2024 NRL: Semi-Finals Recap and Key Stats

Check out what happened during the semi-finals week in this year’s NRL Finals series.

Final Scores

SHARKS 26 d COWBOYS 18
ROOSTERS 40 d SEA EAGLES 16

Review

Cronulla-Sutherland and the Sydney Roosters have made the preliminary finals. The Roosters will play Melbourne at AAMI Park next Friday night, while the Sharks will play Penrith at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.

A four-try first half was enough for the Sharks to beat North Queensland in the semi-final at Allianz Stadium. It’s Cronulla’s first finals win since 2018 (when they beat Penrith in the semi-final) – finally breaking a seven-game finals losing streak – and their first preliminary final since 2018. Braydon Trindall scored a double as Cronulla led 24-0 at half-time (including a penalty try in the 13th minute). While Valentine Holmes (two tries) and Reuben Cotter got the Cowboys back within eight points with 11 minutes left, the Sharks still held on. It was a sad end to Kyle Feldt’s North Queensland career, going off with a calf injury in the 50th minute. Playing his last game for the Cowboys before moving to St George Illawarra, Holmes scored 12 points (two tries and two goals), but suffered a suspected broken leg just before full-time.

The Sydney Roosters comfortably beat Manly Warringah at Allianz Stadium. There was drama for Manly from the kick-off, with Tolutau Koula and Jake Trbojevic taken off for HIAs in the opening 23 seconds. While Koula was ruled out with a Category 1 HIA, Jurbo passed his Category 2 HIA and returned to the game. But it was all the Roosters from there: Victor Radley, James Tedesco, and Sandon Smith scored as they led 20-4 at half-time. Playing his 250th NRL game (90 for the Wests Tigers and 160 for the Roosters), Tedesco added a second try in the second half as the Roosters went on with it. It’s their first preliminary final since 2019.

Key Stats

• Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks won their first NRL Finals match since September 14, 2018 when they beat the Penrith Panthers by 21-20. It ended a seven game losing streak in finals matches.
• Sydney Roosters posted their highest score in a NRL Finals match since Setpember 28, 2013 (40 vs Newcastle Knights, Allianz Stadium).
• Sydney Roosters ended a three-game losing streak in the semi-finals (last win on September 18, 2015 defeating the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs by 38-12)