5 Things to Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in NRL Round 25

The final round of the NRL’s regular season is upon us and, with just one of the eight finals seeds locked in, there is plenty on the line across the weekend. Here are 5 Thing to Watch in Round 24.

Storm, Eels play-off for top four berth

The situation at hand is simple for both Parramatta and Melbourne when they face each other on Thursday night at CommBank Stadium: win and likely face Penrith in the one-versus-four qualifier next week or lose and face one of South Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane or the Roosters in a win-or-go-home affair. Provided Cronulla dispatch of a lowly Knights side on Sunday and the Cowboys take care of Penrith’s reserves, a top two or three berth is out of the question. If the Eels can grind their way to a victory, they will face the Panthers – a side that they have beaten twice four months – in Penrith with a preliminary finals spot on the line and a second-bite-at-the-cherry cushion beneath them. If the Eels lose to Melbourne, they will host the loser of Rabbitohs-Roosters in a sudden-death qualifying final.  They have played those two sides a combined four times this season for just one win; they finished atop a Roosters side minus Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 26-16 in Round 15 at CommBank. If the Storm win on Thursday night, they set up a likely date with the Panthers in Penrith for a chance to advance straight through to a preliminary final. Melbourne are the only side other than Parramatta who have beaten Penrith this season. A loss would see them face either Canberra or Brisbane at AAMI Park with Canberra in the box seat to secure eighth spot. Both sides will trot out close to the same 17s that will be selected next week in what is an absolute belter to kick-off the round. Parramatta have won four of their past five against the Storm including a golden-point classic in Melbourne earlier this season.

Australian rugby league’s oldest rivalry set to open Allianz with a bang

Roosters versus Rabbitohs has proven one of the fiercest rivalries in Australian sport and there will undoubtedly be fireworks when they face off this Friday night to open the newly-renovated Allianz Stadium. Their recent clashes have been as intense and action-packed as ever with a boatload of controversy generally arising in the aftermath of matches. Souths have won their past four against the tricolours including a 60-8 drubbing followed by a 54-12 one. Latrell Mitchell’s move from the Roosters to the Rabbitohs in 2020 sent the rivalry into overdrive which blew up in their Round 24 clash last year when a stray shoulder from Mitchell hit Joseph Manu high ending both his own season through suspension and Manu’s through injury. The Roosters will be missing Daniel Tupou, Victor Radley, and Lindsay Collins after their win over the Storm last round whilst Campbell Graham is out for the Rabbitohs along with Damien Cook. Siosiua Taukei’aho is back in the 13 jersey for the Chooks whilst Roosters-bound Jaxson Paulo is in for Graham with Siliva Havili and Peter Mamouzelos set to share the hooking role in Cook’s absence. The clash has big-time finals implications as well; if Melbourne take care of Parramatta on Thursday night, the winner of this one will earn the fifth-seed and the opportunity to host one of Canberra or Brisbane with the loser facing Parramatta at CommBank. If Parramatta manage a Thursday night win, however, the Roosters and Rabbitohs will face off again in an elimination qualifying final with the Round 25 victor earning hosting rights.

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Brisbane travel to Kogarah in desperate bid to keep season alive

The Broncos’ finals destiny is out of their control with the side having lost four of their past five and dropping out of the top eight. They will face a Dragons squad that has been out of the playoff race for several weeks this Saturday evening at Kogarah where they will need to come away with a win before holding their breath for Canberra’s clash with the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon. The Broncos, however, has lost five of their past six against the Red V with their lone win coming in an Origin-affected clash earlier this season. The Broncos will be eager to welcome back both Patty Carrigan and Selwyn Cobbo whilst Tyson Gamble has been called up to replace Ezra Mam in the halves. The Dragons, meanwhile, have named the same 17 that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last Sunday afternoon against the Wests Tigers with veteran rake Andrew McCullough named among the reserves and a chance to return from injury. The Dragons have managed wins in their two most recent outings albeit against the Titans and Wests Tigers and have lost just three of their 11 home matches this year. With a sizeable collection of former-Broncos in their playing and coaching ranks, they will be hoping to spoil the party for Brisbane in their final game of 2022.

Sharks, Cowboys still tussling for home-field

Several weeks ago, the Cowboys looked nearly locked into a home qualifying final, however, losses to the Roosters and Rabbitohs in recent weeks coupled with Cronulla’s five-game unbeaten streak has turned the tables a week out from the finals. The Cowboys now face the prospect of traveling down to the Shire next week unless they can beat Penrith on Saturday night before hoping the Knights can cause the upset of the weekend against the Sharks on Sunday. The first leg of the equation appears straightforward; the Panthers have opted to rest every member of their first-choice 13 and will be captained by hooker Mitch Kenny. With the J.J. Giltinan Shield already posted up at Panthers Leagues Club, there was little incentive for Penrith to trot out a full-strength lineup. With Nathan Cleary due to return from suspension next week, the Panthers will be primed for a week one matchup at home against Melbourne or Parramatta. The Sharks, meanwhile, face a Knights side running 13th with a four-point win over the Wests Tigers their only victory from their past eight. A win will guarantee them home-field in their week one matchup against North Queensland next weekend, however, a loss would likely result in them jetting up to Townsville. Barring an unforeseen change of events, the Cowboys will be making a trip to Sydney – a city in which they have lost three of their past five in – to face Cronulla with a preliminary finals berth on the line.

Raiders in the box seat for eighth… What could go wrong?

A win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval will guarantee the Canberra Raiders a spot in the top eight and extend their season; a simple situation. The Wests Tigers have won only four games all season and just one of their past dozen. They are set to secure their first wooden spoon since the Western Suburbs-Balmain merger and are welcoming in a revamped coaching staff for 2023. The Raiders, meanwhile, are storming towards the playoffs with six wins from their past seven and could not ask for a friendlier Round 25 matchup. A vast majority of the rugby league world has confidence in the Raiders to make light work of the struggling Wests Tigers who are busier planning Mad Monday festivities than preparing for games of football. Supporters in the nation’s capital are slightly less assured in their side’s ability to put away the Wests Tigers and punch their ticket to the postseason, however. It will be a nervy afternoon for Canberra supporters should Brisbane come out on top of the Dragons on Saturday. The Raiders will welcome Nick Čotrić back into the side for this one whilst the hosts have named James Tamou, Tyrone Peachey, Ken Maumalo and Luke Garner to return after a two-point loss to the Dragons last week. The Raiders have also won eight of their past nine against the Wests Tigers and have not lost at Leichhardt since 2010.

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