The NRL playoffs are in full swing with two sudden-death matches to decide who advances to face Penrith and Melbourne in the prelim finals – here is how each team is shaping up.
No players from the teams that advanced from week 1 of the finals have been banned by the judiciary but Knights prop Leo Thompson’s Pacific Championships campaign with New Zealand is under a cloud after copping a one-game suspension for his high shot on Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt.
Finals Week 2 teams
All times AEST
Semi-Final: 4 Sharks vs 5 Cowboys at Allianz Stadium: 7.50pm, Friday September 20
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Siosifa Talakai 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. Thomas Hazelton 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Jesse Ramien
Jesse Ramien (ankle) is considered a chance to return, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon naming him on the extended reserves list after the centre missed the loss in Melbourne.
He’ll be given until closer to game time to prove his fitness, with Siosifa Talakai likely to go back to the interchange if Ramien proves his fitness.
Samoan winger Sione Katoa suffered a hip injury but Fitzgibbon has named him on wing to face the Cowboys.
Katoa has paid a fine of $1800 for a high tackle while Braydon Trindall ($1000 for dangerous contact) was also charged.
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. Braidon Burns 22. Tomas Chester
No injury concerns for Todd Payten’s team after their win over Newcastle with the same 17-man line-up to run out against the Sharks. Jaxon Purdue will replace Thomas Mikaele as the 18th player.
Semi-Final: 3 Roosters vs 7 Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium: 7.50pm, Saturday September 21
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 22. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte 12. Sitili Tupouniua 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May 14. Siua Wong 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Fetalaiga Pauga 20. Blake Steep 21. Michael Jennings
Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is back from his three-game ban for what could be his last match for the club before heading to the Super League next year.
Daniel Tupou and James Tedesco were fined $1800 and $1000 respectively for dangerous contact charges in the 20-point loss to Penrith.
Victor Radley will return for the Sydney Roosters’ semi-final against Manly in a reprieve from the injury crisis that threatens the side’s NRL premiership hopes.
Radley’s rapid-fire three-week recovery from a fractured scapula looks set to help the Roosters recapture the physical intensity they missed in last week’s qualifying-final loss to Penrith.
Coach Trent Robinson included Radley in his extended squad on Tuesday, a sign he was close to recovering, and confirmed on Friday he would return to a side still missing Sam Walker and Brandon Smith.
“He’s right to go,” Robinson said on Friday morning.
Bench forward Siua Wong appears the likeliest man to drop out of the 17 when the Roosters finalise their team ahead of Saturday night’s sudden-death clash at Allianz Stadium.
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 get pain-killing injections again and suit up at fullback while coach Anthony Seibold has not taken the risk with winger Jason Saab, who is unable to return from his syndesmosis problem. Otherwise, the Sea Eagles have named the same 17 that beat the Bulldogs.
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Bye – Panthers, Storm
Panthers: 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 now gets an extra week off to rehab the injury.
Storm: Sua Fa’alogo is an outside chance of being available to play after suffering a hamstring injury in the final round but the rookie speedster is unlikely to be able to force his way into Craig Bellamy’s game-day squad.