PREDICTED FIRST WEEK OF NRL FINALS
1v4 Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs
2v3 Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders
5v8 Manly Sea Eagles v Cronulla Sharks/Wests Tigers
6v7 Parramatta Eels v Brisbane Broncos
Seven of the eight spots in the NRL Finals series are locked up which means one great of the modern game is set for a tough final round exit.
Melbourne Storm are minor premiers, the Sydney Roosters are locked into second, the Raiders have a top four spot and the Brisbane Broncos are going to have to play all their finals on the road.
But outside of that there’s plenty to be settled ahead of the NRL finals in round 25.
Manly and South Sydney can both claim the final spot in the top four, while Parramatta are likely to finish sixth.
RABBITOHS v ROOSTERS (Thursday 8pm)
A cat-and-mouse contest given these two teams could meet in the first week of finals. The Roosters’ ladder position can’t change so their approach will be interesting. The Rabbitohs haven’t beaten the Roosters or the Storm this season and while they are all but assured of finishing top four, they likely can’t finish third either. Get ready for Melbourne at AAMI Park.
EELS v SEA EAGLES (Friday 6pm)
Parra’s top four hopes were snuffed out in Brisbane but they may get a chance for quick revenge depending on results in the final round. The Eels would need to defeat their arch-rivals by 23 points to climb to fifth, which seems unlikely.
RAIDERS v WARRIORS (Saturday 3pm)
The Raiders are likely to be locked into third win or lose here. And it’s hard to see them losing to the lowly Warriors. A chance for them to build momentum as they get set for a trip to Sydney to take on the Roosters.
BULLDOGS v BRONCOS (Saturday 5.30pm)
The Bulldogs have been in pretty good form of late, so have the Broncos so this should be a decent match. Thing is Brisbane have very little to play for. Only a 90-minute draw between the Sharks and Tigers could see them miss the eight. Realistically they should take care of the Dogs and finish seventh.
WESTS TIGERS v SHARKS (Sunday 2pm)
This is the match with it all on the line. The simple scenario win and you’re in. The Sharks have to bounce back from a heartbreaking golden-point loss to Canberra, while the Tigers flogged the Dragons 42-14 and are riding high.
1v4 Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs
2v3 Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders
5v8 Manly Sea Eagles v Cronulla Sharks/Wests Tigers
6v7 Parramatta Eels v Brisbane Broncos
Seven of the eight spots in the NRL Finals series are locked up which means one great of the modern game is set for a tough final round exit.
Melbourne Storm are minor premiers, the Sydney Roosters are locked into second, the Raiders have a top four spot and the Brisbane Broncos are going to have to play all their finals on the road.
But outside of that there’s plenty to be settled ahead of the NRL finals in round 25.
Manly and South Sydney can both claim the final spot in the top four, while Parramatta are likely to finish sixth.
RABBITOHS v ROOSTERS (Thursday 8pm)
A cat-and-mouse contest given these two teams could meet in the first week of finals. The Roosters’ ladder position can’t change so their approach will be interesting. The Rabbitohs haven’t beaten the Roosters or the Storm this season and while they are all but assured of finishing top four, they likely can’t finish third either. Get ready for Melbourne at AAMI Park.
EELS v SEA EAGLES (Friday 6pm)
Parra’s top four hopes were snuffed out in Brisbane but they may get a chance for quick revenge depending on results in the final round. The Eels would need to defeat their arch-rivals by 23 points to climb to fifth, which seems unlikely.
RAIDERS v WARRIORS (Saturday 3pm)
The Raiders are likely to be locked into third win or lose here. And it’s hard to see them losing to the lowly Warriors. A chance for them to build momentum as they get set for a trip to Sydney to take on the Roosters.
BULLDOGS v BRONCOS (Saturday 5.30pm)
The Bulldogs have been in pretty good form of late, so have the Broncos so this should be a decent match. Thing is Brisbane have very little to play for. Only a 90-minute draw between the Sharks and Tigers could see them miss the eight. Realistically they should take care of the Dogs and finish seventh.
WESTS TIGERS v SHARKS (Sunday 2pm)
This is the match with it all on the line. The simple scenario win and you’re in. The Sharks have to bounce back from a heartbreaking golden-point loss to Canberra, while the Tigers flogged the Dragons 42-14 and are riding high.
