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Message: [QUOTE="Dexter, post: 2146138, member: 1978"] Here is a bit from the Australian re the draw and the biggest winners (on paper) are ....... Manly and 2 other Sydney sides, what a F@#cken surprise. The more you look at the draw the more you understand why we have a top 8 . Grand finalist Manly, along with Parramatta and South Sydney appear to be the winners and Newcastle the biggest losers after the NRL released the draw for the 2009 season yesterday. Grand finalists Manly look primed for another flying start with a clash against the New Zealand Warriors its only meeting with a side from this year's finals inside the first seven rounds of competition. In all, it faces fewer games against 2008 top-eight sides than any other side in the competition -- 10 matches compared with up to 13 for its rivals. The Sea Eagles' first grand final rematch will take place in round eight, by which time Melbourne will have been softened up by St George Illawarra, Brisbane and the Warriors. Parramatta is the only side to avoid meeting the Storm or Manly twice in the season, while three sides -- the Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers and Newcastle -- will be forced to play both grand finalists on two occasions. Souths' luck comes in the form of facing five of this year's top-eight once only, the only side that will do so. The Knights' bid to get back into finals footy hasn't been helped by a draw which sees them play their opening three games away, while only one of their byes will come before a State of Origin fixture. While the Broncos, North Queensland, the Roosters and the Storm receive both of their byes before Origin games, the Knights will have to stand down any of their rep players before Origin I and III. [/QUOTE]

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