Shock losses and nail-biters headlined the opening weekend of the NRL finals and fans could be in for more of the same as the league’s top team attempts to avoid the disappointment of an early exit from premiership contention.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of two huge NRL semi-finals.
ROOSTERS VS BULLDOGS
A week can be a very long time in football, but not nearly as long as the three-week stretch now facing the Sydney Roosters. Sitting pretty last week after winning 12 consecutive games to claim the minor premiership and heavily favoured at home against Melbourne, a shock loss to the Storm now has the Roosters needing to win three cutthroat finals to claim the NRL premiership. First come their arch-rivals in Canterbury, who they dispatched by 10 points in a high-scoring affair in late July. The Bulldogs might have fired their best shot in their golden point elimination final victory last week against the Dragons, however, and Sydney should progress comfortably as a $1.38 favourite.
First Tryscorer:
Daniel Tupou ($8.50)
Roosters co-captain Mitchell Pearce will be missing again with injury
COWBOYS VS SHARKS
Will it be third time lucky for North Queensland against Cronulla on Saturday night? The Cowboys have provided more questions than answers ahead of their do-or-die clash in Townsville after coming up short against the Broncos last week. Further muddying the waters, they weren’t good enough to beat the Sharks in either of their meetings throughout the regular season, including an 18-24 loss at home in Round 16 where they led 18-0 at half-time, only to watch Cronulla romp home with four unanswered tries. The Sharks will be at almost full strength, with Valentine Holmes’ corked thigh their only concern, and they’ll feel their a massive chance. Still, JT and co will fancy their chances to outscore the Sharks this time around and at $1.38, it’s hard to argue.
First Tryscorer:
Antonio Winterstein ($9.00)
Will JT get another crack at a final?
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