The 2025 NRL draw is out! Sink your teeth into all the numbers you need to know about the Sharks' schedule next season.
Home sweet home
Like this year, the Sharks will stage 10 NRL matches at Sharks Stadium, including back-to-back games against the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs in Round 3 and 4.
Cronulla will also host Manly at Perth's breathtaking Optus Stadium in Round 6 and take on home duties against the Eels in Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium.
Road warriors
Distance travelled: 32,711km (NRL average: 25,152km)
The Sharks will earn a motza of frequent flyer points, kicking off the season with a clash in Las Vegas against the Panthers. In the first six weeks, Cronulla also have trips to Townsville (Round 2), Canberra (Round 5) and Perth (Round 6).
But with no match in New Zealand and their last eight games to be played in or near Sydney, the Sharks will be well placed as they make their run for the finals.
Days between games
Five-day turnarounds: 3 (NRL average: 1)
Six-day turnarounds: 3 (NRL average: 6)
Seven-plus-day turnarounds: 17 (NRL average: 16)
Cronulla's first five-day turnaround is sandwiched between a home match against the Bulldogs and an away trip to tackle the Raiders in the nation's capital.
They'll also be on the quick back-up heading into their Magic Round game against the Eels and a Thursday night local derby at home against the Dragons in Round 15.
Game days
Thursday: 2 (1 home, 1 away)
Friday: 3 (home)
Saturday: 11 (6 home, 5 away)
Sunday: 8 (2 home, 6 away)
The boys in the black, white and blue will become Saturday specialists next year, with the draw including four games in the 3pm timeslot after none in 2024.
The schedule includes nine free-to-air fixtures, five landing on Sundays.
Who they play twice
Storm (Round 11, 17), Cowboys (2, 22), Dragons (15, 23), Knights (7, 26), Bulldogs (4, 27), Roosters (12, 20), Rabbitohs (3, 21), Sea Eagles (6, 10)
The opportunity to stamp themselves as a title force will excite Craig Fitzgibbon's troops as they double up on matches against last year's minor premiers the Storm and fellow finalists the Bulldogs, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Cowboys and Knights.
Sharks fans will savour two local derbies against the Dragons as well as a pair of marquee encounters with the Wayne Bennett-coached Rabbitohs.
What you need to know out of the NRL draw announcement
Heavyweight encounters
As superannuation ads constantly remind us, past performance doesn't guarantee future success. However, on paper the Sharks will have their mettle tested with 13 matches against top-eight teams from 2024 – the equal most in the competition.
They rose to the occasion this year, beating every other finalist bar the premiership-winning Panthers, and will be eager to meet the challenge again.
Bye bye bye
The Sharks will power through until Round 13 before their first bye.
They'll enjoy another rest in Round 18 and have one last chance to refresh themselves in Round 25, three weeks out from the finals.
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