It's NRL Grand Final day, and that means the 2024 domestic Rugby League calendar in Australia is set for its ultimate, deciding match. The Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers face off in a rematch of the 2020 decider, with Melbourne looking to lift both the Provan-Summons trophy and Minor Premiership in the same year, and Penrith going for a fourth-straight Grand Final victory.
These two have been this season's standout sides by a distance in 2024, and both rubber-stamped their Premiership credentials with big wins in the Preliminary Finals last weekend. The Storm vanquished the Sydney Roosters 48-18 in Melbourne, while Penrith produced a highly-composed performance of their own to down the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26-6 at Accor Stadium.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of the 2024 NRL Grand Final, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news as a record-breaking, continents-spanning season draws to a close in front of a packed house in Sydney.
What time does Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers kick off?
The 2024 NRL Grand Final takes place at Accor Stadium in Sydney, NSW and kicks off on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. local time (AEDT).
Here's how that time translates to different Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern DaylightTime | Sunday, October 6 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Sunday, October 6 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sunday, October 6 | 4:30 p.m. |
Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch the 2024 NRL Grand Final match across Australia:
TV channel: Channel Nine
Live stream: Nine Now, Kayo Sports (on demand only)
The 2024 NRL Grand Final will be broadcast live on the free-to-air Channel Nine, who have exclusive TV rights to the biggest match on the Rugby League calendar in Australia.
While most matches across the NRL regular season and finals series are available to watch live and on catch-up with Kayo Sports, Channel Nine's exclusive rights means that if you want to stream the 2024 decider live in-game, your best option is Nine Now.
However, Sunday's Grand Final will be available on-demand with Kayo Sports. Highlights, as well as a full replay of the match will be ready to watch on Kayo in the aftermath of full-time, at roughly 9:30 p.m. local time (AEDT).
Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers lineups, team news
The Storm have had to make one enforced change ahead of the Grand Final, and it's a big one both in terms of impact and stature itself. Gigantic New Zealand international prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is banned for the big dance after a high shot on Sydney front-rower Lindsay Collins in the Preliminary Finals – which came in the opening 15 seconds of the match – and so he's replaced in the starting XIII by Tui Kamikamica as Lazarus Va'alepu comes onto the bench.
Penrith, meanwhile, are unchanged from their 26-6 victory over the Sharks last weekend, and have survived the ultimate injury scare to come into the decider with their full-strength team. Talisman and co-captain Nathan Cleary picked up a shoulder injury in the second half against Cronulla, but has been passed fit to play and will don the number 7 jersey for a fifth straight Grand Final.
| Melbourne Storm team list | Penrith Panthers team list |
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 14. Tyran Wishart 18. Grant Anderson | 1. Dylan Edwards 14. Brad Schneider 18. Casey McLean |
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