The Eels face a nervous wait after star halfback Mitchell Moses suffered an ugly head knock against the Panthers.
Ricky Stuart’s Raiders could be without their gun lock, while Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess has been slapped with a potentially season-ending suspension.
Read on for the Team Tips for the Finals week two.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders at CommBank Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT
Last week’s Parramatta 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 17. Marata Niukore 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi.
Team Tips: Brad Arthur faces a nervous wait after Mitchell Moses suffered an ugly head knock against the Panthers. On a seven-day turnaround, the star halfback will have to pass the NRL’s concussion protocols to line-up in the club’s sudden-death final. The Eels will likely remain unchanged and Ryan Matterson is expected to be named at lock and could again be a late switch for Marata Niukore.
Last week’s Canberra 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
Team Tips: Ricky Stuart will be desperately hoping Adam Elliott can prove his fitness after leaving the field with a hip injury against the Storm 30 minutes into the contest. The gun lock has battled the injury since Round 19 and was clearly in discomfort when being assisted by club doctors. The remainder of his side remained unscathed, with Elliott Whitehead the likely man to take the No.13 jersey should Elliott be ruled out, with Corey Harawira-Naera coming into the starting side.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘SIN BIN SUNDAY’: SEVEN go as Souths end Roosters’ season in fiery encounter
‘WHO ARE YOU?’: Demetriou slams Roosters enforcer’s ‘ordinary act’
‘TAKE UMBRAGE’: Roosters coach in heated clash with journo after season-ending loss
MAYHEM: SEVEN players binned after Roosters-Rabbitohs clash explodes
SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER
Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium, 8.00pm AEDT
Last week’s Sharks team: 1. Will 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 McInnes 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller
Team Tips: On return from injury, Will Kennedy, Toby Rudolf and Dale Finucane all got through the mammoth 93 minute contest. Craig Fitzgibbon’s side is expected to remain the same.
Last week’s Souths 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 19. Jaxson Paulo 21. Michael Chee Kam
Team Tips: Gun hooker Damien Cook left the field in place of Siliva Havili, but luckily for Rabbitohs fans he was only “blowing” according to coach Jason Demetriou and will be fit to play in the second week of finals. Meanwhile, Tevita Tatola passed his HIA after a head knock against the Roosters. Winger Taane Milne was lucky to escape with a suspension after being sent to the bin twice, while Tom Burgess wasn’t so lucky. The English international is has been slapped with a two-game suspension for a careless high tackle on James Tedescoif he takes the early guilty plea.
FINALS PLAYER RATINGS
RABBITOHS RATINGS: Walker masterclass sets up win as Bunnies’ big guns deliver
ROOSTERS RATINGS: Heat of the battle rattles Radley as young gun gets big test
COWBOYS RATINGS: Taumalolo’s stunning finals masterclass as cult heroes shine
SHARKS RATINGS: Hynes and Moylan’s playmaking display as flyer fails to fire
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
