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.
Parramatta Eels
Fixtures: Sharks (home), Bulldogs (away), Roosters (home), Bye, Knights (away), Rabbitohs (home), Titans (away), Bye
Number of byes: 2
The Eels have to play twice prior to Origins, and could be doing it without a number of their key forwards, including Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo and J'maine Hopgood who no doubt will all be in the mix for State of Origin selection.
Cronulla could be mostly untouched, making the clash before Game 1 a difficult one, with any players backing up then getting a longer break before playing Canterbury on Monday.
A short turnaround into the Roosters game between Origin 1 and 2 won't do Parramatta any favours, nor will a trip to play the Knights after Game 2, or one to play the Titans before Game 3.
They avoid the Warriors during this period, but it's not a straightforward run for the blue and gold.
Difficulty: 6/10
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.