The reformed Panthers play in Bathurst in their first game, before three home games in a row before the byes.

After the byes their run gets more difficult, with five away games in the back end of the season, including two trips to Orange and two to Bathurst. 

Orange Tigers have a horror run into the 2018 season, with just the one game at their new home ground in the first two months of the season.

The Tigers also have to wait until round three for their first game at the new Waratahs Oval at Waratahs Sportground in North Orange, playing away in Dubbo in round one on April 28 before three trips to Bathurst and one to Parkes before two weeks off.

After the second bye, Orange plays six home games in a row, giving them a chance to come to home with a wet sail on the larger and longer Waratahs oval, which is the biggest ground in the competition.

The grand final rematch with the Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws will be in Bathurst in round five, while the two sides also clash in the final round of the season in a potential finals preview, which is also in Bathurst.

The representative round is one June 2, with the June long weekend the week afterwards, giving all teams two byes in a row. 

A third bye is on July 7 for the Nowra Representative Carnival. 

In Bathurst, the season kicks off with a Bushrangers double-header at George Park in Bathurst, with the local derby – Outlaws vs Rebels – from 10.30am, with Giants hosting the returning Parkes Panthers straight afterwards at 2.30pm.

Reigning premiers Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws only leaves Bathurst once before the two weeks off – a trip to Parkes in round two – before just three trips in the back half of the season, to Dubbo, Orange and Parkes again before they meet the Tigers in the final round. 

Their stablemates Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels have a tougher opening to the season, heading to Dubbo and Orange in the first three rounds, and become the first side to take on the Tigers on their own turf. 

It’s the first of two games in Orange for the Rebels, who also have back-to-back trips to Parkes in round 11 and 12, followed by another trip to Dubbo.

Cross-town rivals Bathurst Giants don’t leave Bathurst until round nine, giving them a springboard to launch into the season with a strong start, playing all but one of their away games against Bathurst-based sides. 

However, in the final seven rounds they play in Bathurst just once. 

Dubbo have three trips to Bathurst in their first five rounds, but four of their last six rounds are at home, facing trips to Orange and Bathurst – to take on the Rebels – in their run home.

The women’s draws closely follow the men’s – with the addition of a Cowra side meaning the Bathurst teams won’t be as able to stick as close to home as the men.

Three of Cowra’s last four games are at home at Muylan Oval, with the rest of their games reasonably well spread out.