With the hoped-for marriages called off at the altar, the National Rugby League yesterday accepted a 17-team competition and completed a draw that left the Auckland Warriors smiling.
There are several pluses for the revamped club, not least of them a bye on the weekend of the Anzac test.
The
timing of the State of Origin games mid-season happily coincides twice with their matches against finals-hardened Canterbury, so star Bulldogs players like Ricky Stuart, Brad Clyde, Jason Hetherington and Darren Smith will be stood down if selected for their state.
And after Origin two they play an Eels side that is likely to have Jason Smith, Jim Dymock and Dean Pay backing up.
The 26-round season kicks off on the weekend of March 5-7, the Warriors travelling to Sydney to open their account against Quentin Pongia's new club Sydney City.
They have 12 games at Ericsson, 12 away and two byes, the second in the first weekend in June.
