1 week ago
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After 27 weeks of regular-season madness and mayhem, the NRL finals are finally upon us.
The action gets under way on Friday, when Melbourne host the Bulldogs at AAMI Park. The winner of that match will be rewarded with a week off, as will the winner of Sunday’s Raiders-Broncos clash.
Reigning premiers Penrith do battle with the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday afternoon before the Sharks go head to head with the Roosters in the Shire.
Can the Raiders lift the Provan-Summons trophy to go with their JJ Giltinan Shield for winning the minor premiership? Can the Panthers recover from a shocking start to pull off a historic five-peat? Will we see a team other than the Panthers, Storm or Roosters lift the trophy for the first time in eight years?
Our experts have predicted how the finals will play out and which two teams they think will be there to battle it out in the decider on October 5.
I know, I know. I’ve tipped the Bulldogs to win the comp. I know, I know. They’ve been horrible this past month. Don’t underestimate the wonders a week-one win in Melbourne would do for their confidence. That, and the groundswell of support from parochial Doggies fans, can carry them all the way.
The Broncos will relish the fast, dry deck and get the job done against the Raiders, with the week off to allow Adam Reynolds and possibly Ezra Mam to be back for a prelim. The Raiders will chug on, upset Melbourne in their own backyard, but ultimately fall short against the Broncos again come the big dance.
Reece Walsh will have a blinder against Canberra, whose main men will be fresh from the week off but also lacking a bit of momentum (and possibly Josh Papalii), setting up the Broncos to carry their red-hot form all the way to the grand final for a rematch the Raiders will this time win – albeit narrowly. The Panthers and Roosters attacks love finals footy and both will give higher-ranked teams a good nudge – including Penrith’s semi-final pipping of Canterbury, which is sure to involve controversy.
Travelling to New Zealand in week one is a tough ask when you then need to win another three on the trot, so the Panthers can’t win it. There will be new premiers in 2025, and they will come from this week’s Raiders v Broncos semi-final. They might even meet again in the big one. Raiders for mine. Best team all year.
I’ve got the Roosters with real momentum to knock off Cronulla and Brisbane in consecutive weeks. The increased ball-in-play we see come finals suits an attack based around James Tedesco’s ruck influence and Sam Walker’s off-the-wall creativity. And I’ve got Canterbury upsetting Penrith with no momentum at all. It’s a pure Dennis Denuto-vibes tip. Surely 70,000 Bulldogs fans at Accor can drag them into form.
Injuries and suspensions will mean the Storm are missing some stars in the finals. I think they will still find a way to win it, but the Raiders will be with them right to the end.
Call me crazy, but I think the Panthers could be on for the five-peat. Sure, they haven’t been at their best in 2025, but I think they’ll peak at just the right time. I can’t see them losing to the Raiders again after the Miracle in Mudgee, and if Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam are back for the Broncos, I think we’ll get a 2023 grand final rematch.
The Broncos looked gone midway through the season, with some even calling for the head of coach Michael Maguire. As it now stands, they are as good a chance as any in a very winnable competition. There are dangers lurking everywhere, with Penrith not to be discounted after finding form and fitness at the right time. But with key players either firing or coming back from injury, Madge has a squad capable of going all the way.
