Fairfax Media can reveal the NRL had all but locked in the draw for the final six rounds as far back as last year, which has created a huge problem for the game and Channel Nine, with several games that have little bearing on finals football scheduled for free-to-air television.

It is understood NRL powerbrokers are privately disappointed with the schedule, which didn't take into account Parramatta's salary cap crisis, the slumps of the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney, and Manly's stuttering form, when it was drafted more than seven months ago.

The NRL kept the draw secret from the 16 clubs, who were left bemused by some of the scheduling decisions when they saw the draw for the first time earlier in the week.

Channel Nine got the priority picks for their Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon matches, however they will be ruing the decision to overlook what could be a battle for the minor premiership when Melbourne host Cronulla in the final round.

The 15th-placed Roosters – before the Mitchell Pearce fiasco and before injuries cruelled their pre-season – were expected to be challenging for another title in 2016 and were subsequently given four free-to-air games in the run to the finals.

The round 22 Friday night game between Parramatta and Manly is likely to have no bearing on the outcome of the top eight, while it will be a similar situation when the Sea Eagles host wooden-spoon favourites Newcastle in the Sunday afternoon Channel Nine game in round 21.

The NRL had originally handed Channel Nine the rights to Saturday night football, but the free-to-air broadcaster sold the slot to Fox Sports on the proviso Channel Nine would host Thursday night football.

The agreement stretched the rugby league round to five days for most of the 26-week competition, creating a number of five-day turnarounds that would disadvantage clubs and impact on the welfare of players.

In an attempt to minimise the five-day turnarounds, the NRL, Channel Nine and Fox Sports agreed to pencil in the final six rounds of the season and only made adjustments to three matches when they released the draw on Friday.

"The NRL drew up a draft draw for the last six rounds during the broadcast negotiations," an NRL spokesperson told Fairfax Media.

"That was always subject to some change. We have made some switches to the draw to minimise five-day turnarounds over the last six rounds."

One of the changes made was for the Melbourne Storm, who were originally meant to travel to Townsville for a Monday night game against the Cowboys before backing up five days later at home to the Rabbitohs.

The mouth-watering round 21 clash between premiership heavyweights Melbourne and North Queensland, which pits Johnathan​ Thurston and Michael Morgan against Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, won't be shown on free-to-air TV.

Fox Sports are the big winners and will show that game in their 7.30pm Saturday night timeslot. Channel Nine has also selected the Newcastle-South Sydney game at Hunter Stadium as their Sunday afternoon match in round 25.

The end of Monday night football after this season will give the NRL the option of waiting until later in the year to fix the final six rounds in 2017.

The following year the broadcasters lose the right to choose matches with the NRL to gain complete control of the draw.