NRL draw: The 10 must-watch matches that fans won't want to miss

The NRL draw has officially been unveiled for 2026 and fans across the country will already be starting to pencil in certain fixtures on their calendar.

CLICK HERE to see the full printable PDF of the NRL draw for 2026.

CLICK HERE to see the full printable PDF of the NRLW draw for 2026.

Whether it be their team facing a bitter NRL rival, a rematch between two powerhouse clubs or watching a superstar run out in new colours, each season brings new narratives.

Next year will be no different, with the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans and Jonah Pezet changing colours and they won't have to wait long to face their former teammates.

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Here's the 10 matches you need to watch - all of which will be broadcast on Nine.

Round 1: Storm vs Eels

The first game on Australian soil next season has plenty of narratives surrounding it and the biggest will be the first game in Eels colours for young gun Jonah Pezet.

After spending his formative years with the Storm, the halfback was granted an early release from his contract to make the move and link up with Jason Ryles, who was an assistant at Melbourne before joining Parramatta as head coach.

Pezet was stuck behind star playmakers Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, but will get an early opportunity to remind his former club what they were missing out on in the opening round Thursday night game at AAMI Park.

These two sides squared off in round one last season as well and it ended horribly for the Eels, who were spanked 56-18 at the same venue.

Here's hoping that Pezet - as well as the likes of Mitchell Moses, Josh Addo-Carr and new recruit Jack de Belin - can turn their fortunes around.

Round 1: Broncos vs Panthers

The other blockbuster first-round clash will pit reigning premiers Brisbane up against the team they knocked out in the 2025 preliminary final, Penrith.

After four years of dominance, the Panthers dynasty came to a crushing end when the Broncos came from 14-0 down to book a spot in the grand final.

Revenge will be fresh on the mind of Ivan Cleary's men and it will be Penrith's first chance to wipe the slate clean and start a new chapter in their most successful era.

They will have to make the trip up north to Suncorp Stadium, where there will no doubt be a mammoth crowd full of boisterous Broncos fans still celebrating the title.

Round 3: Broncos vs Storm

From a pure football perspective, this will be one of the most eagerly-anticipated games of the season with the two grand finalists squaring off in a rematch.

Again coming back from a half-time deficit, Brisbane caused an upset against the Storm to claim their first premiership in almost two decades with a dramatic 26-22 win.

The added wrinkle of Stefano Utoikamanu's pre-game sledge that the Broncos used to their advantage on the first Sunday of October and this promises to be a special clash.

It will also be a new era for the Storm at fullback, with whiz kid Sua Faalogo taking over from the departed Ryan Papenhuyzen and his first rival No.1 will be one of the game's best players and Clive Churchill Medal winner, Reece Walsh.

Round 4: Sea Eagles vs Roosters

It was the soap opera that dragged on for almost the entire 2025 season and perhaps the final episode will come to fruition early next season.

After playing more games for Manly than any player in their history, Daly Cherry-Evans announced early this year that he would be departing the club.

The back-and-forth scuttlebutt and blame game dominated the headlines and not long after his exit was confirmed, all roads led towards Cherry-Evans joining the Roosters.

His signing was officially confirmed this month and the NRL have wasted little time giving the fans what they want, with the champion halfback set to play his former teammates for the first time in round three at what will be a sold-out Brookvale Oval.

Round 5: Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs

One of the annual blockbusters on the rugby league calendar, the traditional Good Friday clash between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs rarely disappoints.

From some narrow thrillers to the infamous James Graham-David Klemmer-Gerard Sutton stoush in 2015, it's always high drama when these two teams square off.

While the most recent edition was one-sided in Canterbury's favour, the injury-hit Bunnies should be back to their best in 2026 with some key inclusions.

The crowds are always massive and if both sides are travelling well after the first month of action, it could be one of the great spectacles of the season.

Round 7: Eels vs Bulldogs

Always a spirited affair between two bitter rivals, this is just as much about what happens off the field than it is about what happens for 80 minutes.

These two western Sydney fanbases despise each other and the history in big games between Canterbury and Parramatta spans decades in top-flight rugby league.

Cameron Ciraldo has turned the Bulldogs around over the past two years and it looks like Jason Ryles is going to do the same for the Eels moving forward.

If these two sides are performing well before they meet, the outcome could be unreal.

Round 14: Sharks vs Dragons

Another local rivalry with plenty of feeling, Cronulla have flipped the 'big brother' tag over the past decade or so on the more established St George Illawarra club.

The recent history has been heavily skewed in the Sharks favour, but the last time these two sides met it was actually the Dragons who caused a monumental upset.

There's no love lost between these two teams and there's plenty of players - as well as coach Shane Flanagan - who have been involved with both clubs.

Daniel Atkinson will become the latest player to switch after biding his time behind both Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall in the Shire before moving down to Wollongong.

Round 15: Dolphins vs Roosters

In just three short years, these two clubs have built a little bit of a rivalry together and it spilled over the edge last season at Suncorp Stadium.

In their first-ever game in the NRL back in 2023, it was the Dolphins who upset the star-studded Roosters and the history of both teams is largely tied to Arthur Beetson.

However, during the 2025 clash, multiple players were given their marching orders when Spencer Leniu went toe-to-toe with anyone wearing a Dolphins jumper.

It was a wild moment and sums up Leniu as a player - but there's no doubting the Phins will be looking for their fair share of revenge when they meet again.

Round 25: Broncos vs Raiders

Another unusual addition to this list, but after the instant classic between these two teams in the 2025 finals series, the rematch will have plenty of hype around it.

In one of the best games of the modern era, Brisbane outlasted the Raiders in an epic 94-minute golden-point battle in the qualifying final.

It had high drama and a few sin bins, with Reece Walsh and Hudson Young in the thick of things after the superstar fullback headbutted the Raiders back-rower.

Canberra will be out for revenge, especially given the fact they were knocked out in straight-sets while the Broncos went on to win the competition.

Round 26: Titans vs Rabbitohs

This usually wouldn't be a match fans would circle on the NRL calendar.

However, with the move from David Fifita from the Gold Coast to South Sydney, the pressure will be firmly on the enigmatic back-rower's shoulders.

Fifita endured a rollercoaster stint with the Titans and things soured during Des Hasler's stint at the club when he was dropped to reserve grade in 2025.

A change in coach with Josh Hannay taking over wasn't enough to convince Fifita to stick around and he will have a fresh start with the Rabbitohs.

If anyone can get the best out of him, surely it's Wayne Bennett?