The 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership draw has been released with a blockbuster start to the season for the Sea Eagles.
Geoff Toovey's men face up against old-rivals the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium in a blockbuster encounter that sees Anthony Watmough take on the side he had over a decade of success with. With number of former Sea Eagles are now Eels - Hopoate, Lussick, Gower - it's sure to be a classic with much more than two-points on the line for the old foes.
The team then follows it up with back-to-back Brookvale matches against the Storm and Bulldogs. Revenge will be on the cards in both these matches as they both got the better of the side last season. The Storm took out both encounters last season, while the Bulldogs outlasted Manly in a Golden Point Semi-Final classic to knock the team out of contention.
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Next is a testing run of away games to Penrith, Canterbury and Melbourne for Anzac Day where the team will be wearing a commemorative ANZAC jersey to mark the occasion (to be released at http://store.seaeagles.com.au soon)
It will be the second time in six weeks that the side faces off, but that doesn’t both skipper Jamie Lyon who recently listed the Storm as one of the sides he most looks forward to playing each season.
"We've had some good tussles with the Storm over the years and I just feel that we've got a good, healthy rivalry there," Lyon said.
"We both respect each other and each match seems to be close, so I enjoy playing against the Mexicans."
Two away games north-of-the-border in and around the Originb period will test the side, but with only Daly Cherry-Evans a guaranteed loss for the side, it’s an opportunity for Toovey’s men to pick up some extra momentum against the opposition.
The season rounds out with four home games in the last six, all against top opposition who will undoubtedly be pushing for finals football. Circle both Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmoough’s returns to Brookvale in Rounds 22 and 24 respectively as one’s not to be missed.
On the whole it is quite a difficult draw for the side, playing six of last years top eight twice and working up some decent travel time with trips to Auckland, Townsville, Brisbane, Melbourne Gold Coast and Canberra.
However, there are some absolute bloackbusters, home and away, that are not to be missed. So make sure you sign up an become a 2015 member today by calling (02) 9970 3000 or heading online to http://membership.seaeagles.com.au
See the draw below or CLICK HERE for online version
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