Watch every game in 2018 LIVE AD FREE on Fox Sports! It’s not without possibility that the Tigers could open the season at 0-8, taking their playoffs hopes away from them before they can blink. Get all the ins and outs for Friday night's blockbuster in the @NRLmatch preview. With Cronk in their ranks, the Roosters will be confident of knocking Melbourne from their perch, but other rivals have made a fast start to their 2018 campaign, and maintained that level of form, heading into the final few rounds. The league is run by the National Rugby League (NRL) and is contested by a subset of clubs from that competition. A week to build-up towards the single biggest day on the calendar … Grand Final day. South Sydney Rabbitohs, who were champions back in 2014, look back to their best. Few fans will want to see the Provan-Symmonds Trophy leave the state yet again. See What is a sport? They play rising power Parramatta for the second time in round eight and even their round seven clash — a ‘home’ game in Tamworth against Newcastle is tougher than it could have been. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012. The Clive Churchill Medal winner must have been very close to a call-up and would have most likely jagged a spot if Cameron Munster was ruled out with suspension. They sit at the top-of-the-table, equal on competition points, but with points-differential advantage over the chasers. He might be an incumbent starting Australia prop, but Woods had an up and down season by his own high standards. A week to build-up towards the single biggest day on the calendar … Grand Final day. However Dugan can count himself unlucky, given his ability to cover wing, fullback and centre and he could come into consideration if there is an injury. With that in mind, and with so much rugby league still left to play in 2018, here is a look at some of the league-leaders to become 2018 NRL premiers; There isn’t really anywhere else to start. The losers of the qualifying final played the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. Learn how your comment data is processed. With their women’s team about the join the first ever NRL Women’s Premiership, if the Auckland team are inspired, they might reach a first Grand Final since 2011. After 20 rounds, they are amongst the favourites to be ‘there or thereabouts’ at a latter stage of the 2018 NRL competition. Craig Bellamy’s side won the Grand Final last year, Oddschecker pricing the South Sydney outfit alongside Melbourne at $6.00, World Club Challenge earlier in the season, missed the bulk of last season through a sickening injury, State of the Union Week 13 - Melbourne Rebels First Finals Appearance - The Cover, England Sevens team funding cut in drastic Covid-19 reaction, South African sports keep moving the goalposts - Thought Leader, Women's Rugby Continues To Grow In Popularity - GoodSport. If the Rabbitohs can maintain impressive form heading into the playoffs, then there is every chance that they could emulate what the class of 2014 achieved under Michael Maguire. After a series of poor seasons, Tigers fans could be excused for wondering when things are going to go their way. But could it be his final game for 2018? The Wests Tigers have been hit with a horror start to 2018. Melbourne’s impressive ‘Holy Trinity’ leading them to success; Smith, Slater and Cronk. “Main photo credit” The 2018 pre-season featured the 2018 World Club Challenge match with the NRL premiers … The 2017 winners Melbourne will represent the Victorian fans, while New South Wales fans will pin their hopes on the sole remaining Sydney side, the Roosters. * Prior to the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership starting in 2018, three Dally M medal winners were awarded based on their efforts at the international level in those years. Holding the hopes of New Zealand, the Warriors should not be counted-out. The winners and losers out of the 2018 NRL draw. The system used for the 2018 NRL finals series was a final eight system. McLean managed only 10 games for a disappointing Cowboys team in an injury interrupted campaign, but he has the opportunity to end his season on the right note. By round five they will have already played reigning premiers and renowned fast starters the Melbourne Storm twice. Gagai had a strong year in the centres for the Rabbitohs, but his lack of tries at club level could have cost him a spot on the flank for the Kangaroos. Melbourne's AAMI Park hosted 2 matches, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium hosted one match and Sydney hosted the remaining 6 matches, which were played at Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium. Their big game experience, saw Melbourne shine in the World Club Challenge earlier in the season, when a poor Leeds Rhinos side were put to the sword. With Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis, amongst a number of potential match-winners within Anthony Seibold’s squad, they could be readying for another attempt to steal away the 2018 NRL title. Score Centre scores, results, standings and schedules. And it is this action that may see him penalized by the NRL. Dragons. The full record of rugby league and NRL premiership winners dating back to 1908. The top eight teams from the 2018 NRL Season qualified for the finals series. His head coach Craig Bellamy – unable to comment on the matter – is experienced enough to know to focus 100% on Grand Final. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Craig Bellamy’s side won the Grand Final last year, and in 2018 are of course, in contention again. In fact, the ‘Bunnies’ are league-leading in stats; South Sydney have the most tries, the most line breaks, the most try assists, the most line-break assists and the most running metres of the season. The series ran over four weekends in September 2018, culminating with the 2018 NRL Grand Final at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on 30 September 2018. NRL expert Kevin Walters has been a big fan of the @sydneyroosters this season, especially young centre Latrell Mitchell @KevyWalters #bigsportsbrekkyhttps://t.co/bGuEsiEwFk pic.twitter.com/H9GJKgp0zS, — Big Sports Breakfast (@BigSportsBrekky) July 30, 2018. #SportsTonight pic.twitter.com/zlRpdIIMmR, — Sports Tonight (@SportsTonight) July 29, 2018. The Roosters play against fellow top four opponents just four times all season (the second least) and play against bottom four sides more often than anyone else. ______________________________________________________________________. A shrewd addition in the off season. Given his form in the first half of the year, Hunt would have been a certainty, but his late season struggles made his selection anything but a given. document.write(" CITE THIS PAGE: "+ author + ", "" + document.title + "." Topend Sports Website, "+ published + ", "+ url + ", Accessed " + today); document.write("Page last modified: " + document.lastModified +""). Get ready for cricket like never before. They face the Roosters, Storm and Eels twice, while their only encounter with the Broncos is in round five. There are others who are going to be in contention too. While they’ve added some handy recruits to their list, the Knights’ roster is still young. With Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis, amongst a number of potential match-winners within Anthony Seibold’s squad, they could be readying for another attempt to steal away the 2018 NRL title. However, under Anthony Seibold, the Rabbitohs look refreshed and ready to get back amongst Australia’s elite. That is only based on the current league standings, though, with still a long way to go in the 2018 campaign. This week, each of those winning teams will roll up their sleeves and focus on their task. After the results this weekend, the two remaining teams are the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_NRL_Finals_Series&oldid=979270314, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 September 2020, at 20:11.