NRL Finals Week Three 2024

By Stephen Gallagher

FRIDAY: Storm (1) V Roosters (3) – AAMI Park  – 21.50NZT

With Victorians having the day off, it will only increase the finals fever feeling for this one.

Melbourne are deserved favourites for this clash. Their record over Bondi has been very strong in the last five years, and have already made the Roosters their bitch this year.

A week off, a fresh Melbourne side, a team that has been the best all year come up against a Roosters side that will use emotion as motivation.

The Tri-Colours understand the assignment. Win, and keep the last ride going for so many of their Rooster stalwarts. While it was only five years ago the Roosters last won a comp, it feels almost like this is a massive opportunity for them to make another Grand Final.

Melbourne will understand that the Roosters will be coming with that intensity of last week. From the first kick-off, they signaled what they were about. They made Manly tired and the strength through the middle made it’s presence felt. 

The idea will be for them to continue to move Melbourne around in the middle. Get their big boys tired.

For the Storm, it’s almost just about patience. They played a very patient game against the Sharks in Finals Week One. It was perseverance that won them that football. They made Cronulla tackle tackle tackle and it showed in the final twenty. That has to be the blueprint against the Roosters.

The team who finished as Minor Premiers deserve to be in the Grand Final. I’ve got a sneaking suspicion the Roosters will lay it all out there, but I think the Storm will be just too good in the end.

PREDICTION: Storm 24 Roosters 18

 

SATURDAY: Panthers (2) V Sharks (4) – Accor Stadium – 21.50NZT

It almost felt like that was the Grand Final for Cronulla last week. They won a finals game. The hoodoo was lifted, and the monkey is off the back. They were incredible in the first half, and knew the result was in the bag as they eased off in the second. It still felt though, like a very physical game for them to play against a gallant Cowboys side.

Penrith are looking at a fifth straight grand final. 

It’s such an incredible feat, I will write it out for you to take in one more time,

Penrith are looking at a fifth straight grand final.

And of course, they have this game before that to worry about – and if there’s anything we’ve learned about the Panthers since the dawn of the decade, is that they are true winners. They can and will do anything to win. They can win by 50 or they can win by 1. It’s their DNA to win.

And they disposed of the Sharks earlier this season in Cronulla. A result that no one saw coming.

Penrith with a week off will be ready to go. That’s the big one for me.

Cronulla, deserved of their top-four finish won’t die wondering. Their defence has to be aggressive. That’s where they will win this game. They need to shut down Penrith with a hard and fast defence. They need to be up in their faces. They need to frustrate them. Cut their time down.

And we know this is a talented Sharks outfit. I believe their back 5 are probably the best in the NRL as a back 5. They will do plenty of work and relieve the lungs of the forwards.

But coming up against a Penrith side that lives for this time of year? They will have to be their very best. Play the perfect game. I can’t see it happening.

PREDICTION: Panthers 30 Sharks 12

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