After week one of the finals, the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters have had their premiership dreams dashed, while the Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys can sit back and relax this weekend after winning their respective qualifying finals against the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
For the Eels and Sharks, their second chances come this weekend when they face the Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs in their respective semi-finals this weekend, with no tomorrow for either side meaning it’s win or bust.
Both finals this weekend will be played in Sydney, with bumper crowds again expected as Sydney footy fans continue to get their finals footy fix after being starved of such opportunities last year due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Here is your preview.
First semi-final: Parramatta Eels (4th) vs Canberra Raiders (8th), Friday, September 16, 7:50pm at Commbank Stadium
This season: Eels defeated Raiders 28-20 at GIO Stadium in round twelve.
Last meeting in a final: Never.
The Parramatta Eels will look to avoid a third straight-sets exit from the finals in six years when they face the Canberra Raiders in what will be the teams’ first ever finals clash at Commbank Stadium on Friday night.
Brad Arthur’s side were unfortunate to have had to face a Penrith Panthers side whose co-captain Nathan Cleary was making his return from a five-match suspension incurred from a dangerous throw charge in the teams’ round 20 meeting not long ago.
Try as they could, but the Eels struggled to contain the Blues halfback who produced several bombs and had a hand in each of his side’s four tries.
Though they briefly led 8-7 in the second half, that was as good as it got for them as they again suffered yet another qualifying final loss, leaving them to take the long road if they are to get back into a Grand Final for the first time since 2009.
Halfback Mitchell Moses has been named to play, though he may be in some doubt after being concussed from a head knock while in the process of making a tackle.
They face a tough task against the Raiders, who won their fifth straight match in Melbourne after ending the Storm’s season by the scoreline of 28-20 in the first elimination final at AAMI Park last Saturday night.
Ricky Stuart’s men showed no fear against the southerners, who were sentenced to their earliest finals defeat since 2014, as they continued their impressive second-half season surge after being as low as 14th after a heartbreaking golden point loss to the Warriors in round eight.
The Green Machine led 16-8 at half-time and while the Storm threatened a comeback, taking the lead by 20-16 midway through the second half, two late tries – one each to Hudson Young and Jordan Rapana – completed the upset win.
Canberra Raiders (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
They will now back themselves in against what is expected to be a pro-Parramatta crowd which will be desperate as ever to avoid crashing out of September in straight sets, and continue their bid to become just the third team to reach the Grand Final from eighth place.
The last team to do this were the Cowboys in 2017, while the Eels also made the decider from eighth place in 2009 after being as low as 14th following the State of Origin period.
While the Eels will have the full support of the crowd, I think the Raiders have it in them to spring another finals stunner and send the blue-and-golds crashing out, thus extending their premiership drought – the longest by any club excluding the Titans and Warriors – to 36 years.
For the winner: A trip to Townsville to face the Cowboys in the second preliminary final at Queensland Country Bank Stadium next Friday night.
For the loser: Season over.
Prediction: Raiders by eight points.
Second semi-final: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2nd) vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (7th), Saturday, September 17, 8:00pm at Allianz Stadium
This season: Sharks defeated Rabbitohs 21-20 in round twenty at PointsBet Stadium.
Last meeting in a final: Sharks defeated Rabbitohs 28-12 in the second elimination final at the old Allianz Stadium.
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks’ heartbreaking golden point loss to the North Queensland Cowboys has sent them to the Panthers’ side of the finals draw, meaning if they beat the Rabbitohs this weekend, we will have a 1 vs 2 preliminary final on September 24.
The two teams could not be separated at half-time, full-time or the end of extra time, meaning an indefinite period of golden point was played out during which ex-Shark Valentine Holmes potted over a two-point field goal to sink the side with whom he won the 2016 title.
Now, the men from the Shire must take the long way around but will fancy themselves against the South Sydney Rabbitohs who are coming off a rather controversial 30-14 win over the Sydney Roosters, ending their bitter rivals’ season in stunning fashion at Allianz Stadium.
Cronulla Sharks (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The result came just nine days after they suffered a 26-16 loss to the same team at the same venue, but you could argue this result was made even sweeter given the intense hatred and rivalry between the two traditional clubs.
After being booed heavily by Roosters fans in that said round 25 match, Latrell Mitchell had the last laugh, scoring one try, and will be their x-factor as they look to continue their finals run at the expense of a Sharks side which has been much-improved this season.
The last time the two sides met in a final was at the (old) Allianz Stadium in 2015, in which the Sharks, which had finished last the previous season, put an end to the Bunnies’ title defence with a 28-12 win, masterminded by the since-retired Michael Ennis.
Seven years on, the Sharks will again look to end the Bunnies’ season at the new Allianz Stadium this Saturday night, with the winner to progress to a preliminary final showdown against reigning premiers the Panthers at Accor Stadium.
With this semi-final kicking off at 8:00pm, it will allow Sydney sporting fans to be at the stadium in time for kick-off, roughly half an hour following the final siren of the AFL preliminary final between the Sydney Swans and Collingwood next door at the SCG.
It therefore promises to be the biggest night of footy at the Moore Park precinct since 2018, when the Roosters and Sharks played each other in an NRL final at the old Allianz Stadium following an AFL elimination derby between the Swans and GWS Giants.
For the winner: A showdown against the Penrith Panthers in the preliminary final at Accor Stadium. If the Rabbitohs win, it will be a Grand Final rematch.
For the loser: Season over.
Prediction: Sharks by 14 points.
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Damien
Guest
My Boys My Canberra Raiders By 18, Sharks By 6 I reckon
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Latrell must have know the field goals v Sharks wouldn't have made any difference. Another two competition points, and Souths still sit 7th.
andrew
Roar Rookie
If you listen to all the so called experts Souths are specials. Well, I'm tipping the Sharks. I think they have the speed and the forwards to match the Rabbitohs. Also think the Green Machine will keep on rolling.
Smiffy
Roar Rookie
Going to be a tense weekend at my place, for me Friday night hoping Parra can finally get to a pre-lim final again and for my wife, a sharkies fan, hoping Souffs dont come out aiming at the head again. Shouldn't Sharkies play at Shark Park again, I mean if it was ok last week why isnt it ok this week?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
If the real Parramatta turn up they have to be favourites . Having beaten both Melbourne and Penrith this year they are more than capable . Playing at home is to their advantage . The other match is even money. It's Wether last week's effort has mentally drained them .
Albo
Roar Rookie
Well I think the Eels will win easily at home if Moses plays. And the Souths v Cronulla game will be high scoring but very close. I slightly favour Souths having played there twice in recent weeks.
Avatar
Roar Guru
What I must have meant was "third time in six years" (after straight-sets exits in 2017 and 2020).
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
When you say the Eels going out in straight sets for the third straight year.. They won their first semi final last year. A straight sets loss (since you are using a tennis analogy) suggests the loser did not win a set.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Problem for Moses and similar in his boat, is that he doesn't even need to be hit high again. Any heavy shuddering contact will retrigger his concussion, whether it be as ball-carrier, or defender, and Parra will then be without him mid-game. Will he receive some leniency from the ref this week? no doubt, but no more than he does when fully fit. As I say, fair tackles away from the head can retrigger it, and you can't go penalising the opposition for a concussion that was already there before kick off.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
With Souths' big game players, they tend to play "enough" to win, which is what they did on the weekend and have been doing all year. In round 25 v roosters it was no surprise Souths lost (despite only 4 tries v 3) as it was a dead rubber, they didn't have to win, but there is no way they would have lost v roosters twice the following week. Against the Sharks they have the confidence and the ability to win, they also know they could have beaten the Sharks in their last meeting (lost by 1 point) but for Latrell missing 3 field goal, which we can all be rest assured won't happen twice..