Everything you need to know about finals: Prelim finals tickets on sale

The NRL finals in 2021 are breaking new ground with all matches to be played in Queensland for the first time and Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium hosting the grand final.

• Everything you need to know about the grand final

Week three of the playoffs will kick off with the Rabbitohs facing the Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium for the right to play in the 2021 Telstra Premiership grand final.

On Saturday afternoon the Storm and Panthers square off in the second preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane will be the location for the premiership decider on Sunday, October 3. Suncorp will also host the preliminary finals with Mackay the venue for the semi-finals in week two. 

Tickets to Week 3 Preliminary Finals are available now from nrl.com/tickets

The playoffs kicked off with matches at Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Rockhampton.

Don't blink. Or you'll miss the moment that will define the finals.

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 title heats up. The NRL Premiership celebrates 20 years of naming rights partnership with Telstra in 2021.

Finals week 1 schedule

Friday, September 10

Qualifying final: Melbourne v Manly, 7.50pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Saturday, September 11

Elimination final: Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast, 5.40pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Qualifying final: Penrith v South Sydney, 7.50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Sunday, September 12

Elimination final: Parramatta v Newcastle, 4.05pm at Browne Park, Rockhampton.

Week two finals fixtures

Semi-final 1 - Friday, September 17: Manly v Roosters, 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium, Mackay - SOLD OUT

Semi-final 2 - Saturday, September 18: Penrith v Parramatta, 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium, Mackay - SOLD OUT

Loser of Qualifying Final v Winner of Elimination Final

Week three finals fixtures

Preliminary final 1 - Friday, September 24: South Sydney v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 7.50pm at Suncorp Stadium

Winner of Qualifying Final v Winner of Semi-Final 

Preliminary final 2 - Saturday, September 25: Melbourne v Penrith Panthers, 4.00pm at Suncorp Stadium

Grand final

October 3: Suncorp Stadium

How does the finals format work?

The teams that finished in the top eight positions on the Telstra Premiership ladder after 25 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

Tickets

With the expected high demand for tickets during the finals, fans are encouraged to join the waitlist to hear when tickets go on sale at nrl.com/waitlist.

• Tickets to Week 3 Preliminary Finals are available now from nrl.com/tickets
• Tickets to Week 2 games in Mackay have been all sold
• Finals ticket prices start from $25 for adults
• Tickets to the grand final will be available to NRL club members from $45 on Wednesday 15 September and the general public from $49 on Thursday 16 September
• All tickets can be secured through nrl.com/tickets
• NRL Hospitality packages to the grand final are on sale now at nrl.com/hospitality* A one-off handling fee per transaction applies on all purchases. Until category allocation is exhausted.

Engage via social

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

How to tune in: Broadcast information

All games will be broadcast live in Australia on the Nine Network and Fox League. Matches will also be shown on Kayo Sports and 9Now. In New Zealand, Sky Sport will broadcast the finals.

International viewers can see the games via WatchNRL, which is not available in Australia, New Zealand or Pacific regions.