The final round of the NRL season is upon us – here is how each team is shaping up.
Table of Contents
Round 27 teams
All times AEST
Brisbane Broncos
v
Melbourne Storm
NRL : Head To Head
Thu, 5 Sep 2024, 19:50
Wests Tigers
v
Parramatta Eels
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 6 Sep 2024, 18:00
South Sydney Rabbitohs
v
Sydney Roosters
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 6 Sep 2024, 20:00
St. George Illawarra Dragons
v
Canberra Raiders
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 7 Sep 2024, 15:00
Canterbury Bulldogs
v
North Queensland Cowboys
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 7 Sep 2024, 17:30
Penrith Panthers
v
Gold Coast Titans
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 7 Sep 2024, 19:35
Manly Sea Eagles
v
Cronulla Sharks
NRL : Head To Head
Sun, 8 Sep 2024, 14:00
Newcastle Knights
v
Dolphins
NRL : Head To Head
Sun, 8 Sep 2024, 16:05
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Brisbane vs Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium: 7.50pm, Thursday September 5
Broncos: Kobe Hetherington (concussion) is back after missing the derby demolition at the hands of the Dolphins while the Broncos hope Reece Walsh (hand) will also be in the frame to play.
Brisbane forward Xavier Willison’s season is over after he accepted a one-match ban for a high tackle.
Storm: Craig Bellamy rested 11 players for the loss to the Cowboys: Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant, Will Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa, Trent Loiero and Tui Kamikamica are likely to return. Xavier Coates (hamstring) is set to return after a lengthy absence.
A $750 fine was levelled at Storm veteran Tepai Moeroa for a careless high tackle on Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is a chance of playing in Melbourne’s final game of the NRL regular season after scans cleared the luckless fullback of a serious leg injury.
Papenhuyzen lasted less than 15 minutes in Thursday’s 38-30 loss to North Queensland in Townsville, pulled from the game after grabbing at his leg following a scramble to bring the ball out of his in-goal area.
But the 26-year-old cut a relaxed figure on the bench in the second half and scans later revealed he had suffered bone bruising.
He will be monitored ahead of the clash against Brisbane, with Sua Fa’alogo the obvious replacement option if Papenhuyzen is put on ice.
Wests vs Parramatta at Campbelltown Stadium: 6pm, Friday September 6
Tigers: Rested after the bye, they will need a new halfback with Aidan Sezer out for the year with a shoulder injury from their last-start win over Manly. Api Koroisau could switch to the No.7 jersey with Tallyn Da Silva taking over at hooker.
Eels: Front-rower Wiremu Greig will return from suspension.
Sam Walker is carried off the ground. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
South Sydney vs Sydney at Accor Stadium: 8pm, Friday September 6
Rabbitohs: Jack Wighton could be the latest Souths star shut down with the veteran five-eighth suffering a calf injury in their loss to Penrith.
Roosters: Joseph Suaalii (shoulder) is likely to will miss at least another week, Victor Radley (shoulder) and Nat Butcher (concussion) out, Sam Walker and Brandon Smith unlikely to play again until after the start of next season with their serious knee injuries and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is suspended for two more weeks.
Walker has an ACL rupture while Smith has done his MCL and ACL with both players to undergo surgery. Radley suffered a fracture to his left scapula and after he is reviewed by a shoulder specialist, he may be some chance of playing again late in the finals.
Butcher should be right to play in the first week of the finals.
Angus Crichton ($1000-$1500 for a careless high tackle) has been fined.
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St George Illawarra vs Canberra at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium: 3pm, Saturday September 7
Dragons: Winger Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) and Moses Suli (knee) are maybes. Kyle Flanagan is sitting out the final match for his biting ban.
Raiders: Veteran halfback Jamal Fogarty (hamstring) could return while Canberra stalwarts Elliott Whitehead (suspension) and Jordan Rapana (cheekbone) have played their last match for the club.
Whitehead’s NRL career is over unless the Canberra captain can successfully overturn a four-match ban for a hip-drop tackle at the judiciary.
A day after Rapana’s NRL career was ended by a fractured cheekbone, Whitehead was handed three charges following Monday’s match review. The England representative will be able to pay $3600 in fines for tripping James Tedesco and kicking out at Angus Crichton late in Canberra’s 14-12 win over the Sydney Roosters.
But the biggest punishment is for a hip-drop tackle on Brandon Smith, which has ruled the Roosters hooker out for the rest of the NRL season through injury.
Whitehead has been hit with a grade-three dangerous contact charge, resulting in a three-match ban with an early plea or four games if he elects to fight it and loses.
Canterbury vs North Qld at Accor Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday September 7
Bulldogs: Bronson Xerri will miss Canterbury’s crucial clash with North Queensland after being charged over the hip-drop tackle that injured Manly flyer Jason Saab. Xerri was handed a grade-two dangerous contact charge over the tackle that left Saab with a syndesmosis injury.
The charge resulted in a one-match ban with an early guilty plea. Stephen Crichton is back from his ban after smashing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck high the previous week in a straight swap for Xerri.
Five-eighth Matt Burton will be good to go despite a head knock against Manly.
Cowboys: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (hand) was ruled out late before the win over Brisbane and should be OK to play this weekend.
Penrith vs Gold Coast at BlueBet Stadium: 7.30pm, Saturday September 7
Panthers: Second-rower Scott Sorensen (hamstring) is a strong chance to return after a month out while Nathan Cleary (shoulder) is closing in on a comeback in week one of the finals but is still yet to be cleared.
Titans: Young fullback Keano Kini missed the trip to Newcastle on Sunday with a corked thigh.
Manly vs Cronulla at 4 Pines Park: 2pm, Sunday September 8
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) and Jason Saab (ankle) are out with Tolutau Koula to take over at fullback and Ben Trbojevic set to switch to centre from the pack and Tommy Talau reverting to the wing.
Corey Waddell is back after a high tackle ban while Luke Brooks was not charged for a dangerous throw on Canterbury’s Jacob Preston.
Sharks: Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) and Siosifa Talakai (calf) may return while Jesse Ramien is back after a one-game ban for a careless high tackle.
Jack Williams and Kayal Iro have avoided suspensions for high tackles on Warriors veteran Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. The pair were both charged, but have accepted fines.
Newcastle vs Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday September 8
Knights: Former NSW prop Jacob Saifiti (calf) is close to a return after a month out and with Newcastle needing to win to qualify for the finals, he could be rushed into the pack.
Tyson Frizell (concussion) will be back while fellow second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul (shin) is also pushing for a return.
Dolphins: The Dolphins will roll the dice at the NRL judiciary, risking a lengthier ban for Felise Kaufusi in an attempt to have him available for their do-or-die clash with Newcastle.
Facing a two-match ban for his late shot on Adam Reynolds, Kaufusi has elected to try and downgrade the charge from a grade two to a grade one.
If successful, Kaufusi will be able to pay a fine and play in Sunday’s game, where the winner will wrap up eighth spot and advance to the finals.
But the call comes with a risk, given Kaufusi’s ban will extend to a third match if unsuccessful on Tuesday night.
It means the Dolphins second-rower would not only miss the last-round clash and elimination final, but also their semi-final if they make it that far.
If the Dolphins are to be knocked out before Kaufusi’s ban is served in full, it would likely roll over into Tonga’s end-of-season Pacific Championships campaign.
Fellow forward Connelly Lemuelu was also charged with dangerous contact in the win, but has paid a $750 fine.
Veteran duo Kodi Nikorima and Jesse Bromwich were stood down due to concussion protocols and will be right to face the Knights.
Bye – Warriors
with AAP
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