Monday Bunker: Can Sharks, Bunnies bounce back in NRL finals?
WATCH THE VIDEO: Week one of the NRL finals is done and dusted and the Monday Bunker panel dissects a massive weekend of footy. Can Cronulla and South Sydney rebound or will the Panthers and Dragons roll on?
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WEEK one of the NRL finals is done and dusted and there are plenty of talking points after an enthralling round of playoffs football.
Melbourne and the Roosters were the big winners, earning a week off, while fellow top four sides the Rabbitohs and Sharks have to back up this weekend after narrow defeats — and it’s season over for the Broncos and Warriors.
The Monday Bunker crew reviewed all the action and issues from the opening round of finals, including:
* Bunnies bounce back: South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold said his team was given a lesson in finals football by Melbourne and they’ll need to learn quickly as they prepare to face a resurgent St George Illawarra;
* Ben Hunt and the Dragons: The star halfback responded to his critics in fine style by piloting the Dragons to a shock thumping of the Broncos, but can he do it again without injured skipper Gareth Widdop?;
WATCH THE MONDAY BUNKER PANEL DISCUSS THE NRL FINALS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
* Matt Moylan v James Maloney: All eyes will be on the two playmakers who swapped clubs in the off-season when Cronulla tackles Penrith;
* Wade Graham injury: Are the Sharks shot without their star second-rower?;
* Surging Storm: Melbourne have booked yet another preliminary final berth and look well-placed to become the first side in 25 years to win back-to-back titles;
* Latrell Mitchell charged: The Roosters could be without their game-breaking centre for the preliminary final.
The panel crossed to The Courier-Mail’s Travis Meyn in Brisbane for a wrap of what went wrong for the Broncos, and where to now for Wayne Bennett.
The Brisbane coach would not be drawn on his future after Sunday’s defeat, but he’s set to find out at a board meeting this month.
Phil “Buzz” Rothfield also phoned in to talk about the stars of the NRL finals - the playmakers who stepped up when it mattered most.
WATCH THE MONDAY BUNKER PANEL DISCUSS THE NRL FINALS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE