The Raiders will stay at home this season though as the odd side out, with Brisbane’s Sunday afternoon affair against the Warriors – always strongly supported in the Queensland capital – the best match of the round.
Magic Round’s scheduling from Friday, May 15 to 17 will mean the NRL’s mid-season marquee weekend will be the last games before Queensland and NSW pick their Origin I teams for the May 27 series opener.
Penrith play the Dragons in the last Sunday match of Magic Round, making for a potentially shorter build-up and a nervous wait for the likes of NSW hopefuls Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards.
Cronulla and Canterbury will kick off the NRL side of things on Friday, May 15 at Suncorp Stadium, with the second women’s Origin held on Thursday night.
Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs will then take on his old Dolphins side in the second Friday night contest.
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The Tigers and Sea Eagles take the 3pm Saturday afternoon slot, while star Roosters recruit Reece Robson faces his old club the Cowboys afterwards. Melbourne and Parramatta round out the Saturday fixtures, while the Titans and Knights are the first game on Sunday.
The NRL has also confirmed Wagga Wagga will host the second NRLW Magic Round next year, with 12 clubs descending on the Riverina to play three games each on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.
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