NRL Finals Week One

By Stephen Gallagher

FRIDAY: Panthers V Eels  – BlueBet Stadium – 21.50NZT

A juicy fixture to kick off the finals series. The Eels have got the wood over Penrith twice this year, and the last time these two met Nathan Cleary copped a five-week ban.

This’ll be his first game back, and he’ll be desperate to steer his side around the field to a victory and a week off.

Parramatta have played their most consistent football this season over the last eight weeks which is a brilliant sign for them. You can see they trust each other on the field, and their confidence is high.

Penrith would hate to drop their first finals game two years running. They will know that the Eels will be coming for them.

The blue n gold need to get off their line quickly on D, and the Panthers need to keep turning the Eels away and frustrate them.

Epic game ahead.

TIP: Panthers 1-12

SATURDAY: Storm V Raiders  – AAMI Park – 19.40NZT

The Raiders love beating Melbourne, and did so not that long ago. This is a bit of a grudge match, with Canberra rising to the occasion and finding their way into the top eight.

Melbourne are far from perfect, but at this stage of the year they bring a lot of expertise to the table.

Canberra will find success if they run it along the flanks. The Storm look shaky on their left edge, and will have to tighten that up.

Melbourne’s toughness through the middle has been tested, and will be yet again by Tapine and Papali’i. If they want to get through, they can’t afford to get fatigued too early.

There’s a lot of hype around this with the potential of the Green Machine knocking out the Storm. Imagine if they can.

TIP: Storm 1-12

 

Sharks V Cowboys  – PointsBet Stadium – 21.50NZT

Both have risen up the ranks so highly in 2022, and a win here by either side will give them a huge chance to play in the grand final.

Cronulla will be the first to admit they haven’t been so smooth of late, but have still found ways to win and have adapted to different plans of attack to get there.

The Cowboys are riding high. They’ve overcome some massive hurdles in 2022, and are still competing and getting the job done.

Cronulla’s home ground advantage plays massively into this game for me. It’ll be much easier than playing in Townsville that’s for sure.

The Sharks love to give it to their speedsters, and the Cowboys love to control the match with the boot.

Plenty at stake, and nothing in this.

TIP: Sharks 1-12

 

SUNDAY: Roosters V Rabbitohs – Allianz Stadium – 18.05NZT

A week later these two go head-to-head at the same venue. Only a couple of different players chop in and out. The most important is Joey Manu who is absent through a calf strain.

This game will be different from last Friday. A hopeful dry, sunny track at Allianz will provide different challenges for these two sides.

The Roosters loaded up on the Souths halves and ran that channel all day, and I’d expect much of the same, but with the ball going out the back more to Tedesco for an overlap.

Latrell Mitchell wants this moment. He’s worked so hard for it. Missing out on the finals last year. What can this dynamite bring?

Roosters are on a huge hot streak, and the Rabbitohs have to dig in a little deeper to try to win it.

TIP: Roosters 1-12

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