The penultimate match of the 2024 NRL campaign is upon us, and that means we're just 80 minutes away from the end-of-season Grand Final next weekend. Melbourne Storm have already booked their place, leaving it up to the winner of this Preliminary Final between the Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to see who'll join them in the Sydney decider.
Winners of the NRL in 2021, 2022 and 2023, Penrith have already made a statement of intent in the 2024 Finals Series by thumping the Sydney Roosters in their qualifying final. The Sharks, meanwhile, have not had the luxury of a week off like their Sydney neighbours, bouncing back from a Week 1 defeat against Melbourne by beating the North Queensland Cowboys last time out.
The Sporting News is on hand to bring you all the latest TV schedule information, live streaming and start times for this NRL Preliminary Finals match, as the Panthers and Sharks do battle to decide who'll face off against the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final on Sunday, October 6.
How to watch Panthers vs. Sharks: Free-to-air channel, free live stream
TV channel: Fox League, Channel Nine
Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, Nine Now
The Penrith Panthers vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL Preliminary Final match will be broadcast live on Fox League and free-to-air on Channel Nine, with live streaming also available via Kayo Sports, Nine Now and the Foxtel network.
This match, and every single one across the entire NRL Finals series in 2024, will be available both via live streaming and on replay with Kayo.
New users to Kayo can currently sign up to a FREE trial.
Panthers vs. Sharks NRL Preliminary Finals start time
This NRL Finals Week 3 clash takes place at Accor Stadium in Sydney, NSW and kicks off on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 7:50 p.m. local time (AEST).
Here's how that time translates to different Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Saturday, September 28 | 7:50 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Saturday, September 28 | 7:20 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Saturday, September 28 | 5:50 p.m. |
Panthers vs. Sharks team lists for NRL Preliminary Finals match
| Panthers team list | Sharks team list |
1. Dylan Edwards 14. Brad Schneider 18. Casey McLean | 1. Will Kennedy 15. Jack Williams 20. Mawene Hiroti |
Panthers vs. Sharks NRL Preliminary Final match preview
The Panthers come into this Preliminary Final off the back of a week's rest, having thumped the Roosters 30-10 in Week 1. Penrith flew out of the blocks at BlueBet Stadium and were 22-0 up inside the first 20 minutes, before surviving a second-half Roosters rally to round off the scoring late on and book their passage to the prelims with a comfortable victory.
Cronulla have taken the hard road to sealing their Preliminary Final spot though, having been well beaten by the Storm in Week 1 at AAMI Park. The Sharks went blow-for-blow with Melbourne in the first 40 minutes but proved no match for them in the second half as Harry Grant's hat-trick led the hosts to a convincing 37-10 win.
However, the Sharks raised their game to new heights in their Semi Final showing against the Cowboys last week, producing a first-half performance for the ages to lead North Queensland 24-0 going into the break. Former Shark Valentine Holmes led a Cowboys fightback in the second period, but Cronulla kept them at bay to see the game out 26-18.
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