Nine has launched its free-to-air coverage of the 2023 NRL season, beginning on Thursday, March 2, on available Nine and 9Now.
Launching the new season in Brisbane, Nine’s Wide World of Sports celebrated the arrival of the Redcliffe Dolphins alongside its commentary team, featuring some of the greatest rugby league players of all time and current players from the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans.
In the biggest year ever for NRL on Nine, Wide World of Sports will take rugby league to new heights with over 140 games available live and free including NRL, NRLW, Men’s and Women’s State of Origin, and every finals game.
Nine’s NRL commentary team will be led by rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns, premiership-winning captains Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Brad Fittler, Paul Vautin, Paul Gallen, Darren Lockyer, and multiple premiership winners Billy Slater, Sonny Bill Williams and Phil Gould AM to provide the insight and analysis.
Nine’s NRLW team will again be headlined by dual internationals Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson. And in 2023, reigning NRLW premiership-winning captain Millie Boyle will also join Wide World of Sports to ensure Nine’s expanded coverage of the women’s game remains the best in the business.
Hosts James Bracey, Danika Mason and Emma Lawrence will be front and centre for Nine’s coverage, with Mat Thompson and Peter Psaltis calling all the action.
In 2023, the NRL Telstra Premiership will feature the most games on free-to-air TV in history – starting when Eels v Storm set the season alight on Thursday, March 2. Round 1 also includes the Panthers v Broncos blockbuster to kick off Friday Night Footy and the first NRL game for the Redcliffe Dolphins when they meet the Roosters on Sunday Arvo Footy at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Queenslanders will be able to follow the path of their four teams to the NRL finals with the best Broncos, Dolphins, Cowboys and Titans matches on show every week. Queensland sides will feature in 38 premium match-ups on free-to-air against the heavyweights of the competition including the Panthers, Eels, Roosters, Rabbitohs and Storm.
As the NRLW continues to grow with four new teams and an expanded competition in 2023, the 9Network will remain the true home of the women’s game, with coverage every week, back-to-back with NRL fixtures, and the new two-game Women’s State of Origin series.
The jewels in the crown on the rugby league calendar, State of Origin and the NRL Grand Final, will again be exclusive, live and free only on Channel 9HD and 9Now.
State of Origin – the most gripping annual sporting contest in the nation – comes to life in Adelaide this year with Origin I on Wednesday, May 31. Fans can watch all three games in the series with a lineup of the greatest players in Origin history calling the action, unprecedented access to Queensland and NSW coaches Billy Slater and Brad Fittler, plus additional camera angles to choose from on 9Now.
This Sunday, February 26, 9Now will pull back the curtain on the reigning NRL premiers, the Penrith Panthers, in a three-part documentary series. All the Way: Panthers’ Title Defence captures every step in the club’s pursuit of back-to-back titles in 2022, a feat achieved just once in the past 19 years.
Before the Dolphins begin life in the NRL on the 9Network on Sunday, March 5, Dawn of the Dolphins on Stan offers unprecedented access behind the scenes of their transition from successful community club into world’s toughest rugby league competition. Cameras track foundation coach Wayne Bennett and the club’s year-long preparations for NRL entry from the boardroom to the football department.
Hamish Turner, Director of 9Now and Programming, said: “The only place to watch the biggest NRL and NRLW games, including State of Origin and the NRL Grand Final, free and exclusive is on the home of rugby league, Channel 9 and 9Now.
“In 2023, we will provide the most free-to-air NRL and NRLW coverage ever with over 140 games across the season for all Australians to consume. We will screen the best NRL games every week in over 100 men’s fixtures.
“As we see audiences continuing to migrate to streaming, 9Now will be the destination for all our free programming, available anywhere, anytime. With games screened in full definition, viewers won’t miss a try or tackle with our new Startover function allowing fans to watch every game from the beginning during a live stream.
“With the cost of living at record highs, our offering will have footy fans covered for the whole season, with commentary from the greatest to have ever played the game; the iconic State of Origin series and the NRL Grand Final exclusively; and the women’s game by broadcasting the two Women’s State of Origin matches and the expanded ten-team NRLW competition.
“NRL season 2023 is all live and free on the home of rugby league in the biggest year ever for Nine’s Wide World of Sports.”
NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP 2023 ROUND 1
LIVE AND FREE ON CHANNEL 9HD OR TO STREAM ON 9NOW
Thursday Night Footy
Parramatta Eels v Melbourne Storm
Thursday, March 2
From 7.30pm AEDT
Friday Night Footy
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos
Friday, March 3
From 7.30pm AEDT
Sunday Arvo Footy
Redcliffe Dolphins v Sydney Roosters
Sunday, March 5
From 3.00pm AEDT
NRL on Nine in 2023: Show Lineup
The Billy Slater Podcast
New for 2023, every Monday of the season footy fans will get the hot take on the latest round from the greatest fullback ever to play the game: current Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater, with host Mark Levy.
Six Tackles with Gus
A must in your weekly NRL news and opinions digest. The man widely regarded as one of the smartest and most accomplished personalities in rugby league, Phil “Gus” Gould, sits down with Mat Thompson every week to give a sermon like no other on the greatest game of all. Available on all podcast platforms or to watch online.
Sunday Footy Show
Celebrating its 30th year on-air, the Sunday Footy Show hosted by Danika Mason with rugby league legends Andrew Johns, Billy Slater and Brad Fittler will cover all the action throughout the competition rounds and finals. The team will dissect and discuss all the news and big issues from the week, with special guests including Nathan Cleary, Adam Reynolds and Cameron Murray to preview each Sunday game on Channel 9 and 9Now. Gus Worland will join the news segment Inside the 10 throughout the season.
100% Footy
The best news show in rugby league returns to Monday nights on Channel 9 with the strongest opinions from the people who count. Phil Gould and Paul Gallen will square off on the hot topics while Danny Weidler and Michael Chammas deliver breaking news and host James Bracey keeps it all under control.
NRLWRAP
As the premier female rugby league competition in the world continues to grow, every angle of the NRLW is covered by host Emma Lawrence and former players Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson, in the only dedicated women’s rugby league show there is. Available on Channel 9 and 9Now.
FREDDY AND THE EIGHTH on 9NOW
Join rugby league’s eighth Immortal Andrew Johns and NRL legend Brad Fittler for their unique and quirky look at the game every week of the NRL season on 9Now. With these two together in the same room, be prepared for a wild dive into the weird and wonderful world of rugby league
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Top image: Nine’s NRL commentary team