NRL Powerhouses Face Brutal Runs as 2026 Draw Unveiled

As the 2026 NRL season approaches, the league has unveiled its highly anticipated draw, and it's clear that several powerhouse teams will face significant challenges in their quest for finals glory.

The Tigers, who are desperate to end the longest finals drought in the NRL, are staring down the barrel of a brutal run of fixtures. From Round 7 onwards, they will face a daunting gauntlet of six teams that made the 2025 finals, including four of the previous year's preliminary finalists. This stretch could make or break their season, and they will need to get off to a strong start to have any chance of breaking their finals drought.

Meanwhile, the Eels have been handed a much softer draw than in recent years, but their start to the season is still a tough one. They will face the Storm and Broncos in their opening two fixtures, both away from home, which have historically been incredibly difficult challenges. However, if Parramatta can navigate these early hurdles, they have a golden opportunity to kick on and secure a finals berth, with a favorable run home and the majority of their games at their home ground, CommBank Stadium.

The Storm, who are seeking to avenge their back-to-back grand final defeats, also face a brutal run home. In their final seven games, they will take on five teams that featured in the 2025 finals series, including the Roosters, Bulldogs, Panthers, Broncos, and Sharks. With just two of their last seven matches at home, the pressure will be on the Storm to win away from AAMI Park if they want to finish in the top four and make another grand final push.