EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould says 'bugger the AFL' as preliminary final schedule change under fire

Phil Gould has slammed the unfair advantage Cronulla or Melbourne will hold in this year's grand final after the NRL revamped the preliminary final schedule.

In past seasons, the two preliminary finals would be played on Friday and Saturday night, but this year the NRL made a call to shift the second game to the Sunday afternoon.

As a result, whichever team out of the Broncos and Panthers wins and advances to the decider, will have just a seven-day turnaround to prepare.

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On the flip side, the winner of the Storm and Sharks game will have nine days to prepare.

"They are gonna get an extra two days of recovery leading into the grand final," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus.

"That's huge at this time of year, absolutely huge. That's again one of the vagaries in our game that we just overlook and say that's OK, we will just have to put up with it.

"I really don't think it's fair."

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It was then suggested to Gould by co-host and Nine commentator Mat Thompson that the decision was made due to the AFL grand final being held - as it usually would be - on the last Saturday afternoon of September at the MCG.

"Bugger the AFL grand final," he snapped back.

"Play them both (the NRL prelims) on Sunday, I don't care. Play them both on Friday night, I don't care.

"I think a 48-hour advantage for the Storm or Sharks leading into the grand final is huge.

"That's not fair, that's not even."

Melbourne will host their bitter rivals Cronulla on Friday night at AAMI Park, less than 24 hours before the rival code's biggest game of the year.

Brisbane will host the other NRL prelim on Sunday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium.

NRL finals schedule

Week 1

• Friday, September 12 - Storm def. Bulldogs at AAMI Park
• Saturday, September 13 - Panthers def. Warriors at Go Media Stadium
• Saturday, September 13 - Sharks def. Roosters at Shark Park
• Sunday, September 14 - Broncos def. Raiders at GIO Stadium

Week 2

• Saturday, September 20 - Sharks def. Raiders at GIO Stadium
• Sunday, September 21 - Panthers def. Bulldogs at Accor Stadium

Week 3

• Friday, September 26 - Storm vs Sharks at AAMI Park
• Sunday, September 28 - Broncos vs Panthers at Suncorp Stadium

Grand final

• Sunday, October 5 - TBA vs TBA at Accor Stadium