The NSW Country Eagles are the first team through to the NRC final, beating Melbourne Rising by 26 points.
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Final score
NSW Country Eagles 50
Melbourne Rising 24
The New South Wales Country Eagles will be looking to book their place in the final after a near-perfect season when they take on Melbourne Rising.
With just one loss in all season, the NSW Country Eagles are hot favourites to become NRC champions of 2016.
However, the Country Eagles have looked shaky in defence in their last two games, losing to bottom of the table Queensland Country before scraping past the Western Sydney Rams by four points last week.
The Country Eagles will be forced to proceed without Ned Hanigan, who is out with an ankle injury.
Melbourne Rising barely scraped into the top four, and are coming into this semi-final off the back of two straight losses.
However, with Toby Smith, Jack Debreczeni and Sefa Naivalu back in the XV, the Rising could very well return to their best.
Not all of Rising could return though, as Nic Stirzaker will still be forced to sit out.
The Rising gave the Country Eagles a run for their money when they met back in week three of the competition, with the Country Eagles only managing to win by two points in a thrilling affair.
Prediction
The Country Eagles have shown some inconsistency in defence, and if the Rising can take advantage they are in with a chance. If NSW can stay tight however, they should book a place in the grand final.
Country Eagles by 5
Time: 3pm AEDT
Venue: No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle
Last meeting: NSW Country Eagles 32 – 30 Melbourne RisingNSW COUNTRY EAGLES (1-15): Paddy Ryan (c), Tolu Latu, Tom Robertson, Rohan O’Reegan, Tim Buchanan, Sam Figg, Rowan Perry, Sam Ward, Jake Gordon, Andrew Deegan, Alex Newsome, Kyle Godwin, David Horwitz, Reece Robinson, Andrew Kellaway.
Bench: Folau Fainga’a, Jed Gillespie, Sam Needs, Ryan McCauley, Tom Cusack, Mark Baldwin, Tayler Adams, Angus Roberts.MELBOURNE RISING: Toby Smith, Pat Leafa, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Jeffries, Alex Toolis, Ikapote Tupai, Jordy Reid, Colby Fainga’a, Mick Snowden, Jack Debreczeni, Jonah Placid, Sione Tuipulotu, Tom English (c), Sefa Naivalu, Dom Shipperley.
Bench: James Hanson, Tom Moloney, Tim Metcher, Rob Valetini, Jordan Uelese, Keisuke Yamada, Taiso Silafai-Leaana, Ah-mu Tuimalealiifano.
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