EVEN before the Cronulla Sharks are penalised over their 2011 supplements program, their fans will have to endure four Monday night games in the first half of the 2014 season including the first two rounds.
With a cloud hanging over club, coach and players, at least fans will see their team play seven home games at Remondis Stadium, Cronulla, in the first 11 rounds but will have to endure two byes — separated by one game!
As well, fans of the Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons won't be happy that the NRL has scheduled a Saturday night for both local league derbies, games which would normally demand Sunday afternoon viewing and free-to-air TV coverage.
The Sharks host the Dragons first at Remondis Stadium in round three (March 22) and the Dragons host the Sharks in Wollongong on June 7 — at the season's halfway mark.
The 2014 season draw, officially released yesterday , has the Dragons kicking off their season with a Sunday afternoon free-to-air TV game against the Wests Tigers on March 9 and the Sharks play two consecutive Monday night matches: against the Gold Coast Titans and then against the Bulldogs at Homebush.
The Dragons confirmed they will play just four games each at Kogarah and Wollongong, with Jubilee Stadium hosting New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, grand finalists Manly and Gold Coast Titans.
Do you think the 2014 NRL draw is fair to Sharks, Dragons fans?
@NRL Roosters vs Dragons for me. Last year it was a great match and see how Roosters thrashed Dragons. Hopefully Roosters will win again!
— Johnson ZHANG (@JohnsonZHANG91) December 5, 2013