Long accused of benefiting from favourable fixture lists, the Sharks were on Thursday handed one of the most brutal schedules of all 17 clubs.
Craig Fitzgibbon's men will face all but one of last year's rival finalists twice in 2025, while being asked to travel to Las Vegas and Townsville in the opening two rounds.
They also have the equal most five-day turnarounds in the competition with three, alongside Brisbane and the Dolphins.
Cronulla have made the finals for the past three years under Fitzgibbon, with the coach and players regularly having to shoot down suggestions of a favourable draw.
But it is unlikely that will be the case in 2025, in a season where their roster will be boosted by the recruitment of powerful forward Addin Fonua-Blake.Â
An AAP analysis of the NRL's entire 204-game regular-season schedule showed only the Rabbitohs and Parramatta's draw are harder, based on last year's finishing positions.
Canterbury are the biggest winners.
The same metrics show Cameron Ciraldo's men have been handed the easiest draw of all clubs, while also being asked to do the least travelling of all 17 teams.
After reaching last year's finals for the first first time since 2016, the Bulldogs have also been handed the equal most free-to-air matches with 14.Â
Canterbury also have only three matches between last year's top-eight teams before round 16, and at one stage go six rounds without leaving Accor Stadium.
The Bulldogs' schedule is highlighted by the fact the average 2024 finishing position of their 2025 opponents is 10th.
In comparison, the Rabbitohs' aggregate is the lowest with eighth, a marked difference over the course of 24 rounds.
Souths are also the only club in the NRL that will have to face each of last year's top four twice, with a total of 13 matches against last year's finalists.
Wayne Bennett has a horror stretch early in the season with seven straight matches against last year's top-eight teams between round three and nine.
JUST IN: The draw for the NRL Telstra Premiership 2025 season is out now 🔔 — NRL (@NRL) For all the details: https://t.co/weNGG18n2O pic.twitter.com/D8Oju8gQWtNovember 21, 2024
Parramatta's draw is the next hardest based on last season's ladder positions, followed by Cronulla and the Broncos.
At the other end of the scale, Canberra, Newcastle and the Warriors join the Bulldogs as the big winners.
The Knights have only nine games against this year's finalists, playing only Penrith and Cronulla twice out of last year's top-eight teams.
The Warriors, Raiders and Titans also only have one game against each of last year's top four.
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