Here’s a look at the National Rugby League week, including weekend results from the Final Round of the NRL Premiership.
NRL Final Series Week 1
Friday, October 2
Penrith Panthers (1st) vs Sydney Roosters (4th)
Venue: Panthers Stadium
Kick-off: 7:50pm
Saturday, October 3
Canberra Raiders (6th) vs Cronulla Sharks (7th)
Venue: GIO Stadium
Kick-off: 5:40pm
Melbourne Storm (2nd) vs Parramatta Eels (3rd)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Kick-off: 7:50pm
Sunday, October 4
South Sydney Rabbitohs (5th) vs Newcastle Knights (8th)
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Kick-off: 4:05pm
NRL week in the news
- David Fifita ruled out of the upcoming Origin series after undergoing ankle surgery.
- Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart fined $10,000 for throwing a water bottle out of the coaches box in their win over New Zealand Warriors.
- National Rugby League confirms a business restructure will result in a 25% cost reduction.
- Penrith Panthers’ Brent Naden receives a personal apology from fans who abused him at Central Coast Stadium against New Zealand Warriors.
- National Rugby League trial rules for final round matches between Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys, and New Zealand Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles. The rules include: back banned from scrums, NRL Bunker reviewing all tries which kick is being taken, handover for kicks into touch and set restart for ten metre infringements.
- Canterbury Bulldogs announce that Aiden Tolman, Kieran Foran, Marcelo Montoya, Kerrod Holland, Jack Cogger, Jesse Sue, Tim Lafai and Isaiah Tass will depart the club at the end of 2020.
- Addin Fonua-Blake released by Manly Sea Eagles so he can join New Zealand Warriors on a three-year contract in 2021.
- Taniela Paseka re-signs with Manly Sea Eagles until the end of 2024.
- Jamal Fogarty re-signs with Gold Coast Titans until the end of 2022.
- Tim Lafai has his charge downgrade bid turned down by the NRL Judiciary. He will miss the Bulldogs last round clash with the Panthers.
- Intrust Super Cup side Redcliffe Dolphins announce they want admission to the NRL as the second Brisbane based team.
- Kotoni Staggs’ hopes of playing State of Origin have ended after tearing his ACL in the Broncos loss to North Queensland Cowboys.
- Bizarre scenes at Suncorp Stadium following the retirement of Darius Boyd, with a gender reveal for his third child infuriating fans and management.
- Allegations of racial abuse towards Tyrone Peachey against a Newcastle Knights forward has been directed to the NRL Integrity Unit.
- Benji Marshall suffers a MCL injury early in Wests Tigers loss to Parramatta Eels, ending his career with the Tigers.
- Craig Bellamy to retire from coaching at the end of 2021 as rumours circulate he will join the Brisbane Broncos as a coaching director.
- NRL Referee Gavin Badger is appointed to his final NRL game between Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers before retiring.
- Wests Tigers release Elijah Taylor, Matt Eisenhuth, Dylan Smith, Robert Jennings and Oliver Clark. Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence were previously announced as leaving the club.
- Reports suggest Kevin Walters will be announced as Brisbane Broncos 2020 in the coming days.
Match Day Key Points
- Brisbane Broncos for the first time in the club’s history finish with the wooden spoon after going down to the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.
- Gold Coast Titans finish the season with five straight wins after beating finals bound Newcastle Knights. AJ Brimson furthering his bid for a Queensland Origin jumper.
- Sydney Roosters slump to their fourth heaviest defeat in their 112-year history in going down to South Sydney Rabbitohs. Alex Johnston scoring his second five try haul (previously 5 vs Penrith Panthers, July 2 2017).
- Penrith Panthers prepare for Week 1 of the NRL finals by keeping their line in-tact for the second time this year, beating Canterbury Bulldogs 42-0. Panthers captain James Tamou accuses Bulldogs English import Luke Thompson of an eye gouge in the first half.
- Despite blooding three players on debut, Canberra Raiders win a high scoring affair against Cronulla Sharks.
- Parramatta Eels confirm their top four finish with victory against Wests Tigers. Benji Marshall’s exit from the Tigers is soured after leaving the field with a MCL injury.
- Adam Blair is sent out a winner in his final game as the New Zealand Warriors beat Manly Sea Eagles. Adam Keighran completes a hat-trick for the home side.
- St George-Illawarra Dragons finish the season on a high, beating a depleted Melbourne Storm side.
Match Day Player Stats
- Brisbane Broncos: Tom Dearden 454 kick metres.
- North Queensland Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo 214 run metres, Kyle Feldt 3 tries, Scott Drinkwater 3 try assists, Valentine Holmes 3 try assists.
- Gold Coast Titans: Alexander Brimson 207 run metres.
- Newcastle Knights: Kurt Mann 51 tackles.
- South Sydney Rabbitohs: Alex Johnston 5 tries, 4 line breaks; Cody Walker 4 line break assists, 4 try assists; Adam Reynolds 367 kick metres.
- Sydney Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 51 tackles.
- Penrith Panthers: Jarome Luai 2 line break assists, 4 try assists; Nathan Cleary 307 kick metres.
- Cronulla Sharks: Mawene Hiroti 3 line breaks.
- Canberra Raiders: Tom Starling 3 line breaks, 1 line break assist, 2 try assists.
- Wests Tigers: Tommy Talau 3 line breaks.
- Parramatta Eels: Mitch Moses 393 kick metres.
- New Zealand Warriors: Peta Hiku 190 run metres; Chanel Harris-Tavita 4 try assists, 312 kick metres.
- Manly Sea Eagles: Abbas Miski 192 run metres.
- St George-Illawarra Dragons: Adam Clune 321 kick metres.
- Melbourne Storm: Ryley Jacks 367 kick metres.
Milestones
- South Sydney’s Dane Gagai 200th National Rugby League game milestone.
- South Sydney’s Alex Johnston’s second try versus Sydney Roosters was his 100th career try.
- Canterbury Bulldogs Tui Katoa makes his NRL debut.
- Canberra Raiders Adam Cook, Darby Medlyn and Jarrett Subloo make their NRL debuts.
- Cronulla Sharks’ Daniel Vasquez makes his NRL debut.
- St George-Illawarra’s Jayden Sullivan and Eddie Blacker make their NRL debuts.
- Melbourne Storm’s Aaron Booth and Aaron Pene make their NRL debuts.
- Melbourne Storm’s Max King 50th National Rugby League game milestone.
TEAM LIST TUESDAY
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/22/nrl-round-20-team-lists/
MATCH DETAILS
Thursday Night
Brisbane Broncos Vs North Queensland Cowboys
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/24/round-20-match-report-brisbane-broncos-16-32-north-queensland-cowboys/
Friday Night
Gold Coast Titans Vs Newcastle Knights
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/25/round-20-match-report-gold-coast-titans-36-6-newcastle-knights/
South Sydney Rabbitohs Vs Sydney Roosters
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/25/round-20-match-report-south-sydney-rabbitohs-60-8-sydney-roosters/
Super Saturday
Canterbury Bulldogs Vs Penrith Panthers
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/26/round-20-match-report-canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs-0-42-penrith-panthers/
Cronulla Sharks Vs Canberra Raiders
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/26/round-20-match-report-cronulla-sutherland-sharks-28-38-canberra-raiders/
Wests Tigers Vs Parramatta Eels
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/26/round-20-match-report-wests-tigers-24-28-parramatta-eels/
Sunday
New Zealand Warriors Vs Manly Sea Eagles
https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/27/round-20-match-report-new-zealand-warriors-40-28-manly-warringah-sea-eagles/
St George-Illawarra Dragons Vs Melbourne Storm
Match Report to come…
NRL Match Review
Player: Valentine Holmes
Club: North Queensland Cowboys
Opponent: Brisbane Broncos
Incident: 80th minute, Jesse Arthurs
Charge: Grade 1, Shoulder Charge
Early Plea: 1 match ban (150 points).
Result: Early Guilty Plea – 1 match ban.
Player: Luke Thompson
Club: Canterbury Bulldogs
Opponent: Penrith Panthers
Incident: 13th minute, James Tamou
Charge: Dangerous Contact – Eye Gouge, Referred to Judiciary
Early Plea: not applicable.
Result: Guilty – 3 match ban.
Player: Adam Doueihi
Club: Wests Tigers
Opponent: Parramatta Eels
Incident: 8th minute, Maika Sivo
Charge: Grade 1, Shoulder Charge
Early Plea: 1 match ban (150 points).
Result: Early Guilty Plea – 1 match ban.
Player: Ryan Matterson
Club: Parramatta Eels
Opponent: Wests Tigers
Incident: 65th minute, Asu Kepaoa
Charge: Grade 1, Dangerous Contact
Early Plea: No ban (75 points).
Result: Early Guilty Plea – no ban.
Player: Sean Keppie
Club: Manly Sea Eagles
Opponent: New Zealand Warriors
Incident: 46th minute, Jazz Tevaga
Charge: Grade 1, Contrary Conduct
Early Plea: $700 fine.
Result: Early Guilty Plea – $700 fine.
Player: Jazz Tevaga
Club: New Zealand Warriors
Opponent: Manly Sea Eagles
Incident: 46th minute, Sean Keppie
Charge: Grade 1, Contrary Conduct
Early Plea: $500 fine.
Result: Early Guilty Plea – $500 fine.
Player: Tui Kamikamica
Club: Melbourne Storm
Opponent: St George-Illawarra Dragons
Incident: 23rd minute, Jayden Sullivan
Charge: Grade 2, Dangerous Contact
Early Plea: 1 match ban (150 points).
Result: Early Guilty Plea – 1 match ban.
Player: Max King
Club: Melbourne Storm
Opponent: St George-Illawarra Dragons
Incident: 27th minute, Blake Lawrie
Charge: Dangerous Contact – Referred to Judiciary
Early Plea: not applicable.
Result: Guilty – 3 match ban.
