2024 NRL: Finals Week 1 Recap and Key Stats

Check out what happened in Finals Week 1 of the National Rugby League competition.

Final Scores

PANTHERS 30 d ROOSTERS 10
STORM 37 d SHARKS 10
COWBOYS 28 d KNIGHTS 16
SEA EAGLES 24 d BULLDOGS 22

Review

Penrith and Melbourne are through to the preliminary finals, North Queensland and Manly Warringah advanced to the semi-finals, while Newcastle and Canterbury-Bankstown’s seasons are over.

Allianz Stadium hosts both semi-finals next weekend, with Cronulla-Sutherland playing North Queensland (Friday night) and the Sydney Roosters playing Manly (Saturday night).

Penrith made a statement in the qualifying final as they farewelled BlueBet Stadium. Luke Garner scored a double as they belted the Roosters to reach their fifth straight preliminary final. Returning after a three-week layoff, Nathan Cleary looked like he hadn’t missed a beat: two try assists, nearly 400 kicking metres, and five goals from six. Trailing 24-0 at half-time, the Roosters got two quick tries after the break (Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i and James Tedesco). But Penrith still looked in control and sealed the win with Garner’s second try. It’s Penrith’s 10th straight finals win, stretching back to 2021.

Melbourne had a big qualifying final win over Cronulla at AAMI Park. Melbourne led 14-4 after 26 minutes, but the Sharks kept themselves in the game with a try to Briton Nikora close to half-time. The Storm put the game away in the second half – with a hat-trick to Harry Grant (his first ever NRL hat-trick) and a double to Will Warbrick. Nick Meaney kicked six goals while Ryan Papenhuyzen kicked a one-point field goal near full-time. This was Cronulla’s seventh straight finals loss since 2018.

North Queensland had a dramatic elimination win over Newcastle at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. After easy wins to Penrith and Melbourne in the qualifying finals, this was the close contest the finals series needed. While Kyle Feldt opened the scoring (in his final home game) with an 85-metre intercept try, Newcastle took a 12-4 lead into half-time (tries to Jayden Brailey and Fletcher Sharpe). But the Cowboys reclaimed the lead after 52 minutes (tries to Murray Taulagi and Jordan McLean) before Dylan Lucas tied the game at 16-16 with 17 minutes left. North Queensland sealed the win with tries to Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden: Dearden’s try was scored against 12 men after Leo Thompson was sin binned for a high shot on Feldt.

Manly won an absorbing elimination final against Canterbury-Bankstown. The game lived up to the hype, with a massive crowd at Accor Stadium (over 50,000). It was four tries each, with Reuben Garrick’s four goals from four (compared to Matt Burton’s three from four) the difference. Playing their first final since 2016, the Bulldogs looked to have the game in hand, leading 22-12 after Jeral Skelton scored in the 46th minute. But Manly regained the lead with tries to Daly Cherry-Evans (off a beautiful wrap-around scrum play) and Tolutau Koula. Burton tried to force extra time with two two-point field goal shots, but both fell short. It was Manly’s first finals win since 2021.

Key Stats

• The Penrith Panthers won their tenth consecutive finals game, equalling the St George Dragons’ record streak between 1958 and 1962.
• Sydney Roosters have lost three of their last 5 week 1 finals matches.
• Melbourne Storm have now won 11 of their last 16 finals played at AAMI Park.
• Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks’ loss against the Melbourne Storm was their seven straight finals loss. Their last win in the finals coming against Penrith Panthers on September 14, 2018.
• North Queensland Cowboys won their first home final since September 16, 2016 when they beat the Brisbane Broncos 26-20.
• Newcastle Knights extended their NRL finals away record to five straight losses with defeat in Townsville.
• Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles won their first NRL finals match at Accor Stadium since September 27, 2013 when they beat South Sydney by 30-20.