Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Live sport on SN this weekendWhy Voss sympathises with Tigers' "rotten" fixture draw
Nicholas Quinlan • November 13th, 2025 4:41 pm
Andrew Voss has expressed his sympathies with the Wests Tigers following the announcement that they’ll once again be sidelined for the opening round of the season.
Since the introduction of the Dolphins in 2023, it has been a requirement for the NRL to have a bye in every round of its fixture.
In the three seasons that the bye has been needed, the Dragons, Tigers and Titans have all been required to sit out the first round.
But in the first year of AI getting involved in the creation of the 2026 fixture, the Tigers will have to wait until Round 2 to begin the season.
This would compel Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson to say that “AI needs to take a good look at itself”.
And Voss agreed with Richardson and Tigers fans, considering that their venue access isn’t restricted compared to other Sydney clubs due to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup being played in Sydney during March.
“I stand with the Tigers on their upset (with the fixture) and Tigers’ fans on missing Round 1,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The more I thought about it, and you know what you’ve got to factor in too, so if you’re not aware, the opening rounds for the NRL next year are affected by the women’s Asian Cup because that takes CommBank out of the equation, Accor Stadium out of the equation.
“Well, the Tigers could have had Campbelltown or Leichardt, they don’t need those grounds (CommBank or Accor) and they miss.
“And they did have the bye in ’24, so it is twice in three years. That’s not a fair go.
“You get excited about Round 1, and again, I’ll repeat, it doesn't have to be that we go 17 years and every team gets a turn, but no team should miss out on Round 1 twice in three years.
“I think it is rotten, I really do.”
The Wests Tigers’ first match of the 2026 NRL season is yet to be confirmed.
Their only confirmed game for the season at this stage is in Magic Round when they play the Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium on May 16 at 3pm AEDT.
