Warriors handed tough draw

As if they did not have enough on their plate, the Warriors’ rebuild has become that much harder following the announcement of the 2018 NRL draw.

Stephen Kearney’s side, who begin the new season on a ninematche losing streak, have been handed one of toughest roads to the playoffs with a string of big games on the road, as well as meeting all four 2017 semifinalists twice.

The Warriors only won one game away from home last season and will have to fix their travel woes early with three of their first four games in Australia.

After opening the campaign against South Sydney in Perth on March 10, they play their first home game at Mt Smart against Gold Coast on St Patrick’s Day (March 17) before two tough trips to Canberra and the Sydney Roosters.

A 25-round competition with one bye means each club plays nine other teams twice and six teams just once.

The Warriors are among those to have drawn the short-straw, with home and away fixtures against 2017 premiers Melbourne, runners-up North Queensland, Brisbane and the Roosters.

They also only play last year’s wooden spooners, Newcastle, once but there were no complaints from new chief executive Cameron George.

‘‘At the end of the day every team we play are going to be difficult to beat but we’re up for the challenge. [There are] no excuses for us next year, we want to win every time we pad up for a game of

football,’’ George said.

The Warriors’ early-season travel is balanced out by threeconsecutive games at Mt Smart in April.

It starts against North Queensland on April 7, followed by Brisbane on April 14 and St George Illawarra on April 20. They face another tough away stretch from round 14, with seven of their next 10 games on the round.

But they close out the season with back-to-back Friday night home matches against Penrith on August 24 and Canberra on August 31.