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NRL slammed for “ridiculous and selfish” finals schedule
SEN • September 16th, 2025 9:21 am
The NRL has been slammed after announcing a “ridiculous and selfish” preliminary finals schedule which will leave at least one team at a major disadvantage.
In an 18-year first, the Grand Final qualifiers will be held across a Friday night and Sunday twilight, meaning one club will have 48 hours more recovery time to prepare for the biggest week of their lives.
Melbourne Storm will play the winner of the Raiders v Sharks on Friday, September 26th at AAMI Park, while the Broncos host either the Panthers or Bulldogs on the Sunday – the day after the AFL Grand Final.
The decision to revamp the schedule has been widely criticised, with SENQ’s Corey Parker furious with the impact it stands to have on whichever side wins the Sunday showdown.
“The more you think about this the worse it gets,” he said on SEN Breakfast. “It is so lop-sided, poorly done and selfish from the NRL.
“Melbourne take on the winner of Raiders v Sharks on Friday week, the Broncos take on Panthers or Dogs.
“If you are Storm you have nine days to prepare for a Grand Final.
“If you are the Broncos, you finish the game Sunday and get down to Sydney before you have a Grand Final in a few days, throw in training, recovery, a Dally M and appearances, it’s ridiculous.
“Friday-Saturday has always been the prelim schedule - forever and a day.
“It leaves eight days to prepare for the game of your life. Now it’s six days for the Broncos if they proceed, eight days for the other team. It’s so stupid.
“Hypothetically, if Brisbane and Melbourne progress to the Grand Final. Storm have 48 hours more recovery and preparation for the biggest games of their lives. And they want the players to jam everything in.
“The week is like this: Sunday the prelim for the Broncos and Sydney team. Monday is recovery, Tuesday is the Dally M, Wednesday is travel, Thursday training – don’t forget they have to train and then Friday off. Saturday is captains run then Sunday game day.
“Also, don’t forget, you have to jam in a media day, a NRL fan engagement event in Sydney which has been signed off, recovery and training.
“If you’re the Sydney team and you win in Brisbane, you have to leave straight after the game, fly back to Sydney. You won’t be home in your own bed until about midnight Sunday night. The other team that is through did it on Friday night.
“Then it’s up Monday to get through all those things done before a game Sunday. It’s ridiculous.”
While criticism of the NRL’s decision to space the games out has been significant, the Broncos are refusing to see it as an excuse.
As they look to end a 19-year trophy drought, Dave Donaghy said: “The reality is the decision has been made by the NRL and the Commission and it’s outside of our control.
“There’s no point worrying about it.
“It is what it is and I have no doubt the football guys will use the extra time to prepare for the game as best they can.
“There’s no point worrying about the Grand Final, we just have to focus on our next game, which is the prelim.”
