BUCKLE UP FOR TWO BLOCKBUSTER SEMI-FINALS
FOUR TEAMS FACING EITHER GLORY OR ELIMINATION
The first week of Nine’s Finals Footy delivered drama and excitement, as well as a bit of everything from shock upsets to emphatic victories, and more is in store for week two.
With Nine being the only place to watch EVERY game LIVE and in HD, the stage is set for two huge elimination Semi-Finals this week, with the victors going on to face the Roosters and Raiders next week in the Preliminary Finals.
Tonight on Friday Night Footy, it’s the 1st Semi-Final between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium.
After a heavy loss to the Roosters last week, the defiant Rabbitohs will be overjoyed to welcome back Sam Burgess, the leader of the pack, and Queensland Origin star Dane Gagai, giving them their strongest side in months. Should they lose, it will be the final game for the club’s most-capped player, John Sutton.
The Sea Eagles regain their version of Sam Burgess in the form of Marty Taupau, after suspension. They sunk the Sharks last week in a major upset and continue to threaten, thanks to coach Des Hasler who has been hailed for getting a team unfancied before the season started deep into the 2019 finals.
Making this match-up even more enticing is the fact that both sides have won a game apiece this season against the other, by a solitary point, meaning this one could again go down to the wire.
On Saturday Night Footy, the mouth-watering 2nd Semi-Final pits the Melbourne Storm against the Parramatta Eels. While the minor premiers were pipped at the post by the Raiders last week, it was the Eels who had everyone talking after dismantling the Broncos in a record 58-0 demolition at Bankwest Stadium.
While the Eels have all the momentum, the Storm will back themselves to get the job done at home, AAMI Park. Both teams are virtually unchanged, although Eels prop Kane Evans sees a welcome return. Mitchell Moses, brilliant in attack, and Fijian wing sensation Maika Sivo, the leading try-scorer in 2019, shape as keys to a Parramatta win.
Melbourne will look to their dangerous scheming duo, Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster, to steer them home and stay alive in the race for the premiership. The prize for the winner is a Preliminary Final against the title-holders, the Roosters.
Round two of the NRLW season continues on Nine and 9Gem this weekend, with the Broncos taking on the Roosters on Saturday ahead of the 2nd Semi-Final, followed by Warriors versus Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
If the first week of NRLW matches were anything to go by, week two of this wide open competition will be absorbing.
BROADCAST TIMES
Friday – September 20
1ST SEMI-FINAL – Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 7.00pm LIVE on Nine
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 9Gem
Perth 5.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Saturday – September 21
NRLW – Broncos vs Roosters
Sydney 5.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Brisbane 5.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Melbourne 5.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Adelaide 4.30pm LIVE on 9Gem
Perth 3.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Saturday – September 21
2ND SEMI-FINAL – Storm vs Eels
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 7.00pm LIVE on Nine
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Nine
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 9Gem
Perth 5.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Sunday – September 22
NRLW – Warriors vs Dragons
Sydney 1.00pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 1.00pm LIVE on Nine
Melbourne 1.00pm LIVE on 9Gem
Adelaide 12.30pm LIVE on 9Gem
Perth 11.00am LIVE on 9Gem
FOUR DAYS OF FOOTY LIVE ON NINE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20:
1ST SEMI-FINAL – Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles, LIVE from ANZ Stadium at 7.00pm AEST on Nine.
Host and commentators: James Bracey, Ray Warren, Paul Vautin, Andrew Johns, Danika Mason, Brad Fittler, Billy Slater.
9Now extra feeds available: Two player cams, coach cam.
Live Blog on WWOS: Billy Slater.
NRL on Nine Instagram Takeover: Johnathan Thurston.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21:
SATURDAY FOOTY – NRLW ROUND 2: Broncos vs Roosters, LIVE from AAMI Park at 5.00pm AEST on Nine.
Host and commentators: Erin Molan, Peter Sterling, Allana Ferguson, Jo Barrett, Peter Psaltis.
2ND SEMI-FINAL – Storm vs Eels, LIVE from AAMI Park at 7.00pm AEST on Nine.
Host and commentators: Erin Molan, Phil Gould, Peter Sterling, Danika Mason, Billy Slater, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Mat Thompson.
9Now extra feeds available: Player cam, coach cam, match statistics.
Live Blog on WWOS: Darren Lockyer.
NRL on Nine Instagram Takeover: Danika Mason.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22:
SPORTS SUNDAY – Sunday at 10.00am AEST, LIVE on Nine. This week: host James Bracey is joined by Peter FitzSimons, former Australian netball superstars Liz Ellis and Cath Cox, former AFL champion Shane Crawford, and more.
SUNDAY NRL FOOTY SHOW – LIVE from 11.00am AEST on Nine. Host Erin Molan will cover all the action of the second week of the finals so far with Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler and Wally Lewis.
SUNDAY FOOTY – NRLW ROUND 2: Warriors vs Dragons, LIVE from Mt Smart Stadium at 1.00pm AEST on Nine.
SUNDAY FOOTY – Canterbury Cup NSW: Preliminary Final – St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newtown Jets, LIVE from Netstrata Jubilee Stadium at 3.00pm AEST on Nine for NSW viewers ONLY.
Hosts and commentators: Peter Psaltis, Jamie Soward, Danika Mason.
SUNDAY FOOTY: Intrust Cup QLD Preliminary Final – Burleigh Bears vs Sunshine Coast Falcons, LIVE from Pizzey Park at 3.00pm AEST on Nine for QLD viewers ONLY.
Hosts and commentators: Mark Braybrook, Scott Sattler, Adam Jackson.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23:
100% FOOTY – 9.50pm AEST on Nine. 100% Footy is the home of the strongest opinions in rugby league from the people who count. Phil Gould returns with Paul Gallen, alongside Billy Slater, journalist Danny Weidler and host James Bracey.
PODCAST – SIX TACKLES WITH GUS
James Bracey discusses the biggest issues of the week with rugby league legend and expert commentator Phil Gould on Six Tackles with Gus.
This week:
The crisis in Brisbane after the Broncos’ huge loss to Parramatta
How managers and coaches handle the decision to tell a player he is no longer needed
