By Luke Hopewell
Publication Date: 2025-11-16 22:20:00
As I mentioned some time ago, the NRL has used artificial intelligence for the first time in the draw for the 2026 season, promising a fairer and more balanced competition. Here’s how it worked.
The league has partnered with Fastbreak AI to create a schedule that reduces the scheduling issues that have plagued clubs and fans in the past.
The 2026 schedule will see a sharp decline in the number of dreaded five-day turnarounds, with the total falling from 21 in 2025 to just 12 next year. No team will face more than a five-day processing time, a significant change aimed at protecting player welfare and giving teams a fairer chance each week.
Repeat fixtures, often a sore point for coaches and fans, were also doled out. In 2026, there will be no return games within four weeks (versus seven last season) and none within five weeks (versus eight). The goal: to keep the competition fresh and avoid repetition, which can weaken interest and lead to one-sidedness…
