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, Zero Tackle 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.
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. This will see Brad Schneider move out of the team.
“He's got a few hoops to jump through, but we're hopeful,” 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. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smith 16. 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. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Manu 4. Joseph Suaalii 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 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)
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. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tui Kamikamica 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)
While the majority of the team will remain the same as last week, the North Queensland Cowboys are expected to make at least one change with Jordan McLean re-entering the team from injury.
Although he missed last week due to a hamstring concern, coach Todd Payten confirmed that he will play in the opening week of the finals.
His inclusion will likely see either Harrison Edwards, Thomas Mikaele or Kulikefu Finefeuiaki make way.
"If this is a final, we'd roll him out but given the risk associated with it, we decided to put him on ice so he's 100% for the week later," Payten said last week.
Starting the season in reserve grade, Jake Clifford is set to remain in the halfback jersey, with Chad Townsend remaining out of the team. This coincides with reports from The Daily Telegraph that Payten and Townsend barely talk to each other.
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 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 14. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Griffin Neame
Clinching a top-eight spot against The Dolphins on Sunday, Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien will face a difficult choice this week on who to pick, with Kai Pearce-Paul (laceration) and Jacob Saifiti (calf) likely to be available for the clash against the Cowboys.
Pearce-Paul is a near certainty to find himself back into the team, while Saifiti has earned a starting front-row spot in 12 of his 16 appearances this season.
If they are both available, O'Brien will need to select from Pearce-Paul, Saifiti, Brodie Jones, Dylan Lucas, Daniel Saifiti, Mat Croker and Jack Hetherington.
"They're two quality players so it's going to make it a pretty good headache to have when we sit down with the other coaches and select the team," Adam O'Brien said.
"I think Kai's a strong chance. I think the extra week helped (but) I'm not too sure on Jacob; I think it'll be more the following week for him."2
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Brodie Jones 16. Mat Croker 17. Kai Pearce-Paul
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)
The Canterbury Bulldogs will make a plethora of changes for this weekend with the backline trio of Bronson Xerri (suspension), Josh Addo-Carr (ankle) and Matt Burton (concussion) all returning to the team.
Cameron Ciraldo also confirmed that Jacob Kiraz is expected to play after he was seen clutching his shoulder in last week's match against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Projected Finals Week 1 Team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran
The Manly Sea Eagles may still be without Jason Saab but Tom Trbojevic will return to the team from a shoulder injury. His addition will see him wear the No.1 jersey and push either Tolutau Koula or Reuben Garrick to the wing.
“Tom will play. I said it from last week, it's grade three,” Seibold said on Sunday.
“We've had Saaby and Tolu play with that same injury, same turnaround time, so it won't be an issue there. Saaby I don't think will play, but Turbo will come back.”
After a disappointing loss against the Cronulla Sharks to end the season and missing out on hosting a home final, Anthony Seilbold may decide to make some changes to his forward pack and interchange bench.
One of those inclusions will be Corey Waddell (suspension), who is available for selection after missing the past two weeks, while Toafofoa Sipley and Ethan Bullemor will also be pushing for selection.
Project Finals Week 1 Team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tolutau Koula 3. Tommy Talau 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 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Corey Waddell 17. Nathan Brown
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)