Hi guys am really getting into the NRL at the moment, reading up on the history and stuff as well as following the current season.

I was just wondering if anyone could enlighten me on how they decide who plays who each season? Because with 16 teams plus 2 byes you play half of the teams twice, the other half once - how is that worked out and does it vary each year who a certain team plays?

Have tried searching for this online but cant find anything.

Thanks in advance.

It's random. Some Canadian company actually does the draw based on number of teams, number of rounds, the need for byes during Origin and a bunch of other requirements for specific fixtures, like the Anzac Day game between St George and Roosters etc. There does not appear to be any stipulation that teams that miss out on playing other teams twice one year will play them twice the next, although that would make some sense. Personally I couldn't care less that it isn't a full home and away season. Some people can't stand it and literally want the comp cut back to 12 or 14 teams just to accommodate one. That to me is ridiculous. The better teams come out on top in the end whatever the draw.

ECT. Do you know if those random fixtures get to play each other based on how far up they finish up the ladder the previuos season do you? A bit like they do in the Junior comps in NSW. They make it more fair by always having teams that got pasted the year before playing the top team at all. Though this is also to do with amount of teams to the number of games in a season ratio.