The NRL playoffs are down to the final four teams with two sudden-death matches to decide who advances to the Grand Final – here is how each team is shaping up.
Preliminary Finals teams
All times AEST, fixtures yet to be officially announced
Preliminary Final: 1 Melbourne vs 3 Roosters at AAMI Park: 7.50pm, Friday September 27
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Will 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. Kane Bradley 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Joe Chan 22. Sua Faalogo
Sua Fa’alogo has an outside chance of being available to play after suffering a hamstring tear in the final round. He’s listed in the extended reserves, but the rookie speedster is unlikely to be able to force his way into Craig Bellamy’s game-day squad.
The Storm beat the Roosters 18-12 in Round 7 at Allianz Stadium before getting the better of them 24-8 in the return bout in Melbourne in July.
They have been installed as heavy $1.30 favourites over the Roosters at $3.55.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Spencer Leniu 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Siua Wong 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Jake Elliott 22. Michael Jennings
Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was not charged for the incident which led to Tolu Koula being concussed in the first play of the match against Manly on Saturday night and he will be hoping to extend his Roosters career by one more game into the GF before heading to the Super League next year.
Luke Keary, Sitili Tupouniua, Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii could also be playing their last match for the Roosters as Trent Robinson’s squad undergoes an overhaul heading into 2025.
JWH in his return from suspension and fellow forward Victor Radley making an early comeback from a fractured scapula earned Robinson’s praise after the 40-16 victory over Manly.
“Jared and Victor coming back in set a tone about the way they play the game,” he said.
Preliminary Final: 2 Penrith vs 4 Cronulla at Accor Stadium: 7.50pm, Saturday September 28
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. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Casey McLean 19. Trent Toelau 20. Scott Sorensen 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton
Back-rower Scott Sorensen (hamstring) has been named among the reserves as he looks to return in time to help his side qualify for the Grand Final. If he is a late inclusion, Luke Garner would likely move to the bench with Brad Schneider dropping out.
Ivan Cleary on Thursday was unsure the forward would make a second appearance since tweaking his hamstring against Parramatta in round 23.
“I don’t expect (him to play) as yet, but I’m hoping,” Cleary said. “He’s still going through various stages but there’s a fair bit tonight that he’ll need to do.
“At this stage we feel like he can, but doing it is another thing. If he’s going to play then he’s got to be able to play.”
Sunia Turuva was fined for tripping James Tedesco in the win over the Roosters while Nathan Cleary made a successful comeback from his shoulder concern and after an extra week off to rehab the injury, he will take his place in the line-up against the Sharks.
Cleary is continuing rehabilitation ahead of Saturday’s clash with Cronulla but his shoulder pulled up well from his first match in a month – also Penrith’s most clinical in recent memory.
Penrith pumped Cronulla 42-0 at Shark Park in their only regular-season meeting in Round 12 when Cleary was sidelined by his hamstring problem and they are rated a $1.25 chance with the Sharks considered $4 long shots.
Sharks: 1. William 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.
Siosifa Talakai 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Samuel Stonestreet
The Sharks named the same 17 that beat the Cowboys. Jesse Ramien (ankle) made it through his comeback match against the Cowboys but Samoan winger Sione Katoa continues to be hampered by a hip injury. Both have been named in the starting side.
Ramien downplayed wearing a moon boot at Cronulla on Monday, confident he will line up on the Sharks’ right edge despite recent ankle troubles.
The centre missed their qualifying final loss to Melbourne but returned to help the side snap a seven-game finals losing streak with their win over North Queensland.
“I pulled up a bit sore after the game but pretty lucky we’ve got an eight-day turnaround, so I’ll be doing everything I can with the physios,” he said.
“I think the boot’s probably a bit more precautionary, they got me into it pretty much straight after the game to sort of offload the leg. “It is a bit sore but opportunities like this don’t come around too often so you’ve just got to take them when they come.”
Siosifa Talakai is the likeliest man to replace him in the centres if he loses his race against the clock, having played there against the Storm a fortnight ago.
Dan Atkinson was the unlucky Shark who was relegated to 18th player duties last weekend and will wear that number again this week.