After 27 matches in the home-and-away season, eight teams have made it to the 2024 NRL Finals and sit three weeks away from making the Grand Final.
Outlasting nine other teams, the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Canterbury Bulldogs, Manly Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights are the only teams to remain.
Ahead of the opening week of the 2024 NRL Finals,ย Zero Tackleย has you covered with all the latest news and rumours regarding team selections.
Bronson Xerri, Dominic Young, Jordan McLean, Kai Pearce-Paul, Matt Burton, Nathan Cleary, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Tom Trbojevic are some of the names that will return this week.
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters
Nathan Cleary is poised to make his much-anticipated return to the team for the opening week of the 2024 NRL Finals with club officials telling News Corp that he will be cleared to be back on deck against the Roosters. Thisย will see Brad Schneider move out of the team.
โHe's got a few hoops to jump through, but we're hopeful,โ Ivan Cleary said of his son Nathan.
No other changes are expected to be made but many players, including Schneider, Jesse McLean, Casey McLean, Daine Laurie, and Matt Eisenhuth, will be pushing for selection.
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 1.ย Dylan Edwardsย 2.ย Sunia Turuvaย 3.ย Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To'oย 6.ย Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Clearyย 8.ย Moses Leotaย 9.ย Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensenย 12.ย Liam Martinย 13.ย Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smithย 16.ย Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner
The Sydney Roosters will be looking to cause an upset at Bluebet Stadium on Friday night, but they will have to do it without several star players: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension), Sam Walker (ACL), Brandon Smith (ACL), Egan Butcher (knee) and Victor Radley (shoulder).
Wingers Daniel Tupou and Dominic Young will return to the team, while Joseph Suaalii will remain in the line-up after suffering a shoulder concern against the Rabbitohs. This will push out Junior Pauga and Mark Nawaqanitawese, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the latter moves onto the interchange bench.
Lindsay Collins (rested) and Nat Butcher (concussion) will also be welcomed back and will move into the starting team with youngsters Blake Steep and De La Salle Va'a being the ones to likely make way.
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 1.ย James Tedescoย 2.ย Daniel Tupouย 3.ย Joseph Manuย 4.ย Joseph Suaaliiย 5.ย Dominic Youngย 6.ย Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watsonย 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Nat Butcher 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Siua Wong 17. Terrell May
2nd Qualifying Final: Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters (BlueBet Stadium, Friday 7:50pm)
1st Qualifying Final: Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks (AAMI Park, Saturday 4:05pm)
1st Elimination Final: North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights (Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 7:50pm)
2nd Elimination Final: Canterbury Bulldogs v Manly Sea Eagles (Accor Stadium, Sunday 4:05pm)
