Finals Week 1

[Big Pete]

Elimination Final #1
Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans
Suncorp Stadium, Friday 9 September 2016
Kick Off 7:55pm

1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. Tom Opacic 4. James Roberts 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Josh McGuire 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Jai Arrow 17. Alex Glenn 18. Jo Ofanhengaue 19. Jonus Pearson

1. Jarryd Hayne 2. David Mead 3. Josh Hoffman 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Luke Douglas 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James 11. Zeb Taia 12. Chris McQueen 13. Greg Bird
Interchange: 14. Leivaha Pulu 15. Ryan Simpkins 16. Agnatius Paasi 17. Nathan Friend 18. Anthony Don 19. William Zillman 20. Lachlan Burr

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Qualifying Final #2
Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks
GIO Stadium, Saturday 10 September 2016
Kick Off 5:35pm

1. Jack Wighton 2. Edrick Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Sam Williams 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Iosia Soliola
Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Luke Bateman 16. Clay Priest 17. Joseph Tapine 18. Paul Vaughan

1. Ben Barba 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jack Bird 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Michael Ennis 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Gerard Beale 15. Chris Heighington 16. Jesse Sene-Lefao 17. Jayson Bukuya 18. Kurt Capewell

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Qualifying Final #1
Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys
AAMI Park, Saturday 10 September 2016
Kick Off 7:55pm

1. Cameron Munster 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Cheyse Blair 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Blake Green 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Tim Glasby 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14. Kenneath Bromwich 15. Christian Welch 16. Jordan McLean 17. Ben Hampton

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. Coen Hess 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben Hannant

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Elimination Final #2
Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Allianz Stadium, Sunday 11 September 2016
Kick Off 4:10pm

1. Matt Moylan 2. Josh Mansour 3. Waqa Blake 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6. Bryce Cartwright 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Leilani Latu 9. Peter Wallace 10. Suaia Matagi 11. Isaah Yeo 12. James Fisher-Harris 13. Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14. Sitaleki Akauola 15. Jeremy Latimore 16. Chris Grevsmuhl 17. Zak Hardaker 20. Moses Leota

1. Brett Morris 2. Tyrone Phillips 3. Josh Morris 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Curtis Rona 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Moses Mbye 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Greg Eastwood 13. David Klemmer
Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano 15. Tim Browne 16. Tony Williams 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 19. Danny Fualalo

 

[Big Pete]

The NRL finals, where legends are made and childhood dreams become reality.

2016 shapes to be the closest NRL finals yet with eight teams all staking claims at a premiership.

You've got the Brisbane Broncos, last year's runners up. They entered the year as favourites but after a disappointing Origin period fell off. In recent weeks, they're discovered their best form but face a challenge most deem impossible, winning the Grand Final outside of the Top 4. Fortunately, Wayne Bennett has experience in this department, completing that fete in 1993, albeit under a different format. The Broncos certainly have the talent, but do they have that extra gear to conquer four tough games in a row?

Then there's the Titans. Most will tell you they already achieved the impossible, staving off the wooden spoon and finding themselves within reach of an unlikely premiership. Going in, most fans would have you believe the Titans are just happy to be in the finals. However, the Gold Coast have the knack of staying in games and proving the unlikely upset in the dying stages. Friday's game promises to be a cracker and could very well be the Titans finest moment in their short history. Time will tell.

Kicking us off on Saturday, we have Canberra v Cronulla, two teams that many expected to be here, but not in a Top 4 capacity. Both teams played some amazing football this season, some of the more enterprising we've had the pleasure of watching and Saturday promises to be an amazing game.

When Ricky arrived at Canberra, nobody wanted to play for them. Kevin Proctor? Balked. Michael Ennis? No thank you. James Tedesco? Sorry, but he's sticking with his basket case of a club. The Raiders looked like they were on the brink, but through some crafty signings, Ricky has created one of the most enterprising sides of the decade. The Raiders play with a cavalier attitude and never die wondering. They've been through every heart-ache, every controversy imaginable and they've built on it. On Saturday, they have the opportunity to prove their current streak was more than just a fluke and that they're ready to play some serious September football. Let's see how far those lessons take them.

Then you've got the Cronulla Sharks. A team that is made up of a little bit of everything. Some pieces old, some pieces new, the only thing they have in common is that they can strike at any moment and regather momentum when you least expect it. They have a ton of experience, a lot of players looking to go out with a bang and you just know they aren't going to go down without a fight. Up, Up Cronulla, cometh the hour...

Ah Melbourne, the champion team that can never be written off. It seems like every year, the experts write them off as too old, too predictable and yet they always find themselves entrenched in the finals football. Led by Cameron Smith, Melbourne boast some of the best players in the sport at the moment as well as a few young players on the rise. Last year, they were in the box seat to qualify for their 7th grand final until destiny intervened. This year, they enter the finals stronger and more determined.

Standing in their way is one of only two teams that knows how to beat Melbourne in Melbourne during the finals and that's the North Queensland Cowboys. The defending champions have been every bit as good as their 2015 counterpart and after a shaky post-Origin period have found their best form in recent weeks. If ever there was a side that could win back to back premierships, it'd be a side with the immortal Johnathan Thurston leading the way. There's plenty to like about the Cowboys and plenty of signs to believe that their story, their war as it were, is far from over.

Then on Sunday, we've got the dark horses.

Boasting some of the most talented players in the competition, Penrith have discovered their best form in recent weeks and look to cause a stir in September. Names such as Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Bryce Cartwright, Nathan Cleary, Lelani Latu, Trent Merrin, James Fisher-Harris and Chris Grevsmuhl are bound to play big roles in the future and have the potential to go all the way. Get ready to roll the dice, if Penrith switch on, it's curtains for their opponents.

Then there's Canterbury. Like Melbourne, it's business as usual, they just have a habit of finding themselves in the thick of finals football. A lot of people have written the Bulldogs off, have them flying under the radar if you will, and if you asked Des he'd have it no other way. Especially with Mr. Excitement Sam Kasiano returning. Kasiano is a go-getter, he grabs the ball and makes things happen. He's without a doubt one of the key players of the finals series and his involvement will be one of the big talking points come Sunday.

All eight teams represent the hopes and dreams of an entire fanbase. With every pass, every tackle, every hit-up they have thousands if not millions riding them hoping that when the final siren is sounded it's their team on the podium.

The question is, who will lift the premiership?

Nathan Friend?
James Graham?
Matt Moylan?
Johnathan Thurston?
Paul Gallen?
Jarrod Croker?
Cameron Smith?

Or Corey Parker?

Who will have the last laugh in 2016? We're about to find out, so feel free and join us as we experience another breathtaking NRL Finals Series.

 

[Rally Towel]

Ah Big Pete, always so eloquent. If you don't write for a living you really should.

As for the match ups they'll all really compelling.

I feel we will get up over the Titans, care if a strong start as we did against Melbourne. Titans don't lack for heart though, we really need to watch them in the last 15-20 and grind them out.

Canberra and Cronulla is a tough call. I feel like the Raiders are going to ride their current momentum and run away with it though. Expect it to be a high scoring game.

I see Melbourne frustrating the Cowboys and imposing their will throughout. Could go either way, but I think last year's upset will play heavily on the Storm's preparation and I expect them to play the percentages as only they can.

Panthers have the ability to run away with it over the Bulldogs but I like Canterbury in an upset. Des, like Bellamy, is a seasoned finals campaigner, and the Dogs have been sub par for a few weeks. I think the occasion might get to the Panthers and the Dogs won't give them an inch. Kasiano will be instrumental in creating opportunities for Reynolds and B Moz, and they'll prevail in a tight contest.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Gallen is in huge doubt apparently after injuring his back at training.

 

[mitch222]

Gallen is in huge doubt apparently after injuring his back at training.

its finals. he treats them like origin games and makes himself available. However, if it was rnd 4, he would rest up until origin

 

[tommy]

9 news just said Gallen will not be playing. Not even travelling to Canberra they reckon.

 

[ningnangnong]

Dear Paul,

Suck shit.

Sincerely,
ning

 

[Harry Sack]

9 news just said Gallen will not be playing. Not even travelling to Canberra they reckon.

*frantically on the phone to Dank*

 

[2ndPhase]

So are we onboard with the Raiders? For some reason the Raiders team logo was one of my favorite footy cards back in 1990! Ha

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Fucking kill each other, you *****. All 4 of you.

 

[Alec]

Going for Canberra here. Enjoy watching them play. Big fan of some of their players. Hate Gallen, even if he isn't playing. He can't be allowed to win a premiership.

 

[Alec]

**** why couldn't we sign Paulo or someone like him during the mid season?

 

[Fozz]

This is hilarious. Ennis with the quick tap, gets smashed and coughs up the ball. Nek minnit, BJ does the same only Graham knocks himself silly.

Gif worthy.

 

[Kimlo]

I haven't watched much of the Raiders but Hodgson looks like a real quality player.

 

[Wolfie]

Jez, the raiders have some big boys in the forwards.

 

[Broncoman]

I haven't watched much of the Raiders but Hodgson looks like a real quality player.

He has been the best hooker this year. Awesome Ricky signing.

 

[2ndPhase]

Jez, the raiders have some big boys in the forwards.

Boyde, Paulo, Papalli, Soliolo

 

[Kimlo]

He was challenging the ball. Are the commentators going to bitch?