The six games set to finalise NRL ladder

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The six games set to finalise NRL ladder

Six of the last eight games of the regular season will have implications on the NRL finals series as the premiership braces for a hectic weekend.

After round 26, four teams – the Dolphins, Newcastle, Canberra and St George Illawarra – have any chance of clinching the final spot available in the top eight.

Eighth spot is set to be decided by the outcome of Sunday’s match between the Knights and Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium, the final home-and-away game of the season.

Coincidentally, the Dragons and Raiders also play in round 27, though the winner of that game would likely need the Dolphins and Knights to draw to make the finals.

For the Knights and Dolphins, the equation is far simpler: win and you’re in.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Canterbury and sixth-placed North Queensland are set to play for a home final at Accor Stadium on Saturday night, the winner likely to lock up fifth spot.

The ****** risks dropping all the way down to seventh place if Manly defeat Cronulla. In that case, the Sea Eagles will clinch sixth spot and a home final at Brookvale Oval, where they have beaten Melbourne, Penrith and the Sydney Roosters this season.

Losses in round 26 have dented the Sharks and Roosters’ hopes of finishing in the top two and securing hosting rights in week one.

Both are now at risk of finishing fourth and needing to travel to Melbourne to face the ladder-leading Storm at AAMI Park.

Penrith would clinch second place if they beat Gold Coast on Saturday but if not, the Roosters can leapfrog the Panthers by defeating South Sydney.

To make their way to second place, the Sharks would need to beat the Sea Eagles and hope the Panthers and Roosters lose.

There is a chance Cronulla could slip as low as fifth if they suffer a hefty loss and the Bulldogs thrash the Cowboys.

Melbourne’s match against Brisbane has no bearing on the finals given the Storm have already secured the minor premiership and the Broncos’ round-26 loss to the Dolphins ended their own finals hopes.

Wests Tigers and Parramatta will clash to avoid the wooden spoon on Friday night.

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