NRL announces preliminary finals dates, Melbourne Storm on Friday, Brisbane Broncos play Sunday

In short:

The NRL has announced the date for their two preliminary finals, hosted in Melbourne and Brisbane.

The Storm will host either the Raiders or Sharks at AAMI Park on Friday, September 26.

The Broncos will host either the Bulldogs or the Panthers on Sunday, September 28.

The NRL has shaken up its preliminary finals weekend, electing to host one of its grand final qualifiers on a Sunday for the first time in 18 years.

On Monday, the league confirmed the return to Sunday, with the Brisbane Broncos to host the Canterbury Bulldogs or Penrith Panthers at Lang Park with kick-off slated for 4:05pm AEST on September 28.

It is the first time since 2007 that the NRL has hosted a preliminary final on a Sunday afternoon.

The league has also elected not to run the preliminary finals on consecutive days, with the Melbourne Storm to host either the Canberra Raiders or Cronulla Sharks on Friday, September 26.

Scheduling the Storm's home preliminary final on Friday means it will avoid clashing with the AFL grand final, held across the road at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on the Saturday.

It means the Raiders face two six-day turnarounds if they are to play in the preliminary final.

The Raiders host the Sharks this Saturday, after falling to the Broncos in a 94-minute epic last Sunday.

The winner of the Raiders-Sharks clash then plays in Melbourne six days later.

The league also announced the times for the NRLW preliminary finals.

The minor premier Sydney Roosters will host either the North Queensland Cowboys or Cronulla Sharks on Saturday afternoon in Gosford.

The Brisbane Broncos NRLW side also host a preliminary final after finishing the regular season in second.

The Broncos will host either the Newcastle Knights or Gold Coast Titans, in what will be the first match of a double-header at Lang Park on the Sunday afternoon.

NRL/NRLW preliminary finals weekend

Friday, September 26

NRL: Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders/Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7:50pm

Saturday, September 27

NRLW: Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys/Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, 7:45pm

Sunday, September 28

NRLW: Brisbane Broncos vs Newcastle Knights/Gold Coast Titans, Lang Park, Brisbane, 1:15pm

NRL: Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs/Penrith Panthers, Lang Park, Brisbane, 4:05pm

*all times in AEST

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