Broadcasters are battling to cash in on the resurgent Parramatta and Wests Tigers as they begin horse-trading games in the search for ratings.

While the NRL bowed to pressure to lock in the majority of the schedule to give fans certainty, there is still the possibility of Fox Sports and the Nine Network switching matches in the final six rounds. While the draw for those fixtures hasn’t been made public, they have been tentatively locked in to spots.

TV stars: Jarryd Hayne and Parramatta are hot property with TV broadcasters. Credit:Getty Images

The matches likely to cause the most jockeying between the host broadcasters are in round 24. It’s understood the Nine Network will screen Brisbane against Newcastle on Thursday night, South Sydney against North Queensland on Friday and Penrith versus Melbourne on Sunday. However, there is a desire to show the Eels-Manly and Canterbury-Tigers games – currently slated for Fox – on free-to-air television.

The issue is coming to a head as the parties are working through the schedule at present, with a decision likely next week.