NRL Finals 2021: Manly v Melbourne blockbuster kicks off huge month of action

Regional Queensland is the big winner as the NRL playoffs kick off with a host of blockbuster clashes.

NRL 2021 RD23 Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs - Stephen Crichton, Try Celebration

A Melbourne v Manly blockbuster will kick off a month of finals footy, featuring games all across the Sunshine State.

The Storm will host the red-hot Sea Eagles at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday night to kick off a big month of footy.

Melbourne have been close to unstoppable this season, winning 21 from 24 games, but a turbo-charged Tom Trbojevic and his Manly side will be looking to spoil the party.

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Manly and Melbourne resume hostilities on Friday night.

The Sea Eagles head into the first week of finals on the back of a 46-18 demolition of the Cowboys and a four-game winning streak.

The playoffs then head to Townsville for a super Saturday of football, with the fifth-placed Roosters hosting the eighth-placed Titans.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook said he was looking forward to the challenge.

“We’ve got to do our homework on the Roosters because they’ve been phenomenal this year,” Holbrook said.

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“I know we’ve got the top sides up there — Melbourne, Penrith and Souths who are a mile ahead of everybody — but for the Roosters to miss out on fourth on differential with two-thirds of their side missing, they don’t need me to give them a rap.

Will Jayden Campbell and the Titans stop the Roosters?

“They’ve done a great job and I’ve got to plan to beat them.

“They’re bringing a couple strike players back next week.

“We’re happy to be playing anyone though. We’re in the finals now.

“You don’t have to be better than them all year, you just have to be better over 80 minutes.”

A blockbuster between Penrith and South Sydney will follow as Nathan Cleary and his Panthers look to de-rail Wayne Bennett’s finals plans.

The Rabbitohs will be without star Latrell Mitchell, with youngster Blake Taaffe expected to get the nod to retain the No.1 jersey after impressing in the role last weekend.

Can the Rabbitohs stop Nathan Cleary from dominating?

Rockhampton’s Browne Park will be where the first week of finals rounds out with Parramatta taking on Newcastle on Sunday.

Both teams finished sixth and seventh respectively and are coming off a final round loss.

The Eels opted to rest several of their players in last Friday’s clash with Penrith and there are concerns whether that will come back to bite them.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are coming off the back of a demoralising 35-22 loss to the Broncos and will be looking to turn things around to keep their finals hopes alive.

Originally published as NRL Finals 2021: Manly v Melbourne blockbuster kicks off huge month of action