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Who are the biggest winners and losers in the 2026 draw? Every team's path to the premiership has been analysed to bring you this breakdown of next season's action, with every team ranked from hardest to easiest...
PENRITH
Top-four opponents: 8, top-eight opponents: 13, free-to-air matches: 12, teams off the bye: 3
An absolutely brutal draw, with Cronulla the only team from 2025's top eight they don't play twice. Also get taken to Darwin for a game, while hosting in Bathurst and Mudgee.
SOUTH SYDNEY
Top-four opponents: 7, top-eight opponents: 12, free-to-air matches: 13, teams off the bye: 1
Tough draw, no doubt impacted by broadcasters wanting the Rabbitohs facing other big teams. Alongside Penrith, have the equal-most games against last season's top-eight teams.
MELBOURNE
Top-four opponents: 6, top-eight opponents: 12, free-to-air matches: 12, teams off the bye: 2
Play each of the other teams from last season's top four twice, making for one of the more difficult draws. The fact all three of their byes come from round 15 on will make life easier at the crunch.
Are the Broncos going from the penthouse to the outhouse next year? Reece Walsh (pictured) and his teammates have a tough path to follow if they're going to repeat as premiers
Penrith's Nathan Cleary didn't play in a grand final for the first time in five years in 2025. They have the toughest path to premiership glory in 2026
It's safe to say Souths star Latrell Mitchell wasn't making this face when he saw what the draw has in store for his Rabbitohs
WESTS TIGERS
Top-four opponents: 6, top-eight opponents: 12, free-to-air matches: 10, teams off the bye: 2
Strange draw with long runs of games at home with equally long stints on the road. Start the season with an unwanted round-one bye, and cop the Raiders, Penrith and Bulldogs twice.
BRISBANE
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 12, free-to-air matches: 13, teams off the bye: 2
A tough opening to the season with Penrith and Melbourne in the first three rounds, after a trip to England for the World Club Challenge. Then finish the season against Canberra, Melbourne and Canterbury.
NORTH QUEENSLAND
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 10, teams off the bye: 4
Tough travel at the start, with an away game in Sydney after kicking off in Las Vegas. The NRL was left with no choice though with QCB Stadium unavailable. From last season's top four, they only face Brisbane twice.
GOLD COAST
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 2, teams off the bye: 2
Josh Hannay faces three weeks on the road to start life as Titans head coach, before Gold Coast come home in round four once the Asia Cup is finished at CBus Super Stadium. Not a bad draw otherwise.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Top-four opponents: 6, top-eight opponents: 12, free-to-air matches: 11, teams off the bye: 1
Biggest win for the Roosters will be the fact they have two byes in the three Origin-affected rounds, after having to go without their representative stars in all of those games in 2025.
CANTERBURY
Top-four opponents: 6, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 13, teams off the bye: 2
Cop the rest of last season's top four twice, along with two games against Penrith. A bye in round two will at least give them a fortnight off to recover from the Las Vegas travel. Venue upgrades mean there are no games at Belmore.
DOLPHINS
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 12, teams off the bye: 1
Only face their arch-rivals Brisbane twice out of all the top-four teams from 2025. Also have just one less free-to-air game than the Broncos, after scoring more points than any other team last season.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 6, teams off the bye: 3
Very tough opening fortnight, with Canterbury in Las Vegas before Melbourne awaits for their return home to Wollongong. Gets a little easier after that.
NEWCASTLE
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 6, teams off the bye: 1
Start the season in Las Vegas and then have to wait until round 12 to receive their first bye. But there is good news for Newcastle, who only face the Raiders, Warriors and Roosters twice out of last season's top eight.
PARRAMATTA
Top-four opponents: 6, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 11, teams off the bye: 1
Cop Melbourne and Brisbane in the first two rounds, marking a difficult start to life with Jonah Pezet in the halves. But there are positives, with minimal travel out of NSW through the entire draw.
A late-season stumble cost the Dogs badly in 2025. Stephen Crichton (pictured) and his teammates won't play at their Belmore stronghold next year
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (pictured) and the Dolphins are in the middle of the pack for the next draw after stamping themselves as the NRL's excitement machine in 2025
The easiest draw has gone to the New Zealand Warriors (skipper James Fisher-Harris, pictured)
CANBERRA
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 11, free-to-air matches: 9, teams off the bye: 3
Start the season with just three home games in the opening nine rounds, including trips to Auckland, Newcastle and Gold Coast. Gets better after that though, and a late bye should assist if they are in title contention again.
CRONULLA
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 10, free-to-air matches: 5, teams off the bye: 2
Had a harder draw than people gave them credit for in 2025, but this is a very friendly one for 2026. Play Penrith, Brisbane and Melbourne just once, with the Storm clash coming in the final round at home.
MANLY
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 10, free-to-air matches: 9, teams off the bye: 3
A golden draw for the Sea Eagles with their first three games at home and Melbourne the only top-four team they face twice. Even then, it's a trip to Perth rather than AAMI Park to face the Storm.
WARRIORS
Top-four opponents: 5, top-eight opponents: 10, free-to-air matches: 3, teams off the bye: 3
Have the best draw of all based on last season's ladder. Get Newcastle, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers twice, while Brisbane are the only top-four club they have two games against.
