Round 26 of the 2024 NRL season continues with a cross-Sydney derby that could have huge ramifications for the home side this weekend. Three-time defending Premiers the Penrith Panthers are at risk of dropping out of the top four with the finals series looming, as they take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at BlueBet Stadium.
The Panthers sit fourth on the NRL ladder, just two points above Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs below them, having been overtaken by the Roosters and Sharks respectively in Round 25, while Souths are out of finals contention altogether ahead of their last match on the road in 2024.
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The Sporting News is on hand to bring you all the latest TV schedule information, live streaming and start times for this Round 26 NRL match, as the Panthers look to consolidate a top-four spot against the side they beat in the 2021 Grand Final to kick off their historic Premiership three-peat.
How to watch Panthers vs. Rabbitohs: TV channel, free live stream
TV channel: Fox League
Free to air channel: Channel Nine
Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, Nine Now
The match between Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs will be broadcast live on Fox League, with free-to-air coverage also being shown via Channel Nine's wide world of sports.
Live streaming is available with Kayo Sports, who are showing this match, and every match across last two weeks of the regular season, both live in-game and on replay for fans to catch up.
New users to Kayo can currently sign up to a FREE trial.
Panthers vs. Rabbitohs NRL start time
This NRL Round 26 clash takes place at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith, Western Sydney and kicks off on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. local time (AEST).
Here's how that time translates to different Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Friday, August 30 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Friday, August 30 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Friday, August 30 | 6:00 p.m. |
Panthers vs. Rabbitohs team list for NRL Round 26 match
| Panthers team list | Rabbitohs team list |
|
1. Dylan Edwards 14. Trent Tokelau 18. Matt Eisenhuth |
1. Jye Gray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 18. Dean Hawkins |
Panthers vs. Rabbitohs match preview
While the Rabbitohs' season is all-but over – they can finish no higher than 13th on the ladder – Penrith have absolutely everything to play for as they look to complete an unprecedented fourth straight year of NRL Premiership title victories.
However, the Panthers' shock 22-18 loss at finals-chasing Canberra last time out leaves them fourth in the table and facing the prospect of a trip to runaway Minor Premiership winners Melbourne Storm in the first week of the finals, and another loss in the last two rounds of the regular season could see them drop out of the top four altogether with the Bulldogs at their heels.
The Rabbitohs' poor run of form continued in Round 25 too, suffering a 36-16 home defeat to the Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium. It doesn't get much easier for Souths either, with this trip to Western Sydney preceding a Round 27 clash against their arch-rivals the Roosters – who themselves sit second in the table and will be keen to rubber-stamp a home semifinal.