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The stage is set for Parramatta's Josh Addo-Carr to return to the NRL against Canterbury, who cut him loose following a positive roadside drug test.
Prized Parramatta recruit Josh Addo-Carr could make his NRL comeback against Canterbury, the team that fired him over his positive roadside drug test.
The release of the NRL draw on Thursday confirmed the Eels and Bulldogs would meet in round three, when Addo-Carr is likely to return from a four-game ban for returning a roadside test positive to cocaine in September.
The NRL has already confirmed Canterbury's elimination final loss to Manly would count as Addo-Carr's first game out and the winger will likely apply to count the annual pre-season All Stars game towards his ban.
Addo-Carr had been selected for the Indigenous team in the last six All Stars clashes, though pulled out in 2021 and 2023 following COVID-19 border closures and workload concerns, respectively.
If granted permission to count the game towards his ban, Addo-Carr would return to the field as the Eels host the Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, March 23.
The comeback looms as the latest chapter in Addo-Carr's ugly break-up with the 'Dogs, who were made to contend with his drug scandal only days out from their first finals game in eight years.
The Bulldogs terminated the final year of the winger's contract in late October, leaving the Eels to hand him an NRL lifeline following the departure of winger Maika Sivo.
Elsewhere, Wests Tigers' star recruit Jarome Luai will need to wait until the second half of the NRL season for a highly-anticipated match-up against old side Penrith.
But the Panthers' grand final rematch against Melbourne will come earlier amid a tough start that has Penrith facing six reigning top-eight sides in the first eight weeks of their premiership defence.
Arguably the biggest name to leave Penrith since the club's dynasty began, Luai and fellow ex-Panther Sunia Turuva will meet their old firm at CommBank Stadium in round 14.
The match falls in between the first and second State of Origin games but NSW duties will not sideline incumbent five-eighth Luai.
In round 21, the Tigers and Panthers will meet again at CommBank Stadium, which will serve as the Panthers' home ground next season during stadium redevelopments.
Prized Tigers recruit Terrell May won't meet the Sydney Roosters until round 18 on July 6, months after being abruptly granted permission to leave the Bondi club.
The Storm will have an early chance to avenge grand final heartbreak when they host Penrith for a Thursday night clash in round three.
The Panthers will also have faced 2024 top-eight sides Cronulla, North Queensland, Manly and the Sydney Roosters - twice - by the end of April.
Their remaining clashes in that difficult stretch are against South Sydney, tipped to be big improvers under new coach Wayne Bennett, and the Dolphins in Queensland.
Bennett will need to hit the ground running as he looks to reinvigorate Souths, who face seven of last year's top eight in consecutive weeks between rounds three and nine.
The Rabbitohs, who finished 16th last year, meet Cronulla, Penrith, the Roosters, North Queensland, Canterbury, Melbourne and Newcastle by the end of Magic Round in round nine.
The Sharks emerge as the big losers from the draw, facing every other top-eight team twice with the exception of the Panthers.
Canberra, Gold Coast and the Warriors all face each of last year's top four only once, with the Knights booked in for the fewest match-ups against the top eight (nine).
