WEEK ONE OF THE NRL FINALS SERIES (all times AEST)
FRIDAY, September 7
Qualifying final
Melbourne (2) v South Sydney (3) at AAMI Park, 7.40pm
Last clash: Round 20, Storm 30 bt Rabbitohs 20 at ANZ Stadium
TAB: Storm $1.75, Rabbitohs $2.10
Don't read too much into the Storm's last-start loss to Penrith - they were missing half their side, including Billy Slater and Cameron Munster. The battle between the Burgess-led Rabbitohs pack and the Storm shapes as a beauty. Will Chambers (suspension) will miss the game while Nelson Asofa-Solomona (ankle) unlikely.
SATURDAY, September 8
Elimination final
Penrith (5) v Warriors (8) at ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm
Last clash: Round 24, Warriors 34 bt Panthers 16 at Mt Smart Stadium
TAB: Panthers $1.70, Warriors $2.20
Penrith spluttered into the finals and will need to make a big statement to be considered contenders. On the other side is the Warriors, the most unpredictable side in the competition. They've travelled well this year, winning seven of 12 away games.
Qualifying final
Sydney Roosters (1) v Cronulla (4) at Allianz Stadium, 7.40pm
Last clash: Round 5, Roosters 28 bt Sharks 10 at Southern Cross Group Stadium
TAB: Roosters $1.55, Sharks $2.50
The Sydney Roosters were impressive in their dismantling of Parramatta, though you can hardly read too much into it considering the Eels were at one point down to 11 men. Regardless, it was a much-needed confidence boost. The Sharks continue to get the job done but know they need to step up in class. The battle between James Tedesco and Valentine Holmes pits the form fullbacks of the competition in a mouth-watering head-to-head showdown.
SUNDAY, September 9
Elimination final
Brisbane (6) v St George Illawarra (7) at Suncorp Stadium, 4pm
Last clash: Round 1, Dragons 34 bt Broncos 12 at Jubilee Oval
TAB: Broncos $1.33, Dragons $3.40
After looking dead in the water a month-and-a-half ago, the Broncos suddenly look like real contenders after dusting up Souths, Roosters and Manly in consecutive weeks. The Red V look like a side down on confidence and former Bronco Ben Hunt will need to pull himself out of his slump. The Dragons have not won at Suncorp Stadium since round 4, 2009.
Week two semi-finals:
Loser of Roosters-Sharks v winner of Panthers-Warriors
Loser of Storm-Rabbitohs v winner of Broncos-Dragons
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