2018 NRL Finals Series

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.

2018 NRL Finals Series
Duration7 Sep – 30 Sep 2018
Teams8
Premiers Sydney Roosters (14th title)
Minor premiers Sydney Roosters (20th title)
Matches played9
Points scored332
Highest attendance82,688
(Sydney vs Melbourne Grand Final)
Lowest attendance17,168
(Penrith vs New Zealand Elimination Final)
Average attendance36,382
Attendance327,446
Broadcast partnersNine Network
Fox League
Top points scorer(s) Adam Reynolds (25)
Top try-scorer(s) Tariq Sims (3)

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

2018 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Sydney Roosters 2416081542361+18134
2 Melbourne Storm 2416081536363+17334
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2416081582437+14534
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2416081519423+9634
5 Penrith Panthers 2415091517461+5632
6 Brisbane Broncos 2415091556500+5632
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2415091519472+4732
8 New Zealand Warriors 2415091472447+2532
9 Wests Tigers 24120121377460−8326
10 Canberra Raiders 24100141563540+2322
11 Newcastle Knights 2490151414607−19320
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2480161428474−4618
13 North Queensland Cowboys 2480161449521−7218
14 Gold Coast Titans 2480161472582−11018
15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2470171500622−12216
16 Parramatta Eels 2460181374550−17614

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
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 / Elimination finals Semi-finals Preliminary finals Grand final
                                   
  QF1: 8 Sep, Allianz Stadium  
1   Sydney 21  
4   Cronulla-Sutherland 12     SF1: 14 Sep, Allianz Stadium  
      Cronulla-Sutherland 21    
EF1: 8 Sep, ANZ Stadium       Penrith 20       PF1: 22 Sep, Allianz Stadium
5   Penrith 27         Sydney 12  
8   New Zealand 12           South Sydney 4     GF: 30 Sep, ANZ Stadium
          Sydney 21
  EF2: 9 Sep, Suncorp Stadium       PF2: 21 Sep, AAMI Park       Melbourne 6
6   Brisbane 18           Melbourne 22  
7   St George Illawarra 48     SF2: 15 Sep, ANZ Stadium         Cronulla-Sutherland 6  
      South Sydney 13    
QF2: 7 Sep, AAMI Park       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
Man 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
Man 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
Man 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
Man 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
Man 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
Man 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
Man 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
Man 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

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
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

References

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