For the remaining four teams – Sharks, Raiders, Panthers and Bulldogs – it’s time to do battle.
First up, it’s the Raiders hosting the Sharks at 7.50pm on Saturday at GIO Stadium in Canberra in a must-win elimination semi-final. The winner will head to AAMI Park in Melbourne next week to play the Storm at 7.50pm, while the loser will just have to try their luck next year.
Then, on Sunday at 4.05pm, it’s Penrith against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium, in an elimination match that is expected to draw a crowd upwards of 70,000.
Penrith are hunting their fifth consecutive premiership. If they manage to do it, they’ll be the first in NRL history to win a grand-final from outside the top four.
The winner of that match has the tough task of heading to Brisbane the next week to face the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium at 4.05pm in the preliminary final.
NRLW captains Georgia Hale, Tiana Penitani-Gray, Yasmin Clydsdale, Kirra Dibb, Ali Brigginshaw and Isabelle Kelly.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
Meanwhile, the NRLW is in its first week of finals.
The Roosters – who were undefeated this season – and the Broncos – whose only loss of the year was to the Roosters – have the week off after finishing one and two on the NRLW ladder.
This week the Knights host the Titans in the first of the NRLW elimination finals, before the Cowboys face the Sharks in Townsville. This is the first year the Cowboys have played in the finals since they entered the NRLW in 2023.
The winner of the game in Newcastle will play the Broncos in the preliminary finals in Brisbane, while the winner of Townsville’s game will face the Roosters in Sydney.
What date is the NRL grand final 2025?
The NRL grand final will be held on Sunday, October 5, at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Public transport is free with any game ticket and additional trains and buses will be operating to get fans out to Olympic Park. A flat rate fee of $35 applies to all parking but must be pre-booked on the Sydney Olympic Park website.
What time is the NRL grand final 2025 kick-off?
Gates will open from 1pm with the state championship kicking off at 1.20pm, followed by the NRLW grand final kicking off at 3:55pm. The pre-game entertainment for the NRL grand final starts at 6.30pm and kick off is slated for 7.30pm with full-time expected to come to 9.20pm.
Who are the favourites?
Bookmakers have the Melbourne Storm as favourites for the 2025 premiership, with Sportsbet paying $3.10 for them to lift the trophy.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they’re the least likely to win the title according to the bookies who are paying $23 for the Belmore club to claim the title.
Meanwhile, it’s the Storm and Broncos who are the frontrunners to make the grand final, ahead of Penrith, Canberra, Cronulla and Canterbury.
Who is Teddy Swims, the grand final entertainment?
While the AFL has locked in Snoop Dogg for their grand final this month, Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Teddy Swims is travelling from the US to perform at the NRL grand final. Swims was nominated for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammy Awards and his most popular song, Lose Control, has two billion streams on Spotify.
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How to watch the NRL grand final 2025?
Every NRL and NRLW finals series match will be free on Channel 9 and 9NOW, while also broadcast on Fox League, Kayo Sports, Sky NZ and Watch NRL. The grand final is exclusively live on Channel 9, with delayed coverage on Fox League and Kayo.
There are still tickets available for the grand final ranging from $74 to $739 on Ticketek.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now