Superstar Nathan Cleary will be racing the clock to help Penrith open their NRL premiership defence against Manly, with the draw officially released on Tuesday.
Cleary underwent shoulder surgery last month after piloting the Panthers to a thrilling grand final win over South Sydney, while his teammates winger Brian To'o and James Fisher-Harris also went under the knife.
Penrith will be hoping the trio are fit to take on Dally M medal winner Tom Trbojevic and his Sea Eagles in a Thursday night clash on March 10 at BlueBet Stadium.
The match will also mark a return to Sydney for the NRL, after the last game was played there in July before the competition shifted to Queensland due to COVID-19.
In other round one matches the Warriors host St George-Illawarra on the Sunshine Coast, while halfback Adam Reynolds will lead Brisbane against his former club.
The Sydney Roosters and Newcastle do battle while Craig Fitzgibbons will open his coaching career at the Sharks in Canberra against his former Roosters teammate Ricky Stuart.
Wests Tigers will look to upset Melbourne, who will be without suspended stars Cameron Munster and Brandon Smith, while key men Dale Finucane, Nicho Hynes and Josh Addo-Carr have moved on.
Parramatta host Gold Coast, before North Queensland wrap up the round against a new-look Canterbury side.
The NRL have also confirmed the dates and venues for State of Origin 2022, with NSW on home soil to start their title defence in Sydney on Wednesday, June 8.
Game two will be played in Perth on Sunday June 26 and the third clash scheduled for Brisbane on Wednesday, July 13.
In other draw highlights, the grand final rematch is set for round four when Souths will look to avenge their two-point loss.
Penrith are set to meet 2021 minor premiers Melbourne in Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium.
The NRL's grand final will land on October 2 at Stadium Australia, just 11 days before the Rugby League World Cup opener in the UK.
Thursday, March 10
Panthers vs Sea Eagles, BlueBet Stadium, 8.05pm
Friday, March 11
Raiders vs Sharks, GIO Stadium, 6.00pm
Broncos vs Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 8.05pm
Roosters vs Knights, Sydney Cricket Ground, 3.00pm
Warriors vs Dragons, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 5.30pm
Wests Tigers vs Storm, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, March 13
Eels vs Titans, CommBank Stadium, 4:05pm
Cowboys vs Bulldogs Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6:15pm
ROUND 2
Thursday, March 17
Storm vs Rabbitohs, AAMI Park, 8.05pm
Friday, March 18
Dragons vs. Panthers, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6:00pm
Roosters vs. Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 8:05pm
Saturday, March 19
Titans vs. Warriors, Cbus Super Stadium, 3:00pm
Sharks vs. Eels, PointsBet Stadium, 5:30pm
Cowboys vs. Raiders, Qld Country Bank Stadium 7:35pm
Sunday, March 20
Knights vs. Wests Tigers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm
Bulldogs vs. Broncos, Stadium Australia, 6:15pm
ROUND 3
Thursday, March 24
Dragons vs. Sharks, WIN Stadium, 8:05pm
Friday, March 25
Wests Tigers vs. Warriors, Campbelltown Stadium, 6:00pm
Rabbitohs vs. Roosters, Stadium Australia, 8:05pm
Saturday, March 25
Panthers vs. Knights, Carrington Park, Bathurst, 3:00pm
Storm vs. Eels, AAMI Park, 5:30pm
Raiders vs. Titans, GIO Stadium, 7:35pm
Sunday, March 27
Broncos vs. Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm
Sea Eagles vs. Bulldogs, 4 Pines Park, 6:15pm
ROUND 4
Thursday, March 31
Titans vs. Wests Tigers, Cbus Super Stadium, 8.05pm
Friday, April 1
Sharks vs. Knights, PointsBet Stadium, 6:00pm
Panthers vs. Rabbitohs, BlueBet Stadium, 8:05pm
Saturday, April 2
Warriors vs. Broncos, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe 3:00pm
Sea Eagles vs. Raiders, Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee 5:30pm
Cowboys vs. Roosters, Qld Country Bank Stadium 7:35pm
Sunday, April 3
Storm vs. Bulldogs, AAMI Park, 4:05pm
Eels vs. Dragons, CommBank Stadium, 6:15pm
ROUND 5
Thursday, April 7
Knights vs. Sea Eagles, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, April 8
Warriors vs. Cowboys, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 6:00pm
Broncos vs. Roosters, Suncorp Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, April 9
Raiders vs. Storm, McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga, 3:00pm
Rabbitohs vs. Dragons, Stadium Australia, 5:30pm
Titans vs. Eels, Cbus Super Stadium, 7:35pm
Sunday, April 10
Sharks vs. Wests Tigers, PointsBet Stadium, 4:05pm
Bulldogs vs. Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 6:15pm
ROUND 6
Thursday, April 14
Raiders vs. Cowboys, GIO Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, April 15
Rabbitohs vs. Bulldogs, Stadium Australia, 4:00pm
Panthers vs. Broncos, BlueBet Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, April 16
Sea Eagles vs. Titans, 4 Pines Park 5:30pm
Storm vs. Sharks, AAMI Park, 7:35pm
Sunday, April 17
Roosters vs. Warriors, Sydney Cricket Ground, 2:00pm
Dragons vs. Knights, WIN Stadium, 4:05pm
Monday, April 18
Eels vs. Wests Tigers, CommBank Stadium, 4:00pm
ROUND 7
Thursday, April 21
Sharks vs. Sea Eagles, PointsBet Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, April 22
Broncos vs. Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, April 23
Cowboys vs. Titans, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm
Wests Tigers vs. Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium, 7:35pm
Sunday, April 24
Knights vs. Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2:00pm
Panthers vs. Raiders, BlueBet Stadium, 4:05pm
Monday, April 25
Dragons vs. Roosters, Sydney Cricket Ground, 4:00pm
Storm vs. Warriors, AAMI Park, 7:00pm
ROUND 8
Thursday, Apr 28
Broncos vs. Sharks, Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, Apr 29
Titans vs. Panthers, Cbus Super Stadium, 6:00pm
Rabbitohs vs. Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, Apr 30
Warriors vs. Raiders, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 3:00pm
Bulldogs vs. Roosters, Stadium Australia, 5:30pm
Eels vs. Cowboys TIO Stadium, Darwin, 7:05pm
Sunday, May 1
Knights vs. Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2:00pm
Dragons vs. Wests Tigers, WIN Stadium, 4:05pm
ROUND 9
Thursday, May 5
Rabbitohs vs. Broncos Stadium Australia, 7:50pm
Friday, May 6
Raiders vs. Bulldogs GIO Stadium, 6:00pm
Panthers vs. Eels BlueBet Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, May 7
Sea Eagles vs. Wests Tigers, 4 Pines Park, 3:00pm
Roosters vs. Titans, BB Print Stadium, Mackay, 5:30pm
Cowboys vs. Knights Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7:35pm
Sunday, May 8
Storm vs. Dragons, AAMI Park, 2:00pm
Sharks vs. Warriors PointsBet Stadium, 4:05pm
ROUND 10
Friday, May 13
Bulldogs vs. Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 6:00pm
Sea Eagles vs. Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 8:05pm
Saturday, May 14
Warriors vs. Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 3:00pm
Titans vs. Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm
Storm vs. Panthers, Suncorp Stadium,7:45pm
Sunday, May 15
Sharks vs. Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 1:50pm
Roosters vs. Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm
Wests Tigers vs. Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 6:25pm
ROUND 11
Thursday, May 19
Knights v Broncos, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.50pm
Friday, May 20
Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, Leichhardt Oval, 6.00pm
Eels vs. Sea Eagles, CommBank Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, May 21
Dragons vs. Warriors, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 3:00pm
Cowboys vs. Storm Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm
Roosters vs. Panthers Sydney Cricket Ground, 7:35pm
Sunday, May 22
Rabbitohs vs. Raiders Apex Oval, Dubbo, 2:00pm
Titans vs. Sharks Cbus Super Stadium, 4:05pm
ROUND 12
Thursday, May 26
Storm vs Sea Eagles, AAMI Park, 8.05pm
Friday, May 27
Panthers vs Cowboys, BlueBet Stadium, 6.00pm
Broncos v Titans, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, May 28
Warriors v Knights, Moreton Daily Stadium, 3.00pm
Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers, Stadium Australia, 5.30pm
Sharks v Roosters, PointsBet Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, May 29
Bulldogs vs Dragons, Belmore Sports Ground, 2.00pm
Raiders vs Eels, GIO Stadium, 4.05pm
ROUND 13
Thursday, Jun 2
Titans v Cowboys, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.50pm
Friday, Jun 3
Panthers vs Bulldogs, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jun 4
Sea Eagles vs Warriors, 4 Pines Park, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jun 5
Raiders vs Roosters, GIO Stadium, 4.05pm
Byes: Broncos, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Storm, Wests Tigers
ROUND 14
Friday, Jun 10
Cowboys vs Dragons, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jun 11
Titans vs Rabbitohs, Cbus Super Stadium, 3.00pm
Roosters vs Storm, Sydney Cricket Ground, 5.30pm
Broncos vs Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jun 12
Wests Tigers vs Sea Eagles, Campbelltown Stadium, 2.00pm
Knights vs Panthers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.05pm
Warriors vs Sharks, Moreton Daily Stadium, 6.15pm
Monday, Jun 13
Bulldogs vs Eels, Stadium Australia, 4.00pm
ROUND 15
Thursday, Jun 16
Dragons vs Rabbitohs, WIN Stadium, 7.50pm
Friday Jun 17
Sea Eagles vs Cowboys, 4 Pines Park, 6.00pm
Storm vs Broncos, AAMI Park, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jun 18
Sharks vs Titans, C. ex Coffs International Stadium, 3.00pm
Warriors vs Panthers, Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm
Eels vs Roosters, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jun 19
Raiders vs Knights, GIO Stadium, 2.00pm
Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers, CommBank Stadium, 4.05pm
ROUND 16
Thursday, Jun 30
Sea Eagles vs Storm, 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm
Friday, Jul 1
Knights vs Titans, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6.00pm
Panthers vs Roosters, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jul 2
Bulldogs vs Sharks, CommBank Stadium, 3.00pm
Cowboys vs Broncos, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5.30pm
Rabbitohs vs Eels, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jul 3
Warriors vs Wests Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium, 2.00pm
Dragons vs Raiders, WIN Stadium, 4.05pm
ROUND 17
Thursday, Jul 7
Sharks vs Storm, PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm
Friday, Jul 8
Knights vs Rabbitohs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jul 9
Wests Tigers vs Eels, Leichhardt Oval, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jul 10
Broncos vs Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm
Byes: Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Titans, Warriors
ROUND 18
Friday, Jul 15
Cowboys vs Sharks, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6.00pm
Eels vs Warriors, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jul 16
Roosters vs Dragons, Sydney Cricket Ground, 3.00pm
Sea Eagles vs Knights, 4 Pines Park, 5.30pm
Titans vs Broncos, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jul 17
Wests Tigers vs Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 2.00pm
Storm vs Raiders, AAMI Park, 4.05pm
Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs, Stadium Australia, 6.15pm
ROUND 19
Thursday, Jul 21
Eels vs Broncos, CommBank Stadium, 7.50pm
Friday, Jul 22
Dragons vs Sea Eagles, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6.00pm
Knights vs Roosters, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jul 23
Raiders vs Warriors, GIO Stadium, 3.00pm
Panthers vs Sharks, BlueBet Stadium, 5.30pm
Rabbitohs vs Storm, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jul 24
Bulldogs vs Titans, 2.00pm
Cowboys vs Wests Tigers, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 4.05pm
ROUND 20
Thursday, Jul 28
Sea Eagles vs Roosters, 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm
Friday, Jul 29
Warriors vs Storm, Mt Smart Stadium, 6.00pm
Eels vs Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm
Saturday, Jul 30
Titans vs Raiders, Cbus Super Stadium, 3.00pm
Sharks vs Rabbitohs, PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm
Broncos vs Wests Tigers, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, Jul 31
Knights vs Bulldogs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2.00pm
Dragons vs Cowboys, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 4.05pm
ROUND 21
Thursday, Aug 4
Roosters vs Broncos, Sydney Cricket Ground, 7.50pm
Friday Aug, 5
Storm vs Titans, AAMI Park, 6.00pm
Sea Eagles vs Eels, 4 Pines Park, 7.55pm
Saturday, Aug 6
Rabbitohs vs Warriors, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 3.00pm
Raiders vs Panthers, GIO Stadium, 5.30pm
Sharks vs Dragons, PointsBet Stadium, 7.35pm
Sunday, Aug 7
Bulldogs, vs Cowboys, Salter Oval, Bundaberg, 2.00pm
Wests Tigers vs Knights, Campbelltown Stadium, 4.05pm
ROUND 22
Thursday, Aug 11
Panthers vs. Storm, BlueBet Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, Aug 12
Warriors vs. Bulldogs, Mt Smart Stadium**, 6:00pm
Eels vs. Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, Aug 13
Roosters vs. Cowboys, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 3:00pm
Wests Tigers vs. Sharks, Scully Park, Tamworth 5:30pm
Broncos vs. Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 7:35pm
Sunday, Aug 14
Raiders vs. Dragons, GIO Stadium, 2:00pm
Titans vs. Sea Eagles, Cbus Super Stadium, =4:05pm
ROUND 23
Thursday, Aug 18
Rabbitohs vs. Panthers, Stadium Australia,7:50pm
Friday, Aug 19
Cowboys vs. Warriors, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6:00pm
Broncos vs. Storm, Suncorp Stadium, 7:55pm
Saturday, Aug 20
Eels vs. Bulldogs, CommBank Stadium, 3:00pm
Sea Eagles vs. Sharks, 4 Pines Park, 5:30pm
Roosters vs. Wests Tigers, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 7:35pm
Sunday, Aug 21
Dragons vs. Titans, WIN Stadium, (Fox) 2:00pm
Knights vs. Raiders, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm
ROUND 24
Thursday, Aug 25
Broncos vs. Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, Aug 26
Panthers vs. Warriors, BlueBet Stadium, 6:00pm
Storm vs. Roosters, AAMI Park, 7:55pm
Saturday, Aug 27 L
Raiders vs. Sea Eagles, GIO Stadium, 3:00pm
Sharks vs. Bulldogs, PointsBet Stadium, 5:30pm
Rabbitohs vs. Cowboys, Stadium Australia, 7:35pm
Sunday, Aug 28
Wests Tigers vs. Dragons, CommBank Stadium, 2:00pm
Titans vs. Knights, Cbus Super Stadium, 4:05pm
ROUND 25
Thursday, Sep 1
Eels vs. Storm, CommBank Stadium, 7:50pm
Friday, Sep 2
Bulldogs vs. Sea Eagles, Stadium Australia, 6:00pm
Roosters vs. Rabbitohs, TBC, 7:55pm
Saturday, Sep 3
Warriors vs. Titans, Mt Smart Stadium**, 3:00pm
Dragons vs. Broncos, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5:30pm
Cowboys vs. Panthers, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7:35pm
Sunday, Sep 4
Knights vs. Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2:00pm
Wests Tigers vs. Raiders, Leichhardt Oval, 4:05pm
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