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.
Canterbury Bulldogs
Round 5, vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, at Accor Stadium, Friday April 3, 4:05pm
Round 6, vs Penrith Panthers, at Accor Stadium, Thursday April 9, 7:50pm
Round 14, vs Parramatta Eels, at Accor Stadium, Monday June 9, 4pm
Round 23, vs Sydney Roosters, at Allianz Stadium, Monday August 7, 8pm
Round 27, vs Brisbane Broncos, at Accor Stadium, Thursday September 3, 7:50pm
It's a mix of traditional rivals and enormous games in the five clashes to watch for Canterbury heading into 2026.
It's hard to overlook their two public holiday clashes - on Good Friday against South Sydney, and the King's Birthday against the Parramatta Eels, while they also play modern day rivals the Penrith Panthers early in the year in a game that could be a good early measuring stick for both outfits.
Late in the year, we are also taking their away clash in Round 23 with the Roosters, and home clash with the Brisbane Broncos - a potential finals preview - as part of their five to watch for the year ahead.
