NRL Finals week 2 schedule: Free-to-air channel, free live stream, start time for every match this weekend

The 2024 NRL Finals series began with a bang in Week 1, and ahead of this weekend's two matches, the stakes are ramped up a couple of notches with all four sides involved facing the prospect of elimination. This weekend's two semifinals pit the sides who finished third, fourth, fifth and seventh on the ladder against each other, all of whose seasons are on the line.

Minor Premiers Melbourne Storm and three-time defending champions Penrith Panthers were the biggest winners in Week 1, thumping the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Sydney Roosters respectively to each book themselves a preliminary final spot and a week off. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights, however, saw their seasons come to an end.

As the 2024 NRL Finals Series and countdown to the Grand Final rolls on into a second week, The Sporting News is on hand to bring you the latest scheduling, TV and live streaming information, and start times for both of this weekend's must-see matches.

NRL Finals Week 2 schedule, fixtures

How to watch NRL Finals Week 2: TV channel, free live stream

TV channel: Fox League
Free-to-air channel: Channel Nine
Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, Nine Network

NRL Finals matches will be broadcast live on Fox League, with live streaming also available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

Every match across the first week of the end-of-season Finals series will be available for live streaming and replay on Kayo Sports. New users of Kayo can currently sign up for a FREE trial.

Select matches are also being shown on free-to-air TV channel, Channel Nine, and their streaming service Nine Now.

With only two games this weekend as the respective semifinals kick-off, all eyes will be on Allianz Stadium in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, which will play host to both matches. Cronulla kick things off against the Cowboys on Friday, following their loss to Melbourne in Week 1 and North Queensland's closely-fought victory over the Knights.

Saturday will then see the Roosters, who call Allianz Stadium home on a bi-weekly basis, face Sydney rivals Manly in their semifinal, having been thoroughly second-best against Penrith last time out. The Sea Eagles, meanwhile, edged the Bulldogs in one of the best, most unpredictable matches of 2024 so far.

NRL Finals Week 2 preview 

Week 1 of the 2024 NRL Finals certainly brought the fireworks, with all four games being played in front of bumper crowds with wonder tries aplenty. The three-time defending Premiers kicked things off on home soil, and Penrith Panthers certainly brought their A-game in a dominant 30-10 victory over the Roosters – flying into a 20-0 lead after just 22 minutes.

Not to be outdone, this season's number one side racked up an even bigger win in game two. The Sharks headed south to AAMI Park in Melbourne, but were blown away by a relentless Storm side 37-10; hooker Harry Grant scoring a hat-trick in a one-sided second half as the Minor Premiers march one step further towards the Grand Final.

The elimination finals followed, and both were much closer affairs, beginning with a toe-to-toe battle between the Cowboys and Knights in Townsville. The lead changed hands three times overall as Kalyn Ponga and Tom Dearden came to the fore, but following a late Newcastle sin-bin, it was the latter who strolled over for the final try to seal a 28-16 win for North Queensland.

And so to Sydney, for the final match of Week 1, and the closest match so far between the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles. Hosts Canterbury flew out of the blocks to open up an early 16-0 lead, but Manly kept themselves within touching distance and saved the best for last – Tolu Koula's individual brilliance levelling things up with nine minutes left, before Reuben Garrick iced a 24-24 win from the tee.