NRL grand final LIVE: All the latest updates and scores as Penrith take on Melbourne at Accor Stadium

Here’s a handy guide to help you plan your bathroom breaks/barbecue duties/bottle shop and make sure you don’t miss any of the big events of the day…

• 1:00 PM: The gates of the Accor Stadium are open to the public.
• 1:20 PM: The NRL State Championship Grand Final begins: Newtown Jets vs Norths Devils.
• 3:55 PM: The NRLW Telstra Women’s Premiership Grand Final: Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks.
• 6:30 PM: The pre-game entertainment show, headlined by international star The Kid LAROI.
• 7:30 PM: The main event begins: Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers

• 9:30 PM: Post-match celebrations, including trophy presentations and individual awards.

Penrith faced the same problem when they chose to stay in a hotel just meters from Accor Stadium in 2021. Some of their stars told team staff and as a result they stayed in Parramatta to avoid a repeat – but the Storm may not have been aware of that ahead of what they would face on Saturday night.

OK, advertising guru John Singleton won’t be on Battle Street when Melbourne gets the chocolates tonight – but even he’s nervous about how much he has scored on the outcome.

Channel Nine’s coverage of the decider kicked off today with league legend Brad Fittler revealing he has found the missing Johnathan Thurston ball (pictured below) used to kick the winning field goal in the 2015 decider.

De Steeden disappeared shortly after JT put him through the post to give fans one of the most dramatic finishes to a grand final ever.

“There was a guy from the NRL, Nathan McGuirk, who thought, ‘You know what, I better find that ball because that’s going to be important in the future,’” Fittler said.

“So he went behind the goal post and the stage was still there from the entertainment that year.

“He’s been fidgeting underneath and the ball is just sitting there.”

Thanks for joining us for Ny Breaking Australia’s coverage of the 2024 NRL Grand Final as Penrith attempt to become the first team since the legendary St. George side of the 1950s and 1960s to have four wins consecutive premierships.

With two high-quality curtain raisers and top-notch pre-game entertainment, it promises to be a huge day of football, culminating with the two best teams in the world facing off in a duel that seems so close on paper, even

the bookmakers have difficulty predicting a winner.