NRL Draw 2024 – Winners & Losers

<p>The 2024 NRL draw has dropped and as always it bodes well for some teams and not so well for others.</p> <p>That’s why here at Sportsbet we’ve come up with a simple formula to rank the difficulty of every side's draw for the 2024 NRL season.</p> <p>Now, we’ve done all the heavy lifting, so don’t worry, you don’t need to be a mathematician to figure out what’s going on. You can just have a look at the rankings of all 17 teams below.</p> <p>But for those of you who are curious with how we formulated these rankings, the equation is simple.</p> <p>We took the number of times each team plays at home in 2024 and then subtracted the number of times they have to face a side from last season’s top eight.</p> <p>The higher the remaining number, the softer the draw. It’s important to note, that while a game may be listed as a home fixture for a certain side, it may not actually be played at their home venue.</p> <p>The opening round of fixtures in Las Vegas and Magic Round are prime examples of this. So, now that math’s class is over, it’s time to take a look at the winners and the losers of the 2024 NRL draw.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Who Has The Easiest NRL 2024 Draw?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>1. Brisbane Broncos</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 14.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> There will be no excuses from the Brisbane Broncos as they look to go one better in season 2024.</p> <p>Thanks to the Dolphins (who Brisbane play twice) also calling Suncorp Stadium home from time to time, and an ‘away’ game against the Sea Eagles for Magic round, the Broncos get to turn out on their home turf a whopping 14 times next season.</p> <p>They have to face teams that played finals footy last season just 10 times in 2024, the equal fewest.</p> <p>The only caveat for the Brissy boys is they must face the architects of their Grand Final failure – Penrith, twice.</p>

<h3>2. Sydney Roosters</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 13.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Verdict: </strong>After a disappointing season by their lofty standards, the Sydney Roosters, by our calculations, have the second easiest draw for season 2024.</p> <p>Yes, they have to kick off their season against the Broncos in Vegas, as well as facing premiers Penrith in the opening month, but apart from that it appears to be pretty smooth sailing for the Bondi boys.</p> <p>After their round four clash with Penrith, 12 of their remaining 20 games are against sides who finished outside the top eight last season. While they also get to play cellar dwellers Canterbury and St George twice.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>3. The Dolphins</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 14</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 13</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> The newest kids on the block have been gifted one of the easiest draws in their second season in the big time.</p> <p>The Dolphins had a bright start in their inaugural outing as an NRL franchise before injuries took their toll.</p> <p>Another fast start could be on the cards with seven of their first 11 games set to be played at one of their two home stadiums.</p> <p>The fact they share Suncorp with the Broncos plays into their hands again and as a result they get to play at home more than any other team this season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>4. North Queensland Cowboys</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 13.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 12.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> It appears that whoever made the 2024 NRL draw was from the Sunshine State, as three of the top four teams with the easiest ride next season are based in Queensland.</p> <p>The Cowboys have a favourable bye schedule around Origin time, which will be crucial for them as they always have a high number of representative players.</p> <p>They also get to play strugglers the Dolphins, Titans, Tigers, and Bulldogs twice. Chuck in the fact they drag 13 teams up to the tropics to do battle and it’s easy to see just how favourable the Cowboys NRL draw is for next season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>5. Newcastle Knights</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 12.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> Newcastle's insane winning streak in the second half of last season was largely built on their home form, so the Novocastrians will be delighted to see they get 12 games at McDonald Jones Stadium in 2024.</p> <p>Four of those 12 come in their opening six games, meaning the Knights could very well get off to a flyer next season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>6. Penrith Panthers</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> The all-conquering Penrith Panthers will be aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight premiership in 2024 and they certainly have the draw to do it.</p> <p>With 11 home games and a favourable bye schedule for once, the men from the foot of the mountains should be nice and fresh for the back end of the season.</p> <p>The only real issue is their opening set of games, in particular their first game of the season, which is in Vegas against round one specialists the Storm.</p> <p>However such is their dominance, at this point they probably don’t care who, when or where they play.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>7. St George Illawarra Dragons</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> Outside of a tough run home that includes facing both Penrith and Melbourne, there is a lot to like about the Dragons fixture list for 2024.</p> <p>They miss out on Magic Round, which financially may be a bad thing, but they don’t risk losing a home game like half of the teams who will make the trek to Suncorp Stadium.</p> <p>They also get to last season’s top two Penrith and Brisbane during Origin, which is really the only you ever want to face either of those sides.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>8. Cronulla Sharks</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> The Sharkies have an even split of games at home and games against last season’s finalists in 2024.</p> <p>However, their draw is more favourable than other sides that have the same ratio, as they get to play the Bulldogs, Dragons and the Tigers twice. That’s the equivalent of having six byes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>9. Manly Sea Eagles</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 12.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 12.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> Not only do the Sea Eagles use up a home game during Magic Round, but the game is against the Broncos.</p> <p>Yes, Brisbane will be playing “away” against Manly in Brisbane. While you try and wrap your head around that, it’s important to note that Manly otherwise have a pretty even draw from season 2024.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>10. Melbourne Storm</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home: </strong>11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> Round one specialists Melbourne will have to beat Penrith if they want to keep their 20+ year streak of winning their opening game of the season alive.</p> <p>They have an even split of games at home versus games against last season’s top eight and rightfully earn a middling position on this list.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>11. New Zealand Warriors</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> Last season’s surprise packets will have to endure a horror start to the season, as they face only top eight teams during their first month of the competition.</p> <p>But the silver lining is, all bar one of those will be played in New Zealand. After that the games get easier, but that is cancelled out by the fact the Warriors will have to hit the road for a majority of them. This includes playing four straight weeks away from home in a brutal stretch between round 9-12.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>12. Parramatta Eels</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> After easily having the worst draw last season, things have improved slightly for Parramatta.</p> <p>The Eels have arguably the easiest start to the season of any team, but they’ll need to make the most of it, because things take a turn for the worst later in the season.</p> <p>They have a treacherous run home, as well as having to face Penrith, Melbourne and Brisbane twice throughout the season. So, which will win out? The soft start? Or the tough finish? Watch this space.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>13. Wests Tigers</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 10.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> A bad team with a bad draw. The good news Tigers fans is you can’t finish any lower this season.</p> <p>After becoming the only side ever to win the wooden spoon and then finish lower the following season (thank you Dolphins for making that possible), the Tigers will be hoping to bounce back in 2024.</p> <p>Mercifully for Wests, they are guaranteed to start their season with a win, well a bye. All downhill from there? Probably.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>14. Canberra Raiders</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 12.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> Ricky’s Raiders are one of the lucky sides who only have to face Penrith, Brisbane and Melbourne once in 2024.</p> <p>This is offset by the fact that they will face top eight teams 12 times throughout the season as well as having to endure a tough couple of months to start the season that could be a real momentum killer for the Green Machine.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>15. Gold Coast Titans</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home: </strong>11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 12.</p> <p><strong>Verdict: </strong>A soft start gives way to a horror finish for the Titans, so they’ll need to make hay while the sun shines.</p> <p>They have twelve games against top eight opposition in 2024 and will have no byes left by round 17, meaning they have to play 10 straight games to finish the season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>16. Canterbury Bulldogs</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 13.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> The Bulldogs face more finalists than any team bar one next season. Confidence is already at an all time low after a disappointing 2023 campaign and their horror run of fixtures in 2024 could very well end up costing rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo his job.</p> <p>The only saving grace for the boys from Belmore is that they are one of the teams who don’t have to face Penrith and Brisbane more than once.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>17. South Sydney Rabbitohs</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Games at home:</strong> 11.</p> <p><strong>Games against the top eight:</strong> 13.</p> <p><strong>Verdict:</strong> There’s always one and this year it’s the Rabbitohs who have been shafted.</p> <p>You really can’t please everyone and if the Bunnies want to return to the top eight, they’ll have to do it the hard way.</p> <p>They are one of the four Vegas teams, have to play finalists from last year a whopping 13 times and have to play the Panthers, Broncos, Storm and Roosters twice. Ouch.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>

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