Nrl finals draw how does it work

As top-four teams who won in the opening week of the finals, the Roosters and Raiders advanced to the preliminary finals and are each one win away from a grand final berth. Semi-finals: Loser of first qualifying final v winner of first elimination final; loser of second qualifying final v winner of second elimination final. Preliminary finals: Winner of first qualifying final v winner of second semi-final; Winner of second qualifying final v winner of first semi-final.

Sunday, October 3 — Panthers vs. Rabbitohs — Suncorp Stadium 6. Follow nrl on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter for the latest need-to-know Finals information. The teams that finished in the top eight positions on the Telstra Premiership ladder after 25 rounds will play out the finals series, as follows. Semi-finals: Loser of first qualifying final v winner of first elimination final; loser of second qualifying final v winner of second elimination final.

Preliminary finals: Winner of first qualifying final v winner of second semi-final; Winner of second qualifying final v winner of first semi-final. The series itself lasts over four straight weeks, culminating with the Grand Final at the end of the final week. During the first week the eight teams are split into two separate groups of four teams with the top four 1 st -4 th playing amongst each other and the bottom half 5 th -8 th doing the same.

The top four will contest the qualifying finals where 1 st will play 4 th and 2 nd will face 3 rd with the top higher placed sides 1 st and 2 nd earning the right to host their individual game.

There remains a distinct advantage for those that place within the top four and that is that even if they lose in the first week they cannot be eliminated. However, the winners will get a bye in the second week and move onto the preliminary finals in week three whereas the losers contest in the semi-finals come week two.

Sixth-placed Parramatta meet seventh-placed Newcastle in one elimination final with the Roosters taking on Gold Coast in the other sudden-death playoff. Elimination final: Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast, 5. Abdo said rugby league was "part of the social fabric" of the communities chosen to host matches in week one. With 13 teams relocating to South-East Queensland for the last few months of the regular season, Abdo thanked the clubs, players and officials for the way they have handled the upheaval.

Clearly Melbourne and Penrith have been outstanding through the regular season, but we saw only a week ago that Parramatta defeated the Storm - a number of teams have found form at the right time of the year to set up the series perfectly.