The NRL reportedly pulled a late finals scheduling switch to avoid a clash with the AFL, despite the move significantly disadvantaging the teams impacted.
As Cowboys coach Todd Payten revealed in his press conference after beating the Bulldogs on Saturday night, the club had been led to believe they would host their final next Sunday.
But that changed after the Sea Eagles choked against the Sharks on Sunday and handed the Dogs a home final.
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Bulldogs forward Max King joins the Fox League podcast to go inside the Bulldogs’ remarkable 2024 revival and chat about the impact of coach Cameron Ciraldo, captain Stephen Crichton and the club’s renowned defensive system
The Canterbury-Manly game was expected to be played next Saturday night and would have been if the Sea Eagles were hosting.
But with the game now being played at Accor Stadium, the NRL didn’t want it to clash with the GWS-Brisbane AFL game at the same precinct next Saturday night.
For that reason the clash was moved to Sunday and Cowboys-Knights game was moved to the Saturday night slot, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
It means the winner of the Bulldogs-Sea Eagles clash will have a two-day shorter turnaround for their semi-final against the loser of the Panthers and Roosters, who will kick off the finals series at Penrith on Friday night.
The Storm-Sharks qualifying final will be played on Saturday in Melbourne when there are no AFL finals being played.
Seibold ready to put big loss behind | 07:52
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Fitzgibbon chats short turnaround finals | 06:52
QUALIFYING AND ELIMINATION FINALS
To be played across Friday September 13 to Sunday September 15
First Qualifying Final: [1] Melbourne Storm vs [4] Cronulla Sharks
Saturday September 14, 4:05pm at AAMI Park
First Elimination Final: [5] North Queensland Cowboys vs [8] Newcastle Knights
Saturday September 14, 7:50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Second Elimination Final: [6] Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs [7] Manly Sea Eagles
Sunday September 15, 4:05pm at Accor Stadium
Second Qualifying Final: [2] Penrith Panthers vs [3] Sydney Roosters
Friday September 13, 7:50pm at BlueBet Stadium
SEMI-FINALS
To be played across Friday September 20 to Saturday September 21
First Semi Final: Loser of First Qualifying Final (Storm-Sharks) vs Winner of First Elimination Final (Cowboys-Knights)
Full details TBC
Second Semi Final: Loser of Second Qualifying Final (Panthers-Roosters) vs Winner of Second Elimination Final (Bulldogs-Sea Eagles)
Full details TBC
PRELIMINARY FINALS
To be played across Friday September 27 to Saturday September 28
First Preliminary Final: Winner of First Qualifying Final (Storm-Sharks) vs Winner of Second Semi Final (One of Panthers, Roosters, Bulldogs or Sea Eagles)
Full details TBC
Second Preliminary Final: Winner of Second Qualifying Final (Panthers-Roosters) vs Winner of First Semi Final (One of Storm, Sharks, Cowboys or Knights)
Full details TBC
NRL GRAND FINAL
Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final
Sunday 6th October, 7:30pm at Accor Stadium, Sydney
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