NRL Finals. Week 1

By Stephen Gallagher

FRIDAY: Rabbitohs (6) V Knights (7) – Allianz Stadium – 21.50NZT
It’s been an emotional ride for the Rabbitohs over the last couple of weeks, and with their first finals appearance since 2022, it’s important they make up for it.

While these two teams have played two great games against each other, they look for a tie-breaker, with the Knights winning earlier in the season in an absolute barn-burner, and Souths getting one back in another high-scoring affair later in the season.

I have two concerns for this game.

For Souths, it’s too much emotion and the pressure getting to them.  For Newcastle, it’s the injuries that have plagued them over the last two months of the season.

I like the Rabbitohs for this one, I think they have a better-balanced side than Newcastle, but the Novacastrians have been in every game this season, win or lose, and that could be dangerous for the Bunnies.

A great way to kick-off the finals series.

TIP: Rabbitohs 1-12

SATURDAY: Warriors (2) V Dolphins (3) – Go Media Mount Smart Stadium – 18.00NZT
Like the finals game that precedes this fixture, the Warriors and Dolphins have both beaten each other once this season.

For the Warriors, it was a great win on ANZAC Day in Wellington, and the Dolphins got revenge in another close game a couple of months later.

There’s been so much fanfare around the success of the Wahs this season, and for good reason. I believe this is the most talented Warriors squad in history. They have so much depth, something fans could have only dreamed about for a long long time.

The Dolphins will be targeting the edges of the Warriors, which have been a bit of a turnstile over the last few weeks, concerningly.

But if you want a premiership to be won on defence, you’re going to have to sharpen that up.

The spine of the Dolphins is better than the Warriors, but I think the Warriors forwards and bench takes the cake for them.

I believe that home ground advantage is worth at least six points. It’s going to be a sell-out, and it’s going to be the finals game of the weekend for me.
TIP: Warriors 1-12

Sharks (5) V Cowboys (8) – Allianz Stadium – 21.50NZT
Both are probably fairly lucky they got enough wins on the board early enough in the season to be in the finals, because form coming into this has been putrid for both.

What excites me about this game is that they have a history of playing each other in finals games, and they’ve been fantastic to watch in history.

Sharks will be so happy to have their man Braydon Trindall, back running things; no doubt that Nicho Hynes hasn’t been getting it done without him.

Cowboys are the sort of team who can pull it out of their arse and get a victory when it’s least expected.
Their last few games have gone WLWLWL, so expect a Cowboys win?

I think defence will be important, but non-existent.
TIP: Cowboys 1-12

SUNDAY: Panthers (1) V Roosters (4) – 18.05NZT
Oooooh yeah, what a way to end this finals week one.

It was only a month ago that the Roosters played their best game in the last two seasons, getting a 12-6 win over a Panthers side that was without half their starting spine.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. The Roosters are missing their main man Sam Walker for the season, and it’ll fall on Daly Cherry-Evans. Is there a Cooper Cronk-esque fairytale storyline for him?

I like the Panthers in this one. Just overall, they have the finals experience teams dream about, and are primed for this time of year.

Don’t be caught slipping, though. The Roosters will be there to play. They play their best footy in games like this as we’ve already seen.

I think Penrith just have too much x-factor and too much everything to not win this.
TIP: Panthers 1-12

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