And then there were six teams left in the battle to win the 2024 NRL premiership. This week we see the Sharks and Roosters trying to avoid a straight-sets departure against the fired up Cowboys and Sea Eagles in what promises to be an exciting weekend of sudden death finals football.
Good luck with your tips.
Friday, September 20
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. North Queensland Cowboys
Allianz Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)
Sharks: 1. William 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 Bench: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton Reserves: 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Jesse Ramien
- Enter your NRL Tipping Competition tips today with footytips.com.au
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 Bench: 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame Reserves: 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Chad Townsend 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Braidon Burns 22. Tomas Chester
Officials
Referee: Ashley Klein Touchies: David Munro, Chris Sutton Bunker: Wyatt Raymond
Prediction: The Sharks came up against the near-perfect Storm last week and couldn't find the answers. They face another straight-sets finals departure and further doubts over their ability to ice the big games. The Cowboys were involved in an arm wrestle last week with the Knights before running away with it late in the second half.
The Cowboys have been improving nicely as the season has progressed. They are still capable of costly defensive lapses, but are more than capable of making up the points with their attacking weapons. The halves combination of Tom Deardon and Jake Clifford has really started to gel and when combined with Scott Drinkwater and Reece Robson, form one of the competition's better spines. They have a hard-working back-row backing up their big guns in Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean and a lethal backline mix of youth and experience.
The Sharks couldn't score a point after the break against the Storm and they will be under enormous pressure to win this one. Can Craig Fitzgibbon turn them around and win their first postseason game since 2018? If they can return to their hard-running, fast-moving game plan with minimal mistakes, they could rattle the Cowboys. The Sharks really should win this one, but they have disappointed in this position several times before.
Tip: Cowboys by 8
PointsBet odds: Sharks $1.60 (-3.5 $1.80) Cowboys $2.35 (+3.5 $2)
Saturday, September 21
Sydney Roosters vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Allianz Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)
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. Naufahu Whyte Bench: 14. Siua Wong 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May Reserves: 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Fetalaiga Pauga 20. Blake Steep 21. Michael Jennings 22. Victor Radley
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 Bench: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Corey Waddell
Officials
Referee: Grant Atkins Touchies: Phil Henderson, Matt Noyen Bunker: Chris Butle
Prediction: The Roosters were run off their feet early against the Panthers last week, and it left them flat as they mounted a second half revival which never quite made it. The Sea Eagles on the other hand were able to stay patient and run down the Bulldogs with a brilliant last tackle play from inside their own half. Manly's biggest problem is that they have struggled to put good performances together in consecutive weeks.
The Roosters struggled a bit for for cohesion last week with a new halfback and hooker. That combination will be better for the experience they gained against the Panthers. The Roosters really need to find some better efforts from the likes of Joseph Manu, Joseph Suaali'i and James Tedesco. The Bulldogs showed that the Sea Eagles can be vulnerable on the edges and with Tom Trbojevic playing with one arm, the final line of defence is virtually non-existent. The Roosters need to work their plays on the edges bringing their star centres into the game as often as possible with Tedesco lurking as an option.
The Sea Eagles will once again turn to their champion halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to lead the way. He was masterful in the way he controlled the game against the Bulldogs, turning to his wealth of experience to remain calm despite being 10 points down well into the second half. Luke Brooks was forced into mountain of defence by the Bulldogs, who ran at him at every opportunity, he was subsequently a little flat with the ball in his first ever finals appearance. Look for him to play a much bigger part in Manly's attack against the Roosters.
This should be a very entertaining game with both sides capable of flashy backline raids. If Tom Trbojevic isn't too banged up from last week, the Sea Eagles have a real shot at causing the upset here. But I think the Roosters are the better side and should finish on top.
Tip: Roosters by 8
PointsBet odds: Roosters $1.62 (-3.5 $1.85) Sea Eagles $2.30 (+3.5 $1.95)
All odds correct at time of publication. Check pointsbet.com.au for the latest.