2026 NRL Draw

[rugbygoated]

A bye Round 1 is not only a pain to wait for your team to play after waiting the whole off season, it's also a massive disadvantage in terms of what a bye can do mid season for refresh and recovery.

For one side to be given it 2 out the past 3 years... I can't believe they've let that through.

A bye is also a huge disadvantage given that 4 teams can play their round 1 game in las vegas 2 weeks before we get a hit out. Absolutely unfair

 

[Flippedy]

How do we get the bloody bye first round two years running? Surely they could’ve given it to another team this time around. It’s completely unfair. A first round bye is practically useless in a long season.

 

[rugbygoated]

How do we get the bloody bye first round two years running? Surely they could’ve given it to another team this time around. It’s completely unfair. A first round bye is practically useless in a long season.

It is a massive rort. Having a bye in round 5 compared to round 1 is big for example. You could have a poor start and then a break after a bit of early hiccups is good. Or a great start and you get to refresh the troops and plan 2 weeks ahead. Looking more and more like we will get the spoon next year again

 

[GNR4LIFE]

There seems to be a trend that the weaker clubs get the first round bye. Yet to see the Storm, Panthers or Broncos get it. And likely never will.

 

[Tom Shines]

I’m wondering which heavyweight they will line them up against in Week 2 to deliver the biggest confidence beat down they can …? Maybe Penrith or Broncos in Brisbane ?

 

[Charred]

3 matchups for 2026 are the exact same as Rd1 2025.
Storm v Eels
Dogs v Dragons
Dolphins v Rabbitohs

Additionally Storm v Eels has now occurred 3 times in the last 4 years for a first round.

 

[Flippedy]

It is a massive rort. Having a bye in round 5 compared to round 1 is big for example. You could have a poor start and then a break after a bit of early hiccups is good. Or a great start and you get to refresh the troops and plan 2 weeks ahead. Looking more and more like we will get the spoon next year again

Don’t know about getting the spoon, but yeah we’re starting the season with a disadvantage yet again.

 

[Tom Shines]

I went and checked the results in 2024 when we had the Bye Week 1…

Week 2 - Lost Canberra 32-12
Week 3- Beat Sharks 32-6
Week 4 - Beat Parra 17-16

That’s probably not too bad with a lesser team to now ..

 

[TT 01]

We will probably play multiple teams twice in the first 10 weeks as well

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

I'd prefer that the draw be constructed by someone with Actual Intelligence rather than Artificial Intelligence.

 

[rugbygoated]

Don’t know about getting the spoon, but yeah we’re starting the season with a disadvantage yet again.

Who do you think will get the spoon over us? Is there a worse coach than benji? Our recruitment not good. Lot of overhype

 

[BunganHead Tiger]

There seems to be a trend that the weaker clubs get the first round bye. Yet to see the Storm, Panthers or Broncos get it. And likely never will.

The rich get richer
The poor get the picture

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Who do you think will get the spoon over us? Is there a worse coach than benji? Our recruitment not good. Lot of overhype

Mate you're like the black sheep of the Tiger's forum, you go fairly quiet for a while and then you start wailing like a banshee again.

Stop whinging and start supporting, if the Tigers don't pass your expectations why not go for one of the top 4 teams like I'm sure there's a lot of fickle minds out in NRL land that do.

 

[Wezt]

Who do you think will get the spoon over us? Is there a worse coach than benji? Our recruitment not good. Lot of overhype

Dragons

 

[Chunk]

This is a joke and disappointing.

Please check if I'm wrong but to compound the round 1 bye we got in 2024 we had another in round 26, meaning we had 1 bye in the window that 15/16 clubs got all 3.

Time to write to the NRL, an explanation is owed.

 

[jadtiger]

This is a joke and disappointing.

Please check if I'm wrong but to compound the round 1 bye we got in 2024 we had another in round 26, meaning we had 1 bye in the window that 15/16 clubs got all 3.

Time to write to the NRL, an explanation is owed.

If the NRL respond (and that is highly unlikely) all the pages of official dribble you get will just say it was pure random and completely above board.
No favours from the NRL.

 

[innsaneink]

Mate you're like the black sheep of the Tiger's forum, you go fairly quiet for a while and then you start wailing like a banshee again.

Stop whinging and start supporting, if the Tigers don't pass your expectations why not go for one of the top 4 teams like I'm sure there's a lot of fickle minds out in NRL land that do.

Tried to tell us all 28 dozen times this year wed get the spoon again

 

[innsaneink]

This is a joke and disappointing.

Please check if I'm wrong but to compound the round 1 bye we got in 2024 we had another in round 26, meaning we had 1 bye in the window that 15/16 clubs got all 3.

Time to write to the NRL, an explanation is owed.

Correct
Rd 1
Rd 13
Rd 26

 

[Tiger Tarl]

Disgraceful. I've written to the NRL with a please explain. Won't get a reply. Reeks of bias and could even be punitive because Richo refused to play in Las Vegas.

 

[tigahhh]

Tried to tell us all 28 dozen times this year wed get the spoon again

they deathride their own team bizarre stuff