By Tallon Smith

The draw for the 2024 season of the Barwon Darling Rugby League has been released, with one team returning from recess and an action-packed 10 weeks of football scheduled.

Six teams will contest the senior competition this year, with the Brewarrina Golden Googars, Bourke Warriors, Collarenebri Bulldogs, Goodooga Magpies and Walgett’s Newtown Wanderers being joined by the returning Walgett Dragons, who spent last year in recess.

The competition will kick off on May 4 with a trip for Brewarrina to Lightning Ridge in the Juniors (as the Ridge Redbacks are only fielding Juniors and Ladies League Tag), and Goodooga in the seniors.

The Grand Final rematch will be held in round 2 on May 11, when last year’s runners-up the Bourke Warriors host the defending premiers Goodooga, before a return bout in Magpie country on June 22.

The regular season will conclude on July 21, when Bourke faces Brewarrina at home at Davidson Oval.

The finals series will then follow, with 2nd playing 3rd on July 27, followed by the winner progressing to play the Minor Premiers in the Grand Final on August 3.

Two general byes have been scheduled, with no football to take place on the June Long Weekend and the weekend of July 13/14.

The full regular season draw is listed below, with the home team listed first in Rounds 1-5, and the reverse from Rounds 6-10.

Full 2024 BDRL Draw

Round 1 (4-5 May)

Goodooga v Brewarrina

Walgett v Bourke

Collarenebri v Newtown Walgett

Round 2 (11-12 May)

Bourke v Goodooga

Newtown Walgett v Brewarrina

Collarenebri v Walgett

Round 3 (18-19 May)

Newtown Walgett v Bourke

Brewarrina v Collarenebri

Goodooga v Walgett

Round 4 (25-26 May)

Goodooga v Newtown Walgett

Collarenebri v Bourke

Walgett v Brewarrina

Round 5 (1-2 June)

Collarenebri v Goodooga

Brewarrina v Bourke

Newtown Walgett v Walgett

Round 6 (15-16 June)

Goodooga v Brewarrina

Walgett v Bourke

Collarenebri v Newtown Walgett

Round 7 (22-23 June)

Bourke v Goodooga

Newtown Walgett v Brewarrina

Collarenebri v Walgett

Round 8 (29-30 June)

Newtown Walgett v Bourke

Brewarrina v Collarenebri

Goodooga v Walgett

Round 9 (6-7 July)

Goodooga v Newtown Walgett

Collarenebri v Bourke

Walgett v Brewarrina

Round 10 (20-21 July)

Collarenebri v Goodooga

Brewarrina v Bourke

Newtown Walgett v Walgett