Roger Tuivasa-Sheck of the Roosters. Photo / Getty Images
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck of the Roosters. Photo / Getty Images
First Qualifying Final
Roosters v Storm at Allianz Stadium, tonight, 9.55pm
These sides come together for their first finals contest. Melbourne are searching for their first post-season victory since the 2012 grand final and the Roosters are looking to maintain momentum after securing their third-straight minor premiership.
The Tri-Colours arrivefull of confidence on the back of a 12-game winning streak and Melbourne are rising at the right time after beating three top-eight sides in their last three outings.
The Roosters will again be without injured prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, but Mitchell Pearce could be a late inclusion. The Storm are sweating on the fitness of hooker and captain Cameron Smith, who has been bed-ridden with a virus this week.
Bulldogs v Dragons at ANZ Stadium, tomorrow, 7.50pm
Both sides enter the finals with much to improve on.
The Bulldogs have recorded five-straight wins despite being below their best over the past fortnight and the Dragons needed an extra-time penalty goal to beat Wests Tigers and secure their eighth-spot finish last weekend.
The Bulldogs were scratchy in their last outing against the Warriors but should have a greater intensity about them. Brett Morris returns to fullback and five-eighth Josh Reynolds will be sharper after playing his first match since round 20. The Dragons will rely heavily on fullback Josh Dugan with playmaker Gareth Widdop still out of action and Drew Hutchison again replacing him in the No6 jersey.
My Tip: Bulldogs by 10
Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys. Photo / Getty Images
Second Qualifying Final
Broncos v Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, tomorrow, 9.55pm
These two Queensland teams are looking to produce their best after some mixed form over the past month. Both sides have won two of their last four matches.
The Broncos' two victories came against finals teams (Dragons and Rabbitohs), and the Cowboys had an easy time of it in thrashing the 13th-placed Warriors and overcoming the 14th-ranked Titans.
The Cowboys will be desperate to rectify their tendency to start games slowly after conceding the first try in 15 games this season.
They can't afford to give the Broncos a head-start - Wayne Bennett's men have been successful in 15 of 18 games when they've scored the first try.
My tip: Broncos by eight
Second Elimination Final
Sharks v Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium, Sunday, 6.10pm
Cronulla's hopes have been boosted by the return from suspension of Andrew Fifita, and Ben Barba will rejoin the bench. The Rabbitohs are down on troops with injuries and suspensions robbing them of John Sutton, Issac Luke and George Burgess. The return of Greg Inglis after knee surgery is a huge plus for the Bunnies who need all the help they can get following three straight defeats, including last week's 30-0 shut-out at the hands of the Roosters. Cronulla missed out on a top-four spot but they will back their forwards in this game with Fifita reuniting with the likes of Paul Gallen and Michael Ennis, against a Rabbitohs pack down on size and power.
