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.
Sydney Roosters
Round 2, vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, at Allianz Stadium, Friday, March 13, 8pm
Round 3, vs Penrith Panthers, at Allianz Stadium, Friday, March 20, 6pm
Round 6, vs Cronulla Sharks, at Optus Stadium, Saturday, April 11, 5:30pm
Round 14, vs Canberra Raiders, at GIO Stadium, Friday, June 5, 8pm
Round 26, vs The Dolphins, at Allianz Stadium, Saturday, August 29, 5:30pm
The Roosters clash with the Rabbitohs in Round 2, and the Panthers in Round 3, in back-to-back games which will set the tone for their season.
A trip to Perth in Round 6 against the Sharks could throw up anything, while a match against the Raiders in Round 14 could be another to watch despite being in the middle of the Origin period.
Their back of the season is littered with big games too, but few seem like they could carry more top eight importance than the Round 26 game against the Dolphins.
