MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: NRL needs to bring back Sunday afternoon grand final after Raiders-Broncos epic final

Peter V’landys and his NRL underlings have shown they are willing to be agile and flexible when it comes to fixture scheduling for the finals.

The wonderful scenes from GIO Stadium again illustrated fans’ love for Sunday footy and PVL is set to deliver more of the same with Sunday games in week two and possibly week three of the play-offs.

I love it.

But while we’re on a roll, let’s go the whole hog and revert to a daytime grand final.

The players want it, the fans want it and the game’s bosses surely want it.

The only one that need convincing is Channel 9.

The NRL’s chief broadcaster argues a night-time kick-off is better for ratings which results in more advertising dollars.

But I don’t give a Karl Stefanovic about the economics.

While I acknowledge Nine pays a lot of money for the rights and deserve a seat at the table when it comes to scheduling, it doesn’t run the game.

PVL does and he’s a fans-first administrator.

And with one stroke of his pen, the boss can deliver what fans have been asking for since the early 2000s – a GF in the sunlight.

I know it’s too late to bring kick-off forward for this year’s decider, but we must seriously look at it for next season.

If the AFL can do it, so can we.

So Pete, if you’re reading this, I’m advocating for a 4pm start from 2026.

It would mean the return of the traditional grand final BBQ at homes across Australia and ensure our youngest fans – the ones who will be paying the game’s way in the future – will get to watch the full game instead of dozing off in front of the box.

It also means players will be in action at the best part of the day.

I played in three grand finals and they all kicked off at 3pm and produced end-to-end footy.

I know we’ve had some good GFs at night, but may I remind you the two best were 1989 and 1997 – both played in the afternoon.

Case closed.