The release of the reshuffled NRL draw made the May 28 restart date real. It also forced the Stats Insider NRL model to re-crunch the numbers behind the schedule difficulty for each club.

Unfortunately for the Knights, they've gone from the fifth-easiest draw to the most difficult from here. The Tigers are being made to do a little more work than first anticipated, too. As for the Cowboys, Panthers, Sea Eagles and Sharks who will all be trying to squeeze into the Top 8, they've been blessed with the four easiest draws from Round 3 onwards.

NRL 2020 Schedule Difficulty

Newcastle Knights

Playing Twice: Sea Eagles, Storm, Cowboys, Warriors, Tigers

This is the year for the Knights to finally live up to the hype. We've been hearing they're a Top 8 team since 2018, and now with a new coach and 2-0 start to 2020, are expected to play finals football.

They'll need to navigate the toughest schedule in the competition first, though. Of the teams the Knights play twice, only the Warriors can be considered 'easy'. Even they are capable of upsetting any team on their day.

While the 2-0 start has the Knights flying into Round 3, an eight-week stretch against the Panthers, Raiders, Storm, Broncos, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Eels and Rabbitohs - all of which the Stats Insider model is tipping to make the Top 8 - makes for a rough restart to the season.

St George-Illawarra Dragons

Playing Twice: Sharks, Roosters, Bulldogs, Titans, Raiders

Poor Paul McGregor. His job is on the line in 2020, and after being handed the second-hardest original draw for the season, the mulligan has produced the same result.

They're away from home until at least Round 10 while second games against the Roosters and Raiders, as well as visits to the Broncos and Eels, make for a difficult season.

St George-Illawarra's season could well hinge on their next month - the easiest month of the draw - against the Warriors, Bulldogs, Sharks and Titans.

New Zealand Warriors

Playing Twice: Sharks, Panthers, Raiders, Knights, Sea Eagles

Seeing the Warriors presented with a difficult draw won't surprise anybody. Like the Titans, they don't get to play themselves. There's also the chance that they won't get to play a single game in New Zealand this season.

Comfortable on the Central Coast and no doubt eager to get on the field, a favourable four weeks comes at the perfect time for the Warriors. They have a history of winning when playing in Australia across back-to-back weeks. If they're to avoid their first-ever wooden spoon, the wins will come over the first month of the restarted season.

RELATED: Will the new-look Warriors attack change their fortunes in 2020?

Wests Tigers

Playing Twice: Panthers, Bulldogs, Eels, Rabbitohs, Knights

One of the bigger losers of the redraw, the Tigers have come from the bottom half of the difficulty rankings into fourth. Much of that may be to do with the Panthers, Knights and Eels all getting off to 2-0 starts.

The hard work needs to be done early if they're to give themselves a chance at ending their finals drought (27.2% to make the Top 8). A final six rounds against the Roosters, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Storm and Eels isn't the time to make a run.

Melbourne Storm

Playing Twice: Knights, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Raiders, Roosters

We love to say the Storm are blessed and every decision seems to go their way, but this tough draw is a product of their greatness. Broadcasters want blockbusters on tv. All five of the teams Melbourne play twice carry a little bit more intrigue than most.

The Storm will, however, play games in Melbourne. That presents the slightest of advantages with visiting teams required to fly in and out on gameday.

Despite the fifth most difficult schedule in the competition, the Stats Insider futures model  isn't worried about their position towards the top of the ladder. 

Canberra Raiders

Playing Twice: Storm, Titans, Warriors, Roosters, Dragons

Similar, but not quite to the same extent as the Storm, broadcasters will have pleaded for the Raiders to play both the Storm and Roosters twice this season. Even with second games against the lowly Titans, Warriors and Dragons, facing the benchmark teams of the NRL twice is enough to generate a schedule more difficult than most. Not playing in Canberra until at least Round 10 doesn't help either. 

Despite all of that, the Raiders are still at 17.8% to win the premiership and 19.7% to win the minor premiership.

Sydney Roosters

Playing Twice: Rabbitohs, Dragons, Broncos, Raiders, Storm

Punished more for their success than any other, the Roosters have the most difficult double-up schedule of all 16 teams.

Where the Roosters do benefit is through the lack of State of Origin. While their 0-2 start isn't ideal, they will have 18 games with their best available squad to make up the difference. The mid-season scramble to field a team without their Origin stars is no longer.

Climbing back up to be minor premiers is a stretch (5.2%), but even with the harsh draw, the Roosters have more than enough time to wipe away their 0-2 start.

ALSO READ: Storm vs Roosters: Comparing the NRL Premiership Blueprints

Parramatta Eels

Playing Twice: Broncos, Sea Eagles, Tigers, Bulldogs, Panthers

It's tough to get a read on the Eels draw right now. If the Panthers we've seen in Round 1 and 2 are for real, and the Tigers make improvements through the additions of Harry Grant and Luke Brooks, the Eels could end up with one of the more difficult draws this season. Fittingly, they're bang in the middle of the schedule difficulty ladder.

Where they do get a lift is in location. After making their trip to Brisbane in Round 3, the Eels play their next five games at Bankwest Stadium with a lot more still to come once venues are confirmed for Round 10 and beyond.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Playing Twice: Roosters, Storm, Bulldogs, Tigers, Broncos

Cody Walker's two-game suspension could hardly have come at a worse time.

Unconvincing in their first two games of the season, the Rabbitohs restart against the Roosters and Storm. The Titans and Warriors in Round 5 and 6 offer a reprieve, but 1-3 isn't an easy hole to dig yourself out of in a 20-round season. Especially when you're due to play the Roosters, Storm and Broncos again before it's all over.

While in the bottom half of the schedule difficulty list, the Rabbitohs can't afford to drop too many games they're expected to win.

Brisbane Broncos

Playing Twice: Eels, Cowboys, Roosters, Titans, Rabbitohs

While the Broncos will face some of the better teams in the competition twice, they've been given a friendly draw when it comes to rest and consistency.

They will play each of their next four games on a Thursday night, the following three on Saturday night, and four in a row on Friday night. Also having the luxury of being able to play at Suncorp Stadium, all three of their away games up to Round 9 are at Central Coast Stadium.

Gold Coast Titans

Playing Twice: Broncos, Sharks, Dragons, Raiders, Cowboys

The Titans don't get to play themselves, so their draw is always going to be harder than most. They won't be playing at Cbus Super Stadium until at least Round 10 either. This could, however, have been a lot worse. Justin Holbrook will back his side to at least compete with the Sharks, Dragons and Cowboys.

Up against middling teams in the Cowboys (Round 3), Tigers (Round 4) and Dragons (Round 6) over the next four weeks, we're going to learn a lot about the Gold Coast's chances at avoiding the wooden spoon.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Playing Twice: Eels, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sea Eagles

The Bulldogs have a friendly enough draw overall, but it's how they start a season that has held them back over the last two years.

Starting 2018 and 2019 with two wins and seven losses after nine rounds, Canterbury has had a line put through their finals chances before Round 10. While unlikely to make the Top 8 in 2020 (7.3%), the Bulldogs can be relevant for a lot longer with a few more early wins.

They play the Dragons twice along with the Sharks and Tigers in the first eight rounds of the restarted season. Three wins there while upsetting one of the Roosters, Rabbitohs or Sea Eagles, and the Bulldogs can be sniffing around the Top 8 after 10 rounds rather than beginning to plan for the following season.

North Queensland Cowboys

Playing Twice: Broncos, Knights, Panthers, Sharks, Titans

Border issues and the rejigged NRL draw almost had the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium lying dormant for most of 2020. However, the Cowboys will play home games this season. The crowd might not be there for a while, but the long trek for Sydney clubs is at least a small positive for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys could go either way this season. So too could the Knights, Panthers and Sharks who they play twice. This is a draw that could look a lot more difficult by the end of Round 20.

Penrith Panthers

Playing Twice: Tigers, Warriors, Cowboys, Sharks, Eels

A 2-0 start including a win over the Roosters has propelled the Panthers into Top 8 favouritism at 65.1%. They should back themselves to make it with the draw they've been given too. Parramatta is the only genuine worry of the teams Penrith need to play twice. 

Meanwhile, they've come out of the opening nine rounds fairly well for a team that won't be playing at their home stadium. The Panthers play each of their next seven games at either Bankwest or Campbelltown Stadium.

As far as surprise packets go, the Panthers are a big chance with this draw.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Playing Twice: Knights, Eels, Storm, Bulldogs, Warriors

Unlike last season, the Sea Eagles carry a few expectations into 2020. They won't be surprising anybody this year. Lucky for them, they've come out of the reshuffle with two games against the Warriors and Bulldogs. Having already played the Storm once and claiming the scalp of the Roosters in Round 2, the Sea Eagles have already cleared two of the biggest hurdles to any NRL season.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Playing Twice: Dragons, Titans, Warriors, Cowboys, Panthers

The Sharks weren't playing at PointsBet Stadium in 2020 anyway; the change to their home ground isn't a significant issue. Nor is the list of teams they're due to play twice in 2020.

The Dragons, Titans and Warriors could well be the bottom three teams after 20 rounds. It's likely that only one of the Cowboys and Panthers end up in the Top 8. The Sharks need things to break right to really compete in 2020, and the new draw is a promising start.

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