The Warriors’ chances of upsetting Penrith on Saturday afternoon have suffered a huge blow with Dally M favourite Shaun Johnson ruled out after a training mishap.
Andrew Webster may be forced to redeploy Dylan Walker in the halves after the Warriors were rocked by Johnson being ruled out of the club’s first NRL finals game since 2018.
Johnson, who Webster described as the “best player in the comp this year”, will miss Saturday’s qualifying final against Penrith with a calf complaint he picked up at training on Wednesday. The Warriors are also without first-choice five-eighth Luke Metcalf (hamstring) for the biggest game of the club’s season.
Webster will now likely move Walker from the bench to partner five-eighth Te Maire Martin. Rookie fullback Taine Tuaupiki and hooker Freddy Lussick are in the Warriors’ extended squad.
All eight coaches have made changes after several players were rested or injured in the final round.
Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga (shoulder), Jackson Hastings (ankle) and second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) now appear certain to play.
“The shoulder is good,” Ponga said on Thursday. “I trained today, got everything I needed out of it. So pretty confident I am playing Sunday. Today was that biggest session, to tick that off gives me confidence into Sunday.
“I’ll do everything I can to manage what I can leading into the game. But I do feel pretty good. I’m pretty excited about the occasion.”
Raiders winger Seb Kris has copped a season-ending suspension after he was sent off for a spear tackle in their loss to Cronulla on Sunday.
He was charged with a grade-three dangerous throw which carries a ban of five matches, which he has accepted with an early guilty plea instead of risking six if he had taken on the judiciary. Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has selected James Schiller ahead of Albert Hopoate and Jarrod Croker to replace Kris in the outside backs.
Storm half Jahrome Hughes is battling a knee injury although the Storm named him at halfback and give him as much time as possible to prove his fitness before Friday’s qualifying final against the Broncos in Brisbane. Harry Grant is all but certain to play after sitting out a week with shoulder damage.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds (calf) and lock Pat Carrigan (foot) are certain starters.
Cronulla pulled a surprise by naming fullback Will Kennedy among their extended reserves to potentially make an early return from a hamstring problem with Connor Tracey under a cloud due to his dodgy knee.
Tracey injured his knee late in Cronulla’s win over Canberra on Sunday but coach Craig Fitzgibbon said on Friday he was confident he would be right for Saturday’s eliminator against the Roosters.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Front-rower Toby Rudolf will fight through the pain of ligament damage in a toe to play in Saturday night’s elimination final after requiring needles before and during games for the past six weeks.
Kiwi star Joey Manu missed Friday’s win over Souths but coach Trent Robinson on Friday declared the star centre was an almost certain starter after recovering from a hamstring strain, replacing Corey Allan, but Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension) will not play again this year and winger Daniel Tupou (knee) is a long shot to feature in the finals.
“He should be right to go,” Robinson said.
Week 1 Finals Teams
Qualifying Final: Friday, September 8, 7.50pm (EST), Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Broncos (2) v Melbourne Storm (3)
Odds: Broncos $1.60, Storm $2.35 – odds via PlayUp
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates 19. Martin Taupau 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor
Adam Reynolds (calf) and Patrick Carrigan (foot) will return after being given a few weeks off to get over their minor injuries while Reece Walsh, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam, Billy Walters, Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell are also back after being rested in Round 27.
Kotoni Staggs regains his centre spot after serving a one-game suspension.
Jesse Arthars has beaten 201-game veteran Corey Oates to Brisbane’s left wing position with Keenan Palasia edging out Martin Taupau and Corey Jensen for the last bench spot.
Second-rower Brendan Piakura is free to play after copping fines for three charges but young forward Xavier Willison is out of the mix after injuring his ankle in the loss to the Storm.
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Tariq Sims 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Reimis Smith 22. Grant Anderson
Jahrome Hughes’ knee injury is causing the most concern but he has been named at halfback. Nick Meaney could be switched to the halves to partner Cameron Munster if the Kiwi playmaker is ruled out later in the week with Ryan Papenhuyzen lining up at fullback. Papenhuyzen has been selected on the bench.
Munster, Marion Seve, Xavier Coates, Christian Welch, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica and Trent Loiero were given the week off by Craig Bellamy in the final round.
PNG centre Justin Olam remains on the outer after getting a reprieve last week and has not even been named among the extended reserves.
Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 9, 4.05pm (EST), BlueBet Stadium
Penrith Panthers (1) v New Zealand Warriors (4)
Odds: Panthers $1.24, Warriors $4.10 – odds via PlayUp
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Zac Hosking 18. Jaeman Salmon 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Luke Sommerton 21. Luke Garner 22. Thomas Jenkins
Ivan Cleary ended up playing the majority of his first-choice team so the Panthers could leapfrog Brisbane into first for the minor premiership last week with centre Izack Tago making a strong return from a hamstring injury against the Cowboys.
Second-rower Scott Sorensen and hooker Mitch Kenny return from minor leg injuries.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Tom Ale 23. Edward Kosi
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak return after they were given the final round off.
Andrew Webster may be forced to redeploy Dylan Walker in the halves after the Warriors were rocked as star playmaker Shaun Johnson was ruled out of the club’s first NRL finals game since 2018.
Johnson, who Webster described as the “best player in the comp this year”, will miss Saturday’s qualifying final against Penrith with a calf complaint he picked up at training on Wednesday.
Tohu Harris’ back injury means he will be racing the clock to be right for kick-off. Luke Metcalf is out with a torn hamstring but Jazz Tevaga is back on the bench after three games out with the same injury.
Elimination Final: Saturday, September 9, 7.50pm (EST), PointsBet Stadium
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (6) v Sydney Roosters (7)
Odds: Sharks $1.90, Roosters $1.90 – odds via PlayUp
Sharks: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Kayal Iro 19. Daniel Atkinson 20. Jesse Colquhoun 21. William Kennedy 22. Matt Moylan
Connor Tracey has been named to play at fullback after injuring his knee in Sunday’s win over Canberra and is set to play with first-choice No.1 Will Kennedy unlikely to make an early return from his hamstring problem after being named in the reserves. Second-rower Briton Nikora (head knock) is good to go.
After playing his last regular-season match at Shark Park on Sunday, retiring forward Wade Graham will get one more chance to play at the ground.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Fletcher Baker 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Naufahu Whyte 20. Corey Allan 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Dylan Napa
Joey Manu was a late scratching from the win over Souths with his hamstring strain and he will replace Corey Allan in the centres as long as he is right by game day.
Veteran winger Daniel Tupou’s knee injury is out for at least another week. Front-rower Fletcher Baker was fined $1000 for a dangerous throw but is free to play.
Elimination Final: Sunday, September 10, 4.05pm (EST), McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle Knights (5) v Canberra Raiders (8)
Odds: Knights $1.22, Raiders $4.30 – odds via PlayUp
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Adam Clune 19. Lachlan Miller 20. Dylan Lucas 21. Enari Tuala 22. Brodie Jones
Jackson Hastings’ ankle and Kalyn Ponga’s shoulder will be getting plenty of treatment this week to try to get the key duo right for Sunday. Adam Clune and Lachie Miller will again replace them if they’re out. Departing back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) has also been named to return.
All indications are that the injured trio will be right for kick-off.
Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai and Phoenix Crossland are back after being rested in the win over the Dragons.
Veteran forward Adam Elliott copped a $3000 fine instead of a two-game ban for a careless high tackle on Billy Burns.
Raiders: Jordan Rapana 2. James Schiller 3. Jack Wighton 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Ata Mariota 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Hohepa Puru 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Trey Mooney 18. Jarrod Croker 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Danny Levi 21. Ethan Strange 22. Xavier Savage
Seb Kris’ dangerous throw suspension opens the door for James Schiller to play on the wing but Albert Hopoate could be recalled after overcoming a rib problem with retiring club legend Jarrod Croker unlikely to make the final cut after again being named in the reserves.
Ricky Stuart is persisting with his recent experiment of playing star Jack Wighton in the centres. That combination sees Matt Frawley partner Jamal Fogarty in the halves.
with AAP
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Bellamy has said that Olam lost his confidence after being smashed by the Big O against Manly. If that's true it's pretty unusual , especially for a player as tough as Olam.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure the Storm will be able to go with the Broncos for the full 80 minutes. I think there's only two results. If the Storm wins, it'll be by 2 points or less but if the Broncos win, it'll be by at least 2 tries. Pretty sure the Raiders will be enjoying their Mad Monday on the 11th of September, the Roosters will win and sadly the Panthers are likely to win as you suggested because Shaun Johnson's been ruled out.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
I’d rather Walker into the halves to be honest. Going to be an historic win if they can do it now.
Morz
Roar Rookie
He is out. Surely they are not going to play Volkman? Surely, surely, surely not. D Walker to 5/8, T Martin to half.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Friday night will be epic - I actually have a feeling Melbourne might edge it! Obviously I reckon Canberra will go through. Otherwise, I think it will be Easts over the Sharks narrowly, and Penrith easy. Should be some epic matches!
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
SJ being out would be the last thing the Warriors need. Had a sneaky feeling they were flying nicely under the radar for this game, but they really need SJ to spring the upset. I don’t think they risk him if he is 50/50 so…not looking hopeful.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Penrith’s average home ground attendances in 2023 are higher than Parramatta’s at a far worse & smaller venue. Their attendance records are way higher than Manly’s, this season & last season ( to start with ). Penrith have only really been in the finals regularly, for 4 years. South’s have only missed the finals for a third time since the 2013 season. Melbourne rarely miss the finals, yet you didn’t single them out? The Bulldogs were in the Super League Competition. Brisbane were in the Super League Competition & Won the GF in Super League. Yet you single them out, for adoration. Seems like your bias is showing through.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Probably all the teams except the Raiders are in, or are coming into some great form. Should be a terrific series.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yep, Walsh is their X factor.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think it will be close & no result would surprise me with these finals games. Penrith did defeat the Warriors in NZ 18-6 , without Tago . Yet the Warriors are always difficult for Penrith . Only exception for my first statement would be to see the Raiders get past Newcastle. Well down on their best team & if Ponga is fit & plays . Knights would have to be odds on.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
If only Redcliffe made the finals...
Dutski
Roar Guru
I reckon someone turning up in the Cathy Freeman full body suit would be worth a go...
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
If I was Kalyn Ponga, I'd turn up with a head gear and a mask (many European football players that play with face injuries particularly strikers have played big games while wearing a mask that covers the top part of their face while being able to see as well)
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Olam not in for Melbourne? Really?... Has he been going that bad, I didn't really see the others as being that much ahead of him - but then I don't see much of the games from here in the "good ol' USA". Glad Bellamy is sticking with Meaney, a deserved pat on the back. They'll be sweating on Hughes. Broncos looking solid, though Reynold's calf will be tested. LM took about 6 weeks to get over his. Piakura maybe should go buy a lottery ticket? NRL short of a quid with all their fining? Penrith looking ominous aside from missing Luai, very settled and successful cast for the show ahead. Martin a good replacement for Metcalf and Warriors are letting Baily Sironen go? Might be a good pickup for another club. Looks like Sharks FB issues weren't as serious as made out, seems both Tracey and Kennedy are available. Roosters didn't look like they missed JWH much last game. Manu might have to do more running than expected, see how his leg holds up. Ponga will need some extra gaffa tape and superglue on his shoulder, Raiders won't be shy testing that out. Wighton still in centres.. hmmm..trailing for Souths in '24? Ricky is being very thoughtful. A couple of holes in Raider's squad, but they will play hard and mean. The Saturday Elimination Final will look like a gentleman's card game compared to this pit fight.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
Lucky for us!
Bingo
Roar Rookie
What a boring semi finals series this will be. Six reasons this will be the worst NRL series ever. 1. Six super league clubs - boo News Corp 2. Only 2 poor crowd-drawing Sydney teams 3. Penrith! Again! 4. One town teams x 5! 5. No Parra, Dogs, Souths, Dragons, Manly - all the biggest drawing and most popular Sydney clubs where finals drama abounds since the 1960s! 6. Boring playing style except for the Broncos Lucky I’m heading overseas and will miss it all. Ratings will be diabolical - who’s playing this weekend?
Dutski
Roar Guru
I wonder what bonkers thing Jordan Rapana will do this week?
Noel
Roar Rookie
In Kevvy we trust... His hooker rotation is clockwork at the moment, and seems to be working, but as a left field option, Sailor to 14 appeals to me. He is a guy that could put points on in a hurry, has no fear, and could hold his own for 20 minutes in the middle. In any event, I'll be a shut in all weekend. Can't wait.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Waiting for a better price on the Broncos. I'm guessing there'll be late money for the Storm.
Rellum
Roar Guru
You should take that bet