First Elimination Final: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sunday 13th September 2015 4:10pm @ Allianz Stadium
- Thread starter JimBob
- Start date
Well here we go.
Personally i'd be very surprised if Souths go into this game as favourites.
Whatever happens out there this Sunday the Sharks need to be congratulated for turning their fortunes around & securing a semi finals spot after being written off by most.
I expect to see a quality game of footy as both teams have so much to play for & of course i want a Rabbitohs victory but if the Sharks win then so be it.
See you lot during the week for some friendly banter leading up to the game.
Personally i'd be very surprised if Souths go into this game as favourites.
Whatever happens out there this Sunday the Sharks need to be congratulated for turning their fortunes around & securing a semi finals spot after being written off by most.
I expect to see a quality game of footy as both teams have so much to play for & of course i want a Rabbitohs victory but if the Sharks win then so be it.
See you lot during the week for some friendly banter leading up to the game.
vicsharkfan
Jaws
Both at $1.90 for this game
Greg86
Jaws
Snippet from the DT
HOW is every team tracking heading into week one of the NRL finals?
We have everything you need to know in our 2015 NRL finals form guide.
NRL FINALS WEEK ONE
ROOSTERS V STORM
Qualifying Final: Friday, September 11, 7.55pm, Allianz Stadium
(1) Sydney Roosters v (4) Melbourne Storm
This season: Rd 7 Storm 17 Roosters 16, Rd 12 Roosters 24 Storm 2
ROOSTERS
If they have to, can they win the premiership without Mitchell Pearce?
Twelve straight wins and counting have the Roosters looking near unbeatable.
While Pearce is due back at some stage during the finals, how replacement halfback Jackson Hastings handles the pressure of these big games will be crucial.
It’s a big ask for a side to win 15 in a row, especially without forward leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, but with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in devastating form, Trent Robinson has his side primed.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL, season)
Mitchell Pearce (hamstring, finals week 3-4)
TAB odds
This week $1.36
Premiership $2.65
STORM
No Billy Slater, no chance?
Hardly. Cameron Munster has proven there is life after the Storm No. 1 with a number of barnstorming performances from fullback.
His attacking exploits behind a representative-laden forward pack have the Storm poised menacingly with a home final first-up.
They’ve beaten the Sharks, Cowboys and Broncos in the past month, the only blemish a mind-boggling loss to wooden spooners the Knights.
In those three wins they conceded a total of 16 points.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Slade Griffin (knee, season)
Billy Slater (shoulder, season)
Dayne Weston (pectoral, season)
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (knee, indefinite)
Dale Finucane (dislocated arm, finals)
TAB odds
This week $3.25
Premiership $8
MONDAY BUZZ: Is Hayne Australia’s greatest sporting story?
MORE BUZZ: Tigers’ ready-made replacement for Taylor
COUNTRY CRACKER: 48 minutes of extra-time in epic grand final
The Bulldogs and Dragons will clash on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium.
BULLDOGS V DRAGONS
Elimination Final: Saturday, September 12, 5.50pm, ANZ Stadium
(5) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v (8) St George Illawarra Dragons
This season: Rd 6 Dragons 31 Bulldogs 6, Rd 13 Bulldogs 29 Dragons 16
BULLDOGS
It must be finals time.
The Bulldogs have claimed four successive scalps, including those of the Broncos and Rabbitohs, since their 38-28 round 21 loss to the Roosters.
They have more than 10 players with representative experience, and that’s despite missing Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson.
Last year they came from seventh to make the grand final and despite a hefty injury toll, you wouldn’t rule out Des Hasler masterminding another title run.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Tony Williams (pectoral, season)
Michael Lichaa (foot, season)
Trent Hodkinson (wrist, season)
Pat O’Hanlon (ankle, indefinite)
Aiden Tolman (hamstring, finals week 1)
Corey Thompson (knee, finals week 1)
TAB odds
This week $1.26
Premiership $6.50
DRAGONS
IT would be some effort to win the premiership from eighth place, even if coach Paul McGregor is confident he has a side capable of achieving the feat.
But the fact is the Dragons only played two top-eight teams in the last eight weeks of the competition (Storm and Broncos) and lost them both.
Halfback Gareth Widdop’s injury could keep him out of the finals and that would be a fatal blow.
A spine featuring Dugan-Marshall-Widdop-Rein has the potential to hurt their rivals.
The Red V just don’t have the depth to cover such a significant loss.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Dan Hunt (knee, season)
Will Matthews (shoulder, season)
Gareth Widdop (quadricep, indefinite)
TAB odds
This week $4
Premiership $6.50
THRILLING FINISH: Dogs limp into finals on back of Graham
SHARKS SHOCKER: Cronulla bomb top-four chance v Manly
CASUALTY WARD: Stars Pearce, Widdop, Fifita all in doubt
BRONCOS V COWBOYS
Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 12, 7.55pm, Suncorp Stadium
(2) Brisbane Broncos v (3) North Qld Cowboys
This season: Rd 3 Broncos 44 Cowboys 22, Rd 10 Cowboys 31 Broncos 20
BRONCOS
They’ve been the standouts for much of the year but a couple of late-season slip-ups against top-four rivals the Roosters and Storm raise questions about whether they can win it.
They have plenty to play for in front of an expected sellout crowd.
Wayne Bennett will be keen to put his Newcastle experience behind him, while retiring centre Justin Hodges is chasing a fairytale farewell to his career.
With potential home-ground advantage up until the grand final, young gun halves Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt could lead a Brisbane revival.
Casualty ward/suspensions
James Gavet (ACL, season)
Josh McGuire (Achilles, season)
Daniel Vidot (broken finger, indefinite)
TAB odds
This week $1.55
Premiership $4.50
COWBOYS
North Queensland have limped into the finals.
Sure, they put big scores on the hapless Warriors and Titans, but they couldn’t topple the Sharks, Storm or Rabbitohs when the minor premiership and a first-up home final were up for grabs.
Prop James Tamou’s comeback from a neck injury is huge, as is Michael Morgan’s anticipated return.
Fullback Lachlan Coote is nearing career-best form, while hooker Jake Granville continues his breakout year.
After a horror run of finals luck in recent years, the Cowboys are due a change of fortune.
Johnathan Thurston’s premiership window, however, is slowly closing.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Tautau Moga (ACL, season)
Michael Morgan (knee, finals)
TAB odds
This week $2.50
Premiership $5
The Cowboys and Broncos have shared their spoils in two clashes this season.
SHARKS V RABBITOHS
Elimination Final: Sunday, September 13, 4.10pm, Allianz Stadium
(6) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v (7) South Sydney Rabbitohs
This season: Rd 7 Sharks 18 Rabbitohs 10
SHARKS
The real finals Rubick’s cube.
They beat the Roosters on both occasions this year but lost at home on Sunday to Manly.
They were also kept scoreless against Melbourne at Remondis Stadium just three weeks ago.
On the plus side, Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Michael Ennis are all big-game players.
Add the youth of Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes with Ben Barba potentially set to return from injury off the bench and the Sharks could be dangerous.
They do struggle to score points at times, with their creativity grinding to a halt.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Fa’amanu Brown (ACL, season)
Kyle Stanley (ACL, season)
Jacob Gagan (Achilles, season)
Ben Barba (ankle, finals)
TAB odds
This week $1.90
Premiership $26
RABBITOHS
It’s all gone so wrong for the defending premiers.
An away win against the Cowboys in round 23 appears just an aberration because since then they’ve been thoroughly beaten
by the Bulldogs, Broncos and Roosters in the worst possible finals preparation.
No momentum and rumours of unrest with coach Michael Maguire.
Inglis needs to return from his knee injury to give his side any chance of surviving the first week of the finals.
That still leaves the Bunnies without the suspended Issac Luke, who may have played his last game in the red and green.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Greg Inglis (knee, indefinite)
John Sutton (leg, season)
Suspended: Issac Luke (finals week 2)
TAB odds
Retired: Ben Lowe
This week $1.90
Premiership $26
HOW is every team tracking heading into week one of the NRL finals?
We have everything you need to know in our 2015 NRL finals form guide.
NRL FINALS WEEK ONE
ROOSTERS V STORM
Qualifying Final: Friday, September 11, 7.55pm, Allianz Stadium
(1) Sydney Roosters v (4) Melbourne Storm
This season: Rd 7 Storm 17 Roosters 16, Rd 12 Roosters 24 Storm 2
ROOSTERS
If they have to, can they win the premiership without Mitchell Pearce?
Twelve straight wins and counting have the Roosters looking near unbeatable.
While Pearce is due back at some stage during the finals, how replacement halfback Jackson Hastings handles the pressure of these big games will be crucial.
It’s a big ask for a side to win 15 in a row, especially without forward leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, but with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in devastating form, Trent Robinson has his side primed.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL, season)
Mitchell Pearce (hamstring, finals week 3-4)
TAB odds
This week $1.36
Premiership $2.65
STORM
No Billy Slater, no chance?
Hardly. Cameron Munster has proven there is life after the Storm No. 1 with a number of barnstorming performances from fullback.
His attacking exploits behind a representative-laden forward pack have the Storm poised menacingly with a home final first-up.
They’ve beaten the Sharks, Cowboys and Broncos in the past month, the only blemish a mind-boggling loss to wooden spooners the Knights.
In those three wins they conceded a total of 16 points.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Slade Griffin (knee, season)
Billy Slater (shoulder, season)
Dayne Weston (pectoral, season)
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (knee, indefinite)
Dale Finucane (dislocated arm, finals)
TAB odds
This week $3.25
Premiership $8
MONDAY BUZZ: Is Hayne Australia’s greatest sporting story?
MORE BUZZ: Tigers’ ready-made replacement for Taylor
COUNTRY CRACKER: 48 minutes of extra-time in epic grand final
The Bulldogs and Dragons will clash on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium.
BULLDOGS V DRAGONS
Elimination Final: Saturday, September 12, 5.50pm, ANZ Stadium
(5) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v (8) St George Illawarra Dragons
This season: Rd 6 Dragons 31 Bulldogs 6, Rd 13 Bulldogs 29 Dragons 16
BULLDOGS
It must be finals time.
The Bulldogs have claimed four successive scalps, including those of the Broncos and Rabbitohs, since their 38-28 round 21 loss to the Roosters.
They have more than 10 players with representative experience, and that’s despite missing Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson.
Last year they came from seventh to make the grand final and despite a hefty injury toll, you wouldn’t rule out Des Hasler masterminding another title run.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Tony Williams (pectoral, season)
Michael Lichaa (foot, season)
Trent Hodkinson (wrist, season)
Pat O’Hanlon (ankle, indefinite)
Aiden Tolman (hamstring, finals week 1)
Corey Thompson (knee, finals week 1)
TAB odds
This week $1.26
Premiership $6.50
DRAGONS
IT would be some effort to win the premiership from eighth place, even if coach Paul McGregor is confident he has a side capable of achieving the feat.
But the fact is the Dragons only played two top-eight teams in the last eight weeks of the competition (Storm and Broncos) and lost them both.
Halfback Gareth Widdop’s injury could keep him out of the finals and that would be a fatal blow.
A spine featuring Dugan-Marshall-Widdop-Rein has the potential to hurt their rivals.
The Red V just don’t have the depth to cover such a significant loss.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Dan Hunt (knee, season)
Will Matthews (shoulder, season)
Gareth Widdop (quadricep, indefinite)
TAB odds
This week $4
Premiership $6.50
THRILLING FINISH: Dogs limp into finals on back of Graham
SHARKS SHOCKER: Cronulla bomb top-four chance v Manly
CASUALTY WARD: Stars Pearce, Widdop, Fifita all in doubt
BRONCOS V COWBOYS
Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 12, 7.55pm, Suncorp Stadium
(2) Brisbane Broncos v (3) North Qld Cowboys
This season: Rd 3 Broncos 44 Cowboys 22, Rd 10 Cowboys 31 Broncos 20
BRONCOS
They’ve been the standouts for much of the year but a couple of late-season slip-ups against top-four rivals the Roosters and Storm raise questions about whether they can win it.
They have plenty to play for in front of an expected sellout crowd.
Wayne Bennett will be keen to put his Newcastle experience behind him, while retiring centre Justin Hodges is chasing a fairytale farewell to his career.
With potential home-ground advantage up until the grand final, young gun halves Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt could lead a Brisbane revival.
Casualty ward/suspensions
James Gavet (ACL, season)
Josh McGuire (Achilles, season)
Daniel Vidot (broken finger, indefinite)
TAB odds
This week $1.55
Premiership $4.50
COWBOYS
North Queensland have limped into the finals.
Sure, they put big scores on the hapless Warriors and Titans, but they couldn’t topple the Sharks, Storm or Rabbitohs when the minor premiership and a first-up home final were up for grabs.
Prop James Tamou’s comeback from a neck injury is huge, as is Michael Morgan’s anticipated return.
Fullback Lachlan Coote is nearing career-best form, while hooker Jake Granville continues his breakout year.
After a horror run of finals luck in recent years, the Cowboys are due a change of fortune.
Johnathan Thurston’s premiership window, however, is slowly closing.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Tautau Moga (ACL, season)
Michael Morgan (knee, finals)
TAB odds
This week $2.50
Premiership $5
The Cowboys and Broncos have shared their spoils in two clashes this season.
SHARKS V RABBITOHS
Elimination Final: Sunday, September 13, 4.10pm, Allianz Stadium
(6) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v (7) South Sydney Rabbitohs
This season: Rd 7 Sharks 18 Rabbitohs 10
SHARKS
The real finals Rubick’s cube.
They beat the Roosters on both occasions this year but lost at home on Sunday to Manly.
They were also kept scoreless against Melbourne at Remondis Stadium just three weeks ago.
On the plus side, Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Michael Ennis are all big-game players.
Add the youth of Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes with Ben Barba potentially set to return from injury off the bench and the Sharks could be dangerous.
They do struggle to score points at times, with their creativity grinding to a halt.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Fa’amanu Brown (ACL, season)
Kyle Stanley (ACL, season)
Jacob Gagan (Achilles, season)
Ben Barba (ankle, finals)
TAB odds
This week $1.90
Premiership $26
RABBITOHS
It’s all gone so wrong for the defending premiers.
An away win against the Cowboys in round 23 appears just an aberration because since then they’ve been thoroughly beaten
by the Bulldogs, Broncos and Roosters in the worst possible finals preparation.
No momentum and rumours of unrest with coach Michael Maguire.
Inglis needs to return from his knee injury to give his side any chance of surviving the first week of the finals.
That still leaves the Bunnies without the suspended Issac Luke, who may have played his last game in the red and green.
Casualty ward/suspensions
Greg Inglis (knee, indefinite)
John Sutton (leg, season)
Suspended: Issac Luke (finals week 2)
TAB odds
Retired: Ben Lowe
This week $1.90
Premiership $26
Greg86
Jaws
So what's your expected team changes this week. Barba in for Arona, I have Boogs for A Fifita.
Bukuya didn't seem to have a real go yesterday and has been hit and miss, love the guy but he makes way this week.
Don't know how D Fifita is travelling at training, is he worth a swap with Prior? Prior has been good but not sure what the reason is for the limited mins yesterday.
Bukuya didn't seem to have a real go yesterday and has been hit and miss, love the guy but he makes way this week.
Don't know how D Fifita is travelling at training, is he worth a swap with Prior? Prior has been good but not sure what the reason is for the limited mins yesterday.
I do. Our coach is a turd!
snowman
Total gronk
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Apart from the odd burst the last 4 weeks have been very average from us. I can't see us turning things around but we are playing against a team in the same boat. No idea what to expect from this.
egg
Jaws
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2010
- Messages
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- 1,611
A BIG win to the Sharks hopefully .
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
1Sharkie
Mako Shark
Why isn't this game at Home??? NRL finals breakdown lists this game as being a home game for 6th...
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
No, it doesn't. It says home city. This has been done to death...move on.
snowman
Total gronk
jesus christ
Western Sharkie
Jaws
JimBob
Jaws
The NRL have deemed Remondis too small for finals footy.
JimBob
Jaws
And you call me the dick head.
Bundy Shark
Jaws
Well after yesterdays game I have found a positive, we are playing a team this Sunday who were just as poor as us.