The Newcastle Knights have secured their place in the NRL's marquee Magic Round for 2026, with the draw confirming they will battle the Gold Coast Titans at Brisbane's iconic Suncorp Stadium.
Magic Round Showdown Confirmed
In a fixture announced ahead of the full schedule release, the Knights will take on the Titans on Sunday, May 17, 2026. This match will be the first of a triple-header on the day, followed by clashes between the Warriors and Broncos, and the Panthers and Dragons.
Significantly, the Gold Coast will be designated the home team for this encounter. This is crucial news for Knights fans, as it means the club will not lose an additional home game at McDonald Jones Stadium. The Knights are already scheduled to play one less home fixture in 2026 due to their historic season-opening match in Las Vegas.
New Coaches, Fresh Rivalry
The 2026 Magic Round clash sets the stage for a compelling contest between two clubs looking to rebuild. Both the Knights and Titans finished near the bottom of the ladder in 2025, and both will be led by new head coaches.
Justin Holbrook has taken the reins at the Knights, while Josh Hannay is the new mentor for the Titans. This will be the second time the two teams have met in a Magic Round fixture, reigniting memories of their classic 2024 encounter, which the Knights controversially won 28-24.
NRLW Magic Round Heads to the Regions
In a significant shift for the women's game, the NRLW Magic Round will be moving from Newcastle to the regional centre of Wagga Wagga in 2026. McDonald Jones Stadium hosted the inaugural women's event this year, but the event is now rotating as part of a NSW government funding commitment to host it in regional areas for three years.
The NRLW Magic Round is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, forming part of the competition's fifth round. The Newcastle Knights women's team has been drawn to face the Parramatta Eels in the final match of the weekend.
The complete NRL and NRLW draws for the 2026 season are set to be officially released this Friday, providing fans with the full picture of the upcoming season.
