The NRL and Channel Nine want to cash in on the remarkable appeal and hype of super coach Wayne Bennett’s return to Brisbane by opening the 2015 season with a Broncos-Rabbitohs blockbuster on a Thursday night.

In his return home to the club he launched and spent more than two decades in charge of, Bennett will face South Sydney’s premiership-winning coach Michael Maguire in one of many fascinating duels to kick-off the year on March 5.

The season opener in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium before an expected sellout crowd will also pit Greg Inglis against Darius Boyd, Adam Reynolds on Ben Hunt, Luke Keary against Anthony Milford and Dylan Walker opposite Justin Hodges.

media_camera Wayne Bennett return to the Broncos has stirred huge public interest.

The NRL hopes to finalise the opening round next week before releasing it in the first week of December. The draw of their AFL rivals was released two weeks ago.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal fans will be treated to three live free-to-air matches on the Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon 4.15pm games for the entire season.

On the Friday night it is planned for Manly to play old rivals Parramatta, pitting champion forward Anthony Watmough and Will Hopoate against their old club.

The Daily Telegraph has campaigned for two years to get live football on free-to-air television.

And the last remaining hurdle has been cleared.

media_camera New Parramatta recruit Anthony Watmough is set to open the season against former club Manly.

Channel Nine, the clubs and the NRL all wanted it but rivals Fox Sports had an iron-clad contract to exclusively show the only live Sunday football.

Chief executive Patrick Delany has agreed to drop the clause to give fans more live footy.

Nine will run into scheduling problems early in the season with some games clashing with the Cricket World Cup.

Network chief executive David Gyngell has assured the NRL rugby league will be the priority on Nine’s main channel with the cricket moving to GEM whenever there is a clash.

The NRL is also working on scheduling issues involving Allianz Stadium while the cricket World Cup is being played.

Under World Cup rules, even venues in the vicinity of main ground have to be clear 24 hours before a game. The SCG will host four World Cup games.