2021 NRL finals series explained

No Of Teams:8
Matches:9
Duration:10 September 2021 – 3 October 2021
Tv:Nine Network
Fox League
Premiers: Penrith Panthers
Minor Premiers: Melbourne Storm

The 2021 National Rugby League finals series was a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season. The series was played over four weekends in September and October, culminating in the 2021 NRL Grand Final on 3 October 2021. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales the grand final was played outside of Sydney for the first time in competition history, at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.[1]

The top eight teams from the 2021 NRL season qualified for the finals series. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012.

Qualification

See also: 2021 NRL season.

Venues

As a result of the 2021 NRL season's relocation to Queensland due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales and Victoria, all the finals matches were hosted in Queensland with stadiums at full capacity, with the only exception being the grand final at 75% capacity as a result of local COVID-19 cases and Queensland Government restrictions.[2] [3] This saw Rockhampton and Mackay host their first finals matches, whilst Queensland Country Bank Stadium also played host to their first finals at the venue.

BrisbaneMackayRockhampton
Suncorp StadiumBB Print StadiumBrowne Park
Capacity: 52,500Capacity: 12,200Capacity: 8,000
Games: 3Games: 2Games: 1
Sunshine CoastTownsville
Sunshine Coast StadiumQueensland Country Bank Stadium
Capacity: 12,000Capacity: 25,000
Games: 1Games: 2

Finals structure

See also: NRL finals system.

The system used for the 2021 NRL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home ground advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks and to the qualifying final winners in the third week.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final.[4]

Bracket

Summary

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd
Qualifying & Elimination Finals
40 – 12 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 10 September, 7:50pmSunshine Coast StadiumGrant Atkins9,120
25 – 24 Gold Coast TitansSaturday, 11 September, 5:40pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumAdam Gee15,237
10 – 16 South Sydney RabbitohsSaturday, 11 September, 8:05pmQueensland Country Bank Stadium18,244
28 – 20 Newcastle KnightsSunday, 12 September, 4:05pmBrowne ParkAshley Klein5,087
Semi-Finals
42 – 6 Sydney RoostersFriday, 17 September, 7:50pmBB Print Stadium5,824
8 – 6 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 18 September, 7:50pmBB Print StadiumAshley Klein6,011
Preliminary Finals
36 – 16 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 24 September, 8:05pmSuncorp StadiumAshley Klein26,249
6 – 10 Penrith PanthersSaturday, 25 September, 4:00pmSuncorp StadiumGerard Sutton29,011
Grand Final
14 – 12 South Sydney RabbitohsSunday, 3 October, 6:30pm (AEST), 7:30pm (AEDT)Suncorp StadiumGerard Sutton39,322

Qualifying & Elimination Finals

1st Qualifying Final (Melbourne v Manly Warringah)

The First Qualifying Final saw the 1st placed Melbourne Storm against the 4th placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. This was the fifth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2012 Preliminary Final.

1st Elimination Final (Sydney v Gold Coast)

The First Elimination Final saw the 5th placed Sydney Roosters against the 8th placed Gold Coast Titans. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs after meeting in the 2010 Preliminary Final.

2nd Qualifying Final (Penrith v South Sydney)

The Second Qualifying Final saw the 2nd placed Penrith Panthers against the 3rd placed South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs and a rematch of the 2020 Preliminary Final.

2nd Elimination Final (Parramatta v Newcastle)

The Second Elimination Final saw the 6th placed Parramatta Eels against the 7th placed Newcastle Knights. This was the fourth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2001 Grand Final.

Semi-finals

1st Semi-Final (Manly Warringah v Sydney)

The First Semi-Final saw the loser of the First Qualifying Final, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles against the winner of the First Elimination Final, the Sydney Roosters. This was the ninth finals meeting between the clubs and the first since the 2013 Grand Final.

Team lists:
FB1Tom Trbojevic
WG2Jason Saab
CE3Brad Parker
CE4Morgan Harper
WG5Reuben Garrick
FE6Kieran Foran
HB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
PR8Josh Aloiai
HK9Lachlan Croker
PR16Sean Keppie
SR11Haumole Olakau'atu
SR12Josh Schuster
LK13Jake Trbojevic
Substitutes:
IC10Martin Taupau
IC14Dylan Walker
IC15Karl Lawton
IC17Taniela Paseka
Concussion Substitute:
RE19Moses Suli
Coach:
Des Hasler
FB1James Tedesco (c)
WG2Daniel Tupou
CE3Josh Morris
CE4Adam Keighran
WG5Matt Ikuvalu
FE6Lachlan Lam
HB7Drew Hutchison
PR8Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
HK20Ben Marschke
PR10Isaac Liu
SR11Angus Crichton
SR12Sitili Tupouniua
LK13Victor Radley
Substitutes:
IC14Sam Walker
IC15Nat Butcher
IC16Egan Butcher
IC17Fletcher Baker
Concussion Substitute:
RE18Dale Copley
Coach:
Trent Robinson
Officials:

Gerard Sutton (Referee)

Dave Munro (Touch Judge)

Todd Smith (Touch Judge)

Ashley Klein (Bunker)

2nd Semi-Final (Penrith v Parramatta)

The Second Semi-Final saw the loser of the Second Qualifying Final, the Penrith Panthers against the winner of the Second Elimination Final, the Parramatta Eels. This was the third finals meeting between the clubs and the first since the 2000 Semi-Final.

Team lists:
FB1Dylan Edwards
WG2Stephen Crichton
CE3Paul Momirovski
CE4Matt Burton
WG20Brent Naden
FE6Jarome Luai
HB7Nathan Cleary (c)
PR8Moses Leota
HK9Apisai Koroisau
PR10James Fisher-Harris
SR12Kurt Capewell
SR17Liam Martin
LK13Isaah Yeo
Substitutes:
IC11Viliame Kikau
IC14Mitch Kenny
IC15Scott Sorensen
IC16Tevita Pangai Junior
Concussion Substitute:
RE19Izack Tago
Coach:
Ivan Cleary
FB1Clinton Gutherson (c)
WG2Haze Dunster
CE3Will Penisini
CE4Waqa Blake
WG5Blake Ferguson
FE6Dylan Brown
HB7Mitchell Moses
PR8Reagan Campbell-Gillard
HK9Ray Stone
PR10Junior Paulo
SR11Shaun Lane
SR12Marata Niukore
LK13Nathan Brown
Substitutes:
IC14Will Smith
IC15Isaiah Papali'i
IC16Bryce Cartwright
IC17Ryan Matterson
Concussion Substitute:
RE18Makahesi Makatoa
Coach:
Brad Arthur
Officials:

Ashley Klein (Referee)

Phil Henderson (Touch Judge)

Jon Stone (Touch Judge)

Grant Atkins (Bunker)

Preliminary Finals

2nd Preliminary Final (South Sydney v Manly Warringah)

The Second Preliminary Final saw the winner of the Second Qualifying Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the winner of the First Semi-Final, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. This was the fourteenth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2019 Semi-Final.

Team lists:
FB1Blake Taaffe
WG2Alex Johnston
CE3Dane Gagai
CE4Campbell Graham
WG5Jaxson Paulo
FE6Cody Walker
HB7Adam Reynolds (c)
PR8Mark Nicholls
HK9Damien Cook
PR10Tevita Tatola
SR11Keaon Koloamatangi
SR12Jaydn Su'A
LK13Cameron Murray
Substitutes:
IC14Benji Marshall
IC15Jacob Host
IC16Thomas Burgess
IC17Jai Arrow
Concussion Substitute:
RE19Patrick Mago
Coach:
Wayne Bennett
FB1Tom Trbojevic
WG2Jason Saab
CE4Morgan Harper
CE19Moses Suli
WG5Reuben Garrick
FE6Kieran Foran
HB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
PR8Josh Aloiai
HK9Lachlan Croker
PR16Sean Keppie
SR11Haumole Olakau'atu
SR12Josh Schuster
LK13Jake Trbojevic
Substitutes:
IC10Martin Taupau
IC14Dylan Walker
IC15Karl Lawton
IC17Taniela Paseka
Concussion Substitute:
RE21Tevita Funa
Coach:
Des Hasler
Officials:

Ashley Klein (Referee)

Phil Henderson (Touch Judge)

Jon Stone (Touch Judge)

Grant Atkins (Bunker)

1st Preliminary Final (Melbourne v Penrith)

The First Preliminary Final saw the winner of the First Qualifying Final, the Melbourne Storm against the winner of the Second Semi-Final, the Penrith Panthers. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs and a rematch of the 2020 Grand Final.

Team lists:
FB1Ryan Papenhuyzen
WG2George Jennings
CE3Reimis Smith
CE4Justin Olam
WG5Josh Addo-Carr
FE6Cameron Munster
HB7Jahrome Hughes
PR8Jesse Bromwich (c)
HK9Brandon Smith
PR10Christian Welch
SR11Felise Kaufusi
SR12Kenneath Bromwich
LK13Dale Finucane
Substitutes:
IC14Harry Grant
IC15Tui Kamikamica
IC16Nelson Asofa-Solomona
IC17Nicho Hynes
Concussion Substitute:
RE19Tom Eisenhuth
Coach:
Craig Bellamy
FB1Dylan Edwards
WG2Stephen Crichton
CE3Paul Momirovski
CE4Matt Burton
WG21Brian To'o
FE6Jarome Luai
HB7Nathan Cleary (c)
PR10James Fisher-Harris
HK9Apisai Koroisau
PR16Tevita Pangai Junior
SR12Kurt Capewell
SR17Liam Martin
LK13Isaah Yeo
Substitutes:
IC11Viliame Kikau
IC14Tyrone May
IC15Scott Sorensen
IC19Spencer Leniu
Concussion Substitute:
RE5Brent Naden
Coach:
Ivan Cleary
Officials:

Gerard Sutton (Referee)

Dave Munro (Touch Judge)

Todd Smith (Touch Judge)

Ashley Klein (Bunker)

Grand Final

See main article: 2021 NRL Grand Final. The Grand Final saw the winner of the First Preliminary Final, the Penrith Panthers, against the winner of the Second Preliminary Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was the third finals meeting between the two sides, after the 2021 Qualifying Final, and the first Grand Final played between the teams.

Team lists:
FB1Dylan Edwards
WG2Stephen Crichton
CE3Paul Momirovski
CE4Matt Burton
WG5Brian To'o
FE6Jarome Luai
HB7Nathan Cleary (c)
PR8Moses Leota
HK9Apisai Koroisau
PR10James Fisher-Harris
SR12Liam Martin
SR17Kurt Capewell
LK13Isaah Yeo (c)
Substitutes:
IC11Viliame Kikau
IC14Tyrone May
IC15Scott Sorensen
IC16Spencer Leniu
Concussion Substitute:
RE18Brent Naden
Coach:
Ivan Cleary
FB1Blake Taaffe
WG2Alex Johnston
CE3Dane Gagai
CE4Campbell Graham
WG5Jaxson Paulo
FE6Cody Walker
HB7Adam Reynolds (c)
PR8Mark Nicholls
HK9Damien Cook
PR10Tevita Tatola
SR11Keaon Koloamatangi
SR12Jaydn Su'A
LK13Cameron Murray
Substitutes:
IC14Benji Marshall
IC15Jacob Host
IC16Tom Burgess
IC17Jai Arrow
Concussion Substitute:
RE19Patrick Mago
Coach:
Wayne Bennett
Officials:

Gerard Sutton (Referee)

Dave Munro (Touch Judge)

Todd Smith (Touch Judge)

Grant Atkins (Bunker)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 114-year first as Brisbane confirmed to host NRL Grand Final . 8 September 2021. Fox Sports . 10 September 2021.
  2. Web site: 2021-09-11. Everything you need to know about finals: All venues announced. 2021-09-12. National Rugby League. en.
  3. Web site: Tickets to be refunded after government caps grand final crowd at 75%. NRL New. Dan. Walsh. 2 October 2021. 2 October 2021.
  4. Web site: NRL finals format explained: How do the NRL finals work?. 18 September 2020 . The Roar. en-US.

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