After crunching the numbers for literally trillions of options, the 2020 Telstra Premiership draw has been finalised.
Here's all you need to know for each of the 16 teams that will be striving to lift the NRL trophy next October.
Will the Roosters be able to become the first team since the Eels of 1983 to win three straight titles? Which teams will drop out of the top eight and who will rise from the ranks of the also-rans in 2018 to become premiership contenders?
Now the teams, and the fans, can plan their 2019 around who's playing, when and where for all 25 rounds.
Team by team, here's all the key points in a snapshot for the 16 sides hoping to realise their 2020 vision of becoming the NRL premiers.
Brisbane Broncos
Here is all you need to know about the Brisbane Broncos' 2020 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Storm, Eels, Roosters, Titans, Panthers, Warriors, Knights.
Teams they play once
Sharks, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Bulldogs, Raiders, Tigers.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 4, Friday – 11, Saturday – 5, Sunday – 4.
Five-day turnarounds
0.
Kick-off
As comfortable a start as you could hope for. Brisbane won't have to leave Queensland until round four, with local derbies against 2019 stragglers North Queensland and the Titans in the first three weeks. In between those two very winnable games is the return of Wayne Bennett's Rabbitohs to Suncorp for a round 2 blockbuster. In round 4 they travel to Penrith.
Toughest stretch
That Origin period will be rough on the Broncos. They've got the Roosters leading into the standalone rep round, then Melbourne afterwards, followed by the Panthers at home and an away trip to Canberra in the middle of winter, a few days after Origin III.
And another thing
Brisbane wouldn't want to leave their run late to try and sneak into the finals with an away trip to Melbourne in round 24 and then the Roosters at home to finish off their regular season.
Canberra Raiders
Teams they play twice
Titans, Warriors, Dragons, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Tigers, Roosters, Storm.
Teams they play once
Knights, Bulldogs, Sharks, Broncos, Eels, Cowboys.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 1, Friday – 2, Saturday – 12, Sunday – 9.
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 3).
Kick-off
A rails run to start for the Raiders, with 2019 also-rans the Titans, Warriors and Dragons in their first three weeks. There is that five-day turnaround off the back of travelling to New Zealand before hosting Manly in round four, but with three of their first four games at home Canberra will expect to start 2020 the same way they finished this year.
Toughest stretch
The Origin period. Canberra's slew of Englishmen and Kiwis should hold them in good stead throughout June, but a seven-game run featuring the Roosters in Perth, Melbourne away, the Warriors, Roosters again, Cronulla, Brisbane and Parramatta is tough no matter who's on the paddock. Their bye at least falls between the grand final re-match on May 23 and Origin I on June 3, before the likes of Josh Papalii, Jack Wighton and Nick Cotric are called on to back up against the Storm.
And another thing
Still no prime time free-to-air love for the Green Machine despite their grand final run. A round 3 Thursday night clash with the Dragons and then Manly the following Friday are their only games in the slots Canberra have coveted for the last two decades.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Teams they play twice
Eels, Cowboys, Tigers, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Knights.
Teams they play once
Raiders, Broncos, Titans, Storm, Roosters, Panthers.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 4, Friday – 5, Saturday – 11, Sunday – 3, Monday – 1.
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 14).
Kick-off
Canterbury won't mind their first month at all (Eels, Cowboys, Tigers, Sharks), having beaten those four sides at least once in 2019. They open the season against Parramatta at Bankwest before hosting North Queensland at ANZ. Another derby against Wests Tigers follows at Bankwest again before taking on Cronulla again at ANZ. The Bulldogs won't leave Sydney until Anzac Day next year.
Toughest stretch
It's a fairly even spread for the Bulldogs this year – but back-to-back clashes with Melbourne in Perth and then the Roosters at the SCG looms large in late July, followed by Newcastle and Cronulla in a tough month.
And another thing
Their last month is a handy one to finish with, especially if they're still in the finals hunt. None of the Dragons, Panthers, Tigers and Knights featured in the finals this year, though there could well be a top-eight spot on the line at some point in that run in 2020.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Teams they play twice
Dragons, Cowboys, Storm, Sea Eagles, Knights, Bulldogs, Roosters, Tigers, Panthers.
Teams they play once
Rabbitohs, Broncos, Titans, Eels, Raiders, Warriors.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 3, Friday – 7, Saturday – 8, Sunday – 6.
Five-day turnarounds
3 (Round 17, Round 19, Round 21).
Kick-off
It's a big start for the Sharks, with their season opening against the Rabbitohs before regular sparring partners Melbourne are the first side hosted at their new digs in Kogarah. Newcastle and Canterbury round out their first month of 2020, with Cronulla enjoying four straight seven-day-turnarounds to start the year.
Toughest stretch
Three five-day turnarounds in the space of a month – just when the wear and tear of an NRL season truly takes hold between July and August. Cronulla have drawn a couple of heavyweights in that horror run – Canberra, Penrith (on a five-day swing), Manly, Melbourne (again off a short lead-in), the Tigers and Bulldogs (the last of their five-day turnarounds) could make or break the Sharks in 2020.
And another thing
Cronulla's run home does at least provide relief if they survive the round 16-21 minefield. Of their final six regular-season opponents (Tigers, Bulldogs, Roosters, Cowboys, Dragons and Warriors) only the premiers played finals footy this year.
Gold Coast Titans
Teams they play twice
Raiders, Broncos, Storm, Sea Eagles, Tigers, Panthers, Cowboys, Warriors, Dragons.
Teams they play once
Eels, Roosters, Bulldogs, Sharks, Knights, Rabbitohs.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 1, Friday – 8, Saturday – 7, Sunday – 8.
Five-day turnarounds
0.
Kick-off
They have not been lucky in drawing both grand finalists (Roosters, Raiders) and the minor premiers (Storm) in their first five games. Under new coach Justin Holbrook, it is crucial the club gets off to a good start for long-suffering fans, not to mention the club coffers. The Titans averaged 11,587 spectators for home games this year, so wouldn't want that figure to drop any lower.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 4-6. As mentioned above, facing the Raiders (R1), Roosters (R4) and Storm (R5) will certainly test the Titans resolve. But Round 6 against Manly means these three games are all 'away' at the SCG, AAMI Park and Lottoland. Then again, the Titans have breached the walls at 'The Fortress' in both 2018 and 2019.
And another thing
The Titans play Round 22 at Suncorp Stadium and then have Rounds 24-25 games at Cbus Super Stadium, so that's virtually three home games – or in other words limited travel – out of their final four. But if you add in the Rounds 20-21 home games then that's five out of the last six matches in the south-east corner of Queensland.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Teams they play twice
Roosters, Warriors, Raiders, Knights, Titans, Sharks, Eels, Bulldogs, Panthers.
Teams they play once
Storm, Broncos, Tigers, Dragons, Rabbitohs, Cowboys.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 2, Friday – 7, Saturday – 8, Sunday – 7.
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 10).
Kick-off
Facing the two grand finalists and the minor premiers in the opening four games is daunting. But it will generate a lot of excitement, especially kicking the season off with old sparring partners Melbourne Storm at Lottoland.
Toughest stretch
Round 12-17. Four of these five games are on the road and it is right in the middle of State of Origin. So being on the road is hard but Manly is most likely to be also missing Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic brothers to the rep scene.
And another thing
Only one of their last four games (round 24) is at home, and round 23 is in Auckland, which means a bit of travel fatigue to round-off the season.
Melbourne Storm
Teams they play twice
Sharks, Rabbitohs, Titans, Cowboys, Warriors, Roosters, Eels, Raiders, Broncos.
Teams they play once
Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons, Knights, Tigers, Bulldogs.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 4, Friday – 6, Saturday – 12, Sunday – 2.
Five-day turnarounds
3 (Round 4, Round 6, Round 9).
Kick-off
The Storm start the year against two of their most bitter rivals in the Sea Eagles and Sharks and both those games are in Sydney. But they round out their first month of football hosting the Panthers and Rabbitohs at AAMI Park. Craig Bellamy's men started the 2019 season 5-0 before losing to the Roosters by a point and it'll be interesting to see if they can set up their season by getting off to a flyer once again.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 3-9. In this seven-game period the Storm have three five-day turnarounds, which Craig Bellamy is sure to raise in a post-match press conference if his side suffers a few losses. The good news is that five of those seven games are at AMMI Park, so travel strain is not added onto player fatigue.
And another thing
The Storm has a round 12 bye ahead of Origin I, which is some consolation, but they will be travelling home from New Zealand after playing the Warriors.
Newcastle Knights
Teams they play twice
Warriors, Tigers, Sharks, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Bulldogs.
Teams they play once
Raiders, Dragons, Roosters, Storm, Titans, Eels.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 2, Friday – 2, Saturday – 10, Sunday – 10.
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 10).
Kick-off
Last season the Knights had three home games in their opening four rounds, but only won one. Next year they'll be hoping for a better start as they host the Warriors and Cowboys, and travel to Sydney for the Wests Tigers and Sharks.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 10-14.The Knights only meet benchmark-teams Roosters and Storm once in 2020 but they come in this cluster of five games, along with the Sharks, Rabbitohs and Panthers.
And another thing
For the round 12 match against the Rabbitohs, at least South Sydney might be without two of their strike players in NSW hooker Damien Cook and lock Cameron Murray ... possibly even five-eighth Cody Walker.
New Zealand Warriors
Teams they play twice
Knights, Raiders, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm, Bulldogs, Titans, Broncos, Cowboys
Teams they play once
Wests Tigers, Dragons, Eels, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Sharks
Day-by-day breakdown
Friday – 7, Saturday – 13, Sunday – 4
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 9).
Kick-off
An away battle against Newcastle will get the ball rolling before the Warriors host grand finalists Canberra in round two. The Warriors' frequent flyer points will keep building as they head back across the ditch to take on Manly and then return home the following week to greet Wests Tigers.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 6-9. Any period where you play the Roosters and Storm in consecutive weeks is difficult. Once they're out of the way, the Warriors head to Brisbane for a Magic Round clash with Parramatta before locking horns with the improving Bulldogs.
And another thing
The Warriors will return to the Sunshine Coast to face the Rabbitohs again after last season's last-gasp defeat.
North Queensland
Here is all you need to know about the North Queensland Cowboys' 2020 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Broncos, Bulldogs, Eels, Knights, Storm, Roosters, Titans, Sharks, Warriors.
Teams they play once
Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sea Eagles, Raiders, Panthers, Tigers.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 5, Friday – 7, Saturday – 11, Sunday – 1.
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 21).
Kick-off
Just two games at home in the first five weeks, which is generally the club's preference due to the late summer rainy season. That run includes both their games against fierce rivals Brisbane plus winnable contests against the Bulldogs, Eels and Knights, so there's a chance to start well.
Toughest stretch
It's the second block of games where things start to look tricky for the Cowboys. From round six they face the Storm once, Roosters twice as well as the Sharks, Eels and Rabbitohs in an eight-game stretch that includes just two games against 2019 bottom-eight sides (Canterbury and Gold Coast).
And another thing
For a team that perennially has one of the biggest travel burdens in the competition, things don't look too bad on that front for Paul Green's men in 2020. They face consecutive games outside Queensland just once all season (when they travel to Melbourne and Penrith in round 21-22) and don't leave Queensland between rounds 4-12.
Parramatta Eels
Teams they play twice
Bulldogs, Cowboys, Dragons, Wests Tigers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs.
Teams they play once
Titans, Warriors, Sharks, Raiders, Roosters, Knights.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 2, Friday – 5, Saturday – 8, Sunday – 8, Monday – 1.
Five-day turnarounds
3 (Round 6, Round 12, Round 19).
Kick-off
With three of their first five games at Bankwest Stadium and no games against 2019 finals teams until round seven, the Eels are every chance of starting fast. They'll probably need to bank some wins early with some much tougher stretches awaiting through the mid to late season.
Toughest stretch
From the middle of the Origin period, the Eels play eight straight games against 2019 finals teams. Fortunately most of those are home games but they'll need some of that Bankwest magic with the likes of the Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles coming to town.
And another thing
The Eels fly to Queensland or the NT four times in the first eight weeks but following a round-10 trip to Melbourne their sole game outside Sydney for the rest of the year is in Canberra, meaning as a gruelling season wears on they will have a much lower travel burden than most other teams.
Penrith Panthers
Teams they play twice
Dragons, Broncos, Raiders, Tigers, Knights, Titans, Sharks, Eels, Sea Eagles.
Teams they play once
Roosters, Storm, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Cowboys, Bulldogs.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 3, Friday – 7, Saturday – 3, Sunday -11.
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 14).
Kick-off
The Panthers get to play all three of 2019's best sides in the opening five rounds, starting the season against the premiers, with games against the Storm and Raiders plus the Broncos inside the first five weeks. On the upside, four of their first six games are at home.
Toughest stretch
It's definitely the start, especially since Penrith don't have to play the Roosters or Storm a second time once they get it out of the way early. No other run in Penrith's draw looks nearly as tough as the first five weeks but the next trickiest would be a four-week run towards the end of the rep period with Manly, Brisbane, Cronulla and Souths in consecutive games.
And another thing
Routine should be easy for Cleary's men in 2020 – they get a whopping 11 Sunday games including seven in a row from round five. They also leave Sydney just twice in the last 15 rounds.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Teams they play twice
Broncos, Roosters, Storm, Bulldogs, Dragons, Raiders, Knights, Tigers, Eels.
Teams they play once
Sharks, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Titans, Warriors.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 6, Friday – 5, Saturday – 10, Sunday – 3.
Five-day turnarounds
3 (Round 9, Round 11, Round 18).
Kick-off
Four straight matches against 2019 finals teams, including the premiers and minor premiers should give Wayne Bennett's men a stern early test. If they can win at home against the Sharks and Roosters, and grab one of the away games in Brisbane or Melbourne they'll be sitting pretty at 3-1.
Toughest stretch
It's definitely the opening month. The Bunnies don't have more than two games in a row against 2019 finalists after that opening four-game run. If they can get through that period in good shape it will set up their season nicely.
And another thing
The Bunnies' final game at ANZ falls in round 15, in which they will be the away team against the Bulldogs. Their remaining four home games will be taken to Bankwest Stadium (two games), Sunshine Coast Stadium and Central Coast Stadium.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Teams they play twice
Wests Tigers, Titans, Sharks, Bulldogs, Roosters, Panthers, Raiders, Eels, Rabbitohs
Teams they play once
Knights, Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Cowboys
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 4, Friday – 4, Saturday – 6, Sunday – 9, Monday – 1.
Five-day turnarounds
2 (Round 2, Round 24).
Kick-off
The Dragons will enjoy home games against Wests Tigers and the Panthers to begin the season before making the daunting trip to Canberra to face last seasons' grand finalists. A clash with Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium concludes the Red V's opening month.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 4-8 offer little respite for the Dragons, with games against three of last season's top four in the Rabbitohs, Roosters and Storm – plus 2019 finalists Parramatta. Throw in the Warriors, who have had the wood over St George Illawarra recently, to cap off a stern early-year test.
And another thing
St George Illawarra's lone Monday game comes against the Bulldogs in the Queen's Birthday tussle.
Sydney Roosters
Teams they play twice
Broncos, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Storm, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Dragons, Warriors, Cowboys.
Teams they play once
Knights, Panthers, Wests Tigers, Eels, Bulldogs, Titans.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 2, Friday – 7, Saturday – 11, Sunday – 4.
Five-day turnarounds
2 (Round 14, Round 18).
Kick-off
The Chooks make the road trip to Penrith to begin their quest for a three-peat, followed by a home game against Manly. Another chapter will be penned in the Book of Feuds when the Roosters play South Sydney in round three before hosting the Titans at the SCG – the scene of last season's massacre of the wooden spooners.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 22-25. A home match against the gritty Sharks leads into a tough away encounter with the Storm. Next is the fierce local derby against South Sydney and then a journey to Brisbane to finish the regular season where the atmosphere is sure to be electric at Suncorp Stadium.
And another thing
The Roosters will take a home game to Perth, "hosting" Canberra at HBF Park in round 11. The experiment to play an Origin game in the west was a runaway success and you can expect another huge crowd when the grand finalists resume hostilities.
Wests Tigers
Here is all you need to know about the Wests Tigers' 2020 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Dragons, Knights, Bulldogs, Eels, Panthers, Titans, Sharks, Raiders, Rabbitohs.
Teams they play once
Warriors, Sea Eagles, Storm, Roosters, Broncos, Cowboys.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday – 1, Friday – 6, Saturday – 5, Sunday – 11, Monday – 1
Five-day turnarounds
1 (Round 14).
Kick-off
The Tigers have the continuity of three consecutive Sunday fixtures to start the season. An away match against the Dragons is succeeded by two home outings versus the Knights and Bulldogs – one at Leichhardt, one at Campbelltown. A round four match-up with the Warriors completes a seemingly gentle opening against four teams that missed the 2019 finals.
Toughest stretch
Rounds 16-18. The Tigers luckily only have to face minor premiers Melbourne and premiers the Roosters once – but it's in the space of three weeks. Sandwiched in between is a fixture against the Rabbitohs, who finished third in 2019.
And another thing
Like last season, the Tigers will play a home game at Tamworth's Scully Park. After beating the Titans there, they'll do battle with the Raiders this time.
