The NRL 2027 draw is set to be released on Monday 16 November, the day after the Rugby League World Cup final, with the Perth Bears tipped to host South Sydney in their first NRL match, according to reports.
News Corp’s Peter Badel reported the release date and the likely Round 1 clash, League Unlimited reported. The NRL had not officially confirmed either detail at the time of writing.
The NRL normally aims to release its draw in mid-November, but the World Cup, which ends with the final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, has stopped it going any earlier this year, Zero Tackle reported. The draw is understood to be well advanced.
Bears to open against the Rabbitohs
The report indicated Souths are likely to head west to face the Bears in Round 1 of 2027, when Perth enter the competition as its 18th club. The Bears first floated the idea of opening against the Rabbitohs months ago, and the NRL appears to have agreed, according to Zero Tackle.
Zero Tackle said the historic match is likely to be played on a Sunday afternoon, the same timeslot the Dolphins opened their NRL existence in, and that there is a good chance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would attend.
Read more: Anthony De Ceglie Steps Down as Perth Bears Inaugural CEO
The Bears will be based at HBF Park, with Optus Stadium in the frame for blockbuster matches. In July, Bears general manager Gareth Holmes told 9News Perth the first game would be played in the west. “It’s going to be in Perth. The demand will be there to play, probably an Optus Stadium. There will be enough people interested,” he said, as reported by Zero Tackle.
Las Vegas start and a PNG Chiefs twist
The season opens in Las Vegas on Sunday 28 February (AEDT), with Melbourne Storm taking on Wests Tigers and Parramatta facing Gold Coast, before the rest of the competition kicks off the following weekend.
The News Corp report also indicated the Broncos and Rabbitohs are in line to face the PNG Chiefs in the Chiefs’ inaugural match in 2028, according to League Unlimited.
Read more: PNG Chiefs Unveil Logo and First NRL Jersey in Port Moresby
With 18 teams, most rounds will feature nine games. It is believed clubs will keep three byes across 27 rounds, while Sunday evening is seen as the likely preferred slot for the ninth game, a time that suits the Perth market, Zero Tackle reported.
The 2027 NRL Grand Final is scheduled for Sunday 3 October, with the venue yet to be confirmed.
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