The draw for the 2018 NRL season has been announced - and it all starts with a blockbuster clash on Thursday March 8 between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Brisbane Broncos!
All eyes will be on UOW Jubilee Stadium as St George Illawarra’s marquee signing Ben Hunt takes on his former club Brisbane in the opening game of the new season. Signing a $1 million deal, Dragons fans will be desperate for early bragging rights from their star halfback.
The big games keep coming immediately for the Dragons as they face bitter rivals the Cronulla Sharks in Round 2, with Josh Dugan lining up against the Red V for the first time since his controversial departure.
Round 3 sees a mouth-watering Grand Final rematch between the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys take place at AAMI Park - and Johnathan Thurston will be back to guide the Cowboys around this time around. Can he get one back on Origin teammates Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, or will defending premiers Melbourne poor more salt into the wound?
The annual ANZAC Day clash between the Dragons and Sydney Roosters has delivered some thrilling showdowns over the years, and 2018 promises to be no different in Round 8, while Wests Tigers fans will surely be chomping at the bit to lay into former skipper Aaron Woods as the joint-venture outfit square off against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 12.
Overall, it appears as if the Roosters have received the best draw on paper before the season kicks off. The Tri-colours, who have added Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco among others to their squad for 2018, will play against fellow top four clubs from last season just four times throughout all of 2018 - the second least of any side in the competition (Parramatta have the least with three).
Furthermore, they play against bottom four sides more than any other club - meaning literally a third of their 24 games are against the cellar-dwellers of 2017.
The Tigers have drawn the short straw, playing against the 2017 top four in the first four rounds of 2018, while by Round 5 they will have played reigning premiers Melbourne twice.
Read on below for the full 2018 NRL draw, including venues and starting times (AEDT).
ROUND 1
Thursday, March 8
Dragons v Broncos, UOW Jubilee Stadium, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Friday, March 9
Knights v Sea Eagles, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm (AEDT)
Cowboys v Sharks, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Saturday, March 10
Wests Tigers v Roosters, ANZ Stadium, 4pm (AEDT)
Rabbitohs v Warriors, Perth Stadium, 7pm (AEDT)
Bulldogs v Storm, Perth Stadium, 9pm (AEDT)
Sunday, March 11
Panthers v Eels, Panthers Stadium, 4.10pm (AEDT)
Titans v Raiders, CBus Super Stadium, 6.30pm (AEDT)
ROUND 2
Thursday, March 15
Sharks v Dragons, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 4pm (AEDT)
Friday, March 16
Roosters v Bulldogs, Allianz Stadium, 6pm (AEDT)
Broncos v Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Saturday, March 17
Warriors v Titans, Mt Smart Stadium, 3pm (AEDT)
Panthers v Rabbitohs, Panthers Stadium, 5.30pm (AEDT)
Storm v Wests Tigers, AAMI Park, 7.30pm (AEDT)
Sunday, March 18
Sea Eagles v Eels, Lottoland, 4.10pm (AEDT)
Raiders v Knights, GIO Stadium, 6.30pm (AEDT)
ROUND 3
Thursday, March 22
Storm v Cowboys, AAMI Park, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Friday, March 23
Bulldogs v Panthers, ANZ Stadium, 6pm (AEDT)
Wests Tigers v Broncos, Campbelltown Stadium, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Saturday, March 24
Raiders v Warriors, GIO Stadium, 3pm (AEDT)
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm (AEDT)
Eels v Sharks, ANZ Stadium, 7.30pm (AEDT)
Sunday, March 25
Titans v Dragons, Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba, 4.10pm (AEDT)
Roosters v Knights, Allianz Stadium, 6.30pm (AEDT)
ROUND 4
Thursday, March 29
Cowboys v Panthers, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Friday, March 30
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium, 4.10pm (AEDT)
Sharks v Storm, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Saturday, March 31
Roosters v Warriors, Allianz Stadium, 5.30pm (AEDT)
Sea Eagles v Raiders, Lottoland, 7.30pm (AEDT)
Sunday, April 1
Dragons v Knights, WIN Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
Broncos v Titans, Suncorp Stadium, 6.30pm (AEST)
Monday, April 2
Wests Tigers v Eels, ANZ Stadium, 4pm (AEST)
ROUND 5
Thursday, April 5
Raiders v Bulldogs, GIO Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, April 6
Sharks v Roosters, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Dragons v Rabbitohs, UOW Jubilee Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, April 7
Wests Tigers v Storm, Mt Smart Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Warriors v Cowboys, Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Knights v Broncos, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, April 8
Titans v Sea Eagles, Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone, 2pm (AEST)
Eels v Panthers, ANZ Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 6
Thursday, April 12
Roosters v Rabbitohs, Allianz Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, April 13
Storm v Knights, AAMI Park, 6pm (AEST)
Dragons v Sharks, WIN Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, April 14
Warriors v Broncos, Mt Smart Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Bulldogs, 1300SMILES Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Raiders v Eels, GIO Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, April 15
Panthers v Titans, Panthers Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers, Lottoland, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 7
Thursday, April 19
Bulldogs v Roosters, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, April 20
Warriors v Dragons, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Broncos v Storm, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, April 21
Rabbitohs v Raiders, Central Coast Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Wests Tigers v Knights, Scully Park, Tamworth, 5.30pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Titans, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, April 22
Eels v Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Sharks v Panthers, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 8
Wednesday, April 25
Dragons v Roosters, Allianz Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
Storm v Warriors, AAMI Park, 7pm (AEST)
Thursday, April 26
Rabbitohs v Broncos, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, April 27
Sea Eagles v Knights, Lottoland, 6pm (AEST)
Panthers v Bulldogs, Panthers Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, April 28
Titans v Sharks, CBus Super Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Raiders, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, April 29
Eels v Wests Tigers, ANZ Stadium, 4.10pm
ROUND 9
Thursday, May 3
Broncos v Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, May 4
Knights v Rabbitohs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Panthers v Cowboys, Carrington Park, Bathurst, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, May 5
Raiders v Titans, GIO Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Warriors v Wests Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Sharks v Eels, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, May 6
Dragons v Storm, UOW Jubilee Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Roosters v Sea Eagles, Allianz Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 10
Thursday, May 10
Wests Tigers v Cowboys, Leichhardt Oval, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, May 11
Knights v Panthers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Bulldogs v Eels, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, May 12
Warriors v Roosters, Mt Smart Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Storm v Titans, Suncorp Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Sea Eagles v Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, May 13
Rabbitohs v Dragons, ANZ Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Raiders v Sharks, GIO Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 11
Thursday, May 17
Panthers v Wests Tigers, Panthers Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, May 18
Eels v Warriors, ANZ Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Broncos v Roosters, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, May 19
Titans v Knights, CBus Super Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Rabbitohs, 1300SMILES Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Storm v Sea Eagles, AAMI Park, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, May 20
Dragons v Raiders, Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee, 2pm (AEST)
Sharks v Bulldogs, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 12
Thursday, May 12
Broncos v Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, May 25
Raiders v Sea Eagles, GIO Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Storm, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, May 26
Roosters v Titans, Central Coast Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Warriors v Rabbitohs, Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Panthers v Dragons, Panthers Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, May 27
Knights v Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 13
Thursday, May 31
Sea Eagles v Cowboys, Lottoland, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, June 1
Rabbitohs v Sharks, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, June 2
Eels v Knights, ANZ Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, June 3
Roosters v Wests Tigers, Allianz Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
Byes: Broncos, Bulldogs, Dragons, Panthers, Raiders, Storm, Titans, Warriors
ROUND 14
Friday, June 8
Raiders v Panthers, GIO Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Titans v Rabbitohs, CBus Super Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, June 9
Sea Eagles v Warriors, AMI Stadium Christchurch, 3pm (AEST)
Knights v Roosters, McDonald Jones Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Eels v Cowboys, TIO Stadium, Darwin, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, June 10
Sharks v Tigers, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Storm v Broncos, AAMI Park, 4.10pm (AEST)
Monday, June 11
Bulldogs v Dragons, ANZ Stadium, 4pm (AEST)
ROUND 15
Thursday, June 14
Eels v Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, June 15
Cowboys v Warriors, 1300SMILES Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Roosters v Panthers, Allianz Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, June 16
Bulldogs v Titans, Belmore Sports Ground, 3pm (AEST)
Dragons v Sea Eagles, WIN Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Sharks v Broncos, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, June 17
Knights v Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Wests Tigers v Raiders, Campbelltown Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 16
Thursday, June 28
Dragons v Eels, WIN Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, June 29
Warriors v Sharks, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Roosters v Storm, Allianz Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, June 30
Panthers v Sea Eagles, Panthers Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Knights v Bulldogs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Broncos v Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, July 1
Wests Tigers v Titans, Leichhardt Oval, 2pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs v Cowboys, Barlow Park, Cairns, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 17
Thursday, July 5
Storm v Dragons, AAMI Park, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, July 6
Panthers v Warriors, Panthers Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, July 7
Bulldogs v Raiders, Belmore Sports Ground, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, July 8
Titans v Broncos, CBus Super Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 18
Friday, July 13
Panthers v Sharks, Panthers Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Knights v Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, July 14
Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Sea Eagles v Storm, Lottoland, 5.30pm (AEST)
Raiders v Cowboys, GIO Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, July 15
Broncos v Warriors, Suncorp Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Dragons v Wests Tigers, UOW Jubilee Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
Titans v Roosters, CBus Super Stadium, 6.30pm (AEST)
ROUND 19
Thursday, July 19
Eels v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, July 20
Sharks v Raiders, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Broncos v Panthers, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, July 21
Knights v Titans, McDonald Jones Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Dragons, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, July 22
Warriors v Storm, Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Sea Eagles v Roosters, Lottoland, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 20
Thursday, July 26
Broncos v Sharks, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, July 27
Cowboys v Knights, 1300SMILES Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Bulldogs v Wests Tigers, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, July 28
Sea Eagles v Panthers, Lottoland, 3pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs v Eels, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Storm v Raiders, AAMI Park, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, July 29
Titans v Warriors, CBus Super Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Roosters v Dragons, Allianz Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 21
Thursday, August 2
Bulldogs v Broncos, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, August 3
Knights v Wests Tigers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs v Storm, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, August 4
Dragons v Warriors, WIN Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Eels v Titans, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Roosters v Cowboys, Allianz Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, August 5
Sharks v Sea Eagles, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Panthers v Raiders, Panthers Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 22
Thursday, August 8
Cowboys v Broncos, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, August 10
Warriors v Knights, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs v Roosters, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, August 11
Titans v Panthers, CBus Super Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs, Lottoland, 5.30pm (AEST)
Eels v Dragons, ANZ Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, August 12
Raiders v Wests Tigers, GIO Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Storm v Sharks, AAMI Park, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 23
Thursday, August 16
Broncos v Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, August 17
Sea Eagles v Titans, Lottoland, 6pm (AEST)
Storm v Eels, AAMI Park, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, August 18
Panthers v Knights, Panthers Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Wests Tigers v Dragons, Leichhardt Oval, 5.30pm (AEST)
Sharks v Cowboys, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, August 19
Bulldogs v Warriors, ANZ Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Raiders v Roosters, GIO Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 24
Thursday, August 23
Wests Tigers v Sea Eagles, Campbelltown Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, August 24
Warriors v Panthers, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Cowboys v Eels, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, August 25
Raiders v Rabbitohs, GIO Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Titans v Storm, CBus Super Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Roosters v Broncos, Allianz Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, August 26
Sharks v Knights, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Dragons v Bulldogs, UOW Jubilee Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)
ROUND 25
Thursday, August 30
Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Friday, August 31
Warriors v Raiders, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Storm v Panthers, AAMI Park, 7.50pm (AEST)
Saturday, September 1
Knights v Dragons, McDonald Jones Stadium, 3pm (AEST)
Titans v Cowboys, CBus Super Stadium, 5.30pm (AEST)
Eels v Roosters, ANZ Stadium, 7.30pm (AEST)
Sunday, September 2
Bulldogs v Sharks, ANZ Stadium, 2pm (AEST)
Broncos v Sea Eagles, Suncorp Stadium, 4.10pm (AEST)