2024 NRL Finals preview – qualifying finals
Well, it’s that time of year already. Nine teams have packed up for the year and eight remain in the battle to be crowned NRL Premiers.
These four have the luxury of knowing that defeat this weekend won’t be the end of their season, with a second bite of the cherry available to them in week two. Not that any of them will be thinking like that, of course.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at this week’s qualifying finals.
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters – Friday 13th September
How they got here
The Panthers secured home advantage for this one, and 2nd spot on the ladder with a tight 18-12 win over the Titans in round 27, but remarkably they haven’t finished a round in 1st all season.
That won’t bother the Panthers too much though. While the Minor Premiership is a nice-to-have, it’s the Provan-Summons trophy on Grand Final night that really counts, and Penrith have won the last three.
As for the Roosters, they put a bit of pressure on this weekend’s opponents with a 28-36 win over the Rabbitohs in the final round of the regular season. That victory lifted them into 2nd for one night and would have meant a home game this weekend at Allianz Stadium, but the Panthers’ win dropped the Chooks back down to 3rd.
Penrith Panthers team news
The big news is the return of star man Nathan Cleary. The half-back missed the final three games of the regular season with a shoulder injury, but he was always going to be brought back for the finals.
Cleary’s return is the only change for Penrith from last weekend, with Jarome Luai moving to five-eighth, and Brad Schneider dropping out of the 17.
Sydney Roosters team news
The Roosters rested a number of players last weekend, and they’ve all been brought back into the side.
There were some question marks over winger Dom Young’s fitness, but he’s been named to start alongside fellow winger and returnee Daniel Tupou.
Forwards Lindsay Collins, Nat Butcher, Terrell May and Naufahu Whyte are all back in the 17, as well.
Our prediction – Penrith Panthers 24-10 Sydney Roosters
With Nathan Cleary back in the side and the Panthers at full strength, I can’t see anything other than a straightforward home win.
It would be a different story if the Roosters had Sam Walker, Brandon Smith and Victor Radley on deck, but when those three suffered season-ending injuries a couple of weeks ago, their chances of making the Grand Final went up in smoke in my eyes.
Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday 14th September
How they got here
The Storm left everyone trailing in their wake in 2024 as they wrapped up the Minor Premiership with two games to spare.
They rested a few players in round 26, but everyone was back on deck last weekend as they finished the regular season with a 50-12 hammering of the Broncos.
As for the Sharks, they’ve been cemented in the top eight since round four, and they even topped the ladder for seven weeks between rounds five and 12.
They wrapped up their regular season with a 20-40 win at Manly in round 27, although a top four finish was already confirmed thanks to their far superior points difference over the Cowboys.
Melbourne Storm team news
All of Melbourne’s big-hitters are in the 17 this week, including Ryan Papenhuyzen and Christian Welch, who both missed their round 27 fixture. Sualauvi Fa’alogo picked up a hamstring injury in that game, although with Xavier Coates back on the wing, he was unlikely to make the starting side anyway.
Cronulla Sharks team news
Oregon Kaufusi is back for the Sharks after being rested for their round 27 fixture. Tom Hazelton picked up a knee injury in that match, but he’s been named in the extended squad, so he has a slim chance of making this weekend’s game.
Our prediction – Melbourne Storm 18-12 Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks have the second-strongest defence in the NRL this year and they’ve already beaten the Storm in Melbourne once already, but I can’t see past the home side in this one.
The only team I can see getting the better of Melbourne from this point is the Panthers, although at this stage of the year, there’ll be no easy games.
