News NRL pre-season trials to be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo in 2022

jof

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In a major first for rugby league, fans will be able to watch the NRL pre-season trial matches live from the comfort of their own loungerooms.
Instead of an unreliable livestream on a computer, they can kick back and enjoy Josh Addo-Carr’s first game for the Bulldogs and Adam Reynolds’ debut in Broncos colours being properly televised on their wide-screen.

In what will be a major first for the code, Fox Sports is poised to secure the exclusive broadcast rights with the NRL to televise every club pre-season trial match live next February.

The NRL is preparing for the 32 club pre-season matches to be shown live on Fox League and Kayo on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights from February 18 to 28.

Negotiations have also included a radical plan to include five games on one day. Under the proposal, the second weekend would include the launch of the NRLW competition with three straight women’s matches and an NRL trial match played before and after the women’s fixtures.
The first game could start at 1pm and the last kick off at 9pm.

A desire to offer greater focus and excitement from the pre-season has been NRL CEO Andrew Abdo’s private mission for almost two years.
And, with the backing of Foxtel CEO Patrick Delaney and broadcast delivery from Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley, Abdo is close to that goal.
As first reported in What’s the Buzz in May, every club will play two trial matches next February ahead of the launch of the 2022 season’s first round on March 10.

Under the proposal, The Saturday Telegraph can reveal that 2021 premiers Penrith will start with trial matches against a new-look Sharks outfit and neighbouring rivals Parramatta. Cronulla will not only launch the Craig Fitzgibbon-era but also play one of their two trial matches — either the Panthers or Bulldogs — at Shark Park, the first game back at their home ground in two years. The Sharks will unveil major recruits Nicho Hynes, Dale Finucane and Cam McInnes in their trials.

This year’s wooden spooners the Bulldogs will show off a host of new recruits including Matt Burton, Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan, Tevita Pangai Junior and Addo-Carr. Discussions are being held for the Dogs to play Newcastle in the first week of the trial match period before facing the Sharks.

The Raiders will play the Roosters in their first trial match of the year.
The trial matches will be played in regional NSW and Queensland.
The annual Charity Shield between South Sydney and St George-Illawarra is likely to be played in the second week of the trial period in Mudgee.
Games will be played in Mackay — where the Cowboys new halfback Chad Townsend will face Reynolds’ Broncos — and as far south as Cranbourne at Casey Fields, in Victoria, where the Melbourne Storm will host a pre-season fixture.
The Storm will play both trial games in Victoria, a return home for the first time in two years for the club.
The Saturday Telegraph spoke to the majority of clubs about the unprecedented coverage of trial matches.
The clubs are widely supportive of the concept with the majority understanding that the trial match period provides the game with a major springboard for promotion and fan engagement ahead of the new season.

NRL Trials a TV Footy Fest - What you need to know
February 18-28, 2022
10 days of NRL pre-season trial matches live on Fox Sports
Matches to be played over Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Every team plays two trial matches
Highlight trial matches
- Panthers v Eels at Penrith...The Premiers title defence begins
- Knights v Bulldogs at Newcastle...The first chance to watch the new-look Bulldogs
- Rabbitohs v Cowboys in Cairns...How will Souths perform without Wayne Bennett
- Titans v Broncos at Gold Coast...Adam Reynolds’ first game in Broncos colours
- Sharks v Bulldogs at Bankwest Stadium...The launch pad for the Craig Fitzgibbon-era at Cronulla
- Raiders v Roosters at Bankwest Stadium...Roosters star Luke Keary’s first game in 12-months
 
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jof

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So no more free NRL.com streams of trial games, Foxtel/Kayo now have exclusive rights.

Seems likely we will play Knights and Sharks in 2 trials.
 

Chris Harding

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So no more free NRL.com streams of trial games, Foxtel/Kayo now have exclusive rights.

Seems likely we will play Knights and Sharks in 2 trials.
Murdoch getting his claws into our pockets.
 
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