It’s already being used everywhere from your inbox to Australian courtrooms, but now artificial intelligence could be tasked with one of rugby league’s trickiest jobs: producing the 2026 NRL draw.
How will AI build the draw?
According to an interview with league boss Peter V’landys in the Sydney Morning Herald, AI will be used for the first time in 2026 to shape the competition’s schedule.
Details are scarce on how the technology will function, but in theory, AI can generate a full draft draw in minutes. At least, far faster than the months of back-and-forth negotiation between clubs, broadcasters, and the league. All of whom get a say in when particular matches take place.
The bigger question is whether AI’s “optimal” solution will align with the competing interests of the sport’s many stakeholders.
Here’s one I threw together in approximately 57 seconds. Because how hard can it be?
And the result:
How is the NRL draw typically built?
For years, the NRL’s draw has been managed by scheduling experts at Optimal Planning Solutions, recently acquired by sports data company Fastbreak. The process is far from simple. Clubs, broadcasters, and administrators all jostle for preferred match slots, marquee fixtures, and commercial priorities.
On top of that, the NRL calendar has grown more complex. Recent years have added permanent fixtures like Brisbane’s Magic Round, Las Vegas openers, and the mid-season State of Origin series. These “unmovable” events serve as anchors for the rest of the schedule, which must then be arranged to balance fairness for clubs, travel requirements, and broadcast ratings.
When will we see the robo-draw for the NRL?
If tradition holds, the 2026 NRL draw should be released in November this year. Fans and clubs alike will be watching closely to see whether AI produces a clean fixture list – or whether the first “robo-draw” delivers a few howlers along the way.
At the very least, fans will be able to complain about more than just The Bunker next year.
