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The draw is out for the six-team 2024 Harrigan Premiership, which will feature 45 regular-season matches. Clubs will play each other three times over 15 rounds before a four-team finals series.
Here’s how each team has fared in the first leg (Rounds 1-5) of the three-leg home and away fixtures, with round one commencing on 20 April.
Back-to-back titles beckon Butchers
Defending premiers Thirroul kick off their campaign with a home game against Wests before hosting Collegians in the highly anticipated 2023 Grand Final rematch in round two.
An away match against Dapto is followed by two consecutive matches at Gibson Park against De La Salle and Corrimal to round out their first leg of the three-leg home and away series.
The Butchers came from the clouds with a 7-8 win/loss record to take last year’s title from fourth spot and have challenged themselves to be the first team to go back-to-back in the club’s history.
First Five>>Wests (H), Collegians (H), Dapto (A), De La Salle (H), Corrimal (H).
De La prepares to dig deep
Minor Premiers De La Salle will be a force again after making the top four in each of its two years in the competition.
The spine is in tact with the clever halves pairing of Eli Levido and captain Jack Williams calling the shots again. They’ve added the NRL experienced James Hasson, a local junior, to their already formidable pack.
However, new coach Trent Anderson will aim for his charges to go deep in the finals this year after bowing out in straight sets on both occasions.
The draw hasn’t been friendly to the Shire-based outfit, who must cope with just one home game in the first five rounds.
First Five>> Corrimal (A), Wests (H), Collegians (A), Thirroul (A), Dapto (A).
New dogs, old tricks
Perennial finalists Collegians will look a little different this year, having lost the entire spine and several key forwards.
However, Peter Hooper made a good fist of his first season in charge in the post-Nathan Fien era and will no doubt have his new Dogs ready for another tilt at the title.
With three titles, the best-performing side over the last decade will line up against Dapto and Thirroul away in the opening rounds before facing De La and the Cougars at home.
First Five>> Dapt0 (A), Thirroul (A), De La Salle (H), Corrimal (H), Wests (A).
Devil in the detail
Wests coach Peter McLeod has left no stone unturned as he set about replacing experience with experience.
The Devils have snared the signatures of former St George Illawarra Dragons veterans Tautau Moga and ex-Melbourne Storm flyer George Jennings to guide his emerging talent of youngsters, with an average age under 25, after the loss of Grant Millington and Sosai Feki.
The Devils’ new blend will be tested early against both the defending and minor premiers away before they return to Parrish Park for three in a row.
First Five>> Thirroul (A), De La Salle (A), Corrimal (H), Dapto (H), Collegians (H).
Read More>> New teams bolster lower grades, season draws
Canaries on song for winning start
Dapto’s late charge of five straight wins last season had their supporters singing from the same hymn sheet. However, after a poor start to the season, they fell short of the finals.
They will be looking to get their 2024 campaign off to a winning start at home against Collies before taking on the Cougars away in round two, the team that ended their dream run in round 14 last year.
The acquisition of former Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua should help pack the Dapto Showground grandstand to the rafters.
First Five>> Collegians (H), Corrimal (A), Thirroul (H), Wests (A), De La Salle (A).
Cougars hunting for killer instinct
While their for-and-against record last year may not show it, Corrimal was an improved outfit compared to recent seasons.
Their late-season win to deny Dapto a fairytale finish was a reward for effort, and the appointment of co-coaches Sean Moloney and Jarrod Mullen has provided renewed optimism for the rebuilding Cougars.
They get two home games in a row against De La and Dapto in front of the Ziems Park faithful before three consecutive away games against the Devils, Collies, and Butchers.
First Five>> De La Salle (H), Dapto (H), Wests (A), Collegians (A), Thirroul (A).
Main picture: Josh Dowel (Collegians) and Hayden Crosland (Thirroul) with the Harrigan Premiership trophy
View>>2024 Harrigan Premiership Draw
