The NRL have released their 2026 NRL Draw to the usual debate over turnaround, top and bottom halves and how easy the Broncos get it. But instead of taking the rugby league world’s point of view as gospel, The Gurgler unloads a second analysis piece full of visuals and stats with our 2026 NRL Draw – Team by Team Analysis.
We’ve already had a look at the 2026 NRL draw overall here, but for another lens we’ve gone team by team to see any quirks and perks of their potential 2026 NRL adventure.
2026 NRL Draw – Team by Team Analysis
Note: M = Magic Round…NH = Neutral Home Game…B = Bye
Note also: Interstate games do not include Magic Round, so add one more to every non Qld team except Canberra. Lord knows why Canberra are missing out.
BRONCOS
People accuse the Broncos of getting a favourable draw, but there is nothing favourable about three byes, four home games out of five and one trip to Sydney during the Origin period. Much.
BULLDOGS
Bulldogs leave Sydney just once after Round 19 in a very local finish to the season. In fact, they leave Sydney just twice after Magic Round.
COWBOYS
Cowboys are the big travellers in 2026, with Las Vegas no help in reducing transit. They at least get a reprieve in the Post Origin section of the season where they are only the fourth most travelled team instead of first for the other two sections.
DOLPHINS
Dolphins play more Friday games than any other team in 2026, even more than the Broncos. They might want to improve on their 43% win rate on a Friday from 2025.
DRAGONS
Dragons don’t leave Sydney after Round 20, and eight FTA games is rather generous.
EELS
A tough start to Parramatta’s season will test their end of 2025 season form. They play the three most recent Premiers, with ten Grand Finals between them since 2020, all away in the first four rounds of the season.
KNIGHTS
Newcastle will play more Sunday games in 2026 than any other team with 14. The NRL or AI mustn’t like Newcastle very much as the Knights lost all nine games on a Sunday last season.
PANTHERS
While the Panthers get three byes over Origin period, they also get back to back Queensland away trips.
RABBITOHS
Souths play once at home in the first six weeks with a bye and giving up two of their home games to neutral venues.
RAIDERS
Four bottom half teams get more FTA games than Canberra in 2026.
ROOSTERS
The Roosters have a tough mid-season run with a neutral home game at Gosford, three trips to Brisbane, one to Canberra and Melbourne and a home game v Sharks between Rounds 10 and 17.
SEA EAGLES
The Sea Eagles wouldn’t spend a quarter of a tank on fuel during Origin period with 145 kms.
SHARKS
Cronulla finish their season with seven out of eight day games and only twice do they have to leave Sydney, for one of the night games, in Melbourne.
STORM
Lucky Melbourne only get two home games on a Thursday in 2026, as they are 20/20 for all-time.
TIGERS
Tigers play the second most Day games in 2026, which is a good thing as their win rate at daytime in 2025 was three times higher than their night win rate.
TITANS
If the Titans are in the hunt for finals then their run home of five home games in their last six might help. Although they’ll need to improve on last season’s second worst home record of W3 L9.
WARRIORS
Just the three Channel Nein TV games is no surprise for the Warriors in 2026, in fact it is higher than some would cynically guess. Two of those three FTA TV games are at Suncorp Stadium v Broncos and the other is away to the Tigers.
