium. Netstrata Jubilee and Leichhardt Oval have been mentioned as possible alternatives while Suncorp Stadium is expected to be available with the NRL to allocate venues for team’s “home” games.
The NRL hinted they would announce venues in seven-game blocks to allow for any easing of restrictions for crowds.
REST OF 2020 DRAW EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
— Matt Encarnacion
NRL clubs are expecting to receive the rest of this year’s draw by mid next week, however the venues of each fixture are unlikely to be included. The league on Friday revealed rounds three and four of the restructured schedule, which will resume with a Brisbane-Parramatta blockbuster on May 28. Where games will be staged remains unknown, as is the rest of the draw, which is expected to be revealed following an ARL Commission meeting on Wednesday. There is widespread speculation that the Sydney clubs will utilise Bankwest Stadium, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, and Leichhardt Oval as home grounds. North Queensland are likely to host matches at their new Queensland Country Bank Stadium, as are Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Melbourne and Gold Coast are also hopeful of staying in their respective homes.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart on Friday suggested the Raiders may play home games in Campbelltown, while the Knights are expected to travel down the F1. The Warriors are hopeful of hosting games in Gosford, where they will be based after completing their two-week quarantine in Tamworth this week. Manly coach Des Hasler is resigned to shifting away from Lottoland. “To be realistic, I don’t think there will be any games at Brookie in the first instance. But maybe later in the season,” Hasler said on Saturday. “Still got 18 games to play, but I think you ask any player at the moment they just want to get on the field and play.” Titans CEO Steve Mitchell believes the NRL will release a full draw next week, but remain flexible on venues for the foreseeable future.
“You can certainly do the fixture in collaboration with the broadcasters,” he said.
“But as the lockdown starts to loosen and we go to different phases of that, it’d be good if at some point teams can return ... to a home ground. “I think the draw will offer that.”
BLOCKBUSTER SLATE WILL HAVE GAME RETURN WITH A BANG
by Phil Rothfield
Finally we can talk some footy ... no more flu vaccination refusals, sackings at NRL headquarters, one-referee debates or Nathan Cleary, Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr scandals.
Bring it on baby. Friday night, May 29. Latrell v Teddy. Vonny, Vossy, Brandy and Blocker. Or Rabs and Gus. Take your pick.
This is what we’ve been hanging out for since the premiership went into shutdown on March 22. It’s been 54 long and painful days of drama after drama and hurdle after hurdle.
But we’ve done it. Thank you Peter V’landys, Andrew Abdo and Project Apollo.
The opening round is a screamer.
The undefeated Parramatta Eels against the undefeated Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp.
Then the game’s greatest rivalry the Roosters v the Rabbitohs.
Trent Robinson’s defending premiers absolutely desperate to get their first victory, strengthened by the return of inspirational Kangaroos and NSW skipper Boyd Cordner.
Plus the added experience of Josh Morris playing beside twin brother Brett.
But the big story is Latrell. He’ll bring tens of thousands of extra eyeballs to the broadcast. Up against his old club. No doubt underdone but just as likely to produce a blinder.
Then on Saturday an out-of-town blockbuster … Ricky’s Raiders against the mighty Melbourne Storm.
And on Sunday the unbeaten Panthers, minus Nathan Cleary, against the unbeaten Knights.
It will be a weekend to remember.
ROUND 3 MATCHES
(venues to be decided but home team appears first)
May 28 Thursday:
Broncos v Eels 7.50pm
May 29 Friday:
Cowboys v Titans 6pm
Roosters v Rabbitohs 7.55pm.
May 30 Saturday:
Warriors v Dragons 3pm
Sharks v Tigers 5.30pm
Storm v Raiders 7.35pm.
May 31 Sunday
Panthers v Knights 4.05pm
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs 6.30pm.
ROUND 4 MATCHES
June 4 Thursday:
Broncos v Roosters 7.50pm
June 5 Friday:
Panthers v Warriors 6pm,
Storm v Rabbitohs 7.55pm
June 6 Saturday:
Eels v Sea Eagles 5.30pm,
Cowboys v Sharks 7.35pm
June 7 Sunday:
Raiders v Knights 4.05pm,
Titans v Tigers 6.30pm
June 8 Monday:
Bulldogs v Dragons 4.05pm
Originally published as NRL draw 2020: Round 3, 4 fixtures for May 28 return revealed