KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Warriors will kick off their 2008 National Rugby League season with an away Monday night match against premiers Melbourne Storm on March 17.
They will host the Eels at Mt Smart Stadium the following Sunday before playing another Monday night match away against Manly in the third round.
Their fourth and fifth round games are at home against the Knights and the Bulldogs.
The Titans host Cowboys and the Rabbitohs are at home to the Roosters in the two season-openers on March 14.
The prospect of a return to a daytime grand final remains up in the air with club chief executive evenly split on the issue.
Eight clubs had voted for a day match while eight voted to retain the night fixture at the annual conference of NRL chief executives held at the NSW Hunter Valley today.
The NRL will now commission a full review of grand final options, including its commercial impact, for the NRL board meeting in February.
In other matters, proposals for a reduction of interchanges from 12 to 10, and another to allow ball stripping while a player is attempting to ground the ball for a try, will be the subject to approval by the Rugby League International Federation.
NRL DRAW 2008 ROUNDS 1-5
(all local times)
Round 1, March 14-17
Titans v Cowboys, Skilled Park, Fri 7.30pm.
Rabbitohs v Roosters, Telstra Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Eels v Bulldogs, Telstra Stadium, Sat 5.30pm
Sea Eagles v Sharks, Brookvale Oval, Sat 7.30pm.
Knights v Raiders, Energy Australia Stadium, Sat 7.30pm
Broncos v Panthers, Suncorp Stadium, Sun 2.00pm
Wests Tigers v Dragons, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sun 3.00pm
Storm v WARRIORS, Telstra Dome, Mon 7.00pm
Round 2, March 21-24
Roosters v Broncos, Sydney Football Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, Telstra Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Panthers v Raiders, CUA Stadium, Sat 5.30pm
Knights v Sea Eagles, Energy Australia Stadium, Sat 7.30pm
Cowboys v Wests Tigers, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Sat 8.30pm
WARRIORS v Eels, Mt Smart Stadium, Sun 4.00pm
Storm v Sharks, Olympic Park, Sun 3.00pm
Dragons v Titans, WIN Stadium, Mon 7.00pm
Roud 3, March 28-31
Broncos v Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Eels v Knights, Parramatta Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Roosters v Storm, Sydney Football Stadium, Sat 5.30pm
Raiders v Dragons, Canberra Stadium, Sat 7.30pm
Titans v Sharks Skilled Park, Sat 8.30pm
Panthers v Rabbitohs, CUA Stadium, Sun 2.00pm
Bulldogs v Wests Tigers, Telstra Stadium, Sun 3.00pm
Sea Eagles v WARRIORS, Brookvale Oval, Mon 7.00pm
Round 4, April 4-7 (Aust and NZ Daylight Savings ends at 2am Sun 6th) Storm v Broncos, Olympic Park, Fri 7.30pm
Bulldogs v Roosters, Telstra Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Dragons v Sharks, Telstra Stadium, Sat 5.30pm
Titans v Raiders, Skilled Park, Sat 6.30pm
Cowboys v Eels, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Sat 8.30pm
WARRIORS V Knights, Mt Smart Stadium, Sun 4.00pm
Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs, Brookvale Oval, Sun 3.00pm
Wests Tigers v Panthers, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Mon 7.00pm
Round 5, April 11-14
Storm v Sea Eagles, Olympic Park, Fri 7.30pm
Eels v Titans, Parramatta Stadium, Fri 7.30pm
Dragons v Cowboys, WIN Stadium, Sat 5.30pm
Panthers v Roosters CUA Stadium, Sat 7.30pm
WARRIORS v Bulldogs, Mt Smart Stadium, Sun 2.00pm
Raiders v Wests Tigers, Canberra Stadium, Sun 2.00pm
Knights v Broncos, Energy Australia Stadium, Sun 3.00pm
Rabbitohs v Sharks Telstra Stadium, Mon 7.00pm.
- AAP
- NZPA
