11 groups nonetheless in race however solely Storm know their spot

September 1, 2024

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Melbourne have gotten the minor premiership locked up – each different spot within the high eight is up for grabs heading into the ultimate spherical.

And the playoff equation is not going to be set in stone till Newcastle host the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon within the match that can all however actually determine who will get eighth spot.

Penrith are up into second after the Roosters and Sharks slipped up on the weekend whereas Canterbury and the Cowboys will play off for fifth spot once they lock horns at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Six of the final eight video games of the common season can have implications on the NRL finals collection because the premiership braces for a busy weekend.

After spherical 26, 4 groups – the Dolphins, Newcastle, Canberra and St George Illawarra – have any probability of clinching the ultimate spot obtainable within the high eight.

Eighth spot is ready to be determined by the end result of Sunday’s match between the Knights and Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium, the ultimate home-and-away recreation of the season.

Coincidentally, the Dragons and Raiders additionally play in spherical 27, although the winner of that recreation would doubtless want the Dolphins and Knights to attract to make the finals.

Herbie Farnworth, Max Plath and Sean O’Sullivan have a good time a strive. (Picture by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Pictures)

For the Knights and Dolphins, the equation is way less complicated: win and also you’re in.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Canterbury and sixth-placed North Queensland are set to play for a house remaining at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening, the winner prone to lock up fifth spot.

The loser dangers dropping all the way in which right down to seventh place if Manly defeat Cronulla. In that case, the Sea Eagles will clinch sixth spot and a house remaining at Brookvale Oval, the place they’ve crushed Melbourne, Penrith and the Sydney Roosters this season.

Losses in spherical 26 have dented the Sharks and Roosters’ hopes of ending within the high two and securing internet hosting rights in week one.

Each at the moment are susceptible to ending fourth and needing to journey to Melbourne to face the ladder-leading Storm at AAMI Park.

Penrith would clinch second place in the event that they beat Gold Coast on Saturday but when not, the Roosters can leapfrog the Panthers by defeating South Sydney.

To make their solution to second place, the Sharks would wish to beat the Sea Eagles and hope the Panthers and Roosters lose.

There’s a probability Cronulla may slip as little as fifth in the event that they endure a hefty loss and the Bulldogs thrash the Cowboys.

Melbourne’s match in opposition to Brisbane has no bearing on the finals given the Storm have already secured the minor premiership and the Broncos’ round-26 loss to the Dolphins ended their very own finals hopes.

Wests Tigers and Parramatta will conflict to keep away from the wood spoon on Friday evening.

Right here’s how the final spherical shapes up for the finals hopefuls.

Brisbane Broncos

v

Melbourne Storm

NRL : Head To Head

Thu, 5 Sep 2024, 19:50

Wests Tigers

v

Parramatta Eels

NRL : Head To Head

Fri, 6 Sep 2024, 18:00

South Sydney Rabbitohs

v

Sydney Roosters

NRL : Head To Head

Fri, 6 Sep 2024, 20:00

St. George Illawarra Dragons

v

Canberra Raiders

NRL : Head To Head

Sat, 7 Sep 2024, 15:00

Canterbury Bulldogs

v

North Queensland Cowboys

NRL : Head To Head

Sat, 7 Sep 2024, 17:30

Penrith Panthers

v

Gold Coast Titans

NRL : Head To Head

Sat, 7 Sep 2024, 19:35

Manly Sea Eagles

v

Cronulla Sharks

NRL : Head To Head

Solar, 8 Sep 2024, 14:00

Newcastle Knights

v

Dolphins

NRL : Head To Head

Solar, 8 Sep 2024, 16:05

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1. MELBOURNE (42 factors, +205) vs Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday evening

Highest/lowest attainable place: 1st

Have had the minor premiership wrapped up for the previous week, with Craig Bellamy’s solely choice this week being what number of gamers he’ll relaxation. Early indications are most huge weapons will play.

2. PENRITH (38, +180) vs Gold Coast at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday evening

Highest/lowest attainable place: 2nd-4th

A win over Gold Coast will wrap up second spot, whereas a loss would go away them observing a highway journey to Melbourne to start out the finals if each the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla win within the final spherical.

3. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (36, +267) vs South Sydney at Accor Stadium on Friday evening

Highest/lowest attainable place: 2nd-4th

Will solely host a house remaining if they’ll beat South Sydney and Penrith then slip up in opposition to Gold Coast. A win in opposition to the Rabbitohs is essential regardless, given it should save them travelling to Melbourne within the first week of finals.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 01: Sam Walker of the Roosters is carried off the ground with a leg injury during the round 26 NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders at Allianz Stadium, on September 01, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Sam Walker is carried off the bottom. (Picture by Cameron Spencer/Getty Pictures)

4. CRONULLA (36, +202) vs Manly at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon

Highest/lowest attainable place: 2nd-Fifth

Cronulla’s probabilities of a house remaining look shot, until Penrith and the Sydney Roosters lose and the Sharks then beat Manly. Solely a giant Canterbury win and heavy Sharks defeat would see Craig Fitzgibbon’s males drop out of the highest 4.

5. CANTERBURY (34, -134) vs North Queensland at Accor Stadium on Saturday night

Highest/lowest attainable place: 4th-Seventh

Would want to win huge, have Cronulla be flogged and have a 78-point for-and-against swing of their favour to enter the highest 4. Extra realistically, a win over North Queensland provides the Bulldogs a house remaining, whereas a loss would go away them seventh if Manly beat Cronulla.

6 NORTH QUEENSLAND (34, +51) vs Canterbury at Accor Stadium on Saturday night

Highest/lowest attainable place: Fifth-Seventh

A win over Canterbury will put the Cowboys in fifth spot and hand them a house remaining in Townsville. A loss will depart North Queensland going through Manly in week one of many finals, with the Sea Eagles to host the sport if they’ll beat Cronulla.

7. MANLY (33, +133) vs Cronulla at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon

Highest/lowest attainable place: Fifth-Seventh

Might theoretically end fifth if Canterbury and North Queensland draw on Saturday evening. In any other case they are going to play the loser of the Bulldogs and Cowboys in week one of many finals. A win over Cronulla will see them host, whereas a loss will imply Manly journey.

8. DOLPHINS (28, +7) vs Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon