The electric Eels battle a Storm front, the premiership-winning Panthers ride the bucking Broncos, and the Dolphins make their NRL debut: in a blockbuster opening round of the footy season on Channel 9 and 9Now from Thursday at 7.30pm AEDT.
In the biggest season of free-to-air rugby league coverage in the game’s history, Nine’s Wide World of Sports will broadcast a mammoth Round 1 of NRL on Nine.
First up is Thursday Night Footy with the Eels out to put a painful Grand Final loss behind them against the always ominous Melbourne Storm. The box-office match-up between playmakers Mitchell Moses and Cameron Munster is worth the price of admission alone.
In the pre-game coverage, Storm legend Billy Slater sits down with Munster for a revealing interview following his long-term commitment to the club. Melbourne viewers can watch the Storm begin their 2023 premiership pursuit live on Channel 9.
On Friday Night Footy there’ll be fireworks at the foot of the mountains between the Panthers and Broncos.
Sparks have been flying in the build-up with players trading barbs in the press. However, the calmness and poise of gun halfbacks Nathan Cleary and Adam Reynolds holds the key to victory in this absorbing shootout.
Straight after the game Wide World of Sports will present a special behind-the-scenes account of Penrith’s 2022 premiership victory in All the Way: Panthers’ Title Defence.
NRL history will be made on Sunday Arvo Footy when the Redcliffe Dolphins make their premiership debut against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, live on Channel 9.
Under the guidance of supercoach Wayne Bennett the Dolphins might be capable of anything in their first season. But they face a brutal initiation against a star-studded Roosters side featuring Kangaroos captain James Tedesco and new buy Brandon Smith, the cult hero recruited from the Storm.
NRL on Nine will celebrate the arrival of the Dolphins with the Sunday Footy Show going live from Suncorp Stadium straight after Sports Sunday at 10.00am AEDT.
Nine’s unrivalled NRL commentary team features rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns, premiership-winning captains Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Brad Fittler, Paul Vautin, Paul Gallen, Darren Lockyer, and multiple premiership winners Billy Slater, Sonny Bill Williams and Phil Gould AM, providing the best insight and analysis in the game.
Host James Bracey will have all the angles covered with Danika Mason, Emma Lawrence, Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson while Mat Thompson and Peter Psaltis will call the action.
New member of the team, NRLW Premiership and Women’s State of Origin winner Millie Boyle will join the Thursday Night Footy panel for Eels v Storm.
NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP 2023 ROUND 1
LIVE AND FREE ON CHANNEL 9HD OR TO STREAM ON 9NOW
Thursday, March 2
KIA THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTY – EELS v STORM, LIVE from CommBank Stadium.
Host and commentators: Host: James Bracey. Commentary: Andrew Johns, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Mat Thompson. Sideline: Brad Fittler and Danika Mason. Millie Boyle makes her commentary debut.
Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane 6.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD, 7.00pm on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Adelaide 7.00pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Perth 4.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Friday March 3
MACCA’S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTY – PANTHERS v BRONCOS,
LIVE from BlueBet Stadium
Host and commentators: Host: James Bracey. Commentary: Andrew Johns, Phil Gould, Paul Gallen, Johnathan Thurston and Mat Thompson. Sideline: Brad Fittler and Danika Mason.
Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane 6.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD, 7.00pm on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Adelaide 7.00pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Perth 4.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Sunday, March 5
CHEMIST WAREHOUSE SUNDAY ARVO FOOTY – DOLPHINS v ROOSTERS,
LIVE from Suncorp Stadium.
Host and commentators: Host: Danika Mason. Commentators: Cameron Smith, Paul Vautin, Darren Lockyer, Peter Psaltis and Allana Ferguson. Sideline: Brad Fittler and Emma Lawrence.
Sydney 3.00pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Brisbane 2.00pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne 3.00pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Adelaide 2.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Perth 12.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
THIS WEEK: NRL ON NINE
THE BILLY SLATER PODCAST
New for 2023, get the hot take on the latest round from the greatest fullback ever to play the game: current Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater, with host Mark Levy. Listen here.
SIX TACKLES WITH GUS
Phil “Gus” Gould sits down with Mat Thompson every week to give a sermon like no other on the greatest game of all. Available on all podcast platforms or to watch online.
FREDDY AND THE EIGHTH on 9NOW
Prepare for a wild dive into the weird and wonderful world of rugby league with the eighth Immortal Andrew Johns and NRL legend Brad Fittler every week of the NRL season on 9Now, to watch online or as a podcast (New for 2023).
IMMORTAL BEHAVIOR on 9NOW
Andrew Johns is joined weekly by Danika Mason to look at what’s shaping the NRL landscape through the unique lens of the eighth Immortal. Now available as a podcast.
THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW – Sunday, March 5, from 11.00am AEDT
Celebrating its 30th year on-air, the Sunday Footy Show will kick off live from Suncorp Stadium. Host Danika Mason has Andrew Johns, Billy Slater and Brad Fittler in tow to cover all the action throughout the competition rounds and finals, dissecting all the news and big issues every week.
100% FOOTY – Monday, March 6, from 10.30pm AEDT
The best news show in rugby league returns to Monday nights on Channel 9 with the strongest opinions from the people who count. Phil Gould and Paul Gallen will square off on the hot topics while Danny Weidler delivers breaking news and host James Bracey keeps it all under control.
NRL ON NINE SEASON 2023 – LIVE AND FREE ON CHANNEL 9HD AND 9NOW FROM THURSDAY, MARCH 2, at 7.30PM AEDT
Media Release – Nine
