NRL finals: Newcastle Knights lock up eighth spot, Dolphins miss out
The final place in the NRL’s top eight came down to the last match of the regular season and it was bad news for Wayne Bennett.
Week 1 of the 2024 NRL playoffs has been decided after a thrilling final weekend of the home and away season.
The order of the top seven teams was decided after Cronulla’s comprehensive 40-20 victory over the Sea Eagles in Manly on Sunday.
That left just the eighth and final spot to be claimed and it was a straight shootout between the Knights and Dolphins in Newcastle.
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The Raiders (30 competition points) were still clinging to eighth when that match kicked off, but with Canberra holding a horrible -127 points difference, the victor from the ninth-placed Dolphins (28pts) and 10th-ranked Knights (28pts) would leapfrog them into eighth.
In the end, it was the home side doing enough to secure the 14-6 win and end the Dolphins’ season.
The result means Wayne Bennett has ended his two-year stint with the Redcliffe-based expansion club before he returns to coach South Sydney in 2025.
The rest of the top eight had already been determined, with the Melbourne Storm romping to this year’s minor premiership, finishing two wins clear of the Panthers.
A Penrith side chasing a ridiculous fourth-straight title guaranteed second spot via its tight 18-12 win over the Titans on Saturday night.
In an ominous sign for the rest of the contenders, Nathan Cleary (shoulder) is tipped to return to the Penrith line-up next week.
QUALIFYING AND ELIMINATION FINALS (all times AEST):
Friday 13th September, Qualifying final
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters, 7.50pm, BlueBet Stadium
Saturday 14th September, Qualifying final
Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks, 4.05pm, AAMI Stadium
Saturday 14th September, Elimination final
North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights, 7.50pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Sunday 15th September, Elimination final
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles, 4.05pm, Accor Stadium
The Panthers will welcome the third-ranked Roosters to BlueBet Stadium in week one of the finals, while the Storm will host the Sharks, who wrapped up fourth place with their win over Manly.
Melbourne will have a full three days longer to recover and prepare for that final after they beat the Broncos last Thursday night.
After their triumph over Manly, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon was doing his best not to show his annoyance at their much shorter turnaround.
“We’re used to it,” he said. “It’s three years in a row we’ve got a six-day turnaround for a semi. We have no choice.
“As far as preparation goes leading into the semis, they’ve had an ideal one. They looked strong the other night and have got a few players back but so do we.
“We’ll be massive underdogs … but we’ve earned the right to get this game.”
The top four on the ladder all get the second chance if they lose in week one, while the rest of the eight has been filled by the Cowboys, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Knights.
North Queensland will host Newcastle and the Dogs will take on Manly in an all-Sydney elimination final next week.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold, who is expecting gun fullback Tom Trbojevic to play next weekend, can’t wait to take on a Bulldogs side his team beat 34-22 just two weeks ago.
“What an occasion, what a game.” Seibold said.
“We expect them to be at their best and I expect both sides, with it all on the line, to be somewhere near their best.”
The Dolphins, Raiders and Dragons all ended the season just one victory out of the finals places, with the Broncos a win further back.
St George Illawarra had a dreadful end to their campaign, losing to Parramatta and then Canberra in the final two weeks to ruin their finals hopes.
The Tigers also ensured a third straight wooden spoon after they were belted by Parramatta 60-26 on Friday night.
That win allowed the Eels to leapfrog the Bunnies into 15th.
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