The 2022 NRL Finals series has arrived and it promises to be a memorable one as an opening weekend of intriguing matchups awaits.
Things kick off Friday night when reigning premiers Penrith host Parramatta in the first qualifying final.
With coach Ivan Cleary choosing to rest 13 players in their final-round loss to the Cowboys last weekend, the refreshed Panthers will be primed to face the Eels, the only side in the competition to beat Penrith on two occasions this year.
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The winner of the qualifying final will have the week off and automatically progress to the preliminary final, while the loser will host the winner of the first elimination final between Melbourne and Canberra.
It’s do or die for both the Storm and Raiders who go head-to head this Saturday at AAMI Park. The Storm dropped down into fifth place after their loss to the Eels on Friday night. The in-form Raiders, meanwhile, cemented their spot in the eight by thrashing the Tigers on Sunday without rested star players Elliot Whitehead and Jack Wighton.
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Dark horses the North Queensland Cowboys will travel south to Shark Park (PointsBet Stadium) to take on Cronulla in the second qualifying final on Saturday night. The battle of the NRL’s two most-improved sides will decide who gets a week off and who plays either the Sydney Roosters or South Sydney next week.
One of the biggest rivalries in the competition will take place for a second week in a row as the Roosters and Rabbitohs meet again in an elimination final a Allianz Stadium on Sunday. The Roosters will be without star centre Joseph Manu who suffered a grade two calf tear during his side’s 26-16 win over the Rabbitohs on Saturday night.
Read below for our NRL Finals Ultimate Guide.
WEEK 1 FINALS SCHEDULE (ALL TIME AEST)
Friday, September 9
Qualifying Final: 7:50pm Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Saturday, September 10
Elimination Final: 5:40pm Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Qualifying Final: 7:50pm Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
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Sunday, September 11
Elimination Final: 4:05pm Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
WEEK 1 FINALS TEAMS
Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels at BlueBet Stadium, Friday 7:50pm AEDT
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Charlie Staines 19. Matthew Eisenhuth 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Sean O’Sullivan 22. Chris Smith
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Marata Niukore 18. Nathan Brown 19. Bailey Simonsson 20. Bryce Cartwright 21. Ofahiki Ogden 22. Ky Rodwell
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Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park, Saturday 5:40pm AEDT
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Trent Loiero 17. Chris Lewis 18. Young Tonumaipea 19. Jordan Grant 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Cooper Johns 22. Grant Anderson
Raiders team: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Ata Mariota 20. Matt Frawley 21. Peter Hola 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium, Saturday 7:50pm AEDT
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Connor Tracey 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane 14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInness 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller 19. Aiden Tolman 20. Matt Ikuvalu 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Luke Metcalf
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Tom Chester 20. Jake Granville 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Ben Hampton
Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium, Sunday 4:05pm AEDT
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou i 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Drew Hutchison 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Adam Keighran 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Kevin Naiqama 19. Terrell May 20. Oliver Gildart 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Siua Wong
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Hame Sele 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Siliva Havili 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Jaxson Paulo 20. Davvy Moale 21. Michael Chee Kam 22. Josh Mansour
ODDS (via TAB)
Panthers $1.42 Eels $2.90
Storm $1.42 Raiders $2.90
Sharks $1.70 Cowboys $2.15
Roosters $1.60 Rabbitohs $2.35
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