Points to be made for Titans

THE Titans have been gifted a dream draw to bounce back into finals contention – but they won’t want to make a slow start to 2023.

After crashing into the bottom four last season, Gold Coast has been given a great opportunity to get back into the top eight mix next year.

They will only face 2022 top eight teams in five of the first 18 rounds next season. In total, they have 11 matches against last season’s finals teams.

However, they will finish the season with six of their last eight games against this year’s finals contenders.

That means they will want to be in the top eight mix before a tough finish to the year.

The Broncos have been given a bittersweet draw. They have a dream start with eight of their first 12 games at Suncorp Stadium, including a round-four blockbuster against new rivals the Dolphins.

The Broncos will play finals also-rans the Dragons, Tigers and Titans and the Dolphins in the first seven rounds.

But they must start well, because they will play 14 games against teams who made the top-eight last year – the most of any NRL club in 2023.

Their run home is difficult, with clashes against finals teams the Roosters, Cowboys, Eels, Raiders and Storm in the final six weeks.

The new franchise, statistically, has one of the better draws of the 2023 season.

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins play just 10 matches against top-eight teams from 2022. Only the Raiders, with eight games, have a kinder draw against finals teams.

Their first five weeks offer hope of a promising start. While the Roosters in round one is daunting, the Dolphins will fancy their chances of beating Canberra (home), Newcastle (away), Broncos (home) and Dragons (away).

The Dolphins have a long road trip to Perth against the Knights in round 23 and will play the Broncos at the Gabba in round 18.