The NRL have opted for a last-minute change of plans on their finals schedule, moving Canterbury and Manly to Sunday in a bid to avoid a clash with the AFL at Homebush.
League bosses confirmed details of their schedule on Sunday evening, with Penrith hosting the Sydney Roosters to open the series on Friday night.
Melbourne will then play at home to Cronulla on Saturday afternoon, before North Queensland face Newcastle in Townsville that night, with Manly to play the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
The NRL had initially planned on the Manly-Bulldogs clash being on Saturday night, with even Bulldogs GM Phil Gould publishing details ahead of time.
But Manly's 40-20 loss to Cronulla prompted a change of plans, as it meant the Sea Eagles lost the right to host their final against Canterbury, with the Bulldogs instead being the home team at Accor.
With AFL side GWS already locked in to host a Saturday night AFL final against Brisbane at Giants Stadium - also at Homebush - that would have created a logistical nightmare at Olympic Park, with more than 50,000 people expected for Canterbury's first final in eight years.
Moving that match to Sunday has also allowed the NRL to avoid the Cowboys hosting Newcastle in the daytime Townsville heat, as was initially planned.
But it will make for challenges further down the line in the finals series for head office.
The winner of the Canterbury-Manly match will now face only a six-day turnaround into the second week of the finals, against a far fresher loser of the Penrith and Roosters match.
However, the scheduling does mean the NRL will avoid having a preliminary final being played at Melbourne's AAMI Park, nearby the MCG, just hours after the AFL grand final finishes at that stadium.
Under the anticipated week-two and week-three schedule, the Storm will host a preliminary final on the night before the AFL grand final if they beat Melbourne next week.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo indicated the late reshuffle was caused by the tightness of the competition.
“After 27 rounds the final position in the top eight came down to the very last match,” Abdo said, referring to Newcastle's win over the Dolphins.
“In 2024 we have seen spectacular football, the most tries since 1998, 10 Golden Point games and almost a third of the matches decided by six points or less."
North Queensland will also still feel they carry a home-ground advantage next week.
While temperatures will likely drop below the forecast high of of 28 degrees by the time of a 7:50pm kick off, the Cowboys are 7-5 at home this year.
"We have a little bit of an advantage (in those conditions) because we have some experience in it. But that won't matter if you turn the ball over," coach Todd Payten said.
"We're a better team in Townsville, there is no doubt. I'm really excited and looking forward to it.''
The Cowboys booked a $60,000 chartered flight out of Sydney on Saturday night following their win over the Bulldogs, giving them an extra day of preparation.
"It comes at a fair expense, but it gives us an extra day at home with the families," Payten said.
"We don't waste a full day with travel. We would have got home at 4.30pm or 5pm (Sunday) if things were on time.
"(Instead) it (gave) the coaches a chance to get the review done on Saturday night.
"The players have a rest day Sunday and come in on Monday. It all counts."
NRL FINALS WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
QUALIFYING FINALS:
Friday 7:50pm: Penrith v Sydney Roosters at BlueBet Stadium
Saturday 4:05pm: Melbourne v Cronulla at AAMI Park
ELIMINATION FINALS:
Saturday night 7:50pm: North Queensland v Dolphins/Newcastle at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Sunday 4:05: Canterbury v Manly at Accor Stadium/4 Pines Park
