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The top FOUR preliminary finals of the past decade

Which Week 3 finals games stand out as the best?

Published by
Dan Nichols

It is the most wonderful time of the year - the business end of the NRL season.

This weekend we will witness two mouth-watering preliminary finals.

On Friday night you have arguably the best team of the modern era in the Panthers. Standing in their way are the Storm, who have three of the biggest "big game" players in the comp.

Then on Saturday night you have the red-hot Broncos hosting the super popular Warriors.

We have two huge occasions awaiting us this weekend, however history has shown that perhaps we may not have two close games.

At this end of the season, the truly elite sides are hitting peak form and sometimes brush aside their competition at the final hurdle.

Sometimes though, we are treated to magnificent games of footy despite the nerves that come along with such a huge stage.

Below are the top four, plus one honourable mention, of those very best games from the past decade:

Honourable Mention: Sharks 30 defeat Cowboys 20 - 2016
I simply could not produce a best Prelims list without including my favourite preliminary final of all time. My favourite game of all time.

This is absolutely personal, as in terms of a contest, this wasn't much of one. A late Cowboys flurry padded a very lopsided score-line.

On the night, 35,500 Sharks fans, and around 800 Cowboys fans, packed the old Allianz Stadium to send the Sharks through to a grand final.

James Maloney played as close to a perfect game as you'll ever see. The Sharks played as close to a perfect game as you'll ever see.

I challenge anyone to find party scenes in the stands like those seen when James Maloney took that late intercept and ran away to book the grand final spot for his side!

Bulldogs 18 defeat Panthers 12 - 2014

I honestly couldn't tell you exactly what it is about this game that was so amazing. I just remember it as being super enjoyable and tense.

The Dogs boasted one of the best modern day forward packs. Three of said pack crossed for tries on the night in James Graham, Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane.

Maybe it was the fact that the Dogs were rank outsiders? They finished seventh in the regular season and were at long odds to make it this far, let alone advance.

Perhaps it was the try saving tackle of all try saving tackles from Travis Burns and Matt Moylan to deny Josh Reynolds a certain try?

Or the fact the game was still live after the siren, with Penrith having one last play to force extra time!?

This was just a cracking night, a brilliant game and set up a dream grand final ... albeit it one that didn't live up to the hype.

Storm 14 defeat Raiders 12 - 2016

Although I maintain the other 2016 Prelim was far more entertaining, this was a far closer game of footy and will be remembered more fondly as such.

This game had multiple twists and turns, a frantic ending and a massive crowd. The perfect ingredients for a memorable game.

For a long time, Melbourne looked home. A late try to Elliott Whitehead set up a heart stopping finish, and if not for a pass being called forward (correctly) Edrick Lee was very much away with the game to be won.

Most of all though, I remember the Storm masterclass at the end to ice the game.

Cameron Smith rolling the ball into the in goal for force a drop out. The Cooper Cronk doing the same.

Those were massive plays but two stars of the game, on one of the game's biggest stages.

It wasn't the most exciting ending to the game but it was as clinical a finish as you'll see.

I remember thinking Canberra had all the momentum and looks like they'd break Storm fans hearts, only for a future immortal and superstar halfback to finish them off.

Brilliant, brilliant Rugby League!!!

2. Eels 24 defeat Cowboys 20 - 2022

This was such a good game! Two monster forward packs bashing each other, superstar outside backs flying high, and two in form halves partnerships battling it out.

For a Prelim this felt like a more attacking game than most. 44 points isn't massive but certainly the most for games on this 'official' list.

The Eels burst out of the blocks here, somewhat stunning a massive and vocal home crowd. I remember thinking that perhaps the lack of experience up north would be telling.

Reuben Cotter's 11th minute try would silence those doubts though as the game really settled into an end to end battle.

The teams would go try for try all night, with the Eels simply scoring last through Maika Sivo with 15 minutes to go.

A frantic finish would follow. The Cowboys would surely score and allow Val Holmes to kick to send them through to the Grand Final, right?

Unfortunately for the home side it was not meant to be, but honestly this entire game felt like an 80 minute coin flip.

The Eels were ever so slightly better across 80 minutes and set up a Western Sydney derby Grand Final a week later.

The Cowboys massively outperformed all expectations in being just one big play away from a decider.

Panthers 20 defeat Rabbitohs 16 - 2020

Unfortunately much of the 2020 season is largely forgotten due to other events happening in the world.

This game, however, will certainly not be forgotten.

Played in front of a heavily Covid-capped crowd, in the middle of October, these two mega teams put on an all time classic Prelim. It really deserved 65,000+, which it otherwise would have enticed.

Alex Johnston's try in the third minute did away with any thoughts that Penrith might romp this game. Although it didn't take them long to reply with Brian To'o crossing just a few minutes later.

Penrith looked to finally have done enough, leading 20-12 with 10 minutes to go. Corey Allan's try in the 72nd minute set up an almighty finish.

Despite having 55% of the ball and a superior completion rate, the Bunnies just couldn't get home.

Penrith were, by far, the best team across the regular season. They won the Minor Premiership by five competition points.

They were pushed all the way to the literal final siren on this night by a Souths side who found form at the right end of the season.

If we witness a game half as good as this across this upcoming weekend, we'll be spoilt!

Published by
Dan Nichols