Daly Cherry-Evans will be drawn to face his old club Manly in the opening month of the next NRL season, in a round-four return bout exactly one year in the making.
The NRL will officially announce their 2026 draw on Friday morning, but several components of the first schedule to be constructed using AI can now be revealed.
Cherry-Evans will return to Brookvale Oval for the first time with the Sydney Roosters on March 26.
It was in the lead up to round four in 2025 that Cherry-Evans stunned the NRL, announcing on national television he would leave the Sea Eagles at season's end.
What reception Manly's most-capped player receives from the crowd will be one of the biggest talking points, after 15 seasons and 352 games for the club.
After Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland start the season in Las Vegas on February 28, the rest of the opening round is now locked in.
Melbourne will host Parramatta for the first game on Australian soil, as the Storm begin life after Ryan Papenhuyzen on a Thursday night at AAMI Park.
The Warriors get to start their season at home against the Roosters, where Cherry-Evans is expected to play his first game for the Tricolours.
Defending-premiers Brisbane face Penrith on the Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, with a rematch of this year's epic preliminary final the most anticipated bout of the opening round.
Josh Hannay can then begin his tenure as Gold Coast coach against his old club Cronulla at Shark Park on the Saturday evening, after serving as assistant there for the past five seasons.
Jamal Fogarty will also start life against his former club, Manly's halfback lining up against Canberra as the Sea Eagles host the Raiders in the Saturday night fixture.
Big-name South Sydney recruit David Fifita will then return to Queensland to close out the round, with the Rabbitohs to face the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
Wests Tigers have been handed a round-one bye for the second time in three years.
Meanwhile, the NRL has also confirmed NSW will host the men's State of Origin series opener on May 27.
Game two will be played in Melbourne on June 17, before a potential decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 8 as Queensland bid to defend the shield.
The MCG clash will come 20 years after the Maroons kickstarted their dynasty in Melbourne, with a late win in the decider at Docklands Stadium.
Women's Origin will kick off in Newcastle on April 30, with no game in Sydney for next year's series and the interstate competition kicking off earlier in 2026.
Suncorp Stadium will host game two on the eve of Magic Round on May 14, before the series finale on the Gold Coast on May 28.
2026 NRL OPENING ROUND:
Saturday February 27 (Sunday February 28 AEDT)
Canterbury v St George Illawarra, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Newcastle v North Queensland, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Thursday March 5
Melbourne v Parramatta, AAMI Park
Friday March 6
Warriors v Sydney Roosters, Go Media Stadium
Brisbane v Penrith, Suncorp Stadium
Saturday March 7
Cronulla v Gold Coast, Shark Stadium
Manly v Canberra, 4Pines Park
Sunday March 8
Dolphins v South Sydney, Suncorp Stadium
STATE OF ORIGIN:
Men's:
May 27: Game one, Accor Stadium
June 18: Game two, MCG
July 8: Game three, Suncorp Stadium
Women's:
April 30: Game one, McDonald Jones Stadium
May 14: Game two, Suncorp Stadium
May 28: Game three, Cbus Super Stadium.
