With the full NRL draw out for 2026, teams and their fans will have circled dates in their calendars.
Must-win games, key outings, rivalry clashes.
No team is going to win 24 from 24 throughout the course of an NRL season that is wildly tough to predict at the best of times, but clubs will know the key games they must win.
For fans, neutral or supporters, here are the five biggest clashes to watch for each and every NRL side throughout the 2026 season, kicking off in Las Vegas on the first weekend of March and winding itself across Australia and New Zealand over the following six months.
North Queensland Cowboys
Round 6, vs Brisbane Broncos, at Suncorp Stadium, Friday, April 10, 8pm
Round 7, vs Manly Sea Eagles, at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Thursday, April 16, 7:50pm
Round 9, vs Canterbury Bulldogs, at Accor Stadium, Friday, May 1, 6pm
Round 11, vs Sydney Roosters, at Suncorp Stadium, Saturday, May 16, 5:30pm
Round 22, vs Sydney Roosters, at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Thursday, July 30, 7:50pm
As one might expect, the Cowboys matches to watch starts with one against the Broncos on the road in Round 10. The traditional Queensland rivals always put on big games.
North Queensland clash with Manly and Canterbury in the following rounds in games that could shape their season, before clashing with the Roosters during Magic Round.
Round 22 sees them face the Sydney Roosters at home in a game which could go a long way towards telling us whether they are a chance at doing anything in the business end of the season.
