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.
Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks
The Melbourne Storm will receive a massive boost this week with Ryan Papenhuyzen returning to the team after sustaining bone bruising a fortnight ago. Papenhuyzen will enter the team in a straight swap with Sua Fa'alogo, who has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury.
After being rested last week, veteran Christian Welch will also make his way into the team in favour of Lazarus Vaalepu on the interchange bench.
Despite impressing in his 14 appearances this season, Grant Anderson will likely find himself back in the 18th-man jersey due to Origin representative Xavier Coates making his way back into the team - he returned from injury last round.
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 1.ย Ryan Papenhuyzenย 2.ย Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarthย 4.ย Nick Meaneyย 5.ย Xavier Coatesย 6.ย Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12.ย Eliesa Katoaย 13.ย Trent Loieroย 14.ย Tyran Wishart 15.ย Tui Kamikamicaย 16. Christian Welch 17. Alec MacDonald
A late omission from their match against the Manly Sea Eagles, front-rower Oregon Kaufusi is likely to return to the side and will add aggression and intensity.
However, the Cronulla Sharks will be sweating on the availability of Thomas Hazleton after he picked up a knee injury on Sunday and was taken from the field in the 55th minute. Speaking post-match Craig Fitzgibbon stated that he will undergo further testing throughout the week.
Centre Jesse Ramien is also in doubt for the match after being taken off in the second-half with an ankle injury and was also placed on report that could see him charged by the Match Review Committee (MRC).
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 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 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Royce Hunt 17. Jack Williams
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)
