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SYDNEY - The New Zealand Warriors will host the Parramatta Eels in round one of next year's National Rugby League (NRL) in the 2009 season draw released today.
Parramatta will travel to Auckland on the weekend of March 13-16 as the Warriors begin their bid to improve on their storming finish to this year.
A week later the Warriors face a daunting round two trip to Sydney to face Manly who eliminated them 32-6 in Saturday's grand final qualifier.
Their next two games will be at home, with Brisbane and South Sydney visiting in rounds three and four, followed by an away trip to Newcastle and another home match against the Roosters.
The Kiwis swing into action on May 8, with the transtasman test against the Kangaroos a Friday night match at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Round one of the NRL will feature matchups between traditional rivals the Roosters and Rabbitohs, Broncos and Cowboys and Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.
New St George-Illawarra Dragons coach Wayne Bennett will return to Brisbane to face the Broncos in round four.
Melbourne will host game one of the annual State of Origin series on June 3, with game two in Sydney and game three in Brisbane.
- NZPA
