Threepeat Premiers Penrith will open the 2024 NRL Finals against the Sydney Roosters at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
The NRL has this evening confirmed the schedule for week one of the Finals with the Panthers and Roosters showdown handed the prime Friday night slot.
The game will kick off at 7.50pm with tickets on sale tomorrow to members and the general public on Tuesday. A sellout is expected.
The Panthers secured a home Final thanks to a scrappy 18-12 win over the Titans last night. The victory ensured Penrith’s fifth consecutive top two finish.
It will give Penrith fans a second chance to say goodbye to their beloved home ground, with last night’s Farewell Penrith Park celebrations extended into a second week. Work to redevelop the stadium will commence in the coming months.
And it will mark another special occasion in Panthers history with Isaah Yeo to equal Steve Carter as the most capped Panther of all-time, when he plays game 243.
The Finals will continue on Saturday when Melbourne host Cronulla at AAMI Park at 4.05pm.
On Saturday night, North Queensland will host Newcastle at QLD Country Bank Stadium at 7.50pm. The Knights grabbed eighth spot thanks to victory over the Dolphins today.
A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon when Canterbury host Manly at 4.05pm in a do-or-die contest. The Sea Eagles missed out on a home Final after a 40-20 loss to the Sharks at Brookvale earlier today.
The Bulldogs game was originally set to be on Saturday night but the NRL has shifted the game to Sunday to avoid a clash with the AFL Semi Final and a concert at Sydney Olympic Park.
All Finals games are live on Fox Sports and Channel Nine.
Penrith’s second place finish means they will live to fight another day if they lose to the Roosters on Friday night. A victory would see them get a week off and advance straight to a Preliminary Final.
“We have some great match-ups in the Finals Series week one and in this Premiership, any team can win on the day,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.
NRL FINALS WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
Qualifying Final: Friday, September 13, 7.50pm (EST), BlueBet Stadium
Penrith Panthers (2) v Sydney Roosters (3)
Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 14, 4.05pm (EST), AAMI Park
Melbourne Storm (1) v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (4)
Elimination Final: Saturday, September 14, 7.50pm (EST), Qld Country Bank Stadium
North Queensland Cowboys (5) v Newcastle Knights (8)
Elimination Final: Sunday, September 15, 4.05pm (EST), Accor Stadium
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6) v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (7)
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.