Everything you need to know: Week one of the 2020 finals

After 20 hard-fought rounds of an unprecedented season, the finals are here with eight teams left standing.

• 2020 NRL Fans' Poll: Click here to have your say

The playoffs get underway at Penrith on Friday night with the Panthers hosting the Roosters with the winner advancing to week three and the losing side going into a sudden-death game in week two.

Canberra host Cronulla on Saturday in an elimination final before Melbourne take on Parramatta in the other qualifying final at the Storm's playoff venue, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

The first week of the finals finishes on Sunday with Souths up against Newcastle in the other sudden-death playoff.

Wondering about how the playoffs will work, who's playing who, ticketing options or the many ways you can tune in?

Read on for all the information you'll need to stay across every detail as the race for this year's Telstra Premiership heats up.

Fan and member information

The NRL understands our fans have plenty of questions regarding COVID-19 and the impact it is having on our game. To help answer some of the most frequently asked questions, we have created the below central information pages:

• Fan information
• Member information
• Event terms and Conditions

Tickets for club members will start at just $15.

"We want to thank our members who have remained loyal and paid their memberships despite being restricted in the number of games they’ve watched live this year," NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.

"Our fans make our competition so strong and vibrant. This is our opportunity to thank them for that loyalty. We also understand how tough the economy is at the moment and we've priced our tickets accordingly."

Tickets

To purchase tickets and find out more about ticket pricing, on-sale dates, and stadium information, visit tickets.nrl.com/finals

Engage via social

Follow @nrl on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest need-to-know Finals information.

Who plays who?

The teams that finished in the top eight positions on the Telstra Premiership ladder after 20 rounds will play out the finals series, as follows.

If you want to explore all possibilities over the coming month, use the NRL Ladder Predictor.

Week 1

Qualifying finals: 1st v 4th; 2nd v 3rd

Elimination finals: 5th v 8th; 6th v 7th

Week 2

Semi-finals: Loser of first qualifying final v winner of first elimination final; loser of second qualifying final v winner of second elimination final

Week 3

Preliminary finals: Winner of first qualifying final v winner of second semi-final; Winner of second qualifying final v winner of first semi-final

Week 4

Grand final: Winner of first preliminary final v winner of second preliminary final

Week one NRL finals fixtures

Qualifying final: Penrith Panthers (1st) v Sydney Roosters (4th), Friday 7.50pm EST at Panthers Stadium

After winning 15 straight games to claim the minor premiership, the Panthers face back-to-back premiers Sydney Roosters for a spot in the preliminary final.

The Roosters lost 60-8 to South Sydney last week and have a point to prove.

Elimination final: Canberra Raiders (5th) v Cronulla Sharks (8th), Saturday 5.40pm EST at GIO Stadium

The Raiders defeated the Sharks in round 20 and they'll lock horns again - but this time in sudden death.

Canberra rested many of their stars last round and Cronulla are also due to get a host of players back for this do-or-die clash.

Qualifying final: Melbourne Storm (2nd) v Parramatta Eels (3rd), Saturday 7.50pm EST at Suncorp Stadium

The Storm have been consistent all year, finishing second, while the Eels started strong but have mixed their form late.

Elimination final: South Sydney Rabbitohs (6th) v Newcastle Knights (7th), Sunday 4.05pm EDT at ANZ Stadium

Newcastle had all but sewn up a home final after round 19. But their shock loss to the Titans and South Sydney's mammoth win over the Roosters means the Knights will now travel to Homebush.

 

In a statement about the finals draw, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said "we've taken into account turnaround time for our players, to ensure all clubs get a fair break between Round 20 and the start of the series.

"We've also given consideration to possible scenarios moving forward. We know how important turnaround times are for clubs at this time of the year.

"I would also like to acknowledge and thank the New South Wales, Queensland and ACT Governments who have allowed us to plan for very safe live event attendance experience in the current conditions.

"We will have a wonderful atmosphere for our finals series, increased crowds but all within a COVIDsafe plan for each stadium."

Visit the NRL.com live match centres for updates as they happen, in-match highlights and live audio coverage. If you have an Alexa-enabled device you can download the NRL skill at amazon.com.au.

Round one NRLW fixtures

Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons, Saturday 11.30am EST at GIO Stadium

Bolstered by the signing of rugby sevens star Charlotte Caslick, the Roosters face last year's runners-up to kick off an NRLW double-header.

Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors, Saturday 3pm EST at GIO Stadium

Back-to-back premiers Brisbane take on the Warriors, who have picked up some marquee players and are being coached by Jillaroos mentor Brad Donald.

How to tune in: Broadcast information

Friday, October 2 Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters – Panthers Stadium 7:50pm EST

• Nine (Sydney/Brisbane), GEM (Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth)
• Foxtel – Fox League (nationally)
• Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
• 9Now
• Kayo Sports
• NRL app: Live Pass or Telstra customers
• Radio: ABC, Triple M Sydney/Brisbane, 2GB/4BC, NRL Nation (or via the Match Centre in NRL App or NRL.COM)

International Coverage:

• WatchNRL
• Fox Sports 2 (USA)
• Sky Sports Arena (UK & Ireland)
• BeIN Sports (France)
• ESPN (Africa)
• Fox Sports (Netherlands)
• Rogers SportsNet (Canada)
• Sport 24 (In Flight/In Cruise)
• Fox Sports Asia/Disney (Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei)
• Digicel (Tonga)
• TVWAN (Papua New Guinea – Free TV)
• TVWAN Action (Papua New Guinea – PayTV)
• Elijah TV (Cook Islands)
• Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Saturday, October 3 NRLW - Roosters vs Dragons – GIO Stadium 11:30am EST

• Nine (Sydney/Brisbane), GEM (Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth)
• Foxtel – Fox League (nationally)
• Sky Sport 8 (New Zealand)
• 9Now
• Kayo Sports
• NRL app: Live Pass or Telstra customers

International Coverage:

• Fox Soccer Plus (US)
• Sky Sports (UK & Ireland)

Saturday, October 3 NRLW - Broncos vs Warriors – GIO Stadium 3:00pm EST

• Nine (Sydney/Brisbane), GEM (Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth) - TBC
• Foxtel – Fox League (nationally)
• Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand) - TBC
• 9Now
• Kayo Sports
• NRL app: Live Pass or Telstra customers
• Radio: ABC Radio

International Coverage:

• Fox Soccer Plus (US)
• Sky Sports (UK & Ireland)

Saturday, October 3 Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks – GIO Stadium 5:40pm EST

• Nine (Sydney/Brisbane), GEM (Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth)
• Foxtel – Fox League (nationally)
• Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
• 9Now
• Kayo Sports
• NRL app: Live Pass or Telstra customers
• Radio: ABC, Triple M Sydney/Brisbane, 2GB/4BC, NRL Nation (or via the Match Centre in NRL App or NRL.COM)

International Coverage:

• WatchNRL
• Fox Sports 1 (USA)
• Sky Sports Arena (UK & Ireland)
• BeIN Sports (France)
• ESPN (Africa)
• Fox Sports (Netherlands)
• Sport 24 (In Flight/In Cruise)
• Fox Sports Asia/Disney (Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei)
• Digicel (Tonga)
• TVWAN (Papua New Guinea – Free TV)
• TVWAN Action (Papua New Guinea – PayTV)
• Elijah TV (Cook Islands)
• Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Saturday, October 3 Melbourne Storm vs Paramatta Eels – Suncorp Stadium 7:50pm EST

• Nine (Sydney/Brisbane/Melbourne), GEM (Adelaide/Perth)
• Foxtel – Fox League (nationally)
• Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
• 9Now
• Kayo Sports
• NRL app: Live Pass or Telstra customers
• Radio: ABC, Triple M Sydney/Brisbane, 2GB/4BC, NRL Nation (or via the Match Centre in NRL App or NRL.COM)

International Coverage:

• WatchNRL
• Fox Sports 1 (USA)
• Sky Sports Arena (UK & Ireland)
• BeIN Sports (France)
• ESPN (Africa)
• Fox Sports (Netherlands)
• Rogers SportsNet (Canada)
• Sport 24 (In Flight/In Cruise)
• Fox Sports Asia/Disney (Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei)
• Digicel (Tonga)
• TVWAN (Papua New Guinea – Free TV)
• TVWAN Action (Papua New Guinea – PayTV)
• Elijah TV (Cook Islands)
• Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Sunday, October 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights – ANZ Stadium 4:05pm EDT*

• Nine (Sydney/Brisbane), GEM (Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth)
• Foxtel – Fox League (nationally)
• Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
• 9Now
• Kayo Sports
• NRL app: Live Pass or Telstra customers
• Radio: ABC, Triple M Sydney/Brisbane, 2GB/4BC, NRL Nation (or via the Match Centre in NRL App or NRL.COM)

International Coverage:

• WatchNRL
• Fox Sports 2 (USA)
• Sky Sports Arena (UK & Ireland)
• BeIN Sports (France)
• ESPN (Africa)
• Fox Sports (Netherlands)
• Rogers SportsNet (Canada)
• Sport 24 (In Flight/In Cruise)
• Fox Sports Asia/Disney (Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei)
• Digicel (Tonga)
• TVWAN (Papua New Guinea – Free TV)
• TVWAN Action (Papua New Guinea – PayTV)
• Elijah TV (Cook Islands)
• Fiji Broadcasting Corporation