Broadcasters are battling to cash in on the resurgent Parramatta and Wests Tigers as they begin horse-trading games in the search for ratings.
While the NRL bowed to pressure to lock in the majority of the schedule to give fans certainty, there is still the possibility of Fox Sports and the Nine Network switching matches in the final six rounds. While the draw for those fixtures hasnt been made public, they have been tentatively locked in to spots.
The matches likely to cause the most jockeying between the host broadcasters are in round 24. Its understood the Nine Network will screen Brisbane against Newcastle on Thursday night, South Sydney against North Queensland on Friday and Penrith versus Melbourne on Sunday. However, there is a desire to show the Eels-Manly and Canterbury-Tigers games currently slated for Fox on free-to-air television.
The issue is coming to a head as the parties are working through the schedule at present, with a decision likely next week.
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The Eels and Tigers finished last and second-last respectively last year and were a tough sell for both broadcasters. Despite being a ratings drag, Parramatta were shown by Nine four times in the final six rounds, when the network couldnt trade them off.
But now the two Sydney teams are the most in demand, with long-suffering fans desperately keen to witness what would be the most unlikely of finals appearances.
The Eels will also feature in one of the biggest games in the run home to the finals, against arch rivals Canterbury in round 23. The game currently sits in Nines Friday night spot, but could be switched with the Thursday night Broncos-Souths fixture. Parramattas preference is to move it to Sunday, where a crowd of more than 50,000 would be expected at ANZ Stadium.
That would also give the wooden spooners time to recover from their previous fixture, a home game against Canberra they have taken to Darwin. Nine also has the rights to the Storm-Cronulla game on Sunday, but is desperate to offload it in favour of the Foundation Cup decider between the Tigers and Roosters, currently in the Monday night slot.
However, Fox would demand something in return for such an arrangement. Fox would likely retain Parramattas Saturday night matches against Cronulla and Canberra. The last one in which Canberra coach Ricky Stuart faces his former club could create unprecedented interest if the Eels need to win it to make the top eight.
The Eels have been the surprise packet they could be very hot property if they continue on their run, an insider said.
It wasnt expected they would be in contention after the last couple of years.
South Sydney is a sure-fire television hit and, at present, will feature on free-to-air TV in all six of their final matches. Their round-22 game against Manly will be played on the SCG and is pencilled in on Friday, but the prospect of the old rivals playing on a Sunday afternoon would be appealing to the clubs and the NRL, with a larger attendance assured.
Souths will close the season like they started it, with a match against the Roosters, which is expected to rate highly on Friday night. That too, could be shifted to Sunday.
Fox Sports has the majority of Tigers games in their run home, including their round-24 battle with the Bulldogs. However, that could be a strong bargaining chip for the other games they desire.
