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
mushi
Roar Guru
Great, just need a nine week comp that starts post origin. It is fraught with danger to frame expectations on a selective subset. Not sure any -10 a game team has done the one season turnaround.
matth
Roar Guru
Look at the second half of the year. From round 16 = +1
mushi
Roar Guru
At -250 f/a it will take a pretty huge turnaround in one year.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You would be close I think. After I wrote the above I considered the history that every year there is a change or two and the Broncos would be about the only one I mentioned that could. Actually, Dragons also could but I'm a shattered man and don't want to get my hopes up.
matth
Roar Guru
The Broncos will have all their kids a year older and wiser plus Staggs (4 games this year), Carrigan (less), Capewell and Reynolds. If the team has luck with injuries I think they will move into the bottom half of the 8 next season.
Joey
Guest
NRL could easily have played the Sunday game at night, else played two games Friday, and Saturday. Horrible disadvantage to both Parra and Newcastle, playing an afternoon knockout with a forecast of 30°.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well done Titans. Unfortunately not much change in the 8 from last year and this won't change much in the future. Pains me to say it but I seriously can't see who of Dragons, Tigers, Cows, Broncos or Warriors can break into the 8. Also, while Dogs will move up the ladder going from Spoon to 8 is a move achieved by very few.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I’m still not writing off the Roosters.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I daresay the four referees that will qualify for the first week of finals will be Sutton, Klein, Atkins and… jeez I don’t know about the fourth. Probably Cummins. And that’s not me saying I agree with those four; that’s what I think based on how they seem to be viewed by the higher ups.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
CH 9 news sports report saying Cronulla were unlucky and robbed of a finals spot by Titans. That'll do me or do the NRL / CH 9 want Sydney teams in finals.
Cliffo
Roar Rookie
How come playing at Sunshine stadium and Browne Park? I thought QLD had no restrictions now so why wouldn’t you play at Lang park to get bigger crowds?
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Bad luck Cronulla fans. The last team you want playing for your life are the Warriors.
Tony
Roar Guru
Two comments on the Manly/Cowboys game: 1. I thought that the teams were evenly matched, apart from Turbo. If he was playing for the Cowboys, they would have won easily. 2. Remember when JT13 was one of the best players in the competition?
Joshua casaceli
Guest
Up up the warriors
GregM
Roar Rookie
Bunnies have it hard without LM, Manly if they lose TT are done. But if Tommy T keeps his form in the finals makes Manly probably the only team who can upset the top 2
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs and Eagles have consistently shown to be the best 4 teams of the season, not sure if we can say it's a 1 or 2 horse race as was said mid-year. Doubt any team outside the top 4 will be able to make a serious challenge for the Premiership.
Chris
Roar Pro
Hoping for a 41-0, we will finally get to see though how the Eagles perform come finals. They've been their own worst enemies in big games sometimes this year.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The only thing we need settled on Sunday is will Reuben Garrick outscore the Bulldogs this season