The Storm will head to Accor Stadium trying to bring down Penrith while the Warriors travel north to Brisbane in another blockbuster showdown for the NRL preliminary finals.
Melbourne scored a late try to sink the Roosters on Friday night while the Warriors vanquished Newcastle in the second semi-final 40-10 on Saturday.
Tickets will be on sale for both Week Three matches to the competing clubs’ ticketed members at 10am on Monday (September 18), while tickets for the competing clubs’ non-ticketed members will be on sale at 1pm. Tickets for NRL Account Holders will be on sale at 4pm on Monday.
Preliminary Finals tickets will be on sale to general public at 10am on Tuesday (September 19) at www.nrl.com/tickets. Tickets to both grand final qualifiers will be available from $20 for members and $25 for general public.
Minor premiers Penrith pounded the Warriors 32-6 and Brisbane thumped Melbourne 26-0 in the opening playoff round to earn direct entry into week three of the finals.
>>>> All you need to know about NRL Finals
Shaun Johnson could be in for another week of training separately from his Warriors teammates ahead of the preliminary final against Brisbane, despite making it through the semi unscathed.
The Warriors’ talismanic halfback tore his calf late last month, missing last week’s qualifying final loss to Penrith and entering preparations for the semi-final against Newcastle under an injury cloud.
He had personal training loads prescribed early in the week, sitting Thursday’s session out altogether, before making it through captain’s run and earning approval for selection.
The 33-year-old half was at his dynamic best with the ball in the 40-10 demolition of Newcastle, orchestrating a 16-0 start that put the Warriors on the path to victory at home on Saturday.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster said it was too early to predict whether Johnson would have a similar week at training ahead of the Broncos game.
“I have no idea. I don’t,” he said.
“Just enjoy this moment. I just think the reason I don’t know is he could pull up really good. We could get an extra session out of him before captain’s run.
“If we don’t, we’ll stick to the formula. We’ll just see how he pulls up.”
Melbourne duo Jahrome Hughes and Xavier Coates will be racing the clock to be available for the Storm’s preliminary final against Penrith.
Hughes (calf) and Coates (ankle) both sat out Friday night’s 18-13 semi-final thriller against the Sydney Roosters.
“They’re both a chance,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“I think Jahrome has a better chance than Xavier at the moment.
“Until they start running we won’t know.
“Xavier is still in a boot. That said, I’ve seen guys in boots for seven days and then they’re playing two days later.”
Qualifying final 1: (1) Penrith 32 vs (4) Warriors 6 at BlueBet Stadium – 4pm on Saturday, September 9
Qualifying final 2: (2) Brisbane 26 vs (3) Storm 0 at Suncorp Stadium – 7.50pm on Friday, September 8
Elimination final 1: (5) Newcastle 30 vs (8) Canberra 28 at McDonald Jones Stadium – 4.05pm on Sunday, September 10
Elimination final 2: (6) Cronulla 12 vs (7) Roosters 13 at PointsBet Stadium – 7.50pm on Saturday, September 9
Semi-final 1: (3) Melbourne 18 vs (7) Roosters 13 at AAMI Park – 7.50pm on Friday, September 15
Semi-final 2: (4) Warriors 40 vs (5) Newcastle 10 at Go Media Stadium – 4.05pm (AEST) on Saturday, September 16
Preliminary final 1: (1) Penrith vs Storm – at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm on Friday, September 22
Preliminary final 2: (2) Broncos vs Warriors at Suncorp Stadium – 7.50pm on Saturday, September 23
Winners of each preliminary final: at Accor Stadium, 7.20pm, Sunday October 1
with AAP
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