It’s crunch time in the competition as the fight to make the final eight turns do or die, in a crucial Round 25 of NRL on Nine, live and free on the 9Network.

In Friday Night Footy, the Brisbane Broncos are on the razor’s edge, with stars Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Ezra Mam sidelined by injury. Tristan Sailor comes in at fullback and Selwyn Cobbo returns to the wing for a Suncorp Stadium showdown with the Parramatta Eels.

The Eels, led by Mr 100 Per Cent Effort, Clint Gutherson, are out of finals contention but hungry to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon. They’ll be counting on dynamic Blaize Talagi to keep up his impressive scoring form, with 11 tries in 12 games.

After leading the coverage of Australia’s most successful Olympic Games campaign in Paris, James Bracey returns to host the Wide World of Sports broadcast. He’ll be joined by Johnathan Thurston, Paul Vautin and Cameron Smith. Danika Mason and Darren Lockyer will report from the sidelines, with Peter Psaltis in commentary.

On Saturday Night Footy, the Rabbitohs face the Knights, who must win to have a sliver of a chance of making the top eight. The Rabbitohs need plenty of support for hooker Damian Cook, who has been their best player of late. For the Knights, Jack Cogger returns at five-eighth.

On Sunday Arvo Footy, the Dragons – who last made the finals in 2018 – aim to cap their last game at WIN Stadium with a win over the high-flying Sharks, who are clinging onto a top four berth.

For the Dragons, tough forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner returns to the bench and the new Ben Hunt-Jack Bird halves combination offers dangerous potency. Cronulla get a host of players back, including Braydon Trindall, Kayal Iro and Tom Hazelton.

Round 25 kicks off with a tough Thursday Night Footy test for the battling Tigers against the classy Sea Eagles, captained by a red-hot Daly Cherry-Evans who has scored in their last 11 encounters. The Tigers, facing a third consecutive wooden spoon, need crafty hooker Apisai Koroisau on song to have any hope of springing an upset. 

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 22
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTY – TIGERS V SEA EAGLES 

Friday, August 23
FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTY – BRONCOS V EELS 

Saturday, August 24
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTY – RABBITOHS V KNIGHTS 

Sunday, August 25

WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS – From 10.00am AEST, hosted by Roz Kelly. Mark Taylor and Gus Worland debate all the juicy topics in sport.

THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW – From 11.00am AEST. Join Danika Mason, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Billy Slater as they dive into all things rugby league with the NRL stars.

HOSTPLUS QLD CUP – From 3.10pm AEST. Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Brisbane Tigers, available on the 9Now pop-up channel live and free.

SUNDAY ARVO FOOTY – DRAGONS V SHARKS 

Monday, August 26

100% Footy – 9.45pm AEST on Channel 9HD in Sydney and Brisbane. Phil Gould, Paul Gallen and James Bracey debate the biggest issues in rugby league alongside the game’s most influential figures.

NRL ON NINE: ROUND 25 ON THE 9NETWORK 
LIVE & FREE ON CHANNEL 9HD, 9GEMHD & 9NOW 

Follow NRL on Nine on Instagram, Facebook & X

For further information, please contact:
Claudine Blondeau
Communications Manager, Nine Queensland 
cblondeau@nine.com.au

Thursday, August 22, 2024