Here is all you need to know about the Wests Tigers' 2020 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Bulldogs, Cowboys, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Warriors
- Download a PDF of the NRL draw
- The 2021 Telstra Premiership draw
- Download full draw or your team's schedule to your calendar
Teams they play once
Broncos, Raiders, Roosters, Sharks, Storm, Titans
Day-by-day breakdown
Friday – 5, Saturday – 6, Sunday – 12, Monday – 1
Turnarounds
5 days – 0, 6 days – 8, 7+ days – 15
Kick-off
The heat will be turned up on the Tigers from the get-go. They've drawn 2020 heavyweights Canberra (away) and Sydney Roosters (home) in the opening two weeks before matches against fellow finalists Newcastle (away) and Parramatta (home) to conclude an onerous first month.
Five key match-ups
Sea Eagles (Round 7, Bankwest Stadium; Round 19, Central Coast Stadium): Could the Fibros and Silvertails rivalry be revived? If wantaway Tigers prop Josh Aloiai ends up playing for Manly in 2021 as he wishes then tensions may rise.
Panthers (Round 13, Leichhardt Stadium; Round 24, Panthers Stadium): What a battle this has become. As long as Ivan Cleary is coaching Penrith, Wests Tigers fans will hold a grudge against him. And there was genuine feeling between the teams when they last met.
Broncos (Round 18, Suncorp Stadium): Brisbane will be out to prove a point after the Tigers embarrassed them 48-0 last season. Regardless of how the Broncos are travelling, coming away from Suncorp with a win is always a boost – one that could springboard the Tigers into the run home.
Wests Tigers' top five tries of 2020
Storm (Round 15, AAMI Park): Hooker Harry Grant could go from starring for the Tigers to tearing them apart having rejoined the Storm after a successful loan stint in 2020.
Representative winger Josh Addo-Carr was poised to sign with the Concord club for 2021 but is now staying at Melbourne, adding to the theatre of this clash.
Knights (Round 3, McDonald Jones Stadium; Round 10, Suncorp Stadium): After the Tigers dished out a 46-4 belting in late 2019, Newcastle responded by thumping them 42-24 and 44-4 last season. Michael Maguire's men will be determined to turn the tables.
Toughest stretch
As mentioned above, the Tigers face a thorough examination of their credentials in the first month.
But they'll also have to navigate a difficult patch from rounds 13-16 with games against Penrith (home), Parramatta (away), Melbourne (away) and South Sydney (home). At least there's a bye at the end of that block.
Better. Faster. Stronger.
And another thing ...
Round 23's clash with Cronulla will be held at Tamworth's Scully Park. The Tigers took matches to the venue in 2018 and '19.
You can download the full 2021 Premiership draw or your team's schedule directly to your calendar with eCal. Download it now.
