After a pandemic affected season, the NRL grand final will finally take place when the Melbourne Storm plays the Penrith Panthers in the 2020 NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 25. The game will be available on Nine and 9Now with pre-match coverage also available on Fox League, with kick-off expected at 7:30 pm.
The game is set to be played at ANZ Stadium. The game was originally planned to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the first time this century due to construction plans at ANZ Stadium, but those plans were scrapped due to Covid-19.
The match is a classic case of young blood verssus veteran talent as the Penrith Panthers play in their first grand final since 2003 and the Melbourne Storm play in their fourth decider since 2016.
The Melbourne Storm could potentially be farewelling their greatest ever player in captain Cameron Smith who has not confirmed whether or not he is retiring after this game.
The Penrith Panthers currently have the equal second-longest winning streak in NRL history with 17 wins, and if they win on Sunday will have the longest winning streak that includes a Grand Final win.
Gerard Sutton will referee the Grand Final this Sunday, Chris Butler and Todd Smith will be touch judges for the decider, and Steve Chiddy will be the Bunker Review Official.
The NRL also confirmed that 40,000 fans will be allowed to attend the game with up to 50 per cent capacity at ANZ Stadium.
At 6.30 pm ARIA Award winner Amy Shark, will perform at ANZ Stadium with a live performance headlined by her new single C’mon, featuring Blink 182’s Travis Barker.
Nine NRL Grand Final Coverage
Nine will serve up a full day of NRL programming from 10.00am, including Sports Sunday and the Sunday Footy Show broadcasting live from ANZ Stadium.
The NRLW Grand Final kicks off at 4.05pm, featuring the Roosters and Broncos. This will be followed by the announcement of the Rugby League Players Association’s Player’s Champion Award, given to the best male and female players of the year as voted by their peers.
The NRL Grand Final coverage will start from 7.30pm with Ray Warren leading the commentary team for the public broadcaster.
9Now will feature four exclusive streams, following the biggest names of the game. Two-player streams (Cameron Smith and Nathan Cleary) and two coach streams (Craig Bellamy and Ivan Cleary) will bring fans closer than ever to the action.
But the Sunday coverage doesn’t end there the full NSW and Queensland Origin squads will be revealed on Nine.
Nine NRL GRAND FINAL DAY SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
10:00am on Nine – The Greatest: NRL Grand Finals
12:00pm on Nine – Sports Sunday, LIVE from ANZ Stadium
1:00pm on Nine – Sunday Footy Show, LIVE from ANZ Stadium
3:00pm on Nine – NRL Grand Final Preview, LIVE from ANZ Stadium
4:00pm on Nine – NRLW Grand Final – Roosters v Broncos, LIVE from ANZ Stadium
6:00pm on Nine – Nine News
6:30pm on Nine – Pre-match Entertainment featuring Amy Shark, LIVE from ANZ Stadium
7:30pm on Nine – NRL GRAND FINAL – PANTHERS v STORM, LIVE from ANZ Stadium
Fox League Grand Final Coverage
Fox League begins the day from 8.00am day with the Top 5 Grand Finals of the 80’s and 90’s, the masterclass final day performances of Cooper Cronk, Andrew Johns, and Billy Slater before the NRLW 2020 Grand Final, hosted by Hannah Hollis – live on Fox League.
At 5.30pm Yvonne Sampson will host premiership winners Cooper Cronk, Braith Anasta and Michael Ennis on Finals Footy on Fox – Grand Final Preview.
8.00AM: TOP 5 GRAND FINALS OF THE 80’S
1984 – Bulldogs v Eels
1988 – Bulldogs v Tigers
1983 – Sea Eagles v Eels
1981 – Eels v Jets
1989 – Tigers v Raiders
10:30AM: TOP 5 GRAND FINALS OF THE 90’S
1992 – Broncos v Dragons
1991 – Panthers v Raiders
1999 – Storm v Dragons
1990 – Raiders v Panthers
1997 – Sea Eagles v Knights
1.00PM: TOP 5 GRAND FINAL SUPERSTARS
1978 (replay) Graham Eadie – Sea Eagles v Sharks
1982 – Brett Kenny – Sea Eagles v Eels
2001 – Andrew Johns – Eels v Knights
2012 – Cooper Cronk – Storm v Bulldogs
2017 – Billy Slater – Storm v Cowboys
3:30PM: NRLW FINALS FOOTY ON FOX
Panel: Hannah Hollis, Cooper Cronk plus NSW Women’s Origin players Kirra Dibb and Tiana Penitani
4:05PM LIVE: NRLW GRAND FINAL – BRONCOS VS ROOSTERS
Commentary: Brenton Speed, Steve Roach & Sam Bremner. Sideline: Lara Pitt
5:30PM-6:30PM: FINALS FOOTY ON FOX – GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
Yvonne Sampson, Cooper Cronk, Michael Ennis & Braith Anasta
The Grand Final will be followed by three State of Origin clashes on November 4, 11 and 18