The ten NRL games you can't afford to miss in 2022

Finally, the 2022 NRL draw is out. After an ever so slight delay, the fixtures were released this morning at 11am. Like many others, I have already planned my away trips, secured my season tickets and am clock-watching for Round 1. For a league fan such as myself every game is a must-watch. That said, some games stick out more than others. Below are the ten that have me most excited and shape as can't miss matchups. Round 1: Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles Thursday, March 10 - 8:05pm (at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith) The NRL season kicks off on Thursday 10th March, so this game was going to be can't miss regardless of the fixture. The NRL, however, have delivered a mouth-watering clash. The Premiers, the Panthers, kick-off the season in front of their own fans. That's the way each season should kick-off, with the Premiers running out on their home turf. MORE FIXTURE NEWS » Every team's draw ranked » Who does your team play twice in 2022? » Full NRL fixtures » Full 2022 NRLW draw Their opponents? Fellow top-four finisher and the team which boast the best player in the game, one Tom Trbojevic. All across the park there are matchups that get the spine-tingling. None more so than the battle of the Origin halves when Nathan Cleary will take on Dally Cherry-Evans. Round 2: Cronulla Sharks vs Parramatta Eels Saturday, March 19 - 5:30pm (at PointsBet Stadium, Cronulla Sentimentally, this is the game I'm most looking forward to. On the surface, yeah not the most exciting of fixtures for the general fan but for Sharks fans, it's one they have been waiting for. The Sharks, for the first time in two seasons, will run out onto their true home ground, PointsBet Stadium. The shift to Kogarah was successful in terms of results, but the crowd numbers, albeit during a very uncertain time, were lower than hoped. With a capped capacity and a huge membership rollout, I expect a full house to watch the new era of the Sharks run out to face a very difficult fixture against the Eels. Round 7: St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters Monday, April 25 - 4:00pm (at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney) A personal favourite of mine each and every year is the Anzac clash. I also love the Warriors and Storm game but the history of this contest is so important. The entire day is an event, from the dawn service up until the pre-match ceremony, to the heavily supported matchup itself. Form goes completely out the window when it comes to this fixture. It's like the derby games in England in the football, form doesn't matter. I look forward to 40,000 or more fans packing the SCG to watch two traditional rivals battle it out on the most important day of the year. Round 6: Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Saturday, April 16 - 7:35pm (at AAMI Park, Melbourne) As the kids these days say, this will be straight fire! The minorpremiers and superstar Storm outfit will host the Craig Fitzgibbon-led Sharks in a battle that will see both Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes return to Melbourne for the first time with their new club. The Storm and Sharks rivalry is a heated one even before the recruitment moves. The Storm are 2-0 in the preliminaries but the Sharks have the win in that grand final. I have no doubt that both clubs will have this fixture circled from this morning. Round 3: Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys Sunday, March 27 - 4:05pm (at Suncorp Stadium) For the first time in many years, the Broncos and Cowboys game at Suncorp will be played in the daylight. It's always a positive when the Broncos are moved away from the Friday night spot but this is a clash that, despite recent results, dictates a marquee position. Both sides were relegated to little brother by the Titans in 2021 so you have to believe this will be a blockbuster clash by two sides looking to send a message. Both teams will have new halfbacks and will enter the season with new hope. The winner of this will gain early momentum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKoDbK9zL0o Rugby League Outlaws returns to cover all the off-season goings on Round 3: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters Friday, March 25 - 8:05pm (at Stadium Australia, Homebush) I actively went looking for this matchup. As a neutral these games are very, very enjoyable. The most bitter of rivals on and off the field, these clubs hate each other. Friday night, a big crowd at Stadium Australia. Sign me up! Two genuine title threats again in 2021, this promises to be one of the early highlights of the season. Luke Keary will be back, as too will be Latrell Mitchell. Everything about this contest screams unmissable! Round 11: Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles Friday, May 20 - 7:55pm (at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta Another contest I look for each and every season. If the Bunnies and Roosters rivalry isn't the game's most heated than it's the Eels and Sea Eagles. To say these sets of fans dislike each other is putting it very nicely. Let alone on the field where there's genuine disdain for each other. Last year the Sea Eagles went 2-0 which must have Eels fans smarting for revenge. Trbojevic and Gutherson is one of the personal contests of the season. I'm sure a certain "King" is sick of hearing just how good his opposite is. Round 10: Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers Saturday, May 14 - 7:45pm (at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) The headline act for the headline round of fixtures. The Storm and the Panthers, the preliminary final rematch, takes place in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium. The game many expected to be the grand final in 2021, the second such grand final in succession, fell a week early and ended in a shock result. Melbourne were crushed after losing that game and, despite claims to the contrary, you just know Craig Bellamy is already plotting his revenge. Every game on Magic Round is played with a little more excitement than usual. As if this game needed it! Round 15: New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers Saturday, June 18 - 5:30pm (at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland) In terms of fixtures, this is run of the mill. In terms of occasion, this may be the game of the season. The Warriors, having not played at home since August, 2019, will finally be able to run out in front of their home fans. Everyone knows the sacrifices this club has made to continue their role in the NRL competition. I am so glad this game has been given a massive opponent and 7:30pm (NZ time) timeslot on a Saturday as this will be a party. It's the first time for the New Zealand locals to see Shaun Johnson back in the kit. The first time to see Reece Walsh play for the club. This will be magnificent! Round 4: Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Friday, April 1 - 8:05pm (at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith) I hate the term 'grand final rematch'. There's no such thing. The Bunnies could win this 160-0 and it doesn't mean anything with regards to last year's decider. That said, the next contest between the year prior's grand final competitors is always the highlight of the draw. Last season the Panthers beat the Storm in front of a massive crowd on the literal last play of the game. They celebrated as if they had won a finals game. It was awesome. Souths, again despite what is said in the media, will want this win more than any other in the opening rounds. Even more than the Roosters game. We only have to wait until Round Four to see the clash. That will mean both teams should have their early-season issues out of the way and both should be firing. This is perfect timing for the game everyone in the code simply cannot wait to see.

		P	W	L	PTS	+/-
1	CBR	24	19	5	44	148
2	MEL	24	17	7	40	212
3	CAN	24	16	8	38	120
4	BRI	24	15	9	36	172
5	CRO	24	15	9	36	109
6	NZW	24	14	10	34	21
7	PEN	24	13	10	33	107
8	SYD	24	13	11	32	132

The ten NRL games you can’t afford to miss in 2022

The draw has dropped, now here is when to block your calendar out. 👇

2. Round 15: New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers

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