Teams hold hope for miracles with NRL finals race set

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Teams hold hope for miracles with NRL finals race set

HOW THE LAST ROUND SHAPES UP FOR NRL HOPEFULS

1. MELBOURNE (42 points, +205) vs Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night

Highest/lowest possible position: 1st

Have had the minor premiership wrapped up for the past week, with Craig Bellamy’s only decision this week being how many players he will rest. Early indications are most big guns will play.

2. PENRITH (38, +180) vs Gold Coast at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday night

Highest/lowest possible position: 2nd-4th

A win over Gold Coast will wrap up second spot, while a loss would leave them staring at a road trip to Melbourne to start the finals if both the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla win in the last round.

3. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (36, +267) vs South Sydney at Accor Stadium on Friday night

Highest/lowest possible position: 2nd-4th

Will only host a home final if they can beat South Sydney and Penrith then slip up against Gold Coast. A win against the Rabbitohs is crucial regardless, given it will save them travelling to Melbourne in the first week of finals.

4. CRONULLA (36, +202) vs Manly at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon

Highest/lowest possible position: 2nd-5th

Cronulla’s chances of a home final look shot, unless Penrith and the Sydney Roosters lose and the Sharks then beat Manly. Only a big Canterbury win and heavy Sharks defeat would see Craig Fitzgibbon’s men drop out of the top four.

5. CANTERBURY (34, -134) vs North Queensland at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening

Highest/lowest possible position: 4th-7th

Would need to win big, have Cronulla be flogged and have a 78-point for-and-against swing in their favour to enter the top four. More realistically, a win over North Queensland gives the Bulldogs a home final, while a loss would leave them seventh if Manly beat Cronulla.

6 NORTH QUEENSLAND (34, +51) vs Canterbury at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening

Highest/lowest possible position: 5th-7th

A win over Canterbury will put the Cowboys in fifth spot and hand them a home final in Townsville. A loss will leave North Queensland facing Manly in week one of the finals, with the Sea Eagles to host the game if they can beat Cronulla.

7. MANLY (33, +133) vs Cronulla at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon

Highest/lowest possible position: 5th-7th

Could theoretically finish fifth if Canterbury and North Queensland draw on Saturday night. Otherwise they will play the ****** of the Bulldogs and Cowboys in week one of the finals. A win over Cronulla will see them host, while a loss will mean Manly travel.

8. DOLPHINS (28, +7) vs Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon

Highest/lowest possible position: 8th-12th

The equation couldn’t be any simpler, with the winner of their match against Newcastle to play finals. A draw would only be enough for the Dolphins to progress if St George Illawarra and Canberra also drew.

9. NEWCASTLE (28, -48) vs Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon

Highest/lowest possible position: 8th-12th

Must win the last match of the regular season against the Dolphins to reach the finals. A draw or loss would not be enough.

10. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA (28, -124) vs Canberra at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday afternoon

Highest/lowest possible position: 8th-12th

Threw their season away with their 44-40 loss to Parramatta. Can only advance if they beat Canberra and the Dolphins and Newcastle draw. Alternatively would need to win by 76 more points than Newcastle do (or 131 more points than the Dolphins).

11. CANBERRA (28, -129) vs St George Illawarra at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday afternoon

Highest/lowest possible position: 8th-12th

Need a miracle. Would need to beat the Dragons and then hope the Dolphins and Newcastle draw. Otherwise, need to win by 81 more points than the Knights (or 136 more points than the Dolphins).

12 BRISBANE (26, -32) vs Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night

Highest/lowest possible position: 9th-12th

After Kevin Walters declared last week that Brisbane would make the finals, it is now impossible for the 2023 grand-finalists to do so.

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