The NRL and NRLW preliminary finals kick off this weekend, the last chance to qualify for the elusive Grand Final on October 4th.
The Dolphins will host the Sydney Roosters in the first NRL Preliminary Final on Friday, 25th September at Lang Park, Brisbane, with kick-off scheduled for 7:50pm AEST. Coach Kristian Woolf named an unchanged starting thirteen, with the only change coming from the interchange bench with seasoned veteran Felise Kaufusi being called up for his first game since Round 25, pushing Tevita Naufahu to the reserves. Front rower Tom Flegler has also been named in the squad after being cleared of concussion after failing his Head Injury Assessment against the Warriors in the Qualifying Finals. A win over the Roosters will see the Dolphins make their first grand final since their inception into the NRL in 2023.
The Roosters have been granted a miracle with star halfback Sam Walker returning to partner Daly Cherry-Evans, just 24 days after suffering a syndesmosis injury in Round 26 and undergoing surgery. The inclusion sees Cherry-Evans move back into the five-eighth role and Hugo Savala moving to the interchange bench, and moving Toby Rodwell out of the squad. Egan Butcher has also been named in the reserves and has a chance to return after failing his Head Injury Assessment early on against the Panthers in the Qualifying Finals.
The Penrith Panthers will then host the Newcastle Knights in the second NRL Preliminary Final on Sunday, 27th September at Stadium Australia, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00pm AEST. Nathan Cleary has been named in the squad for the Panthers despite suffering a foot injury against the Roosters in the Qualifying Finals. Blaize Talagi has also retained his role in the centre position after his late call-up performance for Luke Garner, with the latter being relegated to the bench, but returning from a groin strain. Jack Cogger also returns to the bench after serving his three-match suspension for a high shot in the Panthers’ Round 25 clash against the Melbourne Storm. Isaah Yeo also returns to the starting lock forward position, shifting Lindsay Smith to the front row, and Izack Tago has been named in the reserves, eyeing a last minute call-up to return from a knee injury.
In a press conference, Panthers second rower Liam Martin said the clash against the Knights will be a proper competition.
“They’ve been physical and aggressive, and I love those sort of matchups so we’re really looking forward to it and I’m sure they’ll be ready for it as well,” Martin said.
“That sort of brings out my best game is those physical conflicts so I’ll just be looking to bring my game and take them on.”
Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook has named an unchanged 19 after their underdog win over the New Zealand Warriors in the Semi Final, making them the last team outside the Top 4 still going for the trophy. Dylan Lucas remains on the bench after his short stint returning from a fractured ankle. With a win over the Panthers, the Knights will make the Grand Final for the first time in 25 years.
In the NRLW Preliminary Finals, the Sydney Roosters will host the Canberra Raiders on Saturday, 26th September at the Sydney Football Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 7:50pm. The Roosters will have a boost with NSW Blues representative Jayme Fressard returning on the wing after suffering a hand injury in Round 8 against the Warriors, with the Raiders naming an unchanged 17 after their first finals win against the Wests Tigers in the Semi Final, a game that recorded the lowest score in NRLW history.
In a press conference, Raiders forward Hollie-Mae Dodd said the squad is feeling confident in their clash with the Roosters and how the whole team plays their part.
“We’re feeling super excited for Saturday, we went into the game really confident and I think we just focus on ourselves, and we can’t wait to get into training this week,” Dodd said.
“The middles really help me and they guide me where I need to go around the field and it’s easy to listen up when we’ve got halves as good as we have.”
The Gold Coast Titans will then host last year’s premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, on Sunday, 27th September at Robina Stadium, Gold Coast, with kick-off scheduled for 1:05pm. For the Titans, Queensland Maroons representative Phoenix Raine-Hippi has been sidelined with a collarbone injury in Round 11 against the Knights, moving Destiny Mino-Sinapati to the wing, and Georgia Grey to the centres. Fanua Rimoni also returns to the squad in the front row after missing the previous two weeks with the flu, and Jessika Elliston has been named in the reserves as she recovers from an MCL injury that had her sidelined for over ten weeks.
The Broncos will be without forward Bree Spreadborough after she suffered a lower leg fracture against the Knights in last week’s semi final, moving Reegan Hicks onto the bench for her sixth game of the 2026 season, with winger Caitlin Urwin moving into the 18th man position.
