Storm erupts over club’s Channel 9 snub for Round 1

Drama is reportedly swirling behind the scenes at the NRL just days before the league announces the full 2024 season draw.

The NRL finals launch. Picture: Richard Dobson

A brouhaha has reportedly erupted with reports Canberra and Newcastle have been snubbed by Channel 9 for the opening round of the 2024 NRL season.

The drama is still swirling behind the scenes with the league set to announce the full draw for the 2024 season on Monday.

News Corp first reported Nine communicated its concerns to the NRL on Thursday with the free-to-air broadcast partner wanting a late change to the fixture to kick the Raiders and Knights off the blockbuster Round 1 Thursday night match.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and start streaming instantly >

The report shows there has been a push for the elimination final replay to be moved to a different timeslot and for the western Sydney clash between Canterbury and Parramatta to be bumped up to the Thursday night game — which will be the first game of the season played on Australian soil.

The season will open with the Las Vegas experiment which will see two matches played in the gambling capital of the world.

Jordan Rapana, dejected. Picture: NRL Photos

The Knights plunged a dagger into the hearts of Raiders fans. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images.

The Broncos are expected to play the Roosters and South Sydney will play Manly in the two Las Vegas fixtures — the week before Thursday night match that has suddenly turned into a storm.

The Canberra Times reports the NRL is expected to listen to Channel 9’s request.

The late drama reportedly resulted in a scheduled meeting between Canberra officials and NRL officials — where they were going to discuss the 2024 season fixtures — being postponed at the last minute.

According to News Corp, several clubs have had scheduled meetings with the league postponed as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the Round 1 draw.

The Australian’s Brent Read on Thursday afternoon said the NRL is not happy that the proposed Round 1 fixture was leaked before it was signed off by all the game’s major stakeholders.

“We have to be a bit careful because this is only a draft draw,” Read said on Triple M.

“I don’t think it was meant to come out into the public domain yet, and the NRL had arranged meetings with a lot of clubs today and tomorrow to go through their home games with them.

They’re all chasing the Panthers again. Picture: Richard Dobson.

“My understanding is those meetings for today have now been cancelled and pushed back to tomorrow, so don’t be surprised if there are some late changes to this draw because the NRL aren’t happy it got out.”

Round 1 draft fixture

According to News Corp, the opening round of the season was expected to look like this before Channel 9’s late request.

Sunday, March 3:

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly Sea Eagles, Las Vegas

Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters, Las Vegas

Thursday, March 7:

Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders

Friday, March 8: New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla Sharks

Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers

Saturday, March 9:

Parramatta Eels v Canterbury Bulldogs

Gold Coast Titans v St George Illawarra Dragons

Sunday, March 10: The Dolphins v North Queensland Cowboys.

Bye: Wests Tigers