The NRL finals are finally here with eight clubs still in the hunt for the trophy – here is how each team is shaping up.
Finals Week 1 teams
All times AEST
Qualifying Final: 2 Panthers vs 3 Roosters at BlueBet Stadium: 7.50pm, Friday September 13
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Brad Schneider 20. Casey McLean 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton
Major news for the premiers with star halfback Nathan Cleary cleared to return from his shoulder injury.
Cleary got the final tick of approval on his left shoulder on Wednesday, almost a month after going down against Melbourne in round 24.
The 28-year-old has been subjected to contact training at Penrith for more than a week, and in recent days had NSW Cup players testing out the joint.
The three-time premiership-winning halfback is not expected to require pain-killing needles to play, after he first suffered shoulder instability in the pre-season.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said on Wednesday the club had never considered holding their No.7 back any longer, until their first knockout game of the finals.
A win on Friday night would send the Panthers through to the preliminary finals, potentially giving Cleary another fortnight off if he was kept on ice.
“He’s fit, and this was always the plan to play him this week,” coach Cleary said.
“The stakes have moved up, and we always want to pick our best team and he is ready this week.”
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Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Nat Butcher 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Siua Wong 17. Terrell May 18. Michael Jennings 19. Blake Steep 20. Mark Nawaqanitawase 21. Jake Elliott 22. Salesi Foketi
Trent Robinson has named Daniel Tupou and Dominic Young to return after getting a rest in the final round with Mark Nawaqanitawase making his way back to the reserves list despite his impressive debut.
Back-rower Nat Butcher and Lindsay Collins will suit up in the forward pack after sitting out the win over Souths. But Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension), Brandon Smith (knee), Sam Walker (knee) and Victor Radley (shoulder) will be watching from the sidelines.
Qualifying Final: 1 Melbourne vs 4 Cronulla at AAMI Park: 4.05pm, Saturday September 14
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Joe Chan 22. Ativalu Lisati
Ryan Papenhuyzen will return at fullback after a week off to test his injured leg, replacing rookie Sua Fa’alogo who strained his hamstring in the win over Brisbane. Christian Welch also returns from illness.
Second-rower Eliesa Katoa is free to play after only being fined for a hit on Tristan Sailor, while speedy winger Grant Anderson is 18th man.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Siosifa Talakai 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Chris Veaila 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Thomas Hazelton
Jesse Ramien was placed on report in the 46th minute of Sunday’s win over Manly for a high shot on Karl Lawton. He was not sin-binned as the referee deemed the first point of contact for the heavy hit was on his opponent’s chest. The centre failed to finish the match with an ankle complaint.
Ramien was not charged by the match reviewers but second-rower Teig Wilton was pinged with dangerous contact for a hip-drop tackle but only faces a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea.
Oregon Kaufusi was rested from the win over Manly so he returns to the starting side to face the Storm and Tom Hazleton has been squeezed out of the squad, and has been named on the extended reserves list.
Elimination Final: 5 North Qld vs 8 Newcastle at QCB Stadium: 7.50pm, Saturday September 14
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Chad Townsend 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Tomas Chester
Veteran prop Jordan McLean returns after a few weeks out with a hamstring problem with Harrison Edwards pushed onto the bench.
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Kai Pearce-Paul
In a massive blow for the Knights, star centre Bradman Best is set to miss the match due to his troublesome hamstring flaring up again. Club officials are confident he can play next week if the team makes it through but their chances of advancing have taken a huge hit.
Jacob Saifiti (calf) has again been left out of the squad, but Kai Pearce-Paul (shin) is close to making a return and has been named as a reserve, giving Adam O’Brien a few more days to decide on his fitness.
Elimination Final: 6 Canterbury vs 7 Manly at ANZ Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday September 15
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Lipoi Hopoi 21. Jonathan Sua 22. Drew Hutchison 23. Chris Patolo
Bronson Xerri will return from a one-game ban for a hip-drop tackle that injured Manly flyer Jason Saab a fortnight ago. Jeral Skelton (leg) will come back into the starting side, while Jacob Kiraz has been named on the wing despite some doubt over his shoulder problem.
Five-eighth Matt Burton (concussion) will replace Drew Hutchison in his usual role as five-eighth.
Veteran winger Josh Addo-Carr has stood himself down on the eve of the NRL finals after allegedly returning a positive roadside test for cocaine. The Bulldogs’ general manager of football Phil Gould announced the star player’s decision at a snap press conference on Tuesday morning after meeting with club bosses.
The winger will miss at least Sunday’s elimination final against Manly, the Dogs’ first finals appearance since 2016. Addo-Carr has told Canterbury officials he did not consume illicit drugs last week, but stood himself down after it was explained to him by Gould that his presence in the team would likely create a media circus.
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Corey Waddell
Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) will be back as starting fullback but Jason Saab (ankle) is out for at least another week.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold said Trbojevic could have played in the final round against Cronulla but they kept him out of action as a precautionary measure.
Bench forward Corey Waddell could still return after serving a two-game ban for a high shot. He’s been named on the extended reserves list.
with AAP