The NRL has been through seven months of footy, 26 rounds of rugby league action and a whole host of ups and downs. But now, it’s finals time. The pointy end of the season where legends are made or broken.
A big final round has filled in the last pieces of the finals puzzle, with a tantalising opening week of fixtures slated to kick off the last leg of the premiership.
» The Roar’s complete guide to the 2016 NRL Finals
Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans
First elimination final – 5th vs 8th
Date: Friday, September 9
Time: 8pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks
First qualifying final- 2nd vs 3rd
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 5:35pm (AEST)
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys
Second qualifying final – 1st vs 4th
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 7:55pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs
Second elimination final – 6th vs 7th
Date: Sunday, September 11
Time: 4pm (AEST)
Venue: Allianz Stadium
The winners of the two Qualifying finals will get a week off and a free passage through to the Preliminary finals, the grand-final qualifiers as it were.
The losers of those same qualifying finals will get a chance at redemption. They will face the winners of the two Elimination finals on their home turf.
So, if you try to imagine a flow chart, the loser of Qualifying final 1 will face the winner of Elimination final 2. The same goes for the second qualifying and elimination finals.
The losers of both elimination finals will be, surprise surprise, eliminated.
In terms of monetary value, the two teams knocked out in Week 1 of the finals will receive $20,000 prize money for their efforts.
All teams that progress into the second week will get, at the very least, $30,000 for being knocked out in Week 2, if they are to fall at that time.
The grand final winning club will walk away with $400,000 extra in their back pocket.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Very happy that the Titans snuck into the Finals this year and even better that they get to play the Broncos in Prime Time at what will surely be a full house Suncorp Stadium. The Titans have been doing an enormous amount of work off field, lead by Graham Anneresly, to put in place a solid coaching team along with building an Elite Training and Administration Facility and community work to bring back all the people on the GC that were burnt by Searle and Co previously. I think the Broncos will get up but the Titans can build on this year in 2017. As for it being a Friday night match up - there was no really no other day for it. Suncorp locked away on Saturday for the Wallabies v Springboks and Sunday would of had the Broncos sitting around with a 10 day turn around.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Yes, but if they finished 2nd they all get home games - one PF in Brisbane, one in Melbourne last year. We get an away game.
matth
Guest
And how were they going to play on Saturday? Agree with the Wallabies to take half a field each?
Griffo
Guest
Except that it will be far less away for Canberra than their opponent which is either Storm, Cowboys, Broncos or Titans.
Griffo
Guest
You should have an email with a password and for me tickets go on sale at 10am today so I'm guessing that's the same for you too.
Griffo
Guest
Yeah it's called the finals. I know it's been a while since the raiders have had a final but that's how it works. If you're a member you should get an early opportunity to buy tickets though.
nopuritan
Guest
A Titans win seems a plausible prospect. Let's not forget they were on track to make the eight before Haynes arrival. If anything his presence has caused a brief glitch in team momentum. I expect the Titans and Hayne to both have a marked return to form in the Broncos game. The Broncs have their vulnerabilities and Neil Henry will recognise and exploit that.
Emcie
Roar Guru
It's a bit different when you've got ninety thousand people in the stadium over the road. Not only are you playing a distant second for supporters that night but you've also got the crowd noise from the MCG to compete with
Emcie
Roar Guru
I swear the scheduling has been getting worse over the last couple years
steveng
Roar Rookie
This is all good and fine but does Wayne Bennett approve??? If not, there will be some heads rolling lol
Smell the fear
Guest
I very much doubt they considered the AFL. In Melbourne it's not even a competition
Fix the scrums
Guest
True, but it's a bit of a hike for both teams supporters to get to Allianz. I would of thought a bigger turnout would be at ANZ.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Thank God you're not in charge of scheduling. I think the NRL have got it about right.
Fix the scrums
Guest
The NRL is desperately trying to compete with the AFL on the finals weekend. The Broncos had to be on Friday night as usual. It is the game that is sure to be a ratings winner at least in Qld. It sucks but that's how this competition works. Nine want the Broncos to get prime time.
Brett
Guest
Pretty much. Broncos are a one city club and I welcome all the advantages that come with that. Saying that, I do miss Sunday arvo games at home during the regular season.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Most Broncos fans I know are aware of the advantages their club gets, and they wear that as a badge of honour. Trying to fight it or deny it comes off as a little silly. The final point by R is all we need to know. They rate well in SEQ and so they get another Friday night game.
Matth
Guest
Keep away from us with that logic and common sense. A lack of Bronco bashing will get you kicked off this site
Tim Brown
Guest
It all comes down to stadium avalibilty. On Saturday night at Suncorp the rugby union is on. So if the union wasn't on at Suncorp it would probably look something likes this Friday - Storm v Cowboys Saturday - Canberra v Sharks Saturday - Brisbane v GC Sunday - Bulldogs v Penrith
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I think that was Penrith's choice. They chose the SFS as ANZ is the Bulldogs home ground.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
You are giving one team a 5 day turnaround and another a 10 day break