The Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are set to kick off Finals Week 3 of the 2025 National Rugby League (NRL) with the Preliminary Final 1 at AAMI Park.
The Storm impressed during the regular season, collecting 17 victories from 24 outings to secure second place on the ladder. Their strong campaign, which left them just behind the Canberra Raiders, was capped by a decisive Qualifying Final triumph over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, handing them a straight passage into the Preliminary Final.
The Sharks, meanwhile, produced a decent if somewhat patchy run, rarely building extended winning streaks until the closing stages of the competition. Finishing fifth with 15 wins and nine defeats, they overcame the Sydney Roosters in the Eliminator before stunning the top-seeded Raiders with a commanding performance in the Semi-Final to earn their place in the last four.
The Sporting News is on hand to bring you all the latest TV, scheduling and live streaming information ahead of this match.
How to watch Storm vs. Sharks: TV channel, free live stream
TV channel: Fox League
Free-to-air channel: Channel 9
Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, 9Now
The Storm vs. Sharks match is available for live TV broadcast on Fox League and Channel 9 in Australia. Streaming options are available on Foxtel, 9Now and Kayo Sports.
New users of Kayo can currently sign up for a FREE trial. This dedicated streaming service offers affordable, contract-free plans starting at just $25 per month. Plus, it’s a paradise for sports fans, streaming plenty of live action, including cricket, AFL, F1, and much more.
Rugby league fans in Australia can catch three matches per week for FREE on Nine Network streaming platform. Typically, these games will air on Thursday nights, the second Friday night slot, and Sunday afternoons.
Storm vs. Sharks start time
This NRL match takes place at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia, and kicks off on Friday, September 26 at 7:50 p.m. AEST.
Here's how that time translates to different Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Friday, Sep. 26 | 7:50 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Friday, Sep. 26 | 7:20 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Friday, Sep. 26 | 5:50 p.m. |
Storm vs. Sharks team list
| Storm team list | Sharks team list |
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 14. Tyran Wishart | 1. William Kennedy 14. Briton Nikora |
NRL Finals Week 3 schedule
Here's the schedule for the 2025 NRL Finals Week 3:
| Date | Game | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 26 | Storm vs. Sharks | 7:50 p.m. |
| Sunday, September 28 | Broncos vs. Panthers | 4:05 p.m. |