Why isn’t this just a Australia v PNG or A sides match?
Well, it kind of is but it’s always been known as PM’s XIII. They kind of use it as a test for players who are seen as next in line.
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So it’s like the CA XI?
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Yep. They have actually played it for a long time, it just hasn’t been shown on TV over hear. I think this is the first time it has been shown in Aus. Someone can correct me on that if that’s wrong.
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I think Fox Sports have shown PM’s XIII against PNG before.
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Pretty much - and the main reason it can’t be “Australia” is because it doesn’t include players from teams that are still in the finals (similar to how the NFL’s Pro Bowl works/worked when it got moved to the week before the Super Bowl) - it has almost always been in September and yes, it’s primarily to keep said players fit for tests or RLWCs afterwards.
The full national teams have played each other on occasion but the last time was in 2010 when PNG were invited into the Four Nations tests (having won what was a Pacific Cup the year before).
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I think they normally play this during the preseason so Jan or Feb but I think the internationals that are on after the season if finished may have changed that.
The PMs matches have all been in September, bar a couple of matches that were delayed to post-season October - in one case because the Four Nations started so late, not sure of the reason for the other one.
Scheduling of the minor nations has always been difficult, but generally speaking the Pacific nations tests have been during the season - it was often the same weekend as the mid-year test between AUS and the Kiwis - but with that gone as you say, they then moved it to the weekend of the stand-alone State of Origin (they also played the Women’s SOO that weekend when it was still one game). But now that’s gone too, so…
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During tonight’s game, the commentary were talking about the NRL Grand Final for next Sunday, saying that coverage starts at 1.00pm aedt. Sports Sunday and The Sunday Footy Show to air between 10am and 1pm as normal.
These are the games that will be played next Sunday (aedt):
1.20pm: State Championship Grand Final (NSW Cup Winner vs Queensland Cup winner)
3.55pm: NRLW Grand Final
(6.00pm News)
6.30pm: NRL Entertainment
7.30pm: NRL Grand Final (Penrith vs Brisbane/Warriors)
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Line up and synopses for Sunday 1 October AEDT.
11:00 am Sunday Footy Show Grand Final Edition
Join hosts Danika Mason, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Billy Slater as this all star line-up deep dive into all things Rugby League & chat with the NRL’s biggest stars.
01:00 pm Grand Final Day
Wide World Of Sports presents Grand Final Day 2023! Join our expert panel as we review the grand final as well as today’s first match, the State Cup Championship Grand Final, live from Accor Stadium. Kick-off at 1:20PM AEDT.
01:20 pm State Cup Championship Grand Final
Wide World of Sports presents State Cup Championship Grand Final live from Accor Stadium. Join our expert commentary team for all the action right from the sidelines. Kick-off at 1:20PM AEDT.
03:10 pm Grand Final Day
Grand Final Day continues with a post-match analysis of the first game of the State Cup Championship Grand Final and a preview of the NRL Women’s Grand Final game. Kick-off at 3:55PM AEDT.
03:55 pm NRLW Grand Final
Wide World of Sports presents NRLW Grand Final live from Accor Stadium. Join our expert commentary team for all the action right from the sidelines, kick off at 3:55PM AEDT.
05:30 pm Grand Final Day
Grand Final Day continues with a wrap up post analysis of the previous Grand Finals. Our team will also preview the upcoming NRL Grand Final.
06:00 pm Nine News Sunday
06:30 pm Grand Final Night
Wide World Of Sports presents the Pre-Match entertainment including a special tribute to Tina Turner. We also take a look at highlights from the 2023 season, retiring players and the last word before kick off at 7:30PM AEDT.
07:30 pm NRL Grand Final
Wide World of Sports presents the pinnacle of the NRL & NRLW Telstra Premiership: The Grand Final, live from Accor Stadium. Join our expert commentary team for all the action right from the sidelines. Kick off at 7:30PM AEDT.
09:30 pm NRL Grand Final Post Match
Join your expert commentary team for all the celebrations as well as a full wrap up and analysis, as well as postmatch interviews, presentations and the victory lap.
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News Corp’s Phil Rothfield has done his usual take down of anything Nine related, though often there’s still highlights thanks to Foxtel/Kayo, but even they were lower:
NRL caned by AFL in TV ratings massacre
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/monday-buzz-phil-rothfield-reveals-his-weekend-highlights-and-lowlights/news-story/c6fa16958f8c8e51a14d87b380a52be6
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That Nine logo looks slick, they really need to just pull the trigger and adopt the flat look
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NRL GRAND FINAL 2023
EXCLUSIVE, LIVE AND FREE
PENRITH PANTHERS V BRISBANE BRONCOS - 6.30PM AEDT
9NOW PLAYER CAMS - REECE WALSH AND JAROME LUAI
NINE IS THE HOME OF GRAND FINAL DAY
16 HOURS OF COVERAGE FROM 7.00AM AEDT
INCLUDES WEEKEND TODAY, SPORTS SUNDAY, SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW, STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, NRLW AND NRL GRAND FINALS
Season 2023’s two standout teams will collide in the ultimate NRL Grand Final showdown when the Penrith Panthers play the Brisbane Broncos, exclusive, live and free on Channel 9HD and 9Now from 6.30pm AEDT on Sunday, October 1.
Nine’s Wide World of Sports will celebrate Grand Final Day with 16 hours of wall-to-wall live coverage of rugby league’s biggest day, culminating in the exclusive broadcast of the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final from 6.30pm AEDT.
The Panthers juggernaut is chasing three premierships in a row and rugby league immortality, coming into the game as favourites after winning the minor premiership. Halfback maestro Nathan Cleary and Origin representatives Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo and Stephen Crichton are playing behind a fearsome pack of forwards.
The electricity of the Brisbane Broncos is ready to strike with fabulous fullback “Reece Lightning”, Reece Walsh, and a ferociously fast style of play, orchestrated by Adam Reynolds and executed by a youthful band of Broncos chasing the club’s first premiership in 17 years.
Grand Final Day will be live from 7.00am AEDT at Accor Stadium in Sydney, beginning with Weekend Today, followed by Sports Sunday at 10.00am AEDT and the Sunday Footy Show at 11.00am AEDT.
On-field action begins with the State Championship Grand Final at 1.20pm AEDT, between the Rabbitohs and Brisbane Tigers, before the NRLW Grand Final between the Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans at 3.55pm AEDT.
9Now will take fans further into the action with dedicated player cameras following two players that are always at the centre of attention: Reece Walsh and Panthers instigator Jarome Luai. Expect fireworks after the duo shared a fiery exchange in State of Origin this year.
Wide World of Sports will have the best in the business covering a blockbuster Grand Final Day, hosted by James Bracey, Danika Mason, Emma Lawrence and Marlee Silva. The best experts in commentary are headed up by rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns with premiership-winning captains Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Brad Fittler and Paul Gallen in tow, plus premiership winners Billy Slater, Phil Gould AM and Sam Thaiday, and women’s internationals Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson.
This unrivalled lineup of commentators, boasting 48 Grand Final appearances as players and coaches combined, will provide viewers with insight and analysis befitting the biggest day of the season.
Calling the live action will be Mat Thompson (NRL), Brenton Speed (NRLW) and Peter Psaltis (NRL State Championship).
And hang around after the game as we take viewers into the dressing sheds with the winning team to join the celebrations.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE: NRL GRAND FINAL DAY ON NINE
Sunday, October 1,
All programs live from Accor Stadium, Sydney.
WEEKEND TODAY SHOW: 7.00am AEDT
Start the big day when Clint Stanaway, Jayne Azzopardi and the Weekend Today team go live from Accor Stadium with exclusive access to the ground, for the ultimate fan Grand Final breakfast. Broncos legends Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday will join the show with women’s rugby league legend Ruan Sims.
SPORTS SUNDAY: 10.00am AEDT
Host Roz Kelly is joined by Gus Worland on the panel at Accor Stadium for a monster edition of Sports Sunday with special guest and two-time NRL Premiership winners Johnathan Thurston and Brad Fittler.
SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW: 11.00am AEDT Channel 9 Syd/Bris, 9Gem Melb/Adl
Danika Mason, Andrew Johns, Billy Slater and Brad Fittler will deliver a supersized Grand Final edition of the Sunday Footy Show from Accor Stadium that features the whole Wide World of Sports rugby league team as we celebrate the 2023 season.
NRL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL:
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Brisbane Tigers
The best State Cup club team of 2023 will be decided when live match coverage begins in the NRL State Championship Grand Final between this year’s Knock-on Effect NSW Cup Premiers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and the winners of the Hostplus Cup in Queensland, the Brisbane Tigers.
Sydney 1.20pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane 12.20pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne 1.20pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Adelaide 12.50pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Perth 10.20am LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Pre game: Emma Lawrence with experts Paul Gallen and Sam Thaiday
Commentary: Phil Gould, Darren Lockyer, Marlee Silva, Cameron Smith and Peter Psaltis
NRLW GRAND FINAL: KNIGHTS v TITANS
Sydney 3.55pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane 2.55pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne 3.55pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Adelaide 3.25pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Perth 12.55pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Commentary: Ruan Sims, Brad Fittler, Allana Ferguson, Brenton Speed and Marlee Silva
9NEWS: 6.00pm AEDT:
Before the big game begins, 9News will deliver all the major stories of the day in a special bulletin for NRL Grand Final Sunday.
PRE-MATCH ENTERTAINMENT
From 6.30pm AEDT, exactly 30 years after her classic Grand Final performance, Tina Turner will be honoured when stars of Tina Turner: The Musical perform. King Stingray will get the party started before we farewell our retiring players and chat to some special guests.
NRL GRAND FINAL: PANTHERS v BRONCOS
Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Adelaide 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Perth 4.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Pre-game Panel – James Bracey, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer, Emma Lawrence and Allana Ferguson.
Commentary – Andrew Johns, Billy Slater and Mat Thompson.
Sideline – Brad Fittler and Danika Mason.
9Now player cams: Reece Walsh and Jarome Luai
Post-match Panel and in the sheds with the winning team – James Bracey, Phil Gould, Brad Fittler, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer, Paul Gallen and Sam Thaiday.
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With all the crap thats going on with her personal life will Danica still be apart of the NRL grand final coverage?
I hope so… i like Danika… but totally understand if she needs a break.
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Danika Mason has been doing a great job on the NRL Coverage and Sunday Footy Show over the last two or so years. A shame that her personal life has come out in some newspapers. But i also understands if she needs a break.
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