The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos will open the 2008 NRL finals series on Friday night at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Thanks to their 10-0 win over St George Illawarra on Friday night, the Roosters made certain of fourth place and also avoided a trip interstate, booking the 7:45pm (AEST) SFS clash against the Broncos, who beat Newcastle 24-2 the same evening.
Third-placed Cronulla's 28-22 win over North Queensland means it hosts Canberra at Toyota Stadium from 6:30pm on Saturday night, after the Raiders overcame the Bulldogs 52-34 on Sunday.
Having beaten Penrith 34-18 on Saturday - only to see Melbourne steal the minor premiership a day later - Manly set up a Brookvale Oval battle with St George Illawarra at 8:30pm on Saturday night.
And the Storm, who crushed South Sydney 42-4 to grab top spot, will open their campaign at Olympic Park on Sunday afternoon at 4pm against the Warriors, who tamed Parramatta 28-6 earlier this weekend.
Melbourne and Manly will both earn a week off and go straight through to preliminary final weekend a fortnight later if they can overcome the Warriors and St George Illawarra respectively but both will get a second chance if they suffer upset losses.
NRL Finals - Week One:
Game 1: Friday, September 12, 7.45pm
Sydney Roosters (4) v Brisbane Broncos (5) at Sydney Football Stadium
Game 2: Saturday, September 13, 6.30pm
Cronulla Sharks (3) v Canberra Raiders (6) at Toyota Stadium
Game 3: Saturday, September 13, 8.30pm
Manly Sea Eagles (2) v St George Illawarra Dragons (7) at Brookvale Oval
Game 4: Sunday, September 14, 4pm
Melbourne Storm (1) v Warriors (8) at Olympic Park
Thanks to their 10-0 win over St George Illawarra on Friday night, the Roosters made certain of fourth place and also avoided a trip interstate, booking the 7:45pm (AEST) SFS clash against the Broncos, who beat Newcastle 24-2 the same evening.
Third-placed Cronulla's 28-22 win over North Queensland means it hosts Canberra at Toyota Stadium from 6:30pm on Saturday night, after the Raiders overcame the Bulldogs 52-34 on Sunday.
Having beaten Penrith 34-18 on Saturday - only to see Melbourne steal the minor premiership a day later - Manly set up a Brookvale Oval battle with St George Illawarra at 8:30pm on Saturday night.
And the Storm, who crushed South Sydney 42-4 to grab top spot, will open their campaign at Olympic Park on Sunday afternoon at 4pm against the Warriors, who tamed Parramatta 28-6 earlier this weekend.
Melbourne and Manly will both earn a week off and go straight through to preliminary final weekend a fortnight later if they can overcome the Warriors and St George Illawarra respectively but both will get a second chance if they suffer upset losses.
NRL Finals - Week One:
Game 1: Friday, September 12, 7.45pm
Sydney Roosters (4) v Brisbane Broncos (5) at Sydney Football Stadium
Game 2: Saturday, September 13, 6.30pm
Cronulla Sharks (3) v Canberra Raiders (6) at Toyota Stadium
Game 3: Saturday, September 13, 8.30pm
Manly Sea Eagles (2) v St George Illawarra Dragons (7) at Brookvale Oval
Game 4: Sunday, September 14, 4pm
Melbourne Storm (1) v Warriors (8) at Olympic Park
