NRL 2024 season draw: Magic Round, rivalries, blockbusters and big return clashes revealed

A surprise Magic Round snub from the NRL’s marquee event and the Penrith Panthers go missing from the Pre-Season Challenge. READ THE NRL DRAW LATEST.

The Dragons won’t feature in Magic Round in 2024. Picture: Getty Images

St George Illawarra are a surprise Magic Round snub with the once almighty Dragons the unlucky side to be squeezed out of the NRL’s marquee event.

New Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said it was disappointing for his club to be overlooked, after Newcastle were given the bye from the 2023 edition.

The likely Magic Round matches are the Eels v Storm, Sea Eagles v Broncos, Raiders v Bulldogs, Tigers v Dolphins, Cowboys v Rabbitohs, Sharks v Roosters, Warriors v Panthers and Titans v Knights.

While his Dragons won’t be part of the Suncorp Stadium extravaganza, Flanagan gets an early chance to create a little magic in Queensland.

Flanagan’s Red-V era starts away against the Gold Coast and Dolphins in a tough road trip.

The Dragons won’t feature in Magic Round in 2024. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“Not playing at Magic Round doesn’t concern me that much,” Flanagan said. “It’s disappointing for our fan base. We have a big fan base in and around Brisbane. We play the Titans and Dolphins so I’d expect a lot of the fans will get an opportunity to see their Dragons play. Whilst part of me is disappointed, the rest of me says move on and what’s next.

“When you get the draw it’s about looking at the turnarounds and if you have a block against the top three or four teams. You look at how much travel you have to do and what it’s like through Origin.

“I’m looking forward to coaching against Cronulla and especially getting back to Shark Park. We won a few games there and I plan on winning a few more.”

The former Sharks coach takes on his former club twice next season, first in round nine at Cronulla and again in round 25 in Wollongong.

However, it will be a bit longer of a wait for new Gold Coast coach Des Hasler to step back into Brookvale Oval, with the Titans not down to travel to Manly until round 20.

It comes as this masthead has learned when Penrith’s recently departed premiership heroes return to take on the Panthers.

Stephen Crichton’s first game as a Bulldog against former theam the Panthers has been locked in. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

They are among a host of blockbuster games can be revealed ahead of the official launch of the NRL draw, which include:

– Penrith and Brisbane to have a grand final rematch in round three;

– Premiership winner Spencer Leniu’s new side the Roosters host Penrith in round four;

– A new-look Canterbury side, featuring former Panthers Stephen Crichton and Jaeman Salmon, will travel to Penrith in round 10;

– Former Knight Dominic Young will travel to Newcastle in round six with the Sydney Roosters;

– The Cowboys have three Queensland blockbusters in their first five games against Dolphins (away), Broncos (away) and Titans (home);

– Bulldogs and the Dragons to kickstart round 12 on Thursday, May 23;

– Jack Wighton will return to the nation’s capital later in the year as the Raiders host South Sydney in round 21;

– Arch rivals South Sydney and the Roosters to have a last-round epic on Friday, September 6; and

– Wests Tigers have a first-round bye before matches against Canberra and Cronulla.

New coach Benji Marshall said he was comfortable with a week off to begin the season.

“It is what it is,” Marshall said. “One thing I’ll be clear with the players there is no excuses. If that’s the bye round one, we will take the two points and move onto round two. We can’t do anything about it.”

The NRL also released the fixtures for the Pre-Season challenge, with $100,000 prizemoney awarded to the winner.

Games will be taken to a number of regional centres including Queanbeyan, Ipswich, Mackay, the Sunshine Coast and Mudgee, but will go ahead without three-time defending premiers Penrith as the Panthers plan to travel to England for the World Club Challenge against UK Super League champions Wigan, set to be played around February 24.

CHARITY SHIELD FAREWELLS MUDGEE

A Charity Shield double header at the spiritual home of the Dragons is one of the highlights of the NRL’s Pre-Season Challenge after the release of the draw on Friday.

St George Illawarra will face South Sydney at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on February 17.

And in an intriguing twist, Canberra will play a curtain-raiser against Parramatta earlier in the evening. The NRL on Friday also released the fixtures for the Pre-Season Challenge, with $100,000 prizemoney awarded to the winner.

Games will be taken to regional centres such as Queanbeyan, Ipswich, Mackay, the Sunshine Coast, Central Coast and Mudgee.

The Rabbitohs pose with the Charity Shield in Mudgee. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Some of the highlights of the pre-season matches includes traditional rivals South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters facing off at PointsBet Stadium, North Queensland and Brisbane in Mackay and Gold Coast coach Des Hasler’s first game in charge coming against Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.

The Charity Shield shifts from its recent home in Mudgee to limit the Rabbitohs’ travel before they fly to Las Vegas for the season-opening double header on March 3.

But Glen Willow Stadium will still host a pre-season game, with the Dragons taking on Wests Tigers in the town on February 24.

Former All Black Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could make his NRL return for the New Zealand Warriors, either against Benji Marshall’s Tigers or the Dolphins.

PANTHERS MIA FROM PRE-SEASON

Premiers Penrith will go into next season without a warm-up match against an NRL side are officially being left out of the Pre-Season Challenge.

The Panthers are slated to face UK Super League champions Wigan Warriors in the World Club Challenge in England around February 24.

The WCC is the only trophy the Panthers are yet to win in their current dynasty, and the three-time NRL premiers have prioritised it over the Pre-Season Challenge, despite the $100,000 prizemoney on offer.

ALL STARS CLASH MOVES

Queensland Country Bank Stadium continues to attract major events after the NRL on Friday announced Townsville would host the 2024 All Stars matches.

The annual fixture, between the Indigenous and Māori male and female teams, will be played on Friday, February 16.

QCB Stadium has already hosted a stand-alone women’s State of Origin match and last month’s Pacific Championships opener when Australia beat Samoa 38-12.

Katie Page, the chief executive of major sponsor Harvey Norman, said the All Stars heralded the start of the new season and was “the ultimate tribute to the contribution of the Indigenous and Māori communities”.

“The 13th All Stars contest is a significant milestone and brilliant that it is returning to Queensland in Townsville for 2024,” Page said.

“To see this vibrant city bring All Stars to life will be a celebration of Indigenous and Māori cultures in rugby league heartland.”

Originally published as NRL 2024 season draw: Magic Round, rivalries, blockbusters and big return clashes revealed