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
criag
Roar Rookie
Yikes!
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Make that 8. Toia also out for season. ACL at training.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
The Roar’s Souths crew already back from their trip to Bali and into some serious pre-season training; some seriously good trolling in this page!!
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
Make that 7. Billy Smith is ruled out with a broken jaw. FFS
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah I'd say two depleted teams, one of which finished 3rd
criag
Roar Rookie
And you have more still in junior teams stolen from Easts in the 1950s [Insert crying with laughter emoji here in case I’m the only one who finds that funny]. But as some of those players were developed through the Roosters SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams, don’t think South can tooo much credit. And one was also a former Waverley College student and Australian Schoolboys rugby player who spent time at the Roosters before going to Souths.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Agree that it will be a shame if they have a poor turnout, I would assume they are completely locked into the time for TV purposes though.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Red hot Roosters?? Depleted Storm?? That’s one way of looking at it I guess. It’s not anywhere near accurate but whatever floats your boat
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
It'd be a shame to have less than a full house at AAMI Park because of a scheduling issue. I wonder if the NRL could move the Storm game forward a few hours, to avoid a clash? Make it a 5pm game, rather than an 8pm match?
KenW
Roar Rookie
I'm sure they didn't want to but they are contractually obliged to have a Friday night game and couldn't have had the Knights backing up on a 5 day turnaround
Nat
Roar Guru
For the sake of a quality game I hope NZ get Johnson back but also Hastings is ok as well. At this time of year you want the best v the best players on the park. He Johnson comes back I reckon that should get them home against the Knights. Not sure about Storm v Roosters but I suspect without Manu and in Melbourne the Storm might bounce back.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Not sure playing the Storm/Roosters game in Melbourne on the Friday night is a great idea. Carlton is playing Melbourne in the Aussie Rules at the MCG at the same time. Would have been better to play this game in Melbourne on the Saturday night, when the only Aussie Rule final's in Adelaide.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Both Storm and Roosters are bashed up from the weekend and are missing key players with injury. They do battle for the winner to be slaughtered by a fresh Panthers squad.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
You have more than that number in former Rabbitohs and South Sydney juniors to compensate. :laughing:
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
Depleted Storm? The Roosters will be missing 6 players from their best 17.