Change of Dates - Preliminary Finals

[Junior008]

RELEASE

The National Rugby League has amended the order of matches in Week Three of the Telstra Premiership Finals with the Melbourne Storm ‘First Preliminary Final’ (against the winner of this Saturday’s match between the Broncos and the Dragons) to be played on Saturday, September 26, at Etihad Stadium.

The Nine Network has today confirmed that it will extend its live broadcast of the match into Melbourne.
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Today’s decision is based on venue availability in Melbourneand is in line with advertised NRL policy around finals matches.

The match listed as the ‘Second Preliminary Final’ between the Bulldogs and the winner of the Eels and the Titans will be staged on Friday, September 25.

The National Rugby League has reserved its right to nominate the venue for this match (either ANZ Stadium or the Sydney Football Stadium) after the conclusion of this Friday’s game between the Eels and the Titans.

“The system allows us the flexibility to manage venue availability and to determine which game is best suited to a given stadium,” NRL Chief Operating Officer, Mr Graham Annesley, said today.
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“The Melbourne decision is a simple case of matching venue availability with the principle of Home Region Finals.
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“The venue for the Week 3 Friday night game involving the Bulldogs will be decided at the conclusion of this Friday’s game.”

Both matches will kick-off at 7.45pm.
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This has me very very puzzled and poses a few key challenges, if the Bulldogs are to play Parramatta which then assuming the game would be at ANZ - but I have learnt not to assume anything!

1\. Trying to get a 65 000 + people into the venue on a Friday Night!
2\. Seems crazy to have this Melbourne Game on the AFL Grand Final Day …once again RL is playing second fiddle

 

[alex]

why not have the melbourne game on the friday night?

there are a few reasons to have the storm game on the friday:
- wont clash with the AFL grand final
- etihad is in the city (or close enough) so people wont have to travel far on a friday night

if the bulldogs game is on the friday night, and theyll most likely have it at ANZ, people will have to travel west on a friday night.

sometimes the NRL gives me the …

 

[SJP]

why not have the melbourne game on the friday night?

there are a few reasons to have the storm game on the friday:
- wont clash with the AFL grand final
- etihad is in the city (or close enough) so people wont have to travel far on a friday night

if the bulldogs game is on the friday night, and theyll most likely have it at ANZ, people will have to travel west on a friday night.

sometimes the NRL gives me the …

Etihad Stadium is booked already for the Victoria Football League Grand Final on Friday night.

 

[Marshall_magic]

AFL grand final is during the day, Storm are on at night. I don't see how it's second fiddle.

 

[alex]

why not have the melbourne game on the friday night?

there are a few reasons to have the storm game on the friday:
- wont clash with the AFL grand final
- etihad is in the city (or close enough) so people wont have to travel far on a friday night

if the bulldogs game is on the friday night, and theyll most likely have it at ANZ, people will have to travel west on a friday night.

sometimes the NRL gives me the …

Etihad Stadium is booked already for the Victoria Football League Grand Final on Friday night.

Oh yeah. Forgot about that. But why not move the VFL Grand Final to the Saturday night? A first grade game VS a reserve grade game?

Ill be surprised if there's a big crowd at the Storm game. 21,000 there against Manly was pathetic. Grand Final rematch in the first week of the finals and they get an average crowd. Then to get only 18000 at the Dragons game.

Brisbane deserves the Grand Final.