James Bracey and Danika Mason lead Nine’s on-air team as NRL 2026 opens with a high-profile clash in the United States.
The 2026 NRL season will begin on free-to-air television from Las Vegas, with Channel 9 and 9Now launching their coverage on Sunday, March 1, marking the start of this year’s broadcast schedule.
Coverage starts with the NRL 2026 Vegas Countdown at 1.00pm AEDT, hosted by James Bracey and Danika Mason alongside Phil Gould, Paul Gallen, Sam Thaiday and Millie Elliott. Former players Andrew Johns, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Allana Ferguson and Brad Fittler will also feature as part of the network’s analysis team ahead of the new campaign.
The opening match of the season follows at 3.00pm AEDT, when the Bulldogs and the Dragons meet at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
In the lead-up, Danika Mason will report from Las Vegas across the network’s morning programming, including Weekend Today, which airs from 7.00am AEDT, and the season return of Wide World of Sports at 10.00am AEDT, crossing live to Las Vegas with Phil Gould and members of the Bulldogs.
The focus then shifts to Australia for the remainder of round one. On Thursday, March 5, Thursday Night Football sees the Melbourne Storm host the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The match places Storm coach Craig Bellamy up against Eels coach Jason Ryles, a former assistant under Bellamy.
The following evening, Friday, March 6, features Friday Night Footy with the Broncos taking on the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with Reece Walsh and Nathan Cleary among the key players.
Round one concludes on Sunday, March 8, when the Dolphins face the Rabbitohs in Brisbane during Sunday Arvo Footy. Dolphins playmaker Isiaya Katoa is among those named, while Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett prepares to meet a side he helped assemble. Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, David Fifita, Jack Wighton and Cam Murray are also listed among the players involved.
The network’s rugby league coverage continues on Monday, March 9, with 100% Footy airing at 9.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now in Sydney and Brisbane, following Married At First Sight. Hosted by James Bracey, the panel includes Phil Gould, Paul Gallen, Cameron Smith and Allana Ferguson, with reporting from Danny Weidler before a live studio audience.
Across the season, Channel 9 and 9Now will broadcast NRL fixtures including men’s and women’s State of Origin, the NRL Grand Final, and every match of the NRLW Premiership.
