Huge shocks as NRL unveils 2022 season draw

The NRL has announced the draw for the 2022 season fixture on Tuesday morning, confirming leaked reports of blockbuster games.

Adam Reynolds in Broncos colours. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

The NRL has announced the fixture for the 2022 season.

The draw was confirmed by NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo in an announcement on Tuesday, which included the league’s plans to have the Warriors play home games in New Zealand, beginning from Round 15, for the first time since 2019.

The announcement also shows the Melbourne Storm will be playing home games in front of crowds for the first time in almost two years when they begin their season playing five of their first seven rounds at AAMI Park.

The announcement also confirmed the delayed 2021 NRLW season will finally begin from February 27 — starting with a triple-header.

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It will be one of the longest calendar years of rugby league in recent memory, beginning with the All Stars game on February 12 and concluding with the Rugby League World Cup final on November 19.

The Bulldogs — and coach Trent Barrett — have emerged as the big losers for the 2022 season draw. The Bulldogs face a nightmare start to the season that could leave Barrett fighting to save his job.

Canterbury faces the top four teams from 2021 — Manly, South Sydney, Penrith and Melbourne — from Round 3 to Round 6, making their opening two games against North Queensland and Brisbane must-win.

The potential of a 0-6 start to the season would be a hammer blow to Barrett’s job security after the rebuilding club won just three games in 2021.

You can read the full season draw below

“It’s going to be some mixed news for Trent Barrett and his new-look Canterbury side,” The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“They’ve got a pretty tough draw, they open up against the Cowboys and Broncos, which isn’t too bad.

What they are all playing for. Picture by NRL IMAGES.

“But their next month of football between Round 3 and Round 6, the play against every side that featured in the top four this year.

“So, that’s a rough start as the wooden spooners.

“They need to win, they open the season against North Queensland and Brisbane so they can’t be 0-2.

“It’d be a lean six weeks for the Bulldogs.”

The Raiders’ draw was also revealed to be one of the most challenging with the club facing a significant amount of time on the road with matches in Mudgee, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Redcliffe, Wollongong, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. They feature heavily in the league’s tactical decision to shift more games to regional areas.

The 2022 fixture includes a record-equalling number of regional fixtures, with matches to be played in Darwin, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Bathurst, Mudgee, Tamworth, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Mackay.

The Broncos, however, have emerged as one of the big winners — on the back of a surprise assessment from bookmakers expecting the club to return to play finals football next year.

Their draw includes a headline detail of a Sunday meeting with North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in Round 3 — the teams’ first Sunday clash at Suncorp in 16 years.

The Broncos have endured the worst period in the club’s history in recent years, but with a series of key signings, including halfback Adam Reynolds, the club now sits as a very real chance of making the top eight with the TAB listing them as a $2.75 chance of playing in the finals.

Adam Reynolds enters a new era. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

The Dragons, however, have been listed as $51 shots to win the 2022 Grand Final — the worst season-starting odds in the club’s history.

Here are the main headlines to emerge from Tuesday’s draw announcement.

— The Bulldogs play Melbourne, Penrith, South Sydney and Manly from Rounds 3-6.

— Seven of the Broncos’ first 10 games will be played in Brisbane.

— The season will open with a blockbuster battle between Penrith and Manly at BlueBet Stadium on Thursday, March 10.

— Brisbane will play South Sydney on Friday, March 11, in a blockbuster between Reynolds and his former Rabbitohs teammates.

— The 2022 State of Origin series will begin at Stadium Australia on June 8. Origin II will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, June 26. The series concludes with Game 3 being played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 13.

— Magic Round will be headlined by a salivating clash between Melbourne and Penrith — a rematch of their preliminary final.

NRL 2022 season fixture (AEST)

Round One

Thursday, March 10

Panthers vs. Sea Eagles, BlueBet Stadium 8:05pm

Friday, March 11

Raiders vs. Sharks, GIO Stadium 6pm

Broncos vs. Rabbitohs Suncorp Stadium 8:05pm

Saturday, March 12

Roosters vs. Knights, SCG 3pm

Warriors vs. Dragons, Sunshine Coast Stadium 5:30pm

Tigers vs. Storm, CommBank Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, March 13

Eels vs. Titans, Commbank Stadium 4:05pm

Cowboys vs. Bulldogs, QLD Country Bank Stadium 6:15pm

Round Two

Thursday, March 17

Storm vs. Rabbitohs, AAMI Park 8:05pm

Friday, March 18

Dragons vs. Panthers, Nestrata Jubilee Stadium 6pm

Roosters vs. Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium 8:05pm

Saturday, March 19

Titans vs. Warriors, Cbus Super Stadium 3pm

Sharks vs. Eels, PointsBet Stadium 5:30pm

Cowboys vs. Raiders, QLD Country Bank Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, March 20

Knights vs. Tigers, McDonalds Jones Stadium 4:05pm

Bulldogs vs. Broncos, Stadium Australia 6:15pm

Round Three

Thursday, March 24

Dragons vs. Sharks, WIN Stadium 8:05pm

Friday, March 25

Tigers vs. Warriors, Campbelltown Stadium 6pm

Rabbitohs vs. Roosters, Stadium Australia 8:05pm

Saturday, March 26

Panthers vs. Knights, Carrington Park Bathurst 3pm

Storm vs. Eels, AAMI Park 5:30pm

Raiders vs. Titans, GIO Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, March 27

Broncos vs. Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium 4:05pm

Sea Eagles vs. Bulldogs, 4 Pines Park 6:15pm

Round Four

Thursday, March 31

Titans vs. Tigers, Cbus Super Stadium 8:05pm

Friday, April 1

Sharks vs. Knights, PointsBet Stadium 4:05pm

Panthers vs. Rabbitohs, BlueBet Stadium 8:05pm

Saturday, April 2

Warriors vs. Broncos, Redcliffe 5:30pm

Sea Eagles vs. Raiders, Glen Willow Stadium Mudgee 7:35pm

Cowboys vs. Roosters, QLD Country Bank Stadium 4pm

Sunday, April 3

Storm vs. Bulldogs, AAMI Park 4:05pm

Eels vs. Dragons, CommBank Stadium 6:15pm

Round Five

Thursday, April 7

Knights vs. Sea Eagles, McDonald Jones Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, April 8

Warriors vs. Cowboys, Redcliffe 6pm

Broncos vs. Roosters, Suncorp Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, April 9

Raiders vs. Storm, Wagga Wagga 3pm

Rabbitohs vs. Dragons, Stadium Australia 5:30pm

Titans vs. Eels, Cbus Super Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, April 10

Sharks vs. Tigers, PointsBet Stadium 4:05pm

Bulldogs vs. Panthers, CommBank Stadium 6:15pm

Round Six

Thursday, April 14

Raiders vs. Cowboys, GIO Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, April 15

Rabbitohs vs. Bulldogs, Stadium Australia 4pm

Panthers vs. Broncos, BlueBet Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, April 16

Sea Eagles vs. Titans, 4 Pines Park 5:30pm

Storm vs. Sharks, AAMI Park 7:35pm

Sunday, April 17

Roosters vs. Warriors, SCG 2pm

Dragons vs. Knights, WIN Stadium 4:05pm

Monday, April 18

Eels vs. Tigers, CommBank Stadium 4pm

Round Seven

Thursday, April 21

Sharks vs. Sea Eagles, PointsBet Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, April 22

Broncos vs. Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, April 23

Cowboys vs. Titans, QLD Country Bank Stadium 5:30pm

Tigers vs. Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, April 24

Knights vs. Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium 2pm

Panthers vs. Raiders, BlueBet Stadium 4:05pm

Monday, April 25

Roosters vs. Dragons, SCG 4pm

Storm vs. Warriors AAMI Park 6:15pm

Round Eight

Thursday, April 28

Broncos vs. Sharks, Suncorp Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, April 29

Titans vs. Panthers, Cbus Super Stadium 6pm

Rabbitohs vs. Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, April 30

Warriors vs. Raiders, Redcliffe 3pm

Bulldogs vs. Roosters, Stadium Australia 5:30pm

Eels vs. Cowboys, TIO Stadium Darwin 7:35pm

Sunday, May 1

Knights vs. Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium 2pm

Dragons vs. Tigers WIN Stadium 4:05pm

Round Nine

Thursday, May 5

Rabbitohs vs. Broncos, Stadium Australia 7:50pm

Friday, May 6

Raiders vs. Bulldogs, GIO Stadium 6pm

Panthers vs. Eels, BlueBet Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, May 7

Sea Eagles vs. Tigers, 4 Pines Park 3pm

Roosters vs. Titans, BB Print Stadium Mackay 5:30pm

Cowboys vs. Knights, QLD Country Bank Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, May 8

Storm vs. Dragons, AAMI Park 2pm

Sharks vs. Warriors, PointsBet Stadium 4:05pm

Round Ten - Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium

Friday, May 13

Bulldogs vs. Knights 6pm

Sea Eagles vs. Broncos 8:05pm

Saturday, May 14

Warriors vs. Rabbitohs 3pm

Titans vs. Dragons 5:30pm

Storm vs. Panthers 7:45pm

Sunday, May 15

Sharks vs. Raiders 1:50pm

Roosters vs. Eels 4:05pm

Tigers vs. Cowboys 6:25pm

Round Eleven

Thursday, May 19

Knights vs. Broncos, McDonald Jones Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, May 20

Tigers vs. Bulldogs, Leichhardt Oval 6pm

Eels vs. Sea Eagles, CommBank Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, May 21

Dragons vs. Warriors, Nestrata Jubilee Stadium 3pm

Cowboys vs. Storm, QLD Country Bank Stadium 5:30pm

Roosters vs. Panthers, SCG 7:35pm

Sunday, May 22

Rabbitohs vs. Raiders Apex Oval, Dubbo 2pm

Titans vs, Sharks, Cbus Super Stadium 4:05pm

Round Twelve

Thursday, May 26

Storm vs. Sea Eagles AAMI Park 7:50pm

Friday, May 27

Panthers vs. Cowboys, BlueBet Stadium 6pm

Broncos vs. Titans, Suncorp Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, May 28

Warriors vs. Knights, Redcliffe 3pm

Rabbitohs vs. Tigers, Stadium Australia 5:30pm

Sharks vs. Roosters, PointsBet Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, May 29

Bulldogs vs. Dragons, Belmore Sports Ground 2pm

Raiders vs. Eels, GIO Stadium 4:05pm

Round Thirteen

Thursday, June 2

Titans vs. Cowboys, Cbus Super Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, June 3

Panthers vs. Bulldogs, BlueBet Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, June 4

Sea Eagles vs. Warriors, 4 Pines Park 7:35pm

Sunday, June 5

Raiders vs. Roosters, GIO Stadium 4:05pm

Byes: Broncos, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Storm & Tigers

Round Fourteen

Friday, June 10

Cowboys vs. Dragons, QLD Country Bank Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, June 11

Titans vs. Rabbitohs Cbus Super Stadium 3pm

Roosters vs. Storm, SCG 5:30pm

Broncos vs. Raiders, Suncorp Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, June 12

Tigers vs. Sea Eagles Campbelltown Stadium 2pm

Knights vs. Panthers, McDonald Jones Stadium 4:05pm

Warriors vs. Sharks, Redcliffe 6:15pm

Monday, June 13

Bulldogs vs. Eels, Stadium Australia 4:05pm

Round Fifteen

Thursday, June 16

Dragons vs. Rabbitohs WIN Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, June 17

Sea Eagles vs. Cowboys, 4 Pines Park 6pm

Storm vs. Broncos, AAMI Park 7:55pm

Saturday, June 18

Sharks vs. Titans, Coffs Harbour 3pm

Warriors vs. Panthers, Mt Smart Stadium** 5:30pm

Eels vs. Roosters, CommBank Stadium

Sunday, June 19

Raiders vs. Knights, GIO Stadium 2pm

Bulldogs vs. Tigers, CommBank Stadium 4:05pm

Round Sixteen

Thursday, June 30

Sea Eagles vs. Storm, 4 Pines Park 7:50pm

Friday, July 1

Knights vs. Titans, McDonald Jones Stadium 6pm

Panthers vs. Roosters, BlueBet Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, July 2

Bulldogs vs. Sharks, CommBank Stadium 3pm

Cowboys vs. Broncos, QLD Country Bank Stadium 5:30pm

Rabbitohs vs. Eels, Stadium Australia 7:35pm

Sunday, July 3

Warriors vs. Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium** 2pm

Dragons vs. Raiders, WIN Stadium 4:05pm

Round Seventeen

Thursday, July 7

Sharks vs. Storm, PointsBet Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, July 8

Knights vs. Rabbitohs, McDonald Jones Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, July 9

Tigers vs. Eels, Leichhardt Oval 7:35pm

Sunday, July 10

Broncos vs. Dragons, Suncorp Stadium 4:05pm

Byes: Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Titans & Warriors

Round Eighteen

Friday, July 15

Cowboys vs. Sharks, QLD Country Bank Stadium 6pm

Eels vs. Warriors, CommBank Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, July 16

Roosters vs. Dragons, SCG 3pm

Sea Eagles vs. Knights, 4 Pines Park 5:30pm

Titans vs. Broncos, Cbus Super Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, July 17

Tigers vs. Panthers, CommBank Stadium 2pm

Storm vs. Raiders, AAMI Park 4:05pm

Bulldogs vs. Rabbitohs, Stadium Australia 6:15pm

Round Nineteen

Thursday, July 21

Eels vs. Broncos, CommBank Stadium 7:50pm

Friday, July 22

Dragons vs. Sea Eagles, Nestrata Jubilee Stadium 6pm

Knights vs. Roosters, McDonald Jones Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, July 23

Raiders vs. Warriors, GIO Stadium 3pm

Panthers vs. Sharks, BlueBet Stadium 5:30pm

Rabbitohs vs. Storm, Stadium Australia 7:35pm

Sunday, July 24

Bulldogs vs. Titans, CommBank Stadium 2pm

Cowboys vs. Tigers, QLD Country Bank Stadium 4:05pm

Round Twenty

Thursday, July 28

Sea Eagles vs. Roosters, 4 Pines Park 7:50pm

Friday, July 29

Warriors vs. Storm, Mt Smart Stadium** 6pm

Eels vs. Panthers, CommBank Stadium 7:55pm

Saturday, July 30

Titans vs. Raiders, Cbus Super Stadium 3pm

Sharks vs. Rabbitohs, PointsBet Stadium 5:30pm

Broncos vs. Tigers, Suncorp Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, July 31

Knights vs. Bulldogs, McDonald Jones Stadium 2pm

Dragons vs. Cowboys, Netstrata Jubilee 4:05pm

Round Twenty-One

Thursday, August 4

Roosters vs. Broncos, SCG 7.50pm

Friday, August 5

Storm vs. Titans, AAMI Park 6pm

Sea Eagles vs. Eels, 4 Pines Park 7.55pm

Saturday, August 6

Rabbitohs vs. Warriors, Sunshine Coast Stadium 3pm

Raiders vs Panthers, GIO Stadium 5.30pm

Sharks vs. Dragons, PointsBet Stadium 7.35pm

Sunday, August 7

Bulldogs vs. Cowboys, Bundaberg 2pm

Tigers vs. Knights, Campbelltown Stadium 4.05pm

Round Twenty-Two

Thursday, August 11

Panthers vs. Storm, BlueBet Stadium 7.50pm

Friday, August 12

Warriors vs. Bulldogs, Mt Smart Stadium** 6pm

Eels vs. Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium 7.55pm

Saturday, August 13

Roosters vs. Cowboys, SCG 3pm

Tigers vs. Sharks, Tamworth 5.30pm

Broncos vs. Knights, Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm

Sunday, August 14

Raiders vs. Dragons, GIO Stadium 2pm

Titans vs. Sea Eagles, Cbus Super Stadium 4.05pm

Round Twenty-Three

Thursday, August 18

Rabbitohs vs. Panthers, Stadium Australia 7.50pm

Friday, August 19

Cowboys vs. Warriors, QLD Country Bank Stadium 6pm

Broncos vs. Storm, Suncorp Stadium 7.55pm

Saturday, August 20

Eels vs. Bulldogs, CommBank Stadium 3pm

Sea Eagles vs. Sharks, 4 Pines Park 5.30pm

Roosters vs. Tigers, SCG 7.35pm

Sunday, August 21

Dragons vs Titans, WIN Stadium 2pm

Knights vs. Raiders, McDonald Jones Stadium 4.05pm

Round Twenty-Four

Thursday, August 25

Broncos vs. Eels, Suncorp Stadium 7.50pm

Friday, August 26

Panthers vs. Warriors, BlueBet Stadium 6pm

Storm vs. Roosters, AAMI Park 7.55pm

Saturday, August 27

Raiders vs. Sea Eagles, GIO Stadium 3pm

Sharks vs Bulldogs, PointsBet Stadium 5.30pm

Rabbitohs vs. Cowboys, Stadium Australia 7.35pm

Sunday, August 28

Tigers vs. Dragons, CommBank Stadium 2pm

Titans vs. Knights, Cbus Super Stadium 4.05pm

Round Twenty-Five

Thursday, September 1

Eels vs. Storm, CommBank Stadium 7.50pm

Friday, September 2

Bulldogs vs. Sea Eagles, Stadium Australia 6pm

Roosters vs. Rabbitohs, TBC 7.55pm

Saturday, September 3

Warriors vs. Titans, MT Smart Stadium** 3pm

Dragons vs. Broncos, Nestrata Jubilee 5.30pm

Cowboys vs. Panthers, QLD Country Bank Stadium 7.35pm

Sunday, September 4

Knights vs. Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium 2pm

Tigers v Raiders, Leichhardt Oval 4.05pm

NRL finals series 2022

Friday September 9 - Sunday September 11

Finals Week 2

Friday September 16 - Saturday September 17

Finals Week 3

Friday September 23 - Saturday September 24

2022 NRL Grand Final

Sunday October 4th - Stadium Australia, Sydney.

Originally published as Huge shocks as NRL unveils 2022 season draw