NSW Premier, the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, will launch the biggest week ever of NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final celebrations tonight when he lights up Sydney’s Harbour Bridge with 80m high images of the 2012 season.

The massive pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge will host a spectacular Rugby League slide-show when the NSW Premier signals to turn on projectors that will operate each night until the September 30 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final.

The 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final week will also include:

The One Community Awards;

The announcement of the 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final teams and referees;

The Western Sydney Grand Final Breakfast (hosted by the Luke Priddis Foundation);

The NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Breakfast;

The NRL Grand Final Fan Day at ANZ Stadium;

The NRL Grand Final Members Party at Allphones Arena;

The Grand Final Footy Show from Allphones Arena;

The Men of League Gala Dinner and announcement of the 8th Immortal;

The Coles Super Clinic at the Olympic Park Athletics Centre and ANZ Stadium;

The Grand Final Carbine Club Lunch (presentation to retiring players and tribute to 300 game players);

NRL Club Grand Final functions;

AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year Dinner;

Kangaroos Reunion Lunch:

A day of events and entertainment from 10am at the game’s first NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day Precinct at ANZ Stadium;

Tributes to the game’s retiring champions;

The NRL Telstra Premiership, Toyota Cup and VB NSW Cup Grand Finals.

“The 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final week of celebrations promises to be the most exciting on record for Rugby League fans, culminating in our first ever carnival precinct at the Grand Final,” Australian Rugby League Commission Interim Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske, said today.



“The Telstra Premiership Grand Final will also provide a fitting finale to what has been an incredibly successful year for the game and one of the most memorable with major milestones including the appointment of Rugby League’s first Commission and the signing of the $1 billion broadcast rights deal.”



From fan activities, to charity breakfasts, corporate events, community awards and celebrations of the game’s Grand Final heroes and retiring stars, Sydney will feel alive with excitement amid the biggest week of NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final activities ever staged.



NSW Premier, the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, said: “The NRL Grand Final is one of Australia’s blockbuster sporting events, held in the heartland and spiritual home of Rugby League - Sydney.

“The NSW Government, through Destination NSW, is proud to support the NRL and to ensure the Grand Final is played in Western Sydney at ANZ Stadium for many years to come.”



Last year’s NRL Grand Final generated more than $22 million for NSW with close to 27,000 interstate and overseas visitors coming to Sydney specifically for the event.



For those still wanting to attend the game, the final release of approximately 14,000 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final tickets will go on sale to Ticketed Club Members of the two NRL Grand Final teams from 10am on Monday, September 24, with any remaining tickets to then be made available for public sale from 10am on Tuesday, September 26.

Tickets will be available through Ticketek on 132 849, at Ticketek outlets or online at www.ticketek.com.au/nrlgrandfinal.

Further information on the 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final events go to www.nrl.com or refer below:



Sunday, September 23:

Projection of Images on Harbour Bridge Pylons

The NRL, in partnership with Destination NSW, will light up Sydney for a week from September 23-30 when NSW Premier, the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, signals the start of the projection of a series of 80m images of the 2012 Telstra Premiership Season on the Harbour Bridge pylons on Sunday night.



Monday, September 24:

One Community Awards, Sydney Town Hall

The NRL will celebrate one of the most inspiring events on the Rugby League calendar when the game’s biggest stars join with grass-roots volunteers, officials and other unsung heroes at the annual One Community Awards at Sydney Town Hall.

Award nominees from across Australia will rub shoulders with NRL stars in an event that features the presentation of the coveted Telstra Ken Stephen Medal, awarded to the NRL player who has demonstrated ongoing and exceptional service to the game both on and off the field, as well as the Toyota Volunteer of the Year Award, with both winners to present the 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Trophy at ANZ Stadium on Grand Final day.



Tuesday, September 25: Announcement of Team and Officials

The teams and match officials for the 2012 Telstra Premiership Grand Final are announced.



Wednesday, September 26:

NRL Western Sydney Grand Final Breakfast, Penrith

The NRL Western Sydney Grand Final Breakfast will be held in the Exhibition Marquee at Penrith Panthers with all proceeds to support the Luke Priddis Foundation and its quest to maximise the services and opportunities available to autistic and special needs children.



Supported by the NRL and the game’s four western Sydney clubs – the Panthers, Eels, Bulldogs and Wests Tigers – the event is an opportunity for fans to meet with NRL stars and be part of the Grand Final excitement.



Thursday, September 29:

2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Breakfast, Doltone House Marquee, Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont

The Telstra Premiership Grand Final Breakfast is an event steeped in tradition. The breakfast will be broadcast live on FOX Sports and is attended by the Telstra Premiership Grand Final teams, club officials, NRL guests, sponsor and commercial partners and media.

NRL Grand Final Fan Day, ANZ Stadium Precinct North (Light Tower 9), Olympic Boulevard;

NRL Grand Final Members Party, Allphones Arena; and Channel Nine Grand Final Footy Show, Allphones Arena

Following the official NRL Grand Final Teams Breakfast, the rest of Thursday is devoted to Rugby League fans and members with three exciting events at Sydney Olympic Park.

NRL players, a performance by triple Platinum recording artist ‘Timomatic’, skills clinics, family-friendly rides and activities, will be part of the FREE NRL Grand Final Fan Day from 3-6pm at the ANZ Stadium North Precinct (Light Tower 9) at Sydney Olympic Park.



The NRL Grand Final Members Party at Allphones Arena is an invite only event for NRL Club members from 5.30-7pm.

Tickets are available for Channel Nine’s Grand Final Footy Show at Allphones Arena from 7.30-9.30pm which will feature the Grand Final teams in their final appearance before Sunday’s Telstra Premiership Grand Final.



Times/ tickets:

3:00-6.00pm NRL Grand Final Fan Day

5:30-7:00pm NRL Grand Final Members Party

7:30-9:30pm Channel Nine Grand Final Footy Show with tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au



Men of League Gala Dinner and naming of the 8th Immortal, Doltone House Marquee, Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont

The biggest day of the Grand Final Week of celebrations on Thursday will end with the Men of League Gala Dinner which honours past and present players and is a major fundraising event for the Men of League Foundation. This year it will feature the naming of the 8th Immortal.





Friday, September 28:

Coles Super Clinic (Registrations CLOSED), Olympic Park Athletics Centre and ANZ Stadium

800 young fans will get a taste of an NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day when they experience all the excitement and atmosphere of Rugby League’s biggest day of the year at ANZ Stadium from 10:00am-3:00pm.



Grand Final Carbine Club Lunch, Doltone House Marquee, Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont

The Grand Final Carbine Club Lunch is a corporate sales event which celebrates Rugby League and honours the game’s retiring and departing stars.



2012 AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year, Sheraton on the Park, Grand Ballroom

The Country Rugby League celebrates its night of nights with the announcement of the AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year.





Saturday, September 29: Kangaroos Reunion Lunch, SCG

Celebrating 100 years of Kangaroos reunions with Kangaroos past and present attending along with Kiwi Internationals in Australia.





Sunday, September 30:

2012 Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day Precinct, ANZ Stadium (access to Grand Final ticketholders ONLY)

Rugby League fans are set for a world-class entertainment experience when they purchase their 2012 Telstra Premiership Grand Final tickets with exclusive access to the 2012 Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day Precinct from 10am-3pm included in the cost of their ticket.



For the first time the Grand Final Precinct will be transformed into a carnival featuring team bars, rides, a merchandise supercentre and an afternoon of entertainment on stage, culminating in a performance by Australia’s double platinum, hip-hop dance and pop music group ‘Justice Crew’.



Get the Grand Final Day party started by warming up with Rugby League skills clinics, cheerleading classes, carnival rides, face painting, roving performers, circus school, laser skirmish and a zip-line.



The Precinct will feature three stages with entertainment across the day including DJs, bands, competitions, prizes, giveaways, player interviews and One Community Ambassadors.



2012 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day, ANZ Stadium

Grand Final Day is the culmination of an exciting week of events and a season of amazing Rugby League with over 80,000 fans attending ANZ Stadium to be part of the biggest game of the year.



US sensation ‘Good Charlotte’ will headline the Grand Final Entertainment while Irish band ‘The Script’ will make a tribute to retiring players.



More than 3.1million viewers across metropolitan and regional Australia are expected to tune into the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on Channel Nine.