Parramatta Eels to play trio of derby clashes in big start to the 2016 season
Parramatta will play derbies against Canterbury, Wests Tigers and Penrith in consecutive weeks as part of a high-profile start to the 2016 season for the club.
The Eels, who will host the premiership opener against Brisbane at Pirtek Stadium on March 3, are also due to face the Bulldogs, Tigers and Panthers within the first five weeks of the season.
The match against Canterbury is scheduled for Friday, March 18, at ANZ Stadium, and Parramatta will meet the Tigers in the annual Easter Monday clash on March 28 and Penrith on April 3.
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Big start: New Eel Kieran Foran.
Big start: New Eel Kieran Foran.Photo: Getty Images
The NRL is expected to officially release the draw on Thursday after consulting the clubs. Most of the game's blockbusters are pencilled in, including the Good Friday clash between the Bulldogs and South Sydney at ANZ Stadium and the ANZAC Day match between St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
The Broncos will host North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Good Friday in the first meeting of the clubs since the Cowboys' 17-16 grand final win, while Melbourne and the Warriors are due to revive their Anzac Day rivalry at AAMI Park after each played different opponents this year.
The Dragons will meet Penrith on Easter Sunday – one of three consecutive Sunday matches for the Red V, who also play Cronulla at Remondis Stadium on March 13 and Souths at the SCG on March 20 in a match marking the 50th anniversary of their 11 premiership triumphs between 1956 and 1966.
Another blockbuster clash will be the opening round match between Sydney Roosters and the Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, March 6.
The Panthers clash is expected to be one of four home matches St George Illawarra will play at WIN Stadium, with four games being played at Kogarah's Jubilee Stadium and the remaining four split between ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium.
Wests Tigers will again play four matches each at their traditional grounds of Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium, and four at ANZ Stadium.
The Bulldogs will again take two home matches to Belmore Stadium, with the Canberra Raiders to play there on Monday, April 4 and the Cowboys to be the other visitors later in the season.
