They open with a local derby clash against the Dragons, before hosting the Canberra Raiders in week two, with the Sharks handed a challenging start to their 2021 campaign with the release of next season’s NRL draw.
The season for the Sharks gets underway on March 14 when they take on the St George Illawarra team in what will be the last game of round one.
The draw reveals that the Sharks will be at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium for their opening two matches, a home game against the Raiders in round two, while they will be the visitors for the match up with their traditional rivals to kick off their year, both games scheduled for a 6.15pm start on a Sunday night, before travelling across town to Bankwest to tackle the Eels in week three.
Games against the Cowboys, Roosters and Knights follow.
John Morris’s Sharks side play the 2020 premiers the Storm twice, in round eight at AAMI Park in Melbourne, then at home in the last regular season game before finals, the Roosters, Eels and Rabbitohs are amongst those teams they meet just once, with the Cowboys and Titans their opponents for regional games on the Sunshine Coast (round 4) and Coffs Harbour (round 12).
They are drawn to play Souths during the NRL’s Magic Round, which is week 10 on the schedule, while their BYE comes during the first weekend in June in round 13.
The Sharks also go on the road to play the Wests Tigers in Tamworth in a round 23 match during August.
The Sharks draw features eight free-to-air matches, seven Friday fixtures, nine games on a Saturday and eight on Sunday’s. They have no Thursday night matches in 2021.
The return local derby match against the Dragons, with Sharks this time to host at Kogarah, is in round 11 and scheduled for a 7.55pm kick off on Friday, May 21.
Sharks 2021 Memberships are on sale in all categories, click here to find out more.
While for the complete 2021 Sharks NRL Draw, or to download to your E-Calendar, click here.