We’ve arrived at the end of the regular season, with just seven games left to be won or lost. Five of those games hold finals implications. Foxsports.com.au have delved into each and every possibility.
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The top four teams are locked in, albeit the final order is yet to be determined.
What we do know is the Panthers and Broncos will either finish 1 or 2 and the Warriors and Storm will either finish 3 or 4.
The Knights and Sharks are assured of a top eight spot with two of the Rabbitohs, Raiders, Roosters and Cowboys to make up the rest of the eight.
James Tedesco joins the Fox League Podcast and takes you inside the Roosters’ preparation ahead of their must-win clash against the Rabbitohs, the changes he’s made to his game and the lessons he’s learnt as a leader.
LISTEN TO JAMES TEDESCO ON THE FOX LEAGUE PODCAST BELOW
Storm win 14th straight over Broncos | 02:46
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NRL LIVE LADDER (As of Friday 12pm)
1st: Brisbane Broncos (42 pts, +214) – lost to Storm 22-32
2nd: Penrith Panthers (40 pts, +301) – to play Cowboys, Saturday @ 5:30pm
3rd: Melbourne Storm (38 pts, +168) – defeated Broncos 32-22
4th: New Zealand Warriors (38 pts, +148) – to play Dolphins, Saturday @ 3pm
5th: Newcastle Knights (33 pts, +155) – to play Dragons, Saturday @ 7:35pm
6th: Cronulla Sharks (32 pts, +104) – to play Raiders, Sunday @ 4:05pm
7th: Canberra Raiders (32 pts, -119) – to play Sharks, Sunday @ 4:05pm
8th: South Sydney Rabbitohs (30 pts, +73) – to play Roosters, Friday @ 8pm
9th: North Queensland Cowboys (30 pts, +36) – to play Panthers, Saturday @ 5:30pm
10th: Parramatta Eels (30 pts, +13) – bye already counted
11th: Sydney Roosters (30 pts, -38) – to play Rabbitohs, Friday @ 8pm
Eels, Sea Eagles, Titans, Dolphins, Bulldogs, Dragons and Tigers have been eliminated from contention
How Round 27 has played out/will play out
Thursday night: The Storm continued their remarkable win streak over the Broncos, extending it to 14 straight with a ten-point victory at Suncorp Stadium. In the process, Melbourne have (for now) thwarted Brisbane’s claim for the minor premiership. Don’t worry Broncos fans, you can still win the J. J Giltinan Shield but need the Panthers to lose to the Cowboys on Saturday night. Melbourne’s win moves them to third but they’ll be knocked back down to fourth if the Warriors defeat the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon.
Friday night: The Tigers and Sea Eagles kick things off at 6pm with only pride to play for. The next game is far more interesting and a marketer’s dream. The Rabbitohs host the Roosters at Accor Stadium and a win to the home side will ensure a spot in the finals for the embattled club. The Roosters are airborne at the moment but may have left their run too late as they need to win and hope for other results to go their way. One thing is for certain though – a loss means season over.
Saturday afternoon:The Warriors will clinch third on the ladder with a win over the Dolphins, however a loss means they’ll finish the season in fourth.
Fletch & Hindy take on Uzzie & Cummins! | 09:28
Saturday twilight: The most important game of the Saturday slate in terms of finals repercussions. It’s simple for the Panthers. A win clinches a third minor premiership in four years, while a loss locks up second spot. With the Warriors playing before them, Penrith will know what fate awaits the 1st and 2nd placed-teams on the ladder in the first week of the finals (NZ or Melbourne).
The Cowboys need to win to remain alive and if they do that and the Roosters manage to defeat the Bunnies on Friday, North Queensland will finish either 7th or 8th. However if the Cowboys win but the Rabbitohs win, then Todd Payten’s men will be cheering on the Sharks to beat the Raiders on Sunday.
Saturday night:The Knights are guaranteed of a home final in week 1 of the finals, but it is yet to be determined whether they’ll finish 5th or 6th. A win over the Dragons here will lock up 5th, while a loss means Newcastle will finish the season in 6th.
Sunday afternoon: Titans and Bulldogs will be keen to finish their disappointing seasons on a high. The following game should be a ripper. The Sharks are guaranteed a finals spot, with a win over the Raiders locking in a home final at Shark Park.
A loss will mean they finish 7th or 8th.
The Raiders’ fate will be a much clearer by kick-off.
If the Cowboys lose to the Panthers, Canberra will play finals footy no matter the result but it will be an away game against either the Knights or Sharks again.
If Ricky’s men win on Sunday, they will earn themselves a home final in Canberra.
Huge game and a cracking way to end the home-and-away season.
CURRENT PREDICTED WEEK 1 OF FINALS
First Qualifying Final (1st vs 4th): Broncos vs Storm at Suncorp Stadium
Second Qualifying Final (2nd vs 3rd): Panthers vs Warriors at BlueBet Stadium
First Elimination Final (5th vs 8th): Knights vs Cowboys at McDonald Jones Stadium
Second Elimination Final (6th vs 7th): Raiders vs Sharks at GIO Stadium
PREDICTED FINAL LADDER
1st: Broncos (42 pts)
2nd: Panthers (40 pts)
3rd: Warriors (40 pts)
4th: Storm (38 pts)
5th: Knights (35 pts)
6th: Raiders (34 pts)
7th: Sharks (32 pts)
8th: Cowboys (32 pts)
