NRL schedules Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke Burt and Dean Young farewell in horror 7pm slot

IT'S hardly the send-off a champion deserves.

IT'S hardly the send-off a champion deserves.

The NRL and Fox Sports have agreed to play Nathan Hindmarsh's round 26 farewell match in a graveyard timeslot - 7pm on Sunday at Parramatta Stadium.

Faced with multiple demands from all clubs, the NRL was forced to hand Parramatta the horror shift, despite it being the final game for Hindmarsh, Luke Burt and St George Illawarra's Dean Young.The Sunday twilight match will be played as a substitute for Monday night footy, scrapped for round 26.

The Eels desperately wanted the 3pm timeslot but that was given to the Cronulla-North Queensland game at Toyota Stadium.

Among other planned celebrations, a Black Hawk helicopter was to fly into Parramatta Stadium carrying the jumpers of Hindmarsh and Burt. Given the game will be at night, that is now highly unlikely.

Fox Sports may agree to bring the game forward - but only by 30 minutes.

"We are disappointed they didn't recognise what Nathan and Luke have given rugby league over a long time and with one club," Parramatta CEO Bob Bentley said. "We wanted the two players to bow out on their terms and in a showcase game at Parramatta Stadium.

"It is a pretty important match for both teams given the standing the (three) players have in the rugby league community.

"We wanted the 3pm game but were told it would be the Sharks-Cowboys. We were told they were top-four sides. I can't see the argument in that.

"We had planned a lot of community events for the day so we will have to rethink those. I'm not saying we can't still do them but it puts a different focus on things. We will just have to wear it - it's out of our hands."

Parramatta management still hope the game can attract a bumper crowd to farewell Hindmarsh, Burt and Young.

"Bit it disappoints me," Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo said.

"We are in their hands and I guess we have to do what we have to do. We will still try and do our best for Hindy. He deserves that, he is a legend. It may also be a reflection of where we are on the competition table."

NRL general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk said the 7pm start would work.

"With the closeness of the competition and the impact of the upcoming final series, it was the best of the available options," he said.

"We are confident though that the Sunday twilight timeslot will work well for this match."

Eels officials confirmed yesterday that the final game will be played at Parramatta Stadium, not ANZ Stadium, as had been discussed.