2017 NRL Finals Series

The 2017 NRL Finals Series was the 20th annual edition of the NRL final series, the Rugby League tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2017 NRL Season. The series ran over four weekends in September and October 2017, culminating with the 2017 NRL Grand Final at the ANZ Stadium on 1 October 2017.

2017 NRL Finals Series
Duration9 Sep – 1 Oct 2017
Teams8
Premiers Melbourne Storm (3rd title)
Minor premiers Melbourne Storm (3rd title)
Matches played9
Points scored315
Highest attendance79,722
(Melbourne vs North Queensland Grand Final)
Lowest attendance15,408
(Manly vs Penrith Elimination Final)
Average attendance32,435
Attendance291,922
Broadcast partnersNine Network
Fox League
Top points scorer(s) Ethan Lowe (28)
Cameron Smith (28)
Top try-scorer(s) Billy Slater (4)
Josh Addo-Carr (4)

The top eight teams from the 2017 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, Brisbane, Parramatta, Cronulla-Sutherland, Manly Warringah, Penrith and North Queensland.

The preliminary finals are the same four teams as the 2015 finals series.

Qualification

2017 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm (P) 2420042633336+29744
2 Sydney Roosters 2417072500428+7238
3 Brisbane Broncos 2416082597433+16436
4 Parramatta Eels 2416082496457+3936
5 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2415092476407+6934
6 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24140102552512+4032
7 Penrith Panthers 24130112504459+4530
8 North Queensland Cowboys 24130112467443+2430
9 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24120122533450+8328
10 Canberra Raiders 24110132558497+6126
11 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24100142360455−9524
12 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2490152464564−10022
13 New Zealand Warriors 2470172444575−13118
14 Wests Tigers 2470172413571−15818
15 Gold Coast Titans 2470172448638−19018
16 Newcastle Knights 2450192428648−22014

Melbourne qualified for their 7th straight finals series, it was also their 2nd straight first-place finish. Sydney returned to the finals after missing out in 2016. Brisbane qualified for the 4th straight year. Parramatta made their first finals appearance since the 2009 Grand Final, it was also their first top four finish since 2005. Cronulla returned to the finals for the 3rd straight year after winning the 2016 NRL Grand Final. Manly played their first finals game since 2014. Penrith returned to the finals after competing in the 2016 Finals Series. North Queensland qualified for their 7th straight finals series, giving them and Melbourne the best current finals streak.

Venues

The matches of the 2017 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 1 match and Sydney hosted the remaining 6 matches, which were played at Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium.

Melbourne Sydney
AAMI Park Allianz Stadium
Capacity: 29,500 Capacity: 45,500
Brisbane Sydney
Suncorp Stadium ANZ Stadium
Capacity: 52,500 Capacity: 83,500

Finals Structure

The system used for the 2017 NRL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-state advantage goes 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 receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney

  Qualifying / Elimination finals Semi-finals Preliminary finals Grand final
                                   
  QF1: 9 Sep, AAMI Park  
1   Melbourne 18  
4   Parramatta 16     SF1: 16 Sep, ANZ Stadium  
      Parramatta 16    
EF1: 10 Sep, Allianz Stadium       North Queensland 24       PF1: 22 Sep, AAMI Park
5   Cronulla-Sutherland 14         Melbourne 30  
8   North Queensland 15           Brisbane 0     GF: 1 Oct, ANZ Stadium
          Melbourne 34
  EF2: 9 Sep, Allianz Stadium       PF2: 23 Sep, Allianz Stadium       North Queensland 6
6   Manly-Warringah 10           Sydney 16  
7   Penrith 22     SF2: 15 Sep, Suncorp Stadium         North Queensland 29  
      Brisbane 13    
QF2: 8 Sep, Allianz Stadium       Penrith 6    
2   Sydney 24  
3   Brisbane 22  

Qualifying & Elimination Finals

1st Qualifying Final

Friday, 8 September
7:55pm
Sydney Roosters 24 22 Brisbane Broncos
Tries:
Aidan Guerra (13') 1
Boyd Cordner (19') 1
Luke Keary (44') 1
Latrell Mitchell (75') 1
Goals:
Michael Gordon 4/5
(14', 20', 26' pen, 76')
1st: 14 6
2nd: 10 16
Tries:
2 (50', 71') Corey Oates
1 (37') James Roberts
1 (69') Ben Hunt
Goals:
3/4 Jordan Kahu
(38', 70', 73')
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 21,212
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall
Man of the Match: Boyd Cordner
Team lists:
FB 1 Michael Gordon
LW 3 Latrell Mitchell
LC 16 Ryan Matterson
RC 4 Mitchell Aubusson
RW 5 Blake Ferguson
FE 6 Luke Keary
HB 7 Mitchell Pearce
PR 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
HK 9 Jake Friend (c)
PR 10 Dylan Napa
SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c)
SR 12 Aidan Guerra
LK 13 Isaac Liu
Substitutes:
IC 14 Kane Evans
IC 15 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
IC 17 Connor Watson
IC 23 Daniel Tupou
Coach:
Trent Robinson
FB 5 Jordan Kahu
LW 2 Corey Oates
RC 3 James Roberts
LC 4 Tautau Moga
RW 14 David Mead
FE 6 Anthony Milford
HB 7 Benji Marshall
PR 8 Sam Thaiday
HK 9 Ben Hunt
PR 10 Adam Blair (c)
SR 11 Alex Glenn
SR 12 Matt Gillett
LK 13 Josh McGuire
Substitutes:
IC 1 Kodi Nikorima
IC 15 Jai Arrow
IC 16 Joe Ofahengaue
IC 17 Herman Ese'ese
Coach:
Wayne Bennett

2nd Qualifying Final

Saturday, 9 September
4:10pm
Melbourne Storm 18 16 Parramatta Eels
Tries:
Josh Addo-Carr (4') 1
Kenny Bromwich (46') 1
Billy Slater (50') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 3/4
(47', 51', 63' pen)
Sin Bin:
Cameron Munster (23')
1st: 4 10
2nd: 14 6
Tries:
1 (24') Kirisome Auva'a
1 (31') Will Smith
1 (66') Semi Radradra
Goals:
2/3 Mitchell Moses
(33', 67')
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 22,626
Referee: Ben Cummins, Chris Sutton
Man of the Match: Cameron Smith
Team lists:
FB 1 Billy Slater
RW 2 Suliasi Vunivalu
RC 3 Will Chambers
LC 4 Curtis Scott
LW 5 Josh Addo-Carr
FE 6 Cameron Munster
HB 7 Cooper Cronk
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR 10 Jordan McLean
SR 11 Felise Kaufusi
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Dale Finucane
Substitutes:
IC 14 Kenny Bromwich
IC 15 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
IC 16 Tim Glasby
IC 17 Slade Griffin
Coach:
Craig Bellamy
FB 1 Will Smith
LW 2 Semi Radradra
LC 3 Michael Jennings
RC 4 Brad Takairangi
RW 5 Kirisome Auva'a
FE 6 Corey Norman
HB 7 Mitchell Moses
PR 8 Daniel Alvaro
HK 9 Cameron King
PR 10 Tim Mannah (c)
SR 11 Manu Maʻu
SR 12 Tepai Moeroa
LK 13 Nathan Brown
Substitutes:
IC 14 Beau Scott (c)
IC 15 Kenny Edwards
IC 16 Siosaia Vave
IC 17 Suaia Matagi
Coach:
Brad Arthur

1st Elimination Final

Saturday, 9 September
7:40pm
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 22 Penrith Panthers
Tries:
Dylan Walker (26') 1
Lewis Brown (62') 1
Goals:
Matthew Wright 1/2
(63')
1st: 4 10
2nd: 6 12
Tries:
2 (34', 79') Bryce Cartwright
1 (74') Tyrone Peachey
Goals:
5/5 Nathan Cleary
(3' pen, 35', 40' pen, 75', 80')
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 15,408
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Gee
Man of the Match: Nathan Cleary
Team lists:
FB 1 Tom Trbojevic
LW 2 Matthew Wright
LC 3 Dylan Walker
RC 4 Brian Kelly
RW 5 Akuila Uate
FE 6 Blake Green
HB 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
PR 8 Darcy Lussick
HK 9 Apisai Koroisau
PR 10 Martin Taupau
SR 11 Frank Winterstein
SR 12 Curtis Sironen
LK 13 Jake Trbojevic
Substitutes:
IC 14 Lewis Brown
IC 15 Lloyd Perrett
IC 16 Brenton Lawrence
IC 17 Addin Fonua-Blake
Coach:
Trent Barrett
FB 20 Dylan Edwards
LW 2 Josh Mansour
LC 3 Tyrone Peachey
RC 1 Dean Whare
RW 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
FE 6 Tyrone May
HB 7 Nathan Cleary
PR 8 James Tamou
HK 9 Peter Wallace (c)
PR 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
SR 11 Corey Harawira-Naera
SR 12 Isaah Yeo
LK 13 Trent Merrin
Substitutes:
IC 14 Sione Katoa
IC 15 Bryce Cartwright
IC 17 James Fisher-Harris
IC 18 Moses Leota
Coach:
Anthony Griffin

2nd Elimination Final

Sunday, 10 September
4:10pm
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14 15 North Queensland Cowboys
Tries:
Chad Townsend (3') 1
Jack Bird (56') 1
Goals:
James Maloney 3/3
(4', 18' pen, 57')
Sin Bin:
James Maloney (40')
1st: 8 2
2nd: 6 12
ET1: 0 1
ET2: 0 - 0
Tries:
1 (49') Kyle Feldt
1 (63') Jason Taumalolo
Goals:
3/4 Ethan Lowe
(40' pen, 64', 78' pen)
Field Goals:
1 (85') Michael Morgan
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 16,115
Referee: Ashley Klein, Gavin Badger
Man of the Match: Jason Taumalolo
Team lists:
FB 1 Valentine Holmes
RW 2 Sosaia Feki
RC 3 Jack Bird
LC 4 Ricky Leutele
LW 5 Gerard Beale
FE 6 James Maloney
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 14 Jayson Bukuya
IC 15 Chris Heighington
IC 16 Jeremy Latimore
IC 17 James Segeyaro
Coach:
Shane Flanagan
FB 1 Lachlan Coote
RW 2 Kyle Feldt
LC 3 Javid Bowen
RC 4 Kane Linnett
LW 5 Antonio Winterstein
FE 6 Te Maire Martin
HB 7 Michael Morgan
PR 17 Shaun Fensom
HK 9 Jake Granville
PR 10 Scott Bolton
SR 11 Gavin Cooper (c)
SR 12 Ethan Lowe
LK 13 Jason Taumalolo
Substitutes:
IC 14 Ben Hampton
IC 15 Coen Hess
IC 16 Corey Jensen
IC 8 John Asiata
Coach:
Paul Green

Semi Finals

1st Semi Final

Friday, 15 September
8:15pm
Brisbane Broncos 13 6 Penrith Panthers
Tries:
Corey Oates (7') 1
James Roberts (47') 1
Goals:
Jordan Kahu 2/4
(14' pen, 48')
Field Goals:
Jordan Kahu (70') 1
1st: 6 0
2nd: 7 6
Tries:
1 (64') Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Goals:
1/1 Nathan Cleary
(65')
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 38,623
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Gee
Man of the Match: Alex Glenn
Team lists:
FB 1 Kodi Nikorima
LW 2 Corey Oates
RC 3 James Roberts
LC 4 Tautau Moga
RW 5 Jordan Kahu
FE 6 Anthony Milford
HB 7 Benji Marshall
PR 8 Sam Thaiday
HK 9 Ben Hunt
PR 10 Adam Blair (c)
SR 11 Alex Glenn
SR 12 Matt Gillett
LK 13 Josh McGuire
Substitutes:
IC 14 David Mead
IC 15 Jai Arrow
IC 16 Joe Ofahengaue
IC 17 Herman Ese'ese
Coach:
Wayne Bennett
FB 1 Dylan Edwards
LW 2 Josh Mansour
LC 3 Tyrone Peachey
RC 4 Dean Whare
RW 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
FE 6 Tyrone May
HB 7 Nathan Cleary
PR 8 James Tamou
HK 9 Peter Wallace (c)
PR 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
SR 11 Corey Harawira-Naera
SR 12 Isaah Yeo
LK 13 Trent Merrin
Substitutes:
IC 14 Sione Katoa
IC 15 Bryce Cartwright
IC 16 Moses Leota
IC 17 James Fisher-Harris
Coach:
Anthony Griffin

2nd Semi Final

Saturday, 16 September
7:45pm
Parramatta Eels 16 24 North Queensland Cowboys
Tries:
Semi Radradra (7') 1
Will Smith (31') 1
Michael Jennings (80') 1
Goals:
Mitchell Moses 2/3
(8', 80')
1st: 10 6
2nd: 6 18
Tries:
1 (11') Kyle Feldt
1 (45') John Asiata
1 (52') Coen Hess
1 (75') Michael Morgan
Goals:
4/4 Ethan Lowe
(12', 46', 53', 76')
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 41,287
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Michael Morgan
Team lists:
FB 1 Will Smith
LW 2 Semi Radradra
LC 3 Michael Jennings
RC 4 Brad Takairangi
RW 5 Kirisome Auva'a
FE 6 Corey Norman
HB 7 Mitchell Moses
PR 8 Daniel Alvaro
HK 9 Cameron King
PR 10 Tim Mannah (c)
SR 11 Manu Maʻu
SR 15 Kenny Edwards
LK 13 Nathan Brown
Substitutes:
IC 14 Beau Scott (c)
IC 17 Suaia Matagi
IC 18 Kaysa Pritchard
IC 19 Peni Terepo
Coach:
Brad Arthur
FB 1 Lachlan Coote
RW 2 Kyle Feldt
LC 19 Justin O'Neill
RC 4 Kane Linnett
LW 5 Antonio Winterstein
FE 6 Te Maire Martin
HB 7 Michael Morgan
PR 17 Shaun Fensom
HK 9 Jake Granville
PR 10 Scott Bolton
SR 11 Gavin Cooper (c)
SR 12 Ethan Lowe
LK 13 Jason Taumalolo
Substitutes:
IC 8 John Asiata
IC 14 Ben Hampton
IC 15 Coen Hess
IC 16 Corey Jensen
Coach:
Paul Green

Preliminary Finals

1st Preliminary Final

Friday, 22 September
8:15pm
Melbourne Storm 30 0 Brisbane Broncos
Tries:
Billy Slater (60', 71') 2
Josh Addo-Carr (39') 1
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (66') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 6/6
(19' pen, 40', 61', 67', 70' pen, 73')
Tohu Harris 1/1
(79')
1st: 8 0
2nd: 22 0
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 28,821
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Cooper Cronk
Team lists:
FB 1 Billy Slater
RW 2 Suliasi Vunivalu
RC 3 Will Chambers
LC 4 Curtis Scott
LW 5 Josh Addo-Carr
FE 6 Cameron Munster
HB 7 Cooper Cronk
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR 10 Jordan McLean
SR 11 Felise Kaufusi
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Dale Finucane
Substitutes:
IC 14 Kenny Bromwich
IC 15 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
IC 16 Tim Glasby
IC 17 Slade Griffin
Coach:
Craig Bellamy
FB 1 Darius Boyd (c)
LW 2 Corey Oates
RC 3 James Roberts
LC 4 Tautau Moga
RW 5 Jordan Kahu
FE 6 Anthony Milford
HB 7 Kodi Nikorima
PR 8 Sam Thaiday
HK 9 Ben Hunt
PR 10 Adam Blair
SR 11 Alex Glenn
SR 12 Matt Gillett
LK 13 Josh McGuire
Substitutes:
IC 14 Benji Marshall
IC 15 Tevita Pangai Junior
IC 16 Joe Ofahengaue
IC 17 Herman Ese'ese
Coach:
Wayne Bennett

2nd Preliminary Final

Saturday, 23 September
7:45pm
Sydney Roosters 16 29 North Queensland Cowboys
Tries:
Latrell Mitchell (37') 1
Connor Watson (46') 1
Blake Ferguson (61') 1
Goals:
Michael Gordon 2/3
(39', 47')
1st: 6 8
2nd: 10 21
Tries:
1 (24') Te Maire Martin
1 (55') Kane Linnett
1 (66') Kyle Feldt
1 (80') Scott Bolton
Goals:
6/6 Ethan Lowe
(21' pen, 26', 56', 67', 71' pen, 80')
Field Goals:
1 (77') Michael Morgan
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 28,108
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Gee
Man of the Match: Michael Morgan
Team lists:
FB 1 Michael Gordon
LW 3 Latrell Mitchell
LC 14 Ryan Matterson
RC 4 Mitchell Aubusson
RW 5 Blake Ferguson
FE 6 Luke Keary
HB 7 Mitchell Pearce
PR 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
HK 9 Jake Friend (c)
PR 10 Dylan Napa
SR 11 Boyd Cordner (c)
SR 12 Aidan Guerra
LK 13 Isaac Liu
Substitutes:
IC 2 Daniel Tupou
IC 15 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
IC 16 Zane Tetevano
IC 17 Connor Watson
Coach:
Trent Robinson
FB 1 Lachlan Coote
RW 2 Kyle Feldt
LC 3 Justin O'Neill
RC 4 Kane Linnett
LW 5 Antonio Winterstein
FE 6 Te Maire Martin
HB 7 Michael Morgan
PR 17 Shaun Fensom
HK 9 Jake Granville
PR 10 Scott Bolton
SR 11 Gavin Cooper (c)
SR 12 Ethan Lowe
LK 13 Jason Taumalolo
Substitutes:
IC 14 Ben Hampton
IC 15 Coen Hess
IC 16 Corey Jensen
IC 8 John Asiata
Coach:
Paul Green

Grand Final

Sunday, 1 October
7:30pm
Melbourne Storm 34 6 North Queensland Cowboys
Tries:
Josh Addo-Carr (20', 73') 2
Felise Kaufusi (28') 1
Billy Slater (38') 1
Dale Finucane (64') 1
Curtis Scott (67') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 5/6
(21', 29', 39', 65', 75')
1st: 18 0
2nd: 16 6
Tries:
1 (48') Te Maire Martin
Goals:
1/1 Ethan Lowe
(49')
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 79,722
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton
Clive Churchill Medal: Billy Slater
Team lists:
FB 1 Billy Slater
RW 2 Suliasi Vunivalu
RC 3 Will Chambers
LC 4 Curtis Scott
LW 5 Josh Addo-Carr
FE 6 Cameron Munster
HB 7 Cooper Cronk
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR 10 Jordan McLean
SR 11 Felise Kaufusi
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Dale Finucane
Substitutes:
IC 14 Kenny Bromwich
IC 15 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
IC 16 Tim Glasby
IC 17 Slade Griffin
Coach:
Craig Bellamy
FB 1 Lachlan Coote
RW 2 Kyle Feldt
LC 3 Justin O'Neill
RC 4 Kane Linnett
LW 5 Antonio Winterstein
FE 6 Te Maire Martin
HB 7 Michael Morgan
PR 17 Shaun Fensom
HK 9 Jake Granville
PR 10 Scott Bolton
SR 11 Gavin Cooper (c)
SR 12 Ethan Lowe
LK 13 Jason Taumalolo
Substitutes:
IC 14 Ben Hampton
IC 15 Coen Hess
IC 16 Corey Jensen
IC 8 John Asiata
Coach:
Paul Green

References

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