The dust has settled from the release of the NRL draw, and while fairness is never possible, the Origin period is always a bug bear of fans.
Zero Tackle have analysed the strength of every team's schedule during the Origin period to determine just how bad your team has it.
For the purposes of this, we are stating that the Origin period starts in Round 13 (the round leading into Game 1 of the series when players will sit out and teams have byes) and concludes with Round 20 (the round after Game 3).
In that period, the rounds are as follows.
Round 13: Before Origin 1, five games, seven byes.
Round 14: After Origin 1, seven games, three byes.
Round 15: Full round between Origin 1 and 2.
Round 16: Before Origin 2, five games, seven byes.
Round 17: After Origin 2, seven games, three byes.
Round 18: Full round between Origin 2 and 3
Round 19: Before Origin 3, five games, seven byes.
Round 20: After Origin 3, seven games, three byes.
Use the drop down menu below to navigate between each club.
North Queensland Cowboys
Fixtures: Roosters (away), Warriors (home), Raiders (away), Bye, Panthers (away), Sea Eagles (home), Bye, Bulldogs (home)
Number of byes: 2
Objectively, this is a tough draw for the Cowboys during a period where they are often well below full strength providing players to State of Origin.
They do have byes prior to Game 2 and 3 which helps, but a trip away to play the Roosters before Game 1 won't be viewed favourably.
Nor will hosting the Warriors after Game 1, or playing away to the Panthers after Game 2. They host the Bulldogs after Game 3 who could be mostly untouched by Origin too.
The amount of travel involved in getting back to Townsville makes it so tough for the Cowboys players to back up. Add to that the toughness of games involved, and they could well wind up playing a number of games without their Origin players.
Difficulty: 7/10
I think if I were Wayne, I would concede that the chances of winning the three pre-Origin games is zero. Having done that, I would give most of my non-Origin players some Rest & Recovery time and field a Queensland Cup side.
That will make no difference to the outcome of each match, but will leave the squad a whole lot less battered for the run in from the end of the Origin to the end of the season.