Every club’s schedule ranked toughest to easiest

The Bunnies have faced heavyweights such as Melbourne, Canberra, Canterbury, Cronulla and the Roosters among the teams they have played twice. These big games are also usually played in three- and four-week batches for Souths, whose last two seasons have been two of the record injury-plagued seasons. The Rabbitohs hit the road in early 2026 with trips to Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Suncorp Stadium ahead of the Origin period.
Difficulty: 2.

Storm

Melbourne will appreciate two byes in the Origin period and another after their round 23 home game against Manly in Perth. Especially considering the clashes with Penrith, Brisbane and Cronulla all completing their regular seasons. While only two of their last seven games have been played at AAMI Park, they play fellow top four rivals Brisbane, Canberra and Canterbury twice in 2026.
Difficulty: 3.

tigers

The Tigers have the potential for an early win in the draw (they face the Cowboys, Rabbis, Eels and Knights in the first six weeks) and they need it. The next two months will bring arguably the toughest run for any team next season: Brisbane, Canberra, Cronulla, Melbourne, Manly, Canterbury and Penrith (with a bye in the middle) are nothing short of brutal.
Difficulty: Equal 4.

broncos

Three byes in the State of Origin era have been a blessing, with 12 games against last year’s top eight. Marquee’s clashes with Penrith and Melbourne in the first three weeks were overshadowed by the early start to the finals – Brisbane, 24-27. They drew with the Warriors, Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs in the rounds. The broadcast favorites have 13 matches on free-to-air TV this season, with Melbourne, Canterbury and South Sydney on par.
Difficulty: Equal 4.

cowboys

North Queensland have played 11 matches against last year’s top eight teams and face Queensland rivals Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Dolphins twice in 2026. The Cowboys have an equal number of games (four) against teams coming into the bye but unlike the other sides coming into the bye in this scenario, North Queensland will have played the previous week.
Difficulty: 6.

titans

Premiers Brisbane are among the top four teams the Gold Coast will face twice next season alongside the Cowboys, Dolphins, Dragons, Sea Eagles, Knights, Sharks and Warriors. Their five-day turnaround time falls at least between home games against the Warriors and Cowboys in rounds 22 and 23. The Titans have just two games on Channel Nine in 2026: facing North Queensland on Thursday night and traveling to Leichhardt Oval on June 14 to play the Tigers.
Difficulty: Equal 7.

roosters

The Chooks, who have had a generally slow start to the season, face the Warriors (away) and arch-rivals South Sydney and Penrith in a tough opener. Two of their farewells land before Origins I and III, but in between there’s a grueling old run with away trips to Melbourne, Canberra and Suncorp Stadium, where they play the Dolphins and return a fortnight later against the Broncos.

Difficulty: Equal 7.

bulldogs

Having a bye in the second round after hosting the Dragons in Las Vegas is a blessing ahead of the trip to Canberra. Canterbury’s finish to the year is among the toughest of the teams, taking on the Warriors, Storm, Roosters, Panthers and Broncos in their final seven weeks. But the caveat is that after the Magic Round at the end of May, the Bulldogs only leave Sydney twice for the rest of the season – round 17 to the Gold Coast and round 22 to Melbourne.
Difficulty: 9.

dolphins

There is no five-day turnaround for Kristian Woolf’s team and 12 games on free TV next year; This is a reflection of their growing popularity and entertainment status. 7-12 where the Dolphins will face Penrith, Warriors, Melbourne, Canterbury, Souths and Canberra. Tours may or may not succeed during the season. Especially considering they host the Panthers in Darwin and travel to Wellington, New Zealand, eight days later.
Difficulty: Equal 10.

dragons

St George Illawarra play Brisbane, Melbourne, Penrith, Canberra and the Roosters just once in 2026, with their clash with the Broncos falling just days after Origin I, when the Premier’s biggest stars may well be rested. The Dragons’ first bye isn’t until the ninth round – although Las Vegas’ season opener is at home against Melbourne in round 2 – but they don’t leave Sydney from round 19 onwards.
Difficulty: Equal 10.

knights

Newcastle have 11 in last year’s top eight, five in the top four; He is the only player to have played twice among the Canberra heavyweights. The two byes go into Origin I and II, while the Knights have a two-week turnaround from the season opener in Las Vegas to a second-round trip to Brookvale. Six free games are among the fewest in the NRL, with only the Titans (two) and Warriors (three) playing fewer games on Channel Nine.
Difficulty: Equal 10.

eels

The start of the season couldn’t be more difficult than Parramatta’s; They have named the 2025 grand finalists Melbourne and Brisbane. Penrith are waiting around the corner in the fourth round. However, their involvement in the finals has been positive (and many think they have been smokey this year) and Cronulla are the only team in the top eight from round 22 onwards.
Difficulty: 13.

Raiders

Canberra have drawn the Panthers, Storm, Bulldogs and Sharks twice in 2026 and will be early road warriors once again. There are two home games after the second round trip to Auckland, but three games in Newcastle, Perth (vs South Sydney) and Canberra (vs Melbourne) in 13 days is tough by any measure. This is followed by a mid-season run with matches against the last nine teams of 2025: Wests Tigers, Gold Coast, Dolphins and Cowboys.
Difficulty: 14.

sharks

Besides Manly and the Warriors, Cronulla are the only teams to have drawn seven games in 2025 against Newcastle, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and South Sydney. The Sharks’ third and final farewell falls this year between Origins II and III, which will mark a long-term return home. However, they will only play the expected heavyweights Brisbane, Melbourne, Penrith and Canterbury once.
Difficulty: 15.

Sea Eagles

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No complaints from Manly. They start the year with three home games at Brookvale, not a single five-day turnaround and just 10 games against last year’s top eight (at least equal to Cronulla and the Warriors). Like Canberra, Canterbury, Warriors, Panthers and Roosters, Premier team Brisbane has only been on their radar once, while Melbourne moved their home game against the Sea Eagles from AAMI Park to Perth.
Difficulty: 16.

warriors

The Warriors’ draw always brings the most travel of any side (when trips to the USA are discounted) but is offset by playing the Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs just once. This is a positive trend, along with our 14 games against last year’s last nine. Like Cronulla, their final bye comes before Origin III, followed by a homecoming run that only features the Bulldogs, Panthers and Broncos in last year’s top eight in the final nine weeks of the regular season.
Difficulty: 17.