2016 Draw

NRL.com

Parramatta Eels

Play twice: Broncos, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Panthers, Raiders, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Titans.
Play once: Storm, Knights, Sharks, Roosters, Dragons, Warriors.

Starting point: Kicking off the season with a Thursday night blockbuster at home against the Broncos, the Eels then host the other grand final side North Queensland, also at Pirtek Stadium. After a tough first two weeks to start the season the blue and golds then face bogey side Canterbury at ANZ leading into their traditional Easter Monday clash against Wests Tigers. That looks a winnable game but Brad Arthur will be hoping his side aren't heading in at 0-3.

Tough run: There's a really tricky stretch for the Eels heading into the start of the Origin period as they face Manly (at Brookvale), North Queensland (in Townsville), Canterbury (at ANZ), then Souths and Melbourne both at Pirtek from Rounds 7 to 11. It will be vital they pick up a few wins over this stretch ahead of a comparatively more gentle run coming out of the rep period if they want to make a charge for the finals.

Show-stoppers: Parramatta's Round 1 season-opening blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium against the Broncos, a massive Easter Monday clash against Wests Tigers in Round 4 and Kieran Foran's return to Brookvale in Round 7 will all be must-see games.

Origin impact: (Byes: Rd 13, Rd 16.) Beyond new recruit Beau Scott it's hard to see too many Eels being in the Origin frame in 2016 - great news given they play all three Origin-affected rounds. Their first comes at Newcastle where only centre Dane Gagai seems certain to be missing though Trent Hodkinson could also be out. The second sees them play a Rabbitohs side set to be missing a few players, while their only game of the year against the Roosters sees them face the Tricolours minus at least two or three, if not seven or eight players to Origin.