The 2023 NRL season is nearing the finals, with a number of key changes impacting the draw.
The inclusion of the Dolphins means this campaign features an extra round, and consequently, an additional bye for every team.
The Sporting News looks at the new bye round system for 2023.
MORE: Full NRL 2023 draw, schedule, results
How many byes does each team get in 2023?
The 2023 NRL draw sees each club receive three byes throughout the season.
The addition of the Dolphins - the first expansion team since the Gold Coast Titans in 2007 - brings the league size to 17 teams.
To accommodate the league size increase, an extra round has been added to the 2023 season, meaning the new campaign will be played over 27 rounds.
Like in seasons past, teams were given two byes during the mid-year State of Origin period, but will also spend an extra week off by themselves in a separate round.
Rounds 13-14, 16-17 and 19-20 respectively bookended each of the three Origin matches.
Which teams have the best and worst byes?
Whilst there are pros and cons to each team's bye round positioning, there are some clubs that will likely be pleased with their 2023 schedule.
In particular, the Parramatta Eels will potentially benefit from a Round 27 bye.
If they finish in the top eight, the draw affords them a week of rest to prepare for finals footy.
At the top end of the draw, teams such as the St. George-Illawarra Dragons and Manly Sea Eagles might have preferred a late-season bye.
Every team's bye rounds - NRL 2023 full schedule
Round 1
St. George-Illawarra Dragons
Round 2
Manly Sea Eagles
Round 3
Penrith Panthers
Round 4
Sydney Roosters
Round 5
Gold Coast Titans
Round 6
Cronulla Sharks
Round 7
Wests Tigers
Round 8
Canberra Raiders
Round 9
Melbourne Storm
Round 10
Newcastle Knights
Round 11
The Dolphins
Round 12
New Zealand Warriors
Round 13
Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm, Gold Coast Titans, Wests Tigers
Round 14
Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, Manly Sea Eagles
Round 15
North Queensland Cowboys
Round 16
Brisbane Broncos, The Dolphins, St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canberra Raiders, Gold Coast Titans, New Zealand Warriors
Round 17
Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, Wests Tigers
Round 18
Parramatta Eels
Round 19
Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters, Manly Sea Eagles, Melbourne Storm
Round 20
St. George-Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canberra Raiders
Round 21
The Dolphins
Round 22
New Zealand Warriors
Round 23
Canterbury Bulldogs
Round 24
North Queensland Cowboys
Round 25
Brisbane Broncos
Round 26
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 27
Parramatta Eels
