With just two games remaining in the 2021 NRL season proper, we still don't know which team will finish in eighth place. The Titans take on the Warriors this afternoon knowing they have to win by 11 or more to jump the Sharks into a finals berth.
NRL Ladder - teams that are in or can make the finals
* Have played
Thursday, September 2
Canberra Raiders 16 vs 40 Sydney Roosters
Raiders - The season is now over for the Raiders. It brings to an end a year marred by internal rumblings and several key injuries.
Roosters - The Roosters looked very impressive in thumping the Raiders. With the Sea Eagles win over the Cowboys the Roosters slip to fifth place and will play either the Sharks or Titans in Week 1 of the finals.
Friday, September 3
Cronulla Sharks 16 vs. 28 Melbourne Storm
Sharks - The Sharks now have an anxious wait to see how the Titans go against the Warriors. If the Titans win by 11 points or more, they will take eighth place off the Sharks.
Storm - The Storm have collected the JJ Giltinan Shield, with this victory over the Sharks. They finished equal with the Panthers but had a much better differential and claim another Minor Premiership. They will play the red-hot Sea Eagles next week.
Parramatta Eels 6 vs. 40 Penrith Panthers
Eels - The Eels finish in sixth position after their loss to the Panthers. They face the Knights in Week 1 of the finals.
Panthers - The Panthers missed out on the Minor Premiership on differential alone. They go into the finals in second place and will play the Rabbitohs first up.
Saturday, September 4
Brisbane Broncos 35 vs. 22 Newcastle Knights
Broncos - There was a lot of promise on show for the Broncos as they finished their season with an impressive win.
Knights - The Knights had already nailed down seventh position and took Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga from the field early in the second half of this game. They will play the Eels in a sudden death elimination next week.
North Queensland Cowboys 18 vs. 46 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Cowboys - The Cowboys put up much more fight than the final score shows. The Sea Eagles were just too good in the end.
Sea Eagles - The Sea Eagles have finished fourth and will face the Storm in the first week of the finals.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 vs. 16 St George Illawarra Dragons
Rabbitohs - The Rabbitohs rested a few of their big names and blooded some of their future stars in this tough win over the Dragons. They finish third and will face the Panthers next week.
Dragons - The Dragons said a sorry goodbye to a sorry season.
Sunday, September 5
Gold Coast Titans vs. New Zealand Warriors, Cbus Super Stadium, 2:00pm (AEST)
Titans - The Titans have to beat the Warriors by 11 or more points to leapfrog the Sharks into the Top 8.
Warriors - The Warriors will be keen to get this game over with so they can fly home to New Zealand. They can't finish any higher than their current eleventh position, but may slip to thirteenth.
Wests Tigers vs. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 4:05pm (AEST)
This game has absolutely no influence on the finals. Both teams will be well on their way to Mad Monday celebrations. The Tigers could finish as high as eleventh or as low as their current thirteenth. The Dogs have the wooden spoon already positioned in the trophy cabinet.