The Sydney Roosters will play the North Queensland Cowboys in a preliminary final at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 23 September, with kickoff scheduled for 7:40pm AEST.
The winner of the match will play the winner of the previous night’s preliminary final, to be played between the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos, in the 2017 NRL grand final at Allianz Stadium the week after.
The Sydney Roosters finished second on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season, and as such had the right to host a preliminary final, with the Brisbane Broncos, finishing third, slated as their opponents.
It was a tight battle, but the Roosters came out on top in the end, and as a result won their way through to this preliminary final, with the right once again to host the match at Allianz Stadium.
The North Queensland Cowboys had all but given up on finals during the final round of the home-and-away season but have remarkably made it through to a preliminary final.
The Cowboys only qualified for finals thanks to the St George Illawarra Dragons surprisingly losing on the last day of the season.
They have taken their chance with both hands since though, recording a pair of upset wins.
Last week it was a narrow finish that went into extra time against the Cronulla Sharks, where a field goal in the extra time gave them a slim victory and kept their hopes alive.
Their victory over the Eels on Saturday night was more clear – despite Parramatta being in good form, the Cowboys beat them comfortably, pulling out to a 14-point lead at one stage.
A late try by Michael Jennings for the Eels brought the final score to 16-24 in the Cowboys favour, but there was no doubt as to who was the better team.
Abraham Saylor
Guest
I was born and bred to be a Cowboy, My boy's will be too strong and will win by 10. The Cows smell blood and they're out to eat some roosters #cowboysfan
Peter
Guest
"The Cowboys only qualified..blah blah blah." No, they qualified by gaining enough competition points and for-and--against to come eighth, just like the rule book says. Then they've been good enough to win two games against teams higher on the ladder, and look good enough to at least give the Roosters a hell of a fright if not beat them. Take your silly comment to its logical end. The Storm only came first because other teams didn't win enough games. Nothing to do with the Storm at all. Similarly, the Knights only came last because too many other teams won more games. Not down to the Knights at all. Try giving credit where credit is due.
Rt
Guest
Roosters are too soft. No heart. Weak as. They might be close at the 1/2 but they'll be weak in the second 1/2. Morgan will make Pierce look like a schoolgirl and Taumalolo will dominate the roosters pack. Cows by 10+
Nat
Roar Guru
Hahaha, sounds like you're on the Kurt Russell up there Big J??
BigJ
Roar Guru
To borrow a line from George Harrison guest appearance in the Simspons Bsharp episode 'its been done"
BigJ
Roar Guru
Bloody hope not, that would be a one sided affair and not much of a $$$$ maker. Storm v Cowboys would be the fairytale story of 2017. THe team the made the eight on a technically make the GF. Now that's a promoters dream match $$$$$$$$$
Oingo Boingo
Guest
And the Roosters , putting 36 on the Storm to run out winners in an awesome "referee blunder" free game .
Matt P
Roar Rookie
What if there's 73? Does the extra Broncos fan cause enough pressure for Lowe to miss?
Womblat
Guest
Nah. Cowboys vs Broncos with Ethan Lowe kicking a sideline conversion to win it in front of a crowd of 72 at ANZ Stadium.
jacksyd
Guest
Will be a Storm v Roosters GF and Storm will put 20+ on them.