A LOOK AT THE NRL GRAND FINAL QUALIFIERS
Melbourne 22 bt Cronulla 6
Sydney Roosters 12 bt South Sydney 4
THEY SAID IT: "I don't know, if we were to win it. If we were to go and play well next week, I don't know. You'd consider it." - Cameron Smith said when asked if there would be a temptation to retire alongside Billy Slater.
MAN OF THE SEMIS: The retiring Billy Slater might have booked himself a date at the NRL judiciary but the champion fullback starred for the Storm with two tries, an assist and two try-saving plays in his last game at home in Melbourne.
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KEY MOMENT: With Souths on the attack on the first play from a scrum and down 8-4 with 20 minutes to go, Roosters centre Joseph Manu forced Alex Johnston into touch. The play got the Roosters the ball and allowed them to interchange their tired troops as they held on for the wing.
TALKING POINT: Will Billy Slater or Cooper Cronk play in next Sunday's grand final? Slater will head to the judiciary on Tuesday night to try to beat a shoulder charge ban to play, while Cronk has a severe injury in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder and is racing to be fit to play.
STATS THAT MATTER: In the final rugby league game at Allianz Stadium before its reconstruction, the crowd of 44,380 is the biggest for a sporting event at the venue.
JUDICIARY WATCH: Storm - Billy Slater (shoulder charge); Roosters - Jake Friend (dangerous throw).
INJURIES: Roosters - Cooper Cronk (shoulder).
WHAT'S NEXT: First will play second for the first time since 2012 in the NRL grand final, as the Roosters and Storm face off next Sunday night at ANZ Stadium.
