Here is all you need to know about the Newcastle Knights 2023 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Bulldogs, Dolphins, Panthers, Raiders, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Warriors, Wests Tigers.
Teams they play once
Broncos, Cowboys, Dragons, Eels, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Storm, Titans.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Friday: 4 games
- Saturday: 11 games
- Sunday: 9 games
Turnaround time
- 5 Days: 1 game
- 6 Days: 5 games
- 7+ Days: 17 games
Byes
Rounds 10, 14 and 19.
Season shapers: Knights
Opening month
Newcastle will open their season by travelling to New Zealand for a clash against the Warriors at Westpac Stadium in Hamilton. They'll return to Australia via Sydney and take on Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in Round 2 before home clashes against the Dolphins (March 17) and Raiders (March 26).
Origin watch
The Knights will take on Manly without their Origin stars in Round 13 before having a bye on the weekend following Game One. They'll clash with the Roosters in another Origin-affected round on June 17 at home and then travel to Penrith three days after Game Two to meet the Panthers. Their final bye will come in Round 19 prior to Origin III, freshening them up in time to host Wests Tigers.
The run home
Newcastle will travel to Perth's Optus Stadium in a history-making first for the club, taking on the Dolphins as part of an August 5 double-header. They'll return home for a final month of the regular season with clashes set against the Bulldogs (home), Rabbitohs (home), Sharks (home) and Dragons (away) to finish.
And another thing...
Newcastle will be the first team that misses out on playing at Magic Round in 2023 following the Dolphins' entry to the competition after receiving a bye in Round 10. The Knights had won two from three Magic Round games at Suncorp Stadium previously and as part of the decision, they'll be guaranteed to feature in 2024.