ivanhungryjak
State of Origin Rep
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- Sep 8, 2009
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Sirprise, surprise, we get hammered with Thursdays and Fridays ...
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...y/news-story/5e20811559519d40302cefd87908712c
Final six NRL rounds revealed: When your team will play
HERE it is. The crucial last six rounds of the NRL premiership draw.
Every team, every timeslot and most importantly, the key match-ups that will decide the final top-eight, minor premiership and dreaded wooden spoon.
The Sunday Telegraph has obtained the first-look at the NRL’s yet to be released final draft for scheduling for rounds 21 to 26 of the 2017 season.
After close consultation with host broadcasters Fox Sports and Nine, it’s anticipated the NRL will make the schedule of the final six rounds of the premiership draw available to fans and members on Monday.
LATE: Cowboys snatch win from Panthers
Highlights of the final six rounds include:
* The Eels handed a dream final six weeks in regards to rehabilitation and recovery; playing only Thursday and Friday nights until week one of the finals.
* A return to the Sydney Cricket Ground for Friday night football to coincide with Fox Sports “Retro Round” between the Dragons and Rabbitohs in round 22
* The possibility of the minor premiership being decided on Saturday August 12 in round 23 with premiership-favourites Melbourne hosting the currently second-placed Roosters at AAMI Park.
* Premiers Cronulla being forced to ‘go troppo’ by playing Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on a Friday night in round 23 before then flying north to Townsville to tackle the Cowboys six days later
Parra fans will be dreaming of finals footy with this run-in. Photo: Gregg Porteous
* The Raiders wanting desperately to cement their top-eight spot prior to a daunting final round match-up and 2016 preliminary final replay with the Storm on September 2 at AAMI Park
* The possibility of the last-placed wooden spoon not being unable to be decided until the last Sunday of the regular season with Newcastle, the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs all drawn to play on September 3 of the final round.
* What length the Tigers administration go to farewell departing local juniors Aaron Woods and James Tedesco on a Sunday night at Leichhardt Oval in the final match of the regular season
Cronulla have a tough run in Queensland at season’s end. Photo: Gregg Porteous
All Saturday night matches over the final six rounds of the premiership will be televised simulcast on both Nine and Fox Sports.
Both Nine and Fox Sports have worked together with the NRL to finalise a draw focused on ensuring every club has minimal, if any, five-day turnarounds.
The fast-finishing Panthers are one team who favoured well with six days being their longest turnaround over the final six weeks.
And the season-ending shoulder injury to Johnathan Thurston hasn’t only hurt Queensland’s Origin claims, it’s also robbed the NRL of a massive marketing campaign ahead of the Roosters round 21 clash with North Queensland.
The Saturday night 7.30pm fixture at Allianz Stadium would’ve seen Thurston match-up with Roosters and NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce just 17 days after the Origin III decider.
Vintage Benji schools Joey
However unlike the blow to Thurston, the NRL could be handed a ratings-winner should former NSW and current Cronulla captain Paul Gallen remain injury-free over the final month of the season.
Gallen, who goes into Sunday’s clash with Manly on 294 first-grade games, would play his 300th NRL match in Queensland, of all places, against the Brisbane Broncos on a Friday night in round 23.
Still on the Broncos, both they and the Cowboys, have received the much-desired Thursday night draw in the final round 26.
The two Queensland team’s have developed an incredible and fierce rivalry over the past five years.
And given they have received the longest-possible turnaround between the last round and week one of the finals, all 34-players will undoubtedly leave everything out on 1300Smiles Stadium.
THE FULL NRL DRAW FOR ROUNDS 21-26
ROUND 21
Thursday (July 27)
Panthers v Bulldogs, Pepper Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Friday (July 28)
Warriors v Sharks, Mt Smart Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Eels v Broncos, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Saturday (July 29)
Knights v Dragons, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Rabbitohs v Raiders, ANZ Stadium (FOX), 5:30pm
Roosters v Cowboys, Allianz Stadium (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (July 30)
Storm v Sea Eagles, AAMI Park (FOX), 2pm
Titans v Tigers, CBus Super Stadium (NINE), 4:00pm
ROUND 22
Thursday (August 3)
Bulldogs v Eels, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Friday (August 4)
Dragons v Rabbitohs, Sydney Cricket Ground (FOX), 6:00pm
Cowboys v Storm, 1300Smiles Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 5)
Knights v Warriors, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Titans v Broncos, CBus Super Stadium (FOX), 5:30pm
Sharks v Raiders, Southern Cross Group Stadium (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 6)
Sea Eagles v Roosters, Lottoland (FOX), 2pm
Panthers v Tigers, Pepper Stadium (NINE), 4pm
ROUND 23
Thursday (August 10)
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Friday (August 11)
Eels v Knights, ANZ Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Broncos v Sharks, Suncorp Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 12)
Dragons v Titans, UOW Jubilee Oval (FOX), 3pm
Storm v Roosters, AAMI Park (FOX), 5:30pm
Panthers v Cowboys, Pepper Stadium (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 13)
Warriors v Raiders, Mt Smart Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Tigers v Sea Eagles, Leichhardt Oval (NINE), 4pm
ROUND 24
Thursday (August 17)
Eels v Titans, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Friday (August 18)
Rabbitohs v Warriors, ANZ Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Broncos v Dragons, Suncorp Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 19)
Knights v Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Roosters v Tigers, Allianz Stadium (FOX), 5:30pm
Cowboys v Sharks, 1300Smiles Stadium (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 20)
Raiders v Panthers, GIO Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Bulldogs v Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 4pm
ROUND 25
Thursday (August 24)
Broncos v Eels, Suncorp Stadium (NINE) 7:50pm
Friday (August 25)
Raiders v Knights, GIO Stadium (FOX), 6pm
Tigers v Cowboys, Campbelltown Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Saturday (August 26)
Titans v Bulldogs, CBus Super Stadium (FOX) 3pm
Storm v Rabbitohs, AAMI Park (FOX), 5:30pm
Sharks v Roosters, Southern Cross Group Stadium (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (August 27)
Warriors v Sea Eagles, Mt Smart Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Panthers v Dragons, Pepper Stadium (NINE), 4pm
ROUND 26
Thursday (August 31)
Cowboys v Broncos, 1300Smiles Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Friday (September 1)
Eels v Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 7:50pm
Saturday (September 2)
Roosters v Titans, Allianz Stadium (FOX), 3pm
Sea Eagles v Panthers, Lottoland (FOX), 5:30pm
Storm v Raiders, AAMI Park (FOX), 7:30pm
Sunday (September 3)
Knights v Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium (FOX), 2pm
Dragons v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium (NINE), 4pm
Tigers v Warriors, Leichhardt Oval (FOX), 6:30pm
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...y/news-story/5e20811559519d40302cefd87908712c
