What Are the 2026 NRL Preliminary Final Fixtures?
Summary: This article sets out the confirmed dates, venues, and kickoff times for the 2026 NRL preliminary finals, explains how each matchup is decided, and looks at why the schedule gives Nathan Cleary extra recovery time.
The 2026 NRL preliminary finals have two confirmed hosts, two open opponent slots, and a scheduling decision built around Nathan Cleary’s foot. Fox Sports reported the fixtures after the NRL locked in dates, venues, and kickoff times. Both Penrith and the Dolphins have since published their own fixture details for members.
The two preliminary finals at a glance
| Match | Date | Kickoff time | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins preliminary final | Friday, September 25 | 7:50pm | Suncorp Stadium | Winner of Roosters vs Sharks semifinal |
| Panthers preliminary final | Sunday, September 27 | 4:00pm | Accor Stadium | Winner of Warriors vs Knights semifinal |
Those opponents are not yet known because the semifinals have not been played. Under the NRL finals structure, the winners of the two qualifying finals advance directly to host a preliminary final. The two losing qualifying finalists then meet semifinal winners to decide who travels to those hosts. The Dolphins and Panthers are the qualifying final winners in this bracket; the Roosters, Sharks, Warriors, and Knights are still contesting the semifinal path.
Why Sunday afternoon suits Penrith
The Panthers’ fixture is the more notable of the two from a team perspective. Penrith plays on Sunday afternoon, not Friday or Saturday night. Fox Sports reported that the timing gives Nathan Cleary as much time as possible to overcome what it described as a “stress-related bone issue” in his foot. Whether Cleary will be fit enough to play is not yet confirmed; the schedule only creates a longer recovery window before his potential return.
The Sunday slot also serves a league-wide purpose. The NRL has again placed its preliminary final weekend around the AFL Grand Final, which will be played on the afternoon of Saturday, September 26. By holding the Panthers’ preliminary final on Sunday and its own Grand Final on Sunday, October 4, at 7:30pm at Accor Stadium, the NRL avoids staging its biggest matches directly against the AFL’s showpiece event.
What the confirmed details mean for clubs and fans
For the Dolphins, the preliminary final is a home game at Suncorp Stadium against a semifinal winner. The club opened a member pre-sale after the fixture was confirmed, according to its official website. Penrith also confirmed its preliminary final details through the club’s website, giving members a clear path to tickets before the general public.
The confirmed slots also settle the travel picture. The winners of the Roosters-Sharks and Warriors-Knights semifinals will need to prepare for a road game: one to Brisbane, the other to Sydney. The hosts, by contrast, get the familiar venues and the shorter preparation burden that comes with a home preliminary final.
The bracket remains live until the semifinals finish. What is fixed is the structure: two host clubs, four semifinal survivors, and a schedule that takes the AFL Grand Final into account before a single ball is kicked in the preliminary round.