Brisbane Broncos' 'soft' draw leaves NRL fans divided ahead of 2024 season
The Broncos' travel has once again caused a stir for a second year in a row.
Fans have been left divided over the Broncos' 2024 NRL schedule with rival clubs supporters calling out a rather 'soft' draw for next season. The Broncos only travelled to Sydney three times last year to play premiership winners the Panthers, the Bulldogs and the Sharks.
Talk around how the Broncos would cope in Sydney emerged before the NRL grand final with many fans finding out how little the team travelled compared to other teams. And fans have one again been left divided over whether the Broncos were handed another favourable draw.
HUGE: Shane Flanagan's captaincy move to lure Joey Manu to Dragons
'EVERYONE KNOWS': Massive call made on Mal Meninga's future
The 2024 season schedule was released on Monday and Broncos fans could be quite happy with how their season unfolds. The Broncos will play seven of their first 12 games at home. Their opening game will be away against the Roosters, but it will be in Las Vegas for the NRL's historic opener.
Their Magic Round clash at home against the Manly Sea Eagles will also once again be considered an away game. Manly lost 32-6 to the Broncos last year during Magic Round.
And in a huge boost for the Broncos, they will finish the season with a bye and then three home games. The club will also only deal with one five day turn between matches all season.
The Broncos will also only leave Queensland once in the final 10 rounds. The Broncos do face some tough opponents in the first few rounds, but fans argued back and forth over the draw on social media with many feeling the club was once again fortunate.
No I'm sick of Manly losing a home game playing Brisbane in Brisbane, it's ridiculous
— Stray (@Stray2617) November 13, 2023
Just when u thought it was absolutely impossible for Broncos to get anymore games at Suncorp at prime time during a season, the @NRL said hold my beer…..
— Dragons17 (@jmoz17) November 13, 2023
Oh shock. Broncos “away” game scheduled in magic round 😂
— Jeff Smith (@Jeffro6366) November 13, 2023
Storm soft draw. Broncos soft draw.#NewsLimitedControlledDraws https://t.co/D3JeMdKbj2
— Community Notes (@Budulnya) November 13, 2023
I wonder why the broncos made the grand final last season. Oh wait.
— Dean Percival (@deanpercival90) November 13, 2023
It’s not really a gripe, just calling a spade a spade.
Even in 2024, they leave queensland once in the last ten rounds and have 18 7+ day turnarounds. I just don’t agree with fans saying it’s a tough draw.— Jack Blyth (@jblesfooty224) November 13, 2023
They are dream draws, specifically for Penrith.
Same with Brisbane again, who only leave Queensland once in the last ten weeks— Jack Blyth (@jblesfooty224) November 13, 2023
I really can’t believe broncos fans have already been saying it’s a hard draw. For context purposes broncos get 1, while a few teams have 3. https://t.co/eqFWd0oaXd
— NicccccD (@niccccccccd) November 13, 2023
Stop talking shit, that isn’t the hardest draw at all.
It’s one of the best, barely leave QLD all season.
More games at Suncorp their home stadium than any other team gets.
Only one 5 day turn around, Penrith have THREE!
The NRL look after the broncos with the draw as usual.— 🏆🏆🏆UNDISPUTED!!!🐾🐾🐾 (@pennypanthers22) November 13, 2023
NRL grand final rematch set for third round
Inspired by Nathan Cleary, the Panthers chased down Brisbane's 16-point lead in the final 20 minutes to clinch a 26-24 win in one of the modern era's most thrilling grand finals this year. The grand final rematch appears all but certain to sell out in the third round as the Panthers averaged nearly 20,000 fans for each home game last season.
It will also give Penrith an early opportunity to assert their credentials for a fourth consecutive premiership, a feat last achieved when St George won 11 in a row between 1956 and 1966. Penrith and Brisbane will both field slightly different sides in the rematch.
Triple premiership players Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu have since moved on from the Panthers, as has utility Jack Cogger. For Brisbane, centre Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler are now on the roster at the Dolphins, while Keenan Palasia is at fellow intrastate rivals Gold Coast.
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.