NRL Grand Final 2015: Date, Start Time and Live Stream for Broncos vs. Cowboys
After Queensland dominated New South Wales in the final match of the 2015 State of Origin series, it’s only fitting that the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys will contest the first-ever NRL Grand Final between two sides from the region.
Both were hugely impressive in their preliminary finals. Brisbane trounced Sydney Roosters 31-12 at the Suncorp Stadium to make it to Sunday’s showpiece at the ANZ Stadium, while the Cowboys put a game Melbourne Storm outfit to the sword on the road. It sets up what is sure to be an absorbing affair in Sydney.
With that in mind, here are all the vital viewing details you need to consider for Sunday’s contest and a closer examination of the key storylines heading into the showdown.
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Date: Sunday, October 4
Time: 7:15 p.m. (AEDT), 9 a.m. (BST), 4 a.m. (ET)
Live Stream: Premier Player (UK), FOX Sports Go (US)
Stage Set For Stunning Season Finale
The Grand Final usually churns out its fair share of intriguing subplots, but this year’s is set to capture the imagination more than most, as two teams from Queensland square off in the sport’s big occasion for the first time.
For Broncos coach Wayne Bennett, a win here would cap off what’s been a remarkable return to the club. The 65-year-old joined up with Brisbane again at the start of the 2015 season having enjoyed a 20-year spell with the club between 1988 and 2008. After finishing second in the regular season, winning the Grand Final in his first term back would be remarkable achievement.
As we can see here courtesy of Fox Sports Lab, the illustrious coach has one of the very best records around:
It’s certainly a big day for Bennett, as he chases what would be his eighth win in a Grand Final, but it’s arguably an even bigger day for Broncos captain Justin Hodges.
The Brisbane skipper is set to play the final game of his glittering 16-year career at the ANZ Stadium on Sunday; there were concerns about whether he would feature after missing training this week, but it’s been confirmed Hodges will be given a chance to end his playing days in the most prestigious way possible.
Sports reporter Brad Walter thinks Hodges deserves the chance to sign off in style:
While it’d be wonderful to see both Bennett and Hodges win this game, the Cowboys have their own motivations. Most notably, it’s a chance for North Queensland to secure a maiden league title and for their star man Johnathan Thurston, it would be vindication for sticking with the team for so many years.
Thurston, rated as the best playmaker in the world in the eyes of many, has had the chance to leave the Cowboys in the past. But it’s clear he has a desire to deliver a Grand Final win for the Townsville team and although it’s unlikely he’ll be fully fit for this one, expect Thurston, as is standard, to have a big say on this game.
As we can see here, he was recently voted as the league’s best player for the fourth time in his career, per the NRL’s official Twitter feed:
The Cowboys are likely to be the team backed by supporters at a neutral Sydney venue and that should serve as a major boost their cause. But their propensity for starting games slowly, the manner in which Brisbane fly out of the traps and Bennett’s ability to get teams over the line in these big matches—he’s never lost a Grand Final—will be enough to see the Broncos home.
Thurston will be extremely difficult to contain, even if he isn’t at full tilt, and that will ensure we’re treated to a great spectacle. Still, Brisbane’s half pairing of Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford will give the Broncos a foothold in this one and at the end of a gruelling campaign, the Cowboys’ schedule will see them just tail off in the latter stages.
Prediction: Brisbane 32-28 North Queensland
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