Three-time defending champions Penrith have tentatively been booked to open the finals series in what would be the last game at their traditional home before a $309 million redevelopment.
Pending the results of matches in the final round, the NRL is considering giving Ivan Cleary’s record-breakers the honour of starting the play-offs in Sydney’s west before they shift their home ground to Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium for almost two years.
The schedule is reliant on second-placed Penrith toppling the Titans at home on Saturday night and the third-placed Roosters beating the Rabbitohs 24 hours earlier, which would mean both teams would maintain their positions on the ladder.
The Panthers and Roosters are heavy favourites to win those matches and clash in the first week of the finals.
It would then leave minor premiers Melbourne to host 2016 grand final rivals Cronulla the following night in the other qualifying final. The Sharks are unable to finish higher than fourth if the Panthers and Roosters win their games earlier in the round.
The NRL has been forced into a delicate balance with the Sharks, who, barring a catastrophic defeat against Manly on Sunday, are guaranteed a top-four position.
The Panthers will be on the move in 2025.Credit: Getty
But with their trip to the northern beaches not coming until the final day of the regular season, the NRL is loath to schedule their qualifying final on Friday week, which would be a five-day turnaround from their round 27 game.
Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary remains on track to return in the first week of the finals after missing three games with a shoulder injury.
The 26-year-old is unlikely to be available for Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships as he desperately tries to nurse his shoulder through the finals series.
Penrith will have extra motivation to brush aside Gold Coast this weekend as it will guarantee them one final farewell to BlueBet Stadium, which will undergo a major refurbishment, forcing Ivan Cleary’s side on the road for 2025 and most of the 2026 season.
The Panthers have already spoken to the NRL about the possibility of having a run of games away from home to start the 2026 season in anticipation their new venue will be open later in the year. It would then allow them to potentially have a sequence of home games before the end of the regular season.
“It’s an issue we’ve discussed, and we’d like to think the new stadium could be open for the final weeks of the 2026 season,” Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher said.
“We could play a number of games away in the first couple of months of the season and then give our fans every chance to enjoy the new venue for as many matches as possible later in 2026 depending on how the construction progresses.”
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