By Tyson Otto

Copyright news

The NRL on Monday night announced the fixtures for the remaining finals series with the Melbourne Storm potentially handed a competitive advantage other clubs would be furious about.

The Broncos are reportedly the most frustrated with club legends Gorden Tallis and Corey Parker slamming league officials for the sudden shift to Sunday afternoon football.

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Parker on Tuesday scorched the league over the decision to schedule the Melbourne Storm’s preliminary final on Friday, September 26. It gives the Melbourne club — or the winner of Saturday’s semi-final between Canberra and Cronulla — a full two day advantage to recover and prepare for the Grand Final on October 5 at Accor Stadium.

The Broncos will then host the winner of the semi-final between the Bulldogs and Panthers — giving the victor just seven days to prepare for the biggest game of the season.

In the most chaotic week of the year, Parker pointed out the extra two days of rest is a significant advantage.

“The more you think about this the worse it gets,” he said on SEN Queensland’s breakfast show.

“It is so lop-sided, poorly done and selfish from the NRL.”

“Melbourne take on the winner of Raiders v Sharks on Friday week, the Broncos take on Panthers or Dogs.

“If you are Storm you have nine days to prepare for a Grand Final.

“If you are the Broncos, you finish the game Sunday and get down to Sydney before you have a Grand Final in a few days, throw in training, recovery, a Dally M and appearances, it’s ridiculous.”

It will be the first NRL preliminary final on a Sunday since 2007 and the first time ever that the prelims have been space out across Friday and Sunday.

The NRL prelim fixture means rugby league will avoid a clash with the AFL Grand Final, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 with first bounce set for 2.30pm AEST.

The NRL has been accused by others of “running scared” from the AFL — and Parker is frustrated the Saturday night timeslot is not being used.

“Friday-Saturday has always been the prelim schedule – forever and a day,” he said.

“It leaves eight days to prepare for the game of your life. Now it’s six days for the Broncos if they proceed, eight days for the other team. It’s so stupid.

“Hypothetically, if Brisbane and Melbourne progress to the Grand Final. Storm have 48 hours more recovery and preparation for the biggest games of their lives. And they want the players to jam everything in.

“The week is like this: Sunday the prelim for the Broncos and Sydney team. Monday is recovery, Tuesday is the Dally M, Wednesday is travel, Thursday training – don’t forget they have to train and then Friday off. Saturday is captains run then Sunday game day.

“Also, don’t forget, you have to jam in a media day, a NRL fan engagement event in Sydney which has been signed off, recovery and training.

“If you’re the Sydney team and you win in Brisbane, you have to leave straight after the game, fly back to Sydney. You won’t be home in your own bed until about midnight Sunday night. The other team that is through did it on Friday night.

“Then it’s up Monday to get through all those things done before a game Sunday. It’s ridiculous.”

His SEN co-host, Aussie cricket legend Ian Healy also called it “ridiculous” and “horrible”.

In a segment on Fox League’s NRL 360, Broncos icon Tallis was also disappointed, saying: “Nine days, it is an advantage.

“Why don’t they move the Storm to the Saturday. I know it’s the AFL Grand Final, but it’s going to be finished for two hours.

He went on to say: “It shouldn’t stop our game.”

The NRL and broadcast rights holders Fox League and Channel 9 have reportedly been blown away by the recent Sunday afternoon timeslot ratings boom.

As first reported by Code Sports journalist Pete Badel, Sunday’s clash between the Raiders and Broncos was the highest-rating NRL finals game on Foxtel.

A staggering 767,000 viewers watched the game on Fox.

It’s one of the reasons Cronulla premiership winner Chad Townsend said on the Today show he understood why the league has made the radical call.

He said the additional two day break was “not necessarily” an advantage for the team that wins the Friday night preliminary final.

“What it does do is give the families, the fans a timeslot to go watch a great game of footy on the Sunday,” he said.

“Sunday afternoon football, finals football, we saw the scenes out of GIO Stadium on the weekend, Suncorp is going to be buzzing next week.

“We want to see as many NRL fans as can… I love the timeslot.”

NRL commentators on social media did not agree with the former Cronulla halfback.

NRL journalist Lachlan Jeffery posted: “Are the NRL completely stupid?

“Everybody who has been involved in the farcical scheduling of this finals series needs to be sacked from their position and banned for life from ever having involvement in the game again.

Radio commentator Matt Roberts also wrote: “Staggering. I mean I know why they’re doing it, but why not play the Brisbane game on Saturday and the Melbourne game on the Sunday?”

High profile X account “The Oracle” posted on X: Talk about giving a team a leg up.

“Can’t believe it’s not Friday/Saturday.”

NRL 2025 FINALS FIXTURES (All times AEST)

WEEK 1 – QUALIFYING AND ELIMINATION FINALS – SEPTEMBER 12-14

2nd Qualifying Final: Storm (2nd) def Bulldogs (3rd), 26-18

Friday September 12, 7.50pm at AAMI Park

2nd Elimination Final: Panthers (7th) def Warriors (6th), 24-8

Saturday September 13, 4.05pm at Go Media Stadium

1st Elimination Final: Sharks (5th) def Roosters (8th), 20-10Saturday September 13, 7.50pm at Shark Park

1st Qualifying Final: Broncos (4th) def Raiders (1st), 29-28 after golden point

Sunday September 14, 4.05pm at GIO StadiumWEEK 2 – SEMI-FINALS – SEPTEMBER 20-21

First Semi Final: First Qualifying Final loser (Raiders) vs First Elimination Final winner (Sharks)

Saturday September 20, 7:50pm at GIO Stadium

Second Semi Final: Second Qualifying Final loser (Bulldogs) vs Second Elimination Final winner (Panthers)

Sunday September 21, 4:05pm at Accor Stadium

WEEK 3 – PRELIMINARY FINALS – SEPTEMBER 26-28

Second Preliminary Final: Second Qualifying Final winner (Storm) vs First Semi Final winner (Raiders or Sharks)

Friday September 26, 7:50pm at AAMI Park

First Preliminary Final: First Qualifying Final winner (Broncos) vs Second Semi Final winner (Bulldogs or Panthers)

Sunday September 28, 4:05pm at Suncorp Stadium

NRL GRAND FINAL 2025

Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final

Sunday October 5, 7:30pm at Accor Stadium

WHEN IS THE NRL GRAND FINAL?

The 2025 NRL Grand Final is scheduled for Sunday October 5 at 7:30pm from Accor Stadium.