Avoiding any five-day turnarounds and the prospect of a full WIN Stadium hill again have enhanced St George Illawarra's prospects of returning to the NRL finals next year.
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On Tuesday, the full fixture was released, revealing that of the teams from last season's top eight, the Dragons will play only South Sydney, Gold Coast and the Roosters twice.
They'll also not have to face the brutal short turnarounds between games.
The Dragons will host Cronulla in Wollongong to kick off round three on a Thursday night, after starting the season against the Warriors in Queensland then playing premiers Penrith at Kogarah in the second week.
The other home games at WIN Stadium are against Newcastle, Wests, South Sydney, Canberra and the Titans.
It will be the NRL Women's competition which launches rugby league in 2022, an expanded six-team competition starting in February, before the year ends with a World Cup in England, which was delayed because of COVID restrictions.
The Dragons though will face some travel commitments, with four games in Queensland, including the Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium in round 10 where they will play the Gold Coast, as well as trips to Melbourne and Canberra.
They also have a round 12 date with the Bulldogs at Belmore Sportsground in round 12, as Trent Barrett tries to build Canterbury into a competitive force with prop Paul Vaughan, who was sacked by the Dragons this year following the infamous Shellharbour barbecue which breached COVID protocols and led to mass suspensions.
"It's impossible to say the draw is completely even, but this has a lot of balance to it," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said at the draw announcement.
"There will be some clubs more excited than others.
"When you look at a draw and one lens, you can easily find what is wrong with it.
"But in truth, this draw has a lot right with it."
The Dragons, who lose their last eight games in Queensland last year to finish 11th, will play the Roosters on ANZAC Day and then again at the Sydney Cricket Ground in July.
Among the other features of the 2022 fixture is the chance of playing the first game at the new Sydney Football Stadium, which is in the process of being rebuilt.
The Warriors are also eyeing the possibility of finally returning to New Zealand, after making the sacrifice of playing in Australia for the past two seasons. with AAP
WIN STADIUM GAMES
Round three v CRONULLA: Thursday, March 24 (8.05pm)
Round six v NEWCASTLE: Sunday, April 17 (4.05pm)
Round eight v WESTS: Sunday, May 1 (4.05pm)
Round 15 v SOUTH SYDNEY: Thursday, June 16 (7.50pm)
Round 16 v CANBERRA: Sunday, July 3 (4.05pm)
Round 23 v GOLD COAST: Sunday, August 21 (2pm)
NRLW
Round one v GOLD COAST: Sunday, February 27 at Newcastle (12pm)
Round two v PARRAMATTA: Sunday, March 6 at WIN Stadium (3.40pm)
Round three v BRISBANE: Sunday, March 13 at Parramatta (12pm)
Round four v NEWCASTLE: Sunday, March 20 at Newcastle (1.45pm)
Round five v ROOSTERS: Sunday, March 26 at Kogarah (1pm)
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
