Cronulla Sharks handed a dream run whereas Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels face horror schedule in 2024 as NRL draw is launched

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo insists the league’s draw is as honest because it probably may be after Cronulla emerged as the largest winners out of the globetrotting 2024 schedule.

The NRL introduced its fixtures on Monday, with South Sydney and Parramatta handed two of the hardest attracts as they combat to return to the finals.

It got here because the NRL heralded a brand new period for the sport, with Manly and the Rabbitohs kicking off in a Las Vegas double-header on March 2 with shut to twenty,000 tickets already bought.

Newcastle host Canberra within the first match in Australia on March 7, whereas matches can even be performed in Christchurch, Bundaberg and Darwin.

Perth will once more host a fixture, nevertheless it has gone from a double-header to a single sport after Souths pulled out.

The Warriors will host a sport on Anzac Day in New Zealand for the primary time since 2015, as one among three matches to be performed on April 25.

However it’s the Sharks who ought to stroll away from Monday the happiest, after bowing out of the primary week of the finals this 12 months.

Craig Fitzgibbon’s males solely have 9 video games in opposition to 2023’s top-eight groups, the least of any membership within the draw.

Additionally they solely play the Warriors twice out of final season’s high 4, whereas going through all the backside 4 from 2023 two instances.

In distinction, Melbourne have suffered the hardest run.

Craig Bellamy’s excellent round-one file will face its sternest take a look at in opposition to Penrith on March 8. 

And in what looms as probably the coach’s final season in cost, the Storm solely play one group from outdoors final season’s backside 9 within the opening eight rounds.

Melbourne additionally cop all different groups from final season’s high 4 twice, whereas taking part in 12 of a attainable 14 video games in opposition to the 2023 finalists.

Parramatta and Souths have additionally been handed a tough path again to the finals after final season’s disappointments, with 13 video games in opposition to the highest eight from 2023.

Making issues worse for the Eels is an uncanny sense of deja vu.

After they have been handed three straight video games in opposition to contemporary golf equipment early in 2023, Parramatta have the equal-most subsequent 12 months with 5 throughout the entire of 2024.

Golf equipment resembling Manly and St George Illawarra don’t have any such match-ups.

The Sea Eagles additionally don’t have any five-day turnarounds, whereas the Eels are one among six golf equipment with three unfold all through the season.

Newcastle, in the meantime, have walked away as the largest winners on the industrial entrance.

On the again of 2023’s Kalyn Ponga mania, the Knights have elevated from seven free-to-air video games final season to 12 in 2024.

South Sydney have additionally ended Brisbane’s long-standing run as the sport’s most watchable group, claiming 14 free-to-air video games to Brisbane’s 13.