Brisbane Broncos 2020 draw snapshot
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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.
Five key match-ups
Cowboys (Round 1, North Queensland Stadium; Round 5, Suncorp Stadium): Both clubs have slid in recent years but the banana benders will still turn out in droves for both these affairs. It'll be standing room only on March 13 as the Cowboys open their new stadium up north. Adding Val Holmes to the mix of Taumalolo, Pangai, Morgan, Milford and co. will ensure another packed house for the return bout in Brisbane.
Rabbitohs (Round 2, Suncorp Stadium; Round 9, ANZ Stadium): Wayne Bennett played Anthony Seibold off a break in 2019 as pressure mounted on the Brisbane coach. The ledger sits 2-0 in Bennett's favour since they traded hot seats, and Wayne will be loath to give up that advantage.
Eels (Round 7, TIO Stadium, Darwin; Round 20, Suncorp Stadium): 58-0. Nothing else needs to be said as to why this one matters.
Storm (Round 15, Suncorp Stadium; Round 24, AAMI Park): Melbourne have had Brisbane's measure ever since Craig Bellamy moved south. Their 40-4 thumping of the Broncos in round 20 in front of a stunned Suncorp Stadium crowed was their 17th win from the last 19 clashes – easily the most lopsided record in the Queensland club's proud history.
Roosters (Round 14, SCG; Round 25, Suncorp Stadium): Hasn’t been much between them in recent years, and there's always star power aplenty when the two powerhouses come together. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves staring down Brisbane's young props is worth the price of admission alone.
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.
