The Vodafone Warriors start their 2018 Intrust Super Premiership NSW campaign with back-to-back home games against North Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown.
While the draw, just released by the New South Wales Rugby League, then hands the Vodafone Warriors a run of three fixtures on the road, they have three straight matches at home in April to give them six encounters at Mount Smart Stadium in the opening eight rounds.
The Vodafone Warriors, who were within one win of reaching the ISP grand final this year, are under the guidance of Tony Iro in 2018.
It was announced yesterday that the Intrust Super Premiership NSW will be broadcast live on Channel Nine in 2018 for the first time, in addition to increased coverage from FOX SPORTS, making it the most watched in the competition’s history.
All 24 rounds of the regular season will feature in a 1pm Saturday live slot on the Nine Network in addition to up to two games live each week on Fox Sport’s dedicated rugby league channel, Fox League on Foxtel.
“We’ve worked really hard with the 12 clubs and the broadcasters to build a draw that will take the Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition to a bigger audience than ever before,” NSWRL general manager of football Barrie-Jon Mather said.
“Next season, with the support of Channel Nine, Fox League and the NRL, the quality and the talent of the NRL’s next-generation will be on show for all to see.
“For the first time, free-to-air TV will showcase our state’s premier competition, highlighting the continued growth and quality of the league.”
The 2018 season will include three special rounds:
• Respect Round (Round 5, 7-8 April), in line with the start of the Junior League season
• Magic Round (Round 11, 19-20 May), which will see two triple-headers of Intrust Super Premiership NSW games, likely to be played at iconic venues Henson Park and North Sydney Oval
• Heritage Round (Round 20, 28-29 July), which will raise awareness and funds for Men of League.
Another feature will be a number of double-headers with the new-look Jersey Flegg Cup (Under-20 competition) or other NSWRL competitions, rather than stand-alone games.
VODAFONE WARRIORS | 2018 INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP NSW
1 Sat March 10 | 1.00pm | v North Sydney Bears, Mount Smart Stadium
2 Sat March 17 | 2.45pm | v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Mount Smart Stadium
3 March 24-25 | TBC | v Penrith Panthers, St Marys Leagues Stadium, Sydney
4 Sat March 31 | 3.15pm | v Wyong Roos, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
5 April 7-8 | TBC | v Wests Magpies, Sydney
6 Sat April 14 | 2.45pm | v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Mount Smart Stadium
7 Sat April 21 | 3.00pm | v St George Illawarra Dragons, Mount Smart Stadium
8 Sat April 28 | 1.00pm | v Newtown Jets, Mount Smart Stadium
9 Sat May 5 | 12.45pm | v Mounties, GIO Stadium, Canberra
10 Sat May 12 | 2.45pm | Wests Magpies, Mount Smart Stadium
11 Sat May 19 | TBC | v St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney
12 May 26-27 | TBC | v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Sydney
13 Sat June 2 | 5.15pm | v Wentworthville, ANZ Stadium
14 Bye
15 Sun June 17 | 11.45am | v Newcastle Knights, McDonald Jones Stadium
16 Sat June 30 | 3.00pm | v Mounties, Mount Smart Stadium
17 Sat July 7 | 1.00pm | v Wentworthville, Mount Smart Stadium
18 Sun July 15 | 1.00pm | v Penrith Panthers, Mount Smart Stadium
19 Sun July 22 | 1.45pm | v Wyong Roos, Mount Smart Stadium
20 Sat July 28 | 1.00pm | v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Belmore Sports Ground
21 Bye
22 Sat August 11 | 3.00pm | v Newcastle Knights, Mount Smart Stadium
23 Sat August 18 | 3.00pm | v Newtown Jets, Henson Park
24 August 25-26 | TBC | v North Sydney Bears, Sydney
- Local times listed
