With the draw for the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership confirmed, there was plenty of activity online as fans and the 16 NRL clubs prepared for and reacted to the release of the schedule for the upcoming season.
The Knights were the first side to announce their opening home match at the newly-named McDonald Jones Stadium.
BREAKING | Our first home match of the 2017 season will be Round 2 against the Titans, 3pm on Saturday March 11! #goKnights
— Newcastle Knights (@NRLKnights) November 23, 2016
The Raiders and Sharks are set to renew hostilities in the nation's capital…
See you then, @RaidersCanberra 😏
— Cronulla Sharks FC (@Cronulla_Sharks) November 23, 2016
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼#SharksForever pic.twitter.com/kt1C0dRRyF
As the countdown continued, many clubs turned to GIFs to get their fans in the mood for what is one of the more exciting days on the NRL calendar.
2017 #NRLDraw released today! pic.twitter.com/owwWLgwf3W
— Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) November 23, 2016
The 2017 #NRLDraw is released today at 11am!
— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) November 23, 2016
Just a couple more hours ⏳👍 #BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/wLjdLUj4CY
#NRLDraw feels 🙌
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) November 23, 2016
2017 draw announcement from 1pm (NZT) today #WarriorNation 👀 pic.twitter.com/vkGbi7pmk9
At 11.15am, our 2017 Season Draw will be announced. Round 1 vs the Eels at Fortress Brookie. Exciting times! #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/Ap0iKaWKe7
— Manly Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) November 23, 2016
Just one hour until the #NRLDraw is announced! Stay tuned… #redv pic.twitter.com/zv6KIRDCxt
— The Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) November 23, 2016
The #NRLDraw will be released today at 10am QLD time. Who's excited to see what's in store for us in 2017? #ThruNThru pic.twitter.com/PKhBCyvTwG
— Gold Coast Titans (@GCTitans) November 23, 2016
So the #NRLDraw comes out in under an hour and we will play the @SeaEagles in Round 1 at Brookie? Bring it on! #blueandgold pic.twitter.com/kdKJkMHkS0
— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) November 23, 2016
#NRLDraw Day! pic.twitter.com/jfwzM7sfHz
— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) November 23, 2016
Once 11.15am hit...
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALL RIGHT!
— NQ Cowboys (@nthqldcowboys) November 24, 2016
Our 2017 season draw is out now: https://t.co/TVRIUYKiLb#ridemcowboys pic.twitter.com/NaFcgjtaqX
The Official 2017 South Sydney Rabbitohs Draw has been released!
— South Sydney (@SSFCRABBITOHS) November 24, 2016
Check it out here: 📋 https://t.co/PJw8tB0Gu4 #GoRabbitohs pic.twitter.com/Z6cGMTUDad
The @NRL has just released our 2017 draw - take a look! 👀https://t.co/RT0bb5m1RU pic.twitter.com/tWntbsx35n
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) November 24, 2016
While it's impossible to please everyone, there were plenty of talking points to come from the draw once it was released.
Not too bad during origin. Sharks, bye and knights weekends before origin. #NRLDraw #proudtobeabulldog
— Sim11n (@simonferl) November 24, 2016
looks like a good #NRLDraw for next year. keen to see storm v sharks round 6 #UpUpCronulla ⚫️⚪️🔵
— Jamie Renee 🎄 (@jamiereneeh) November 24, 2016
Souths Panthers Canberra Storm..... talk about hitting the 2017 season running #NRLDraw @WestsTigers
— Daniel Jennings (@dcjennings97) November 24, 2016
Reducing five-day turnarounds was a key consideration when the draw was being put together, with a reduction from 31 in 2016 to 19.
Only one 5 day turnaround but it's a road trip to Brisbane #NRLDraw #pantherpride
— Scott Walker (@Wallski74) November 24, 2016
The Knights start their campaign on the road in Auckland, with many Newcastle supporters optimistic about the future.
Very Interesting @NRLKnights #NRLDraw 🏉Great to see Round 26 old boys day against defending premiers ... Can't wait for 2017
— GregMatheson (@greg_matheson) November 24, 2016
The premiers will play five of their first 21 games on a Thursday or Friday night, as some started to come to grips with the added exposure that comes with being the NRL's top side.
Wow @Cronulla_Sharks have a few Thursday and Friday night games! Interesting.... very different #NRLDraw #upupcronulla
— Mariam 💗 (@mary_k97) November 24, 2016
If the allure of downloading your club's fixtures wasn't enough, we're sure a Simpsons GIF would get any undecided Warriors fans across the line.
Download our 2017 draw here #WarriorNation 👉 https://t.co/EvHtf2ktvF#NRLDraw pic.twitter.com/zFY8iNSBUm
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) November 24, 2016
Wests Tigers put together one of the finest displays of emoji you're likely to see.
Our 2017 #NRLDraw.
— Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) November 24, 2016
🐰🐾🏠🚌👏⚡️🏠🐲🏠✈️🐮✝️🐶🏠🏆🏠🐰🏠✈️🐴💤🐲🐔🏠🏆⛱🏠🚌🌃💤🐦💙💛🏠✈️⛱🐾🐦🏠🐔🐮🏠🇳🇿🏠
Or, in case you can't figure that out...
⏩ https://t.co/mzOvParVoJ pic.twitter.com/jvlseYPEGQ
Another draw release day done and dusted.
The 2017 @Telstra Premiership #NRLDraw is here: https://t.co/6m0ixHJAwa #NRL pic.twitter.com/905F2xg3WV
— NRL (@NRL) November 24, 2016
