2018 NRL Finals Week 1 Preview

2018 NRL Finals Week 1 Preview

The 2018 NRL Finals have arrived and the league’s eight best teams will vie for a berth on the game’s grandest stage later this month. This is arguably the most open edition of the NRL Finals since the turn of the century and there is a case to be made for nearly all eight clubs finding their way to the final Sunday of the season.

The action is underway in Melbourne on Friday night when the Storm and Rabbitohs trade blows, before a couple of epic Saturday games between the Panthers and Warriors, Roosters and Sharks respectively.

The Week 1 NRL Finals action will conclude in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon when the Broncos and Dragons meet in a do-or-die encounter.

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Souths to Win ($2.10)

The NRL Finals are underway in style on Friday night when the Storm host the Rabbitohs in Melbourne. The two clubs have only met once so far in 2018 and it was the Bunnies who left the Round 21 clash victorious.

Its been another impressive season for the Storm and they have accounted for the loss of Cooper Cronk almost seamlessly and they were offered a shot at winning another minor premiership last week, but their depleted side was ultimately defeated by the Panthers. The return of several key players this week, including Billy Slater will add plenty to their potency and they are ultimately worthy of their favouritism.

The Rabbitohs have been the big improvers in 2018 and that can be put down to several factors, but largely it has been the new direction set in place by coach Anthony Siebold. The Rabbitohs spine has enjoyed a glittering season, while their big and mobile forward pack has allowed a slick backline plenty of room to move and attack.

There will be several key match-ups that will go a long way towards deciding this game but none bigger than that of Cameron Smith and Damien Cook. Clearly the league’s two best hookers, Cook has made big inroads on Smith’s dominance in 2018, but both players boast outstanding and varied ability.

I believe that the Storm’s forward pack will have their hands full with that of Souths and several clubs have been able to find gaps in the Melbourne line in recent weeks. I think that the Bunnies can stamp their claims on the premiership by winning.

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors
Warriors to Win ($2.15)

The Panthers will host the Warriors in the first do-or-die final on Saturday afternoon, in a match that looks like falling either way. Neither club has been particularly consistent leading into the finals and there is a case to be made for both finding their way into the second week.

Penrith’s bizarre decision to part ways with Coach Anthony Griffin only weeks out from the finals has almost certainly put an end to any hope of winning the 2018 premiership and it looks like it will be a matter of ‘when’, rather than ‘if’. They did rally well to defeat a depleted Melbourne side last week, but it’s tough lining up that form heading into a match with so much on the line.

The Warriors boast one of the most exciting, talent-rich rosters in the NRL and when they put it all together, they can beat anyone. Their inability to complete sets and consistently win games has been their undoing, however and they will need to be at their best continually to keep their season and premiership hopes alive.

Forward packs will again be key to the result of this match and both clubs boast big, fit players. This will be a physical battle from the outset and it would not surprise to see plenty of niggle.

The Warriors boast one of the game’s most unpredictable playmakers in Shaun Johnson as well as

Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks
Roosters at the Line (-4.5)

This is easily the most intriguing fixture in Week 1 of the NRL Finals and we’re set for an outstanding contest when the Roosters and Sharks square off on Saturday night.

The Roosters secured the minor premiership with a big, stat-boosting win over Parramatta in Round 25 and they are a club that will take plenty of confidence into the finals, as a result. Cooper Cronk has really warmed to the task in his first season for the tricolours and has built some extremely potent combinations with the players around him, particularly fullback James Tedesco. They will be without the services of the suspended Dylan Napa and will be relying heavily on the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to fill the void.

The Sharks have somewhat flown under the radar leading into the finals but they are a seriously good chance of making it all the way to the final Sunday of the season. They boast one of the best rosters in the league across the park and they have really started to hit their straps at the perfect time. They have won each of their four most-recent games, many against in-form opponents and they will be quietly confident of gaining next week off.

The Roosters’ defence has been their big improvement in 2018 and they can withstand what the Sharks have to offer in attack.

Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Dragons at the Line (+10.5)

Six teams will remain in contention following Sunday afternoon’s elimination final between the Broncos and Dragons in Brisbane. The home side have found a nice run of form in recent weeks, while the visitors are still attempting to stem a disappointing run of form.

These are obviously the two clubs that Wayne Bennett has steered to premierships and given everything that has happened off the field in Brisbane this season, a win over the Red V would surely do plenty for the confidence and perhaps even the future prospects of the veteran coach.

It certainly has not been their best regular season on record, but the Broncos have been building nicely and are positioned well to make a deep run through the 2018 finals. Their key players have really started to stand up ahead of the finals and they will look to utilise towering winger Corey Oates as a much as possible this weekend, who will be a real handful for the vulnerable Dragons’ defence.

Ben Hunt is key to the Dragons’ chances here and their future in the 2018 finals, and the halfback will be eager to make a big impression against his former club. Hunt has been widely blamed (along with other key players) for St George’s recent demise, but a win over the in-form Broncos would do plenty for their confidence and would surely stamp them as a live premiership threat once more.

Recent form simply cannot be looked past here and I think the Broncos will win, but the line seems massive and I think that the Dragons will compete under pressure.