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Watching the NRL Grand Final

Australia's biggest sporting event of the year — broadcast options worldwide and what time it actually kicks off where you are.

The NRL Grand Final is the biggest single match in Australian sport — annually drawing 4–5 million domestic viewers and a steadily growing international audience. It's traditionally played at Accor Stadium in Sydney on the first Sunday in October. Here's how to watch it from wherever you are.

In Australia: free on Channel 9

Channel 9 has the free-to-air rights and broadcasts the Grand Final live across Australia, available via 9Now streaming for free. You can also watch it on Fox League or Kayo Sports (both paid) if you prefer their commentary or want extended pre-match coverage. Kayo is generally the better paid option — cheaper than Foxtel cable, includes a 7-day free trial that comfortably covers Grand Final week if you time it right.

In New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ + free on TVNZ

Sky Sport NZ has the comprehensive NRL package and shows the Grand Final live with their full pre and post-match coverage. TVNZ also broadcasts the Grand Final free-to-air via TVNZ+, which is a useful free option if you don't have Sky.

In the UK and Ireland: Watch NRL

The Grand Final airs live on Watch NRL, which is the NRL's official international streaming service. Kick-off is around 7:30pm Sydney time, which translates to about 9:30am UK time on Sunday morning — ideal Sunday brunch viewing. Watch NRL costs about £12.99/month and you only need it for the one month if you're just here for the final.

In the US and Canada: Watch NRL + Fox Sports 1

Watch NRL has the most comprehensive coverage. Fox Sports 1 typically simulcasts the Grand Final on cable, which is included with most US cable packages and streaming bundles like Fubo (7-day free trial) and YouTube TV. The Sydney kick-off works well for North American viewers — about 5:30am ET / 2:30am PT on Sunday morning, so plan for a Saturday-night-into-Sunday-morning watch.

In France and the rest of Europe: Watch NRL

The Grand Final isn't carried by any major French broadcaster. Watch NRL is the only legal option, with English commentary only. Kick-off in France is around 10:30am on Sunday morning.

In the Pacific (PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa): national broadcasters

The Pacific nations all carry the Grand Final on their respective national free-to-air broadcasters. EMTV in PNG, Fiji TV, Tonga Broadcasting Commission, TV1 Samoa.

What time does the Grand Final kick off in your timezone?

Sydney kicks off around 19:30 AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time, which becomes AEDT/Daylight Time around the time of the Grand Final, putting it at 19:30 AEDT). That works out to roughly:

  • Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane: 19:30 Sunday
  • Perth: 16:30 Sunday
  • Auckland: 21:30 Sunday
  • Suva (Fiji): 20:30 Sunday
  • UK / Ireland: 09:30 Sunday morning (October — after BST ends)
  • France / Germany / Spain: 10:30 Sunday morning
  • New York / Toronto: 04:30 Sunday morning
  • Los Angeles / Vancouver: 01:30 Sunday morning

The pre-match build-up is worth catching

Both Channel 9 and Watch NRL run extended pre-match coverage starting two to three hours before kick-off. The Australian feed includes the Holden Women's Premiership Grand Final earlier in the day plus retro-match retrospectives, player interviews, and the traditional national anthems. If you've subscribed for the day, you might as well start early.

Looking for general NRL coverage rather than just the Grand Final? See our full NRL streaming guide.