Roosters and Rabbitohs to kick off NRL

Arch rivals South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters will kick off the NRL‘s opening round.

The pair will meet at the Sydney Football Stadium on March 11 in what promises to be a blockbuster clash.

The traditional opening round Queensland derby between Brisbane and North Queensland also remains with the pair squaring off at Suncorp Stadium.

Other notable games include the first ever NRL match at Eden Park between the New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta and premiers St George’s trip to Gold Coast.

The Raiders and Sharks and Panthers and Knights will start their seasons on Sunday, March 13, with the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers kicking off the first Monday night match of the season at ANZ Stadium.

“The release of the first five rounds and venues today is a reminder for all fans to start planning for next year and with Christmas just around the corner it is a perfect time to purchase your club memberships for the 2011 Telstra Premiership,” NRL Chief Executive, David Gallop, said.

NRL Rounds 1-5

Round 1 : March 11 – 14

Roosters v Rabbitohs        
Broncos v Cowboys         
Warriors v Eels          
Storm v Sea Eagles          
Titans v Dragons     
Raiders v Sharks       
Panthers v Knights         
Bulldogs v Wests Tigers    

Round 2 : March 18 – 21

Eels v Panthers         
Raiders v Broncos        
Storm v Titans                       
Wests Tigers v Warriors           
Cowboys v Knights              
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs           
Roosters v Sea Eagles            
Sharks v Dragons              

Round 3 : March 25 – 28

Eels v Rabbitohs             
Titans v Broncos             
Panthers v Sharks            
Cowboys v Storm            
Warriors v Dragons              
Bulldogs v Roosters           
Sea Eagles v Knights             
Wests Tigers v Raiders                

Round 4 : April 1 – 4
      
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles            
Broncos v Panthers             
Raiders v Titans             
Eels v Cowboys          
Sharks v Warriors          
Knights v Dragons             
Roosters v Wests Tigers 
Storm v Bulldogs               

Round 5: April 8 – 11

Cowboys v Titans          
Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs         
Warriors v Roosters          
Sharks v Sea Eagles      
Panthers v Raiders               
Storm v Eels                    
Dragons v Bulldogs      
Broncos v Knights