2017 NRL finals series

The 2017 NRL Finals Series will be 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 will run 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
Duration	9 Sep – 1 Oct 2017
Teams	8
Matches played	4
Points scored	141
Highest attendance	22,626 (Melbourne vs Parramatta Qualifying Final)
Lowest attendance	15,408 (Manly vs Penrith Elimination Final)
Average attendance	18,840
Attendance	75,361
Broadcast partners	Nine Network Fox League
Top points scorer(s)	Nathan Cleary (10)
Top try-scorer(s)	Corey Oates (2) Bryce Cartwright (2)

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.

Qualification

See also: 2017 NRL season

Melbourne qualified for their 7th straight finals series, it was also their 3rd straight top four 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 will be contested at four venues in three different states around the country.

Melbourne's AAMI Park will host 2 matches, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium will host 1 match and Sydney will host the remaining 6 matches, which will be played at Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium.

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

Matches

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 and elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals					Grand final
	9 September – Melbourne
	1	Melbourne Storm	18
	4	Parramatta Eels	16			16 September – Sydney
						Parramatta Eels		16
	10 September – Sydney					North Queensland Cowboys		24				22 September – Melbourne
	5	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	14									Melbourne Storm		30
	8	North Queensland Cowboys	15									Brisbane Broncos		0			1 October – Sydney
																	Melbourne Storm		34
	9 September – Sydney											23 September – Sydney					North Queensland Cowboys		6
	6	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	10									Sydney Roosters		16
	7	Penrith Panthers	22			15 September – Brisbane						North Queensland Cowboys		29
						Brisbane Broncos		13
	8 September – Sydney					Penrith Panthers		6
	2	Sydney Roosters	24
	3	Brisbane Broncos	22

Week One

2nd 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 Player of the Match: Boyd Cordner

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

1st 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 Player of the Match: Cameron Smith

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

2nd 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 Player of the Match: Nathan Cleary

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

1st 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 ET: 0 – 1	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 Player of the Match: Jason Taumalolo

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

Week Two

1st Semi Final

Friday, 15 September 8:15pm

Brisbane Broncos	13 - 6	Penrith Panthers
Tries: Goals:		Tries: Goals:

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Gee

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	v	North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: Goals:		Tries: Goals:

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Referee: Matt Cecchin, Ben Cummins

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

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 8 John Asiata 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 17 Shaun Fensom Coach: Paul Green

Week Three

1st Preliminary Final

Friday, 22 September 8:15pm

Melbourne Storm	v	Brisbane Broncos
Tries: Goals:		Tries: Goals:

AAMI Park, Melbourne

2nd Preliminary Final

Saturday, 23 September 7:45pm

Sydney Roosters	v	SF2 Winner
Tries: Goals:		Tries: Goals:

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Grand Final

Main article: 2017 NRL Grand Final

Sunday, 1 October 7:15pm

PF1 Winner	v	PF2 Winner
Tries: Goals:		Tries: Goals:

ANZ Stadium, Sydney