NRL NRL 2025 - Finals Week 2

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Saturday 20th September
(1) Canberra Raiders vs (5) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (GIO Stadium - 19:50)

Sunday 21st September
(3) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs (7) Penrith Panthers (GIO Stadium - 16:05)


Preliminary Final: Friday, September 26, 7.50pm (AAMI Park)
Preliminary Final: Sunday, September 28, 4.05pm (Suncorp Stadium)

 

[kaiserchief13]

Seems unfair Raiders get 1 day less break than Sharks

 

[moto748]

It's only one day, the Raiders have home advantage, and they've avoided (so far) the Panthers. I wouldn't complain too much if I was them.

 

[Aucklander]

Atkins gets the 1st game, Klein the 2nd.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Seems unfair Raiders get 1 day less break than Sharks

Their own fault they whinged to get a Sunday game week 1.

 

[Jatz]

Seems unfair Raiders get 1 day less break than Sharks

Ricky Stuart wanted the Sunday game last week. They shot themselves in the foot by not winning.

 

[Roobs321]

they rested last round and had recent bye. Since Origin period the Mudgee game is probably the furthest many of them have had to travel, and that was off a bye. It’s more the 6 on 6 that’s the problem here, might catch up with them come Storm (if they get there).

 

[Jatz]

How have we not discussed the prelim week btw?

A Friday night and then a Sunday arvo. One team will essentially get a 2 day extra break leading into the GF.

I mean, what the actual ****?!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

How have we not discussed the prelim week btw?

A Friday night and then a Sunday arvo. One team will essentially get a 2 day extra break leading into the GF.

I mean, what the actual ****?!

Don't know what alternative they had really. Melbourne after week 1 became the top seed thus got the choice of Friday/Sunday. They were never going up against the AFL when the Lions could make it- would be practically impossible for people in Brisbane and suburbs to get there the AFL isn't finished till 5:15 good luck getting to Suncorp in peak hour by an 8pm kickoff.

Look it's weird but if you can give me an alternative I'm all ears. The only one I've heard is go to a Thursday/Friday one but really a Thursday prelim is just a no no.

Sunday's Broncos game rated through the roof, so Ch9 wanted one on Sunday

 

[eddiesmith]

How have we not discussed the prelim week btw?

A Friday night and then a Sunday arvo. One team will essentially get a 2 day extra break leading into the GF.

I mean, what the actual ****?!

Let’s hope their decision looks even more stupid by Saturday night.

 

[Jatz]

Don't know what alternative they had really. Melbourne after week 1 became the top seed thus got the choice of Friday/Sunday. They were never going up against the AFL when the Lions could make it- would be practically impossible for people in Brisbane and suburbs to get there the AFL isn't finished till 5:15 good luck getting to Suncorp in peak hour by an 8pm kickoff.

Look it's weird but if you can give me an alternative I'm all ears. The only one I've heard is go to a Thursday/Friday one but really a Thursday prelim is just a no no.

Sunday's Broncos game rated through the roof, so Ch9 wanted one on Sunday

What alternative? They could've completely disregarded the AFL for a start. They love crapping on about how they're the superior code and yet they go running away when push comes to shove.

The first prelim should've been Friday night, the second Saturday night.

It's absolutely absurd to have a grand final played where one club gets such a leg up.

I'd also be taking away the possibility of clubs requesting when they play. From now on, the highest ranked team plays the Friday night, the other final is the Saturday night. The other finals work back from there.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What alternative? They could've completely disregarded the AFL for a start. They love crapping on about how they're the superior code and yet they go running away when push comes to shove.

The first prelim should've been Friday night, the second Saturday night.

It's absolutely absurd to have a grand final played where one club gets such a leg up.

I'd also be taking away the possibility of clubs requesting when they play. From now on, the highest ranked team plays the Friday night, the other final is the Saturday night. The other finals work back from there.

No chance are they going up against the AFL GF (with the Lions who can make it) and especially if your plan is the Broncos playing then- have you been to Brisbane? It takes two hours to get from the suburbs to the CBD in peak. So basically you are asking quite a few fans to choose that’s ridiculous

The Sunday afternoon game rated through the roof and afternoon games are so much better to watch for fans. Get used to this ch9 wants Sunday finals and the lower seed will host it- don’t want it then come first and win your first final

The second prelim is still getting 7 days it’s not as if it’s 5 days

 

[Jatz]

No chance are they going up against the AFL GF (with the Lions who can make it) and especially if your plan is the Broncos playing then- have you been to Brisbane? It takes two hours to get from the suburbs to the CBD in peak. So basically you are asking quite a few fans to choose that’s ridiculous

The Sunday afternoon game rated through the roof and afternoon games are so much better to watch for fans. Get used to this ch9 wants Sunday finals and the lower seed will host it- don’t want it then come first and win your first final

The second prelim is still getting 7 days it’s not as if it’s 5 days

They're not going up against the AFL GF if the game is on 2 hours after the GF finishes.

This is all based on the possibility Brisbane even makes the GF of course, no sure thing.

I'm sorry, you will never make a successful argument that it's ok that one team gets 2 days extra rest before the biggest game of the season.

By the way, the Warriors final was just played up against the All Blacks.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

They're not going up against the AFL GF if the game is on 2 hours after the GF finishes.

This is all based on the possibility Brisbane even makes the GF of course, no sure thing.

I'm sorry, you will never make a successful argument that it's ok that one team gets 2 days extra rest before the biggest game of the season.

By the way, the Warriors final was just played up against the All Blacks.

No one in Australia bar a few Kiwis care about the All Blacks. It's a little different to an AFL final when one of the sides could be from Brisbane. Again you try getting from a suburb in Brisbane (say 30 mins in a straight line) and get to Suncorp in peak hour, it's taking 90 mins on an utter best case at that time. Why do fans have to choose when you can just play it Sunday and extra couple of days will make zero difference whatsoever, and if it's a sydney side you don't have to travel anyway.

Ch 9 wants a Sunday final- it rates and when they put in millions they are getting it and rightly so. The standard of footy is better during a day anyway, it's more attacking it's what you want to see rather than an ugly dewy night defensive bore.

 

[Jatz]

No one in Australia bar a few Kiwis care about the All Blacks. It's a little different to an AFL final when one of the sides could be from Brisbane. Again you try getting from a suburb in Brisbane (say 30 mins in a straight line) and get to Suncorp in peak hour, it's taking 90 mins on an utter best case at that time. Why do fans have to choose when you can just play it Sunday and extra couple of days will make zero difference whatsoever, and if it's a sydney side you don't have to travel anyway.

Ch 9 wants a Sunday final- it rates and when they put in millions they are getting it and rightly so. The standard of footy is better during a day anyway, it's more attacking it's what you want to see rather than an ugly dewy night defensive bore.

It wasn't about the Australians, the New Zealanders had to choose between the All Blacks and the Warriors (at the same time). Now the NRL is too scared to have a game that starts 2 hours after the AFL GF, on the basis a team might be playing in it? Absolute cowards.

Night games have always rated higher than day games. Why do you think there's always pressure to move the AFL GF to a night game.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It wasn't about the Australians, the New Zealanders had to choose between the All Blacks and the Warriors (at the same time). Now the NRL is too scared to have a game that starts 2 hours after the AFL GF, on the basis a team might be playing in it? Absolute cowards.

Night games have always rated higher than day games. Why do you think there's always pressure to move the AFL GF to a night game.

There were 4 games last week, the Raiders as the top seed requested Sunday so that's out, Friday was taken with Melbourne so that only left the two on Saturday. Be different this week if they made it. They actually gave the Warriors the better of the two where you only missed half of that all blacks game.

Sunday rated it's chops off last week, Ch 9 wants the Sunday not the Saturday. Night games are putrid in terms of quality, you can't throw the ball around as much, they are defensive bore games. Why am I sort of expecting the 'complaint' is that a night game would suit Penrith and not a day game where Brisbane have more points though?

 

[eddiesmith]

Atkins gets the 1st game, Klein the 2nd.

Means if we win this week, we’ll avoid entirely until the GF!!!

 

[PhatBoy]

To be honest, when the ‘disadvantaged’ team still gets a full week off, I don’t think it’s THAT big a deal. Recovery time comes into it of course if someone is in a race against time to beat an injury but in that case it becomes a one day thing not two because the alternative for the team that ends up backing up from Sunday would have only played on the Saturday anyway. There aren’t too many scenarios where the difference between a player getting up for the game the following week is whether they played on the Saturday night or the Sunday afternoon. What we are mostly talking about is one team having 9 days recovery/prep time and one having 7. It should be enough realistically.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

To be honest, when the ‘disadvantaged’ team still gets a full week off, I don’t think it’s THAT big a deal. Recovery time comes into it of course if someone is in a race against time to beat an injury but in that case it becomes a one day thing not two because the alternative for the team that ends up backing up from Sunday would have only played on the Saturday anyway. There aren’t too many scenarios where the difference between a player getting up for the game the following week is whether they played on the Saturday night or the Sunday afternoon. What we are mostly talking about is one team having 9 days recovery/prep time and one having 7. It should be enough realistically.

Yep 7 days is still massive that’s plenty. It’s not as if it’s 5 days or something. Both Mel and Bris who have earnt the rest have plenty who cares about the elimination final winners it’s meant to be tough from 5-8

 

[srobbo]

Does big Steve get up for the Dogs on Sunday? 9 day break might help. I think he comes off the bench if needed which I’d imagine they will.

 

[Greenstar5]

How have we not discussed the prelim week btw?

A Friday night and then a Sunday arvo. One team will essentially get a 2 day extra break leading into the GF.

I mean, what the actual ****?!

It certainly is strange. The Brisbane final could have been Saturday night 8pm. Not really a clash.


But as a fan of both codes. I like the difference this year from the NRL, outside last week Friday and Saturday night games, there is no clash for the series.

This weekend Finals Friday, DH Saturday and Sunday arvo. Awesome.

 

[Greenstar5]

Yep 7 days is still massive that’s plenty. It’s not as if it’s 5 days or something. Both Mel and Bris who have earnt the rest have plenty who cares about the elimination final winners it’s meant to be tough from 5-8

In a weird way it could work out. If Canberra win. Then 1 and 2 play Friday with 9 days to the GF. And say Penrith win that's 4th and 7th placed on the Sunday.

If Cronulla get through 2 weeks, then they have scored, but have also earned it by beating Canberra and Melbourne away.

 

[Jatz]

Does big Steve get up for the Dogs on Sunday? 9 day break might help. I think he comes off the bench if needed which I’d imagine they will.

Surely not. That's not the kind of injury you want to rush back from either.

 

[Jatz]

To be honest, when the ‘disadvantaged’ team still gets a full week off, I don’t think it’s THAT big a deal. Recovery time comes into it of course if someone is in a race against time to beat an injury but in that case it becomes a one day thing not two because the alternative for the team that ends up backing up from Sunday would have only played on the Saturday anyway. There aren’t too many scenarios where the difference between a player getting up for the game the following week is whether they played on the Saturday night or the Sunday afternoon. What we are mostly talking about is one team having 9 days recovery/prep time and one having 7. It should be enough realistically.

How many times during the season is there a 2 day discrepancy in the fixture? Now they're going to do it ahead of their biggest game?

A week may well be a long time but no one will ever convince me you wouldn't rather the 9 days.

 

[PhatBoy]

How many times during the season is there a 2 day discrepancy in the fixture? Now they're going to do it ahead of their biggest game?

A week may well be a long time but no one will ever convince me you wouldn't rather the 9 days.

But it’s 2 instead of 1, not 2 instead of 2. That’s the thing. If it was Friday and Saturday no one would bat an eyelid and say ‘the team with one less day is at a disadvantage because they’ve got 8 days to prepare instead of the other team’s 9.’

They’re missing out on 18 hours less recovery really.

I’ve never ever seen a team complain about having a ‘quirk of the draw’ where they’re playing back to back Saturday or Sunday or Friday games because a week is easily enough time to prepare for a game.

As I said if you have a player who is ‘on a knife’s edge’ so to speak then it becomes a bit different, granted. But in general I don’t see it making much of a difference.