Week 1 finals fixture locked in as NRL makes huge change for 2023 series

Week 1 of the NRL finals is locked in and there’s a big change to this year’s fixtures in a move not seen since the 2019 post-season.

Adam Reynolds of the Broncos. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

The line-up for the first week of the NRL finals is locked in as the race for the 2023 premiership really starts to heat up.

With the Cowboys and Rabbitohs both butchering their chances of squeezing into the top eight, there are now just eight teams still alive in 2023.

The make up of the top five teams was locked in on Saturday night after the Broncos had earlier coughed up the minor premiership with their loss to the Storm.

With the Panthers trouncing the Cowboys and the Warriors crashing to a surprise loss to the Dolphins, the NRL is reportedly set to make a big change to its finals fixture structure for the opening round of the finals series.

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According to multiple reports, there were whispers the NRL would schedule the Broncos-Storm qualifying final for the opening Friday night match.

That proved to be the case, with the NRL confirming the Broncos will take on the Storm on Friday night to kick off finals action. The Storm have won their last 14 matches against the Broncos.

The Broncos will kick off the NRL finals. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

The league also confirmed the Panthers-Warriors qualifying final being moved to the Saturday afternoon slot.

It is the first time since 2019 that the NRL will not start the finals series with the top team playing off against the team that finished fourth.

The Saturday night time slot would have been a nightmare for fans in New Zealand with the Warriors-Panthers match not starting until just before 10pm local time.

But the Warriors got their way, with the qualifying final against Penrith scheduled for the Saturday afternoon timeslot, which has been exclusively reserved for elimination finals in recent years.

The Warriors play Penrith on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster said after his team’s loss to the Dolphins he would prefer the Saturday night fixture.

“The seven-day turnaround would be better but the six day would be fine,” he said.

“We are ready to go. We are excited. I’d rather a seven day turnaround but we don’t complain.”

The Cronulla Sharks defeated the Canberra Raiders on Sunday to lock in a home elimination final against the Sydney Roosters next Saturday night.

The Newcastle Knights will host the other elimination final against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon as they look to continue their red hot form into finals.

NRL finals series fixtures for Week 1

Qualifying Final: Friday, September 8, 7.50pm (AEST), Suncorp Stadium

Brisbane Broncos (2) vs Melbourne Storm (3) 

Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 9, 4.05pm (AEST), BlueBet Stadium

Penrith Panthers (1) vs New Zealand Warriors (4) 

Elimination Final: Saturday, September 9, 7.50pm (AEST), PointsBet Stadium

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (6) vs Sydney Roosters (7) 

Elimination Final: Sunday, September 10, 4.05pm (AEST), McDonald Jones Stadium

Newcastle Knights (5) vs Canberra Raiders (8)

Final NRL ladder

1st: Penrith Panthers (42 pts, +333) – beat Cowboys 44-12

2nd: Brisbane Broncos (42 pts, +214) – lost to Storm 22-32

3rd: Melbourne Storm (38 pts, +168) – beat Broncos 32-22

4th: New Zealand Warriors (38 pts, +124) – lost to Dolphins 34-10

5th: Newcastle Knights (35 pts, +175) – beat Dragons 32-12

6th: Cronulla Sharks (34 pts, +122) – beat Raiders 24-6

7th: Sydney Roosters (32 pts, -24) – beat Rabbitohs 26-12

8th: Canberra Raiders (32 pts, -137) – lost to Sharks 24-6

Originally published as Week 1 finals fixture locked in as NRL makes huge change for 2023 series