2018 NRL Finals Series

2018 NRL Finals Series
Duration	7 Sep – 30 Sep 2018
Teams	8
Premiers	Sydney Roosters (14th title)
Minor premiers	Sydney Roosters (20th title)
Matches played	9
Points scored	332
Highest attendance	82,688 (Sydney vs Melbourne Grand Final)
Lowest attendance	17,168 (Penrith vs New Zealand Elimination Final)
Average attendance	36,382
Attendance	327,446
Broadcast partners	Nine Network Fox League
Top points scorer(s)	Adam Reynolds (25)
Top try-scorer(s)	Tariq Sims (3)

The 2018 NRL finals series determines the winner of the 2018 National Rugby League season. The series ran over four weekends in September 2018, culminating with the 2018 NRL Grand Final at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on 30 September 2018.

The top eight teams from the 2018 NRL Season qualified for the finals series. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012. The qualifying teams are Melbourne, Sydney, South Sydney, Cronulla-Sutherland, Penrith, Brisbane, St George Illawarra and New Zealand.

Qualification

Main article: 2018 NRL season

2018 NRL season
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Sydney Roosters	24	16	0	8	1	542	361	+181	34
2	Melbourne Storm	24	16	0	8	1	536	363	+173	34
3	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	16	0	8	1	582	437	+145	34
4	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	16	0	8	1	519	423	+96	34
5	Penrith Panthers	24	15	0	9	1	517	461	+56	32
6	Brisbane Broncos	24	15	0	9	1	556	500	+56	32
7	St. George Illawarra Dragons	24	15	0	9	1	519	472	+47	32
8	New Zealand Warriors	24	15	0	9	1	472	447	+25	32
9	Wests Tigers	24	12	0	12	1	377	460	−83	26
10	Canberra Raiders	24	10	0	14	1	563	540	+23	22
11	Newcastle Knights	24	9	0	15	1	414	607	−193	20
12	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	8	0	16	1	428	474	−46	18
13	North Queensland Cowboys	24	8	0	16	1	449	521	−72	18
14	Gold Coast Titans	24	8	0	16	1	472	582	−110	18
15	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	7	0	17	1	500	622	−122	16
16	Parramatta Eels	24	6	0	18	1	374	550	−176	14

Melbourne qualified for their 8th straight finals series. Sydney qualified for their 2nd straight final series. South Sydney qualified for their first finals series since 2015. Cronulla-Sutherland qualified for their 4th straight finals series. Penrith qualified for their 3rd straight finals series. Brisbane qualified for their 5th straight finals series. St George Illawarra qualified for their first finals series since 2015. New Zealand qualified for their first finals series since 2011.

Venues

The matches of the 2018 NRL finals series were contested at four venues in three different states around the country.

Melbourne's AAMI Park hosted 2 matches, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium hosted one match and Sydney hosted the remaining 6 matches, which were played at Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium.

Melbourne	Sydney (two venues) Brisbane Melbourne	Sydney
AAMI Park		Allianz Stadium
Capacity: 30,050		Capacity: 45,500
Brisbane		Sydney
Suncorp Stadium		ANZ Stadium
Capacity: 52,500		Capacity: 83,500

Finals structure

The system used for the 2018 NRL finals series was a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight received a "double chance" when they played in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team lost in the first week it still remained in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight played knock-out games – only the winners survived and moved on to the next week. Home-state advantage went to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks, to the qualifying final winners in the third week.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals received a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final played the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two played the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches moved on to the grand final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

	Qualifying and elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals					Grand final
	8 Sep, Sydney Football Stadium
	1	Sydney	21
	4	Cronulla-Sutherland	12			14 Sep, Sydney Football Stadium
						Cronulla-Sutherland		21
	8 Sep, Stadium Australia					Penrith		20				22 Sep, Sydney Football Stadium
	5	Penrith	27									Sydney		12
	8	New Zealand	12									South Sydney		4			30 Sep, Stadium Australia
																	Sydney		21
	9 Sep, Lang Park											21 Sep, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium					Melbourne		6
	6	Brisbane	18									Melbourne		22
	7	St George Illawarra	48			15 Sep, Stadium Australia						Cronulla-Sutherland		6
						South Sydney		13
	7 Sep, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium					St George Illawarra		12
	2	Melbourne	29
	3	South Sydney	28

Qualifying & elimination finals

1st qualifying final

Friday, 7 September 7:40pm

Melbourne Storm	29 – 28	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tries: Suliasi Vunivalu (32', 40') 2 Cheyse Blair (66', 75') 2 Curtis Scott (23') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 4/6 (24', 40', 46' pen, 76') Field Goals: Cameron Munster (77') 1	1st: 16 – 12 2nd: 13 – 16	Tries: 2 (37', 56') Greg Inglis 1 (9') Dane Gagai 1 (62') Robert Jennings 1 (71') Cameron Murray Goals: 4/6 Adam Reynolds (13' pen, 27' pen, 57', 73') 0/1 Dane Gagai Sin Bin: (45') George Burgess

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 17,306 Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee Player of the Match: Brodie Croft

Team lists:

FB 1 Billy Slater WG 2 Suliasi Vunivalu CE 3 Cheyse Blair CE 4 Curtis Scott WG 5 Josh Addo-Carr FE 6 Cameron Munster HB 19 Brodie Croft PR 8 Jesse Bromwich HK 9 Cameron Smith (c) PR 10 Tim Glasby SR 11 Felise Kaufusi SR 12 Joe Stimson LK 13 Dale Finucane Substitutes: IC 14 Brandon Smith IC 15 Christian Welch IC 17 Kenny Bromwich IC 20 Sam Kasiano Coach: Craig Bellamy

FB 1 Alex Johnston WG 2 Campbell Graham CE 3 Greg Inglis (c) CE 4 Dane Gagai WG 5 Robert Jennings FE 6 Cody Walker HB 7 Adam Reynolds PR 8 Tom Burgess HK 9 Damien Cook PR 10 George Burgess SR 11 John Sutton SR 12 Angus Crichton LK 13 Sam Burgess Substitutes: IC 14 Hymel Hunt IC 15 Cameron Murray IC 16 Jason Clark IC 17 Dean Britt Coach: Anthony Seibold

1st elimination final

Saturday, 8 September 5:30pm

Penrith Panthers	27 – 12	New Zealand Warriors
Tries: Tyrone Peachey (21', 29') 2 James Maloney (24') 1 Christian Crichton (51') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 5/6 (4' pen, 21', 26', 52', 68' pen) Field Goals: James Maloney (60') 1	1st: 18 – 12 2nd: 9 – 0	Tries: 1 (9') Issac Luke 1 (14') David Fusitu'a Goals: 2/2 Shaun Johnson (10', 16')

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 17,168 Referee: Matt Cecchin, Henry Perenara Player of the Match: Nathan Cleary

Team lists:

FB 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak WG 2 Josh Mansour CE 3 Waqa Blake CE 4 Tyrone Peachey WG 5 Christian Crichton FE 6 James Maloney (c) HB 7 Nathan Cleary PR 8 Trent Merrin HK 9 Sione Katoa PR 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard SR 11 Viliame Kikau SR 12 Isaah Yeo LK 13 James Fisher-Harris Substitutes: IC 14 Tyrone May IC 15 Moses Leota IC 16 Corey Harawira-Naera IC 17 James Tamou Coach: Cameron Ciraldo

FB 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) WG 2 David Fusitu'a CE 3 Peta Hiku CE 4 Solomone Kata WG 5 Ken Maumalo FE 6 Blake Green HB 7 Shaun Johnson PR 8 James Gavet HK 9 Issac Luke PR 10 Agnatius Paasi SR 11 Adam Blair SR 12 Tohu Harris LK 13 Simon Mannering Substitutes: IC 14 Jazz Tevaga IC 15 Isaiah Papali'i IC 16 Bunty Afoa IC 17 Gerard Beale Coach: Stephen Kearney

2nd qualifying final

Saturday, 8 September 7:40pm

Sydney Roosters	21 – 12	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tries: Cooper Cronk (13') 1 Joseph Manu (39') 1 Latrell Mitchell (52') 1 Daniel Tupou (57') 1 Goals: Latrell Mitchell 2/5 (14', 77' pen) Field Goals: Cooper Cronk (73') 1	1st: 10 – 6 2nd: 11 – 6	Tries: 1 (6') Sosaia Feki 1 (45') Edrick Lee Goals: 2/3 Valentine Holmes (24' pen, 46')

Allianz Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 24,588 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: James Tedesco

Team lists:

FB 1 James Tedesco WG 2 Daniel Tupou CE 3 Latrell Mitchell CE 4 Joseph Manu WG 5 Blake Ferguson FE 6 Luke Keary HB 7 Cooper Cronk PR 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves HK 9 Jake Friend (c) PR 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c) SR 16 Mitchell Aubusson LK 12 Isaac Liu Substitutes: IC 13 Victor Radley IC 14 Lindsay Collins IC 15 Zane Tetevano IC 17 Ryan Matterson Coach: Trent Robinson

FB 1 Valentine Holmes WG 2 Sosaia Feki CE 3 Josh Dugan CE 4 Ricky Leutele WG 5 Edrick Lee FE 6 Matt Moylan HB 7 Chad Townsend PR 8 Andrew Fifita HK 9 Jayden Brailey PR 10 Matt Prior SR 11 Luke Lewis SR 12 Wade Graham LK 13 Paul Gallen (c) Substitutes: IC 15 James Segeyaro IC 16 Aaron Woods IC 17 Jayson Bukuya IC 18 Scott Sorensen Coach: Shane Flanagan

2nd elimination final

Sunday, 9 September 4:00pm

Brisbane Broncos	18 – 48	St George Illawarra Dragons
Tries: David Fifita (17') 1 Darius Boyd (53') 1 Kodi Nikorima (56') 1 Goals: Jamayne Isaako 3/5 (10' pen, 16' pen, 19')	1st: 10 – 28 2nd: 8 – 20	Tries: 3 (20', 33', 37') Tariq Sims 1 (28') Leeson Ah Mau 1 (50') Tim Lafai 1 (69') Luciano Leilua 1 (80') Matthew Dufty Goals: 7/7 Gareth Widdop (5' pen, 22', 29', 35', 39', 40' pen, 51') 3/3 Zac Lomax (71', 75' pen, 80') Sin Bin: (79') Nene Macdonald

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 47,296 Referee: Grant Atkins, Chris Sutton Player of the Match: Tariq Sims

Team lists:

FB 1 Darius Boyd (c) WG 2 Corey Oates CE 3 James Roberts CE 4 Jordan Kahu WG 5 Jamayne Isaako FE 6 Anthony Milford HB 7 Kodi Nikorima PR 15 Joe Ofahengaue HK 9 Andrew McCullough PR 10 Sam Thaiday SR 17 David Fifita SR 12 Tevita Pangai Junior LK 13 Josh McGuire Substitutes: IC 8 Matthew Lodge IC 14 Patrick Mago IC 16 Korbin Sims IC 18 Kotoni Staggs Coach: Wayne Bennett

FB 1 Matthew Dufty WG 2 Nene Macdonald CE 3 Zac Lomax CE 4 Tim Lafai WG 5 Jordan Pereira FE 6 Gareth Widdop (c) HB 7 Ben Hunt PR 8 James Graham HK 9 Cameron McInnes PR 10 Leeson Ah Mau SR 11 Tyson Frizell SR 12 Tariq Sims LK 13 Jack de Belin Substitutes: IC 14 Jeremy Latimore IC 15 Kurt Mann IC 16 Blake Lawrie IC 17 Luciano Leilua Coach: Paul McGregor

Semi-finals

1st semi final

Friday, 14 September 7:40pm

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	21 – 20	Penrith Panthers
Tries: Chad Townsend (5') 1 Valentine Holmes (15') 1 Luke Lewis (31') 1 Goals: Valentine Holmes 4/5 (7', 12' pen, 16', 59' pen) Field Goals: Chad Townsend (75') 1	1st: 18 – 2 2nd: 3 – 18	Tries: 1 (49') Nathan Cleary 1 (66') Isaah Yeo 1 (68') Waqa Blake Goals: 4/4 Nathan Cleary (40' pen, 50', 67', 70')

Allianz Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 19,211 Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee Player of the Match: Matt Moylan

Team lists:

FB 1 Valentine Holmes WG 2 Sosaia Feki CE 18 Jesse Ramien CE 4 Ricky Leutele WG 5 Edrick Lee FE 6 Matt Moylan HB 7 Chad Townsend PR 8 Andrew Fifita HK 9 Jayden Brailey PR 10 Matt Prior SR 11 Luke Lewis SR 14 Kurt Capewell LK 13 Paul Gallen (c) Substitutes: IC 12 Scott Sorensen IC 15 James Segeyaro IC 16 Aaron Woods IC 17 Jayson Bukuya Coach: Shane Flanagan

FB 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak WG 2 Josh Mansour CE 3 Waqa Blake CE 4 Tyrone Peachey WG 5 Christian Crichton FE 6 James Maloney (c) HB 7 Nathan Cleary PR 8 Trent Merrin HK 9 Sione Katoa PR 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard SR 11 Viliame Kikau SR 12 Isaah Yeo LK 13 James Fisher-Harris Substitutes: IC 14 Tyrone May IC 15 Moses Leota IC 16 Corey Harawira-Naera IC 17 James Tamou Coach: Cameron Ciraldo

2nd semi final

Saturday, 15 September 7:40pm

South Sydney Rabbitohs	13 – 12	St George Illawarra Dragons
Tries: Adam Reynolds (56') 1 Goals: Adam Reynolds 3/3 (10' pen, 58', 60' pen) Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (70', 78', 80') 3	1st: 2 – 8 2nd: 11 – 4	Tries: 1 (36') Ben Hunt Goals: 4/4 Zac Lomax (23' pen, 38', 54' pen, 76' pen)

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 48,188 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: Adam Reynolds

Team lists:

FB 1 Alex Johnston WG 2 Campbell Graham CE 3 Greg Inglis (c) CE 4 Dane Gagai WG 5 Robert Jennings FE 6 Cody Walker HB 7 Adam Reynolds PR 8 Tom Burgess HK 9 Damien Cook PR 10 George Burgess SR 11 John Sutton SR 12 Angus Crichton LK 13 Sam Burgess Substitutes: IC 14 Hymel Hunt IC 15 Cameron Murray IC 16 Jason Clark IC 17 Dean Britt Coach: Anthony Seibold

FB 1 Matthew Dufty WG 2 Nene Macdonald CE 3 Zac Lomax CE 4 Tim Lafai WG 5 Jordan Pereira FE 6 Kurt Mann HB 7 Ben Hunt PR 8 James Graham HK 9 Cameron McInnes (c) PR 10 Leeson Ah Mau SR 11 Tyson Frizell (c) SR 12 Tariq Sims LK 13 Jack de Belin Substitutes: IC 14 Jeremy Latimore IC 16 Blake Lawrie IC 17 Luciano Leilua IC 19 Jai Field Coach: Paul McGregor

Preliminary finals

1st preliminary final

Friday, 21 September 7:40pm

Melbourne Storm	22 – 6	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tries: Billy Slater (29', 40') 2 Brodie Croft (20') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 5/5 (5' pen, 22', 31', 40', 65' pen)	1st: 20 – 0 2nd: 2 – 6	Tries: 1 (69') Luke Lewis Goals: 1/1 Valentine Holmes (70')

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 26,621 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Player of the Match: Billy Slater

Team lists:

FB 1 Billy Slater WG 2 Suliasi Vunivalu CE 3 Will Chambers CE 4 Curtis Scott WG 5 Josh Addo-Carr FE 6 Cameron Munster HB 7 Brodie Croft PR 8 Jesse Bromwich HK 9 Cameron Smith (c) PR 10 Tim Glasby SR 11 Felise Kaufusi SR 12 Joe Stimson LK 13 Dale Finucane Substitutes: IC 14 Kenny Bromwich IC 15 Christian Welch IC 17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona IC 18 Brandon Smith Coach: Craig Bellamy

FB 1 Valentine Holmes WG 2 Sosaia Feki CE 3 Jesse Ramien CE 4 Ricky Leutele WG 5 Edrick Lee FE 6 Matt Moylan HB 7 Chad Townsend PR 8 Andrew Fifita HK 9 Jayden Brailey PR 10 Matt Prior SR 11 Luke Lewis (c) SR 12 Kurt Capewell LK 16 Aaron Woods Substitutes: IC 14 Scott Sorensen IC 15 James Segeyaro IC 17 Jayson Bukuya IC 20 Joseph Paulo Coach: Shane Flanagan

2nd preliminary final

Saturday, 22 September 7:40pm

Sydney Roosters	12 – 4	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tries: Daniel Tupou (17') 1 Blake Ferguson (50') 1 Paul Momirovski (71') 1 Goals: Sio Siua Taukeiaho 0/2 Blake Ferguson 0/2	1st: 4 – 4 2nd: 8 – 0	Goals: 2/3 Adam Reynolds (14' pen, 26' pen)

Allianz Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 44,380 Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee Player of the Match: Joseph Manu

Team lists:

FB 1 James Tedesco WG 2 Daniel Tupou CE 20 Paul Momirovski CE 4 Joseph Manu WG 5 Blake Ferguson FE 6 Luke Keary HB 7 Cooper Cronk PR 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves HK 9 Jake Friend (c) PR 10 Sio Siua Taukeiaho SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c) SR 3 Mitchell Aubusson LK 12 Isaac Liu Substitutes: IC 13 Victor Radley IC 14 Lindsay Collins IC 15 Zane Tetevano IC 17 Ryan Matterson Coach: Trent Robinson

FB 1 Alex Johnston WG 2 Campbell Graham CE 3 Greg Inglis (c) CE 4 Dane Gagai WG 5 Robert Jennings FE 6 Cody Walker HB 7 Adam Reynolds PR 8 Tom Burgess HK 9 Damien Cook PR 10 George Burgess SR 11 John Sutton SR 12 Angus Crichton LK 13 Sam Burgess Substitutes: IC 14 Hymel Hunt IC 15 Cameron Murray IC 17 Dean Britt IC 20 Tevita Tatola Coach: Anthony Seibold

Grand final

Main article: 2018 NRL Grand Final

Sunday, 30 September 7:20pm (AEST)

Sydney Roosters	21 – 6	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Daniel Tupou (8') 1 Latrell Mitchell (15') 1 Joseph Manu (37') 1 Goals: Latrell Mitchell 4/6 (4' pen, 16', 31' pen, 79' pen) Field Goals: Luke Keary (69') 1	1st: 18 – 0 2nd: 3 – 6	Tries: 1 (63') Josh Addo-Carr Goals: 1/1 Cameron Smith (64') Sin Bin: (30', 78') Cameron Munster

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,688 Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein Clive Churchill Medal: Luke Keary

Team lists:

FB 1 James Tedesco WG 2 Daniel Tupou CE 3 Latrell Mitchell CE 4 Joseph Manu WG 5 Blake Ferguson FE 6 Luke Keary HB 23 Cooper Cronk PR 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves HK 9 Jake Friend (c) PR 10 Sio Siua Taukeiaho SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c) SR 7 Mitchell Aubusson LK 13 Victor Radley Substitutes: IC 12 Isaac Liu IC 14 Dylan Napa IC 15 Zane Tetevano IC 17 Ryan Matterson Coach: Trent Robinson

FB 1 Billy Slater WG 2 Suliasi Vunivalu CE 3 Will Chambers CE 4 Curtis Scott WG 5 Josh Addo-Carr FE 6 Cameron Munster HB 7 Brodie Croft PR 8 Jesse Bromwich HK 9 Cameron Smith (c) PR 10 Tim Glasby SR 11 Felise Kaufusi SR 12 Joe Stimson LK 13 Dale Finucane Substitutes: IC 14 Kenny Bromwich IC 15 Christian Welch IC 16 Brandon Smith IC 17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona Coach: Craig Bellamy