Gould slams NRL scheduling as Storm get two-day Grand Final edge

Melbourne Storm have been accused of benefiting from the NRL's scheduling after a Friday-night win gave them a two-day rest lead into the Grand Final. Footy commentator Phil Gould argued the split preliminaries created an uneven build-up for the teams involved and said the league should not allow outside events to dictate the schedule.

Storm beat Cronulla 24-16 in Friday's preliminary final to book a Grand Final spot against the Cronulla Sharks. The other semi-final, featuring Penrith against Brisbane, is scheduled for Sunday at Suncorp Stadium as the league sought to avoid overlapping with the AFL Grand Final.

Gould has been vocal that the arrangement unfairly favours one side by extending their rest period. He urged the NRL to consider placing both preliminaries on the same day to ensure equality of rest time in the run to the final, arguing that a two-day edge at this stage can be decisive.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary acknowledged the imbalance as a factor in the build-up, calling the situation unfair while noting it was the league's decision to set the schedule. Storm coach Craig Bellamy, while conceding the potential advantage, said the outcome was a consequence of the draw and not something his team had control over. He stressed that the players and staff must work within the framework provided.

The opposing coach at Penrith, Ivan Cleary, echoed the sentiment, saying the disparity is real but not something they can change. Conversely, Brisbane coach or former players voiced concern about the perceived inequity, with Corey Parker criticizing the move as lop-sided and poorly timed for the sport.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo defended the decision, arguing that the difference in rest and recovery becomes less significant once teams reach seven days or more, and pointed to the league's use of byes and other measures during the regular season to manage rest. He stressed that the level of athletic performance among elite players is high, and clubs do an exceptional job in high-performance management.

The scheduling dispute arrives as Penrith pursues a potential fifth consecutive premiership and Storm looks to rebound from its own title ambitions. Penrith will meet Brisbane on Sunday for the right to continue the pursuit, while Melbourne awaits its Grand Final opponent after Friday night's result. The debate over fairness and outside influence on scheduling remains a talking point as both clubs prepare for a peak weekend in Australian sport.