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The Gold Coast Titans have obliterated the New Zealand Warriors 44-0 to secure an unlikely finals berth, leapfrogging the Sharks into eighth.
The Titans headed in needed to win by at least 11 points to overtake the Sharks on points-differential, which they completed with ease in a spiteful match, featuring four yellow cards in an extraordinary few minutes in the second half.
A one-point loss to the Knights in Round 24 appeared to have ended the Queenslanders’ quest for the eight, but everything has gone right for them thus far in the penultimate round. The Raiders’ Thursday night loss, plus the Storm taking down the Sharks on Friday night, left destiny in their own hands.
Earlier in the round, Manly’s win over the North Queensland Cowboys officially put a stamp on the top four for the NRL finals.
The Sea Eagles’ 46-18 win ensures they’ll take on minor premiers the Melbourne Storm in a blockbuster qualifying final, with the Roosters falling to fifth despite their excellent Thursday night win over the Canberra Raiders.
The Storm’s minor premiership also means the Penrith Panthers take on the Latrell Mitchell-less South Sydney Rabbitohs, who rested a swathe of first-choice players for Saturday night’s 20-16 win over the Dragons.
Stuck in seventh heading into the round, the Knights opted for safety first in a flat 35-22 loss to the Broncos. Coach Adam O’Brien opted to play stars Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce despite resting a host of others, but hooked the pair shortly after half time with victory looking out of reach. Granted, the match was a dead rubber, but the Knights’ leaky defence will concern O’Brien ahead of a sudden-death clash with the equally rested Eels next week.
NRL finals week one fixtures
Friday, September 10
First Qualifying Final: Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles, 7:50pm @ Sunshine Coast Stadium
Saturday, September 11
First Elimination Final: Sydney Roosters vs Gold Coast Titans, 5:40pm @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Second Qualifying Final: Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, 7:50pm @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Sunday, September 12
Second Elimination Final: Parramatta Eels vs Newcastle Knights, 4:05pm @ Browne Park, Rockhampton
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