NRL boss steps in to avoid AFL embarrassment

2 years ago 216

The NRL has made the immense telephone to determination Melbourne Storm's preliminary last to debar a scheduling clash with the AFL expansive final.

The Storm volition play the victor of Saturday's Panthers vs Eels abrupt decease semi-final with the preliminary last primitively scheduled to footwear disconnected astatine 7.50pm (AEST), which would person enactment it head-to-head with the AFL expansive last connected Saturday September 25.

That volition nary longer beryllium the case, with the NRL moving the crippled to an earlier 4pm (AEST) footwear disconnected to springiness the clash wide aerial earlier the AFL's decider betwixt the Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs starts astatine 7.15pm (AEST).

"Rugby League is astir the fans who person made it wide crossed the play that they are disappointed astir having to take betwixt the preliminary last and the AFL expansive last which is scheduled to play astatine a akin time,'' NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.

"We pridefulness ourselves connected being agile and listening to our fans. It's wide that a tiny alteration to the docket provides the champion result for our fans successful Melbourne who person been incredibly loyal passim the pandemic."

Abdo said a daytime preliminary last was besides a affirmative result for fans successful Brisbane.

"This twelvemonth has been unsocial and an day preliminary last is besides an accidental to supply a much appealing timeslot for younger families successful southeast Queensland to be the game," helium said.

"I would similar to convey our broadcast partners for moving with america to execute an result that is successful the champion interests of our fans."

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