NRL Draw 2024: Which team has the biggest advantage during State of Origin period?

Chris Danks

NRL Draw 2024: Which team has the biggest advantage during State of Origin period? image

Every team across the league will have two byes during the eight-week Origin carnage, except for the Wests Tigers, while some teams will be luckier than others in regards to interstate travel. 

The Sporting News analyses and grades every NRL club's State of Origin schedule below. 

MORE STATE OF ORIGIN COVERAGE

 

Brisbane Broncos: C-

Potential representatives: Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas

Schedule: Bye, Sharks (H), Rabbitohs (A), Bye, Warriors (A), Panthers (H), Dragons (H), Knights (A)

Analysis: Both of the club's byes falling early in the Origin period is less than ideal, as are the tough interstate away trips against quality opposition in the Rabbitohs and Knights. The trickiest portion will also see the Broncos travel across the ditch to take on the Warriors - who are unlikely to have any players unavailable - before returning home to battle reigning premiers Penrith in back-to-back weeks. 

MORE: 2024 NRL live ladder | Every NRL club's updated injury list | Every NRL fixture and result for each club

Canberra Raiders: B

Potential representatives: Corey Horsburgh, Hudson Young

Schedule: Dolphins (A), Bye, Cowboys (H), Tigers (A), Storm (A), Knights (H), Bye, Warriors (H)

Analysis: With only two likely reps and their byes spread out, Canberra will be happy with their schedule throughout the eight-week stretch. On the downside, the Raiders will be forced to travel interstate twice, with their clashes against the Dolphins and Storm on the road. 

Canterbury Bulldogs: C+

Potential representatives: Josh Addo-Carr, Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Josh Curran

Schedule: Knights (A), Eels (H), Bye, Roosters (A), Sharks (H), Warriors (H), Bye, Cowboys (A) 

Analysis: With their only interstate trip coming a week after their second bye and right at the tail-end of the Origin period, Canterbury should be somewhat content with their schedule. However, the quality of opposition they will be forced to face - including four teams from last year's finals series - won't be too pleasing for Cameron Ciraldo, who could have up to four players in the NSW squad. 

Cronulla Sharks: A 

Potential representatives: Nicho Hynes, Cameron McInnes

Schedule: Eels (A), Broncos (A), Dolphins (H), Bye, Bulldogs (A), Titans (H), Tigers (H), Bye

Analysis: As is the case with their entire schedule, Cronulla should be stoked with their Origin period, only having to leave Sydney once to take on a likely understrength Broncos. The side will also have their byes spread out and aren't expected to have many players - if any - lining up for NSW or Queensland. 

Dolphins: C+

Potential representatives: Tom Gilbert, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Flegler

Schedule: Raiders (H), Bye, Sharks (A), Storm (H), Dragons (A), Bye, Rabbitohs (H), Panthers (A) 

Analysis: It's a mixed bag for the Dolphins during the Origin period, with three players in line to represent the Maroons and their draw seeing them travelling interstate on three occasions. Wayne Bennett's side will take on two teams from last year's top-four in Melbourne and Penrith, while their byes are reasonably well-placed. 

Gold Coast Titans: B+

Potential representatives: David Fifita, Tino Fa'asuamaleuai, Moeaki Fotuaika, AJ Brimson

Schedule: Bye, Rabbitohs (H), Tigers (A), Warriors (H), Bye, Sharks (A), Eels (H), Sea Eagles (A)

Analysis: Gold Coast will receive a bye in the first weekend of Origin-affected footy, with a number of players from the club's forward pack expected to earn selection once again. The side will travel interstate on three occasions, but will only take on two team from last year's top-eight during their eight-week stretch.  

Manly Sea Eagles: B+

Potential representatives: Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Haumole Olakau'atu

Schedule: Bye, Panthers (A), Dragons (H), Rabbitohs (A), Bye, Cowboys (A), Knights (H), Titans (H)

Analysis: Manly will receive a favourable draw during the State of Origin period, with just one interstate trip against the Cowboys and two well-placed byes. Anthony Seibold's side will also only face two teams from last year's finals series, including a potentially hampered Penrith outfit after the series opener in Round 14. 

Melbourne Storm: C

Potential representatives: Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates, Harry Grant, Christian Welch

Schedule: Bye, Knights (H), Warriors (A), Dolphins (A), Raiders (H), Tigers (A), Bye, Roosters (H)

Analysis: Back-to-back road trips against the Warriors and Dolphins is less than ideal, particularly considering the former won't have any Origin stars unavailable. Their byes come at the start and the end of the eight-week stretch, while they will also take on strong opposition at home in the Knights and Roosters on either side of their weeks off. 

Newcastle Knights: B+

Potential representatives: Kalyn Ponga, Tyson Frizell, Bradman Best, Dane Gagai, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti

Schedule: Bulldogs (H), Storm (A), Panthers (H), Bye, Eels (H), Raiders (A), Sea Eagles (A), Broncos (H)

Analysis: With a number of players potentially in the mix for NSW or Queensland, it could be a tricky two months for Adam O'Brien to navigate. However, the fact the Knights will only travel interstate once - early in the rep period against the Storm - is a bonus, while clashes against some weaker opposition in Canterbury and Canberra should help the side remain in a good spot. 

New Zealand Warriors: B

Potential representatives: N/A

Schedule: Bye, Cowboys (A), Storm (H), Titans (A), Broncos (H), Bulldogs (A), Bye, Raiders (A)

Analysis: The only team that aren't expected to be impacted by Origin selection will be the Warriors. While they will travel away to Queensland on two occasions to take on the Cowboys and Titans, both of those sides will be affected by some unavailable or tired players, while their Round 20 clash with the Raiders on the road is more than winnable.

North Queensland Cowboys: D

Potential representatives: Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Scott Drinkwater, Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter

Schedule: Roosters (A), Warriors (H), Raiders (A), Bye, Panthers (A), Sea Eagles (H), Bye, Bulldogs (H)

Analysis: It's grim viewing for Cowboys fans, who are likely to have a plethora of key players sidelined and hampered by State of Origin selection. The side will be forced to travel interstate three times in the space of five weeks earlier in the two-month period to take on the Roosters, Raiders and Panthers. 

Parramatta Eels: B+

Potential representatives: Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Mitchell Moses, J'maine Hopgood, Ryan Matterson, Shaun Lane

Schedule: Sharks (H), Bulldogs (A), Roosters (H), Bye, Knights (A), Rabbitohs (H), Titans (A), Bye

Analysis: With a host of players in the mix for a NSW or Queensland call-up, it's a good thing Parramatta won't be traveling too often. The early part of the Origin period could be tough, with clashes against the Sharks and Roosters, but two byes in the back-half and only one interstate trip leading into their second is a good get. 

Penrith Panthers: A

Potential representatives: Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo

Schedule: Dragons (H), Sea Eagles (H), Knights (A), Bye, Cowboys (H), Broncos (A), Bye, Dolphins (H)

Analysis: The draw reads nicely for the Panthers, despite the fact they will be without up to half a dozen players throughout the Origin period. The eight-week stretch will be bookended by home games against the Dragons and Dolphins, while their two byes come within a month of each other. Their only interstate trip comes against the Broncos, but it leads directly into a bye and their opponents will also be hampered by rep selection. 

St George Illawarra Dragons: B+

Potential representatives: Ben Hunt, Jack de Belin, Jaydn Su'A, Blake Lawrie

Schedule: Panthers (A), Tigers (H), Sea Eagles (A), Bye, Dolphins (H), Roosters (A), Broncos (A), Bye

Analysis: There's plenty of good news for the Dragons, who only have one interstate trip and take on three teams that missed out on the top-eight in 2023 during the Origin period. Depending on selections, they will also face both the Panthers and Broncos in the midst of the stretch, which could see last year's grand finalists undermanned. 

South Sydney Rabbitohs: C

Potential representatives: Cameron Murray, Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell, Jai Arrow, Tevita Tatola

Schedule: Bye, Titans (A), Broncos (H), Sea Eagles (H), Bye, Eels (A), Dolphins (A), Tigers (H)

Analysis: The club with more potential Origin representatives than any other, Souths have a tough schedule over the course of the two months, with two interstate trips as well as fixtures against the Broncos and Eels in Sydney. Jason Demetriou's side will have their two byes in decent spots and it could help them balance their squad rotation. 

Sydney Roosters: A+

Potential representatives: James Tedesco, Joseph Suaalii, Lindsay Collins, Nat Butcher, Spencer Leniu

Schedule: Cowboys (H), Bye, Eels (A), Bulldogs (H), Tigers (H), Dragons (H), Bye, Storm (A)

Analysis: Trent Robinson will be stoked with how this Origin period has panned out, with three-straight clashes against the bottom-three clubs from last season at home, as well as a further game at Allianz Stadium against the Cowboys. The side won't leave Sydney during the two-month stretch until Round 20, while their two byes come at generous times for the Tricolours. 

Wests Tigers: D

Potential representatives: Api Koroisau, Stefano Utoikamanu, David Klemmer

Schedule: Bye, Dragons (A), Titans (H), Raiders (H), Roosters (A), Storm (H), Sharks (A), Rabbitohs (A) 

Analysis: The only club with just one bye during the State of Origin will be last year's wooden spooners, who will have a week off in Round 13 before a lengthy stretch of matches. On the plus side, they won't travel interstate throughout the eight weeks, but they will have four-straight games against top-eight sides, before finishing with the Rabbitohs in Round 20. 

Chris Danks

Chris Danks Photo

After a failed athletic career in a far-flung land where delusions of former grandeur are hard to verify, Chris found a home as Sporting News Australia's Chief Editor, delivering fans original news and context beyond the box score.