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.
Manly Sea Eagles
Round 1, vs Canberra Raiders, at 4 Pines Park, Saturday, March 7, 7:30pm
Round 4, vs Sydney Roosters, at 4 Pines Park, Thursday, March 26, 8pm
Round 10, vs Brisbane Broncos, at 4 Pines Park, Saturday, May 9, 7:30pm
Round 17, vs Melbourne Storm, at 4 Pines Park, Saturday, June 27, 7:30pm
Round 27, vs New Zealand Warriors, at Go Media Stadium, Saturday, September 5, 3pm
The Sea Eagles will enter 2026 as one of the competition's most under pressure teams - there can be no mistake made about that.
They have a chance to get on the front foot early too with games against the Raiders and Roosters in the opening month of the campaign.
Their Round 10 home game against the Broncos will also be vital leading into Magic Round and the State of Origin period beyond that. Even though it comes during the Origin period, a game against the Storm is never one to take your eyes off, while a final round tustle in Auckland against the Warriors could be critical.
