We're just days away from the 2024 NRL Grand Final, but there is still plenty to be decided before Stadium Australia hosts the biggest match of the season on Sunday, October 6. With little over a week to go, the Preliminary Finals will decide the make-up of the 2024 season decider, as the final four sides still in contention all put their campaigns on the line.
Last week's semifinals saw six become four in the running to lift the Provan-Summons Trophy on Grand Final day, as both the North Queensland Cowboys and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles bowed out of Finals contention, with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Sydney Roosters advancing to keep their 2024 campaigns alive.
As the 2024 NRL Finals Series and countdown to the Grand Final rolls on into its penultimate 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 Preliminary Finals schedule, fixtures
| Date/Time (AEST) | Match | TV channel / live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Fri. September 27 (7.50 pm) | Melbourne Storm vs. Sydney Roosters | Fox League, Nine Network / Nine Now, Kayo, Foxtel |
| Sat. September 28 (7.50 pm) | Penrith Panthers vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Fox League, Nine Network / Nine Now, Kayo, Foxtel |
How to watch NRL Preliminary Finals: TV channel, free live stream
TV channel: Fox League
Free-to-air channel: Channel Nine
Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, Nine Network
NRL Preliminary Finals matches will be broadcast live on Fox League and the free-to-air Channel Nine, with live streaming also available on Kayo Sports, Nine Now and Foxtel.
Every match across 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.
The first Preliminary Final of 2024 pits two sides who have dominated the NRL for well over a decade against each other at AAMI Park. This year's Minor Premiers the Storm will be fresh after a week off, but the Sydney Roosters will be keen to bring their winning form to Melbourne after sending Manly packing last weekend.
The following day sees the penultimate match of the 2024 season play out, between the three-time defending Premiers and the only side still in contention with just one Grand Final win to their name in history – let alone in recent years. However, the Sharks were in top form against North Queensland last week, and will hope to spark a frenzy when they head west to face the Penrith Panthers.
NRL Preliminary Finals preview
The top four sides on the 2024 ladder have continued to show they are this year's leading sides in the Finals, dumping the sides who finished fifth to eighth out of contention in clinical fashion. The Storm were in a clinical mood in their qualifying final two weeks ago, facing the fourth-placed Sharks and showing no mercy in a 37-10 victory at AAMI Park.
Melbourne face a Roosters side who have thoroughly bounced back from a heavy defeat of their own in Week 1, facing the seventh-placed Sea Eagles in an all-Sydney semifinal clash and establishing a strong first-half lead at Allianz Stadium. A depleted Manly hit back in the second half, but the Roosters finished even stronger to qualify for the Prelims with a 40-16 thumping.
Penrith were the side who had put Sydney to the sword in Week 1, consigning the Roosters to a semifinal with a dominant 30-10 win out West at BlueBet Stadium. The Panthers sprang into a 22-0 lead within 20 minutes of a ferocious first half, and will be looking to give another one of their Sydney neighbours, the Sharks, similar treatment this weekend.
Like the Roosters, the Sharks have also done things the hard way in this year's Finals series, and faced a resurgent Cowboys side in their semifinal. However, any doubts over Cronulla's credentials were soon put to bed in a one-sided first half showing, heading into the sheds 24-0 up and surviving a second-half Cowboys revival to see out a 26-18 victory and reach the Prelims.
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