Week 2 of the NRL Finals rolls around and Oscar Pannifex has you covered across both games.
Can the Chooks steady and stave off a Sharks outfit looking to build on last week’s dominant win over the Cowboys? And could the Wahs really exit in straight sets?
With a spot in the Prelims up for grabs, best bets and predictions below!
A month is a long, long time in rugby league… just ask Trent Robinson.
Easts are yet to enjoy a winning changeroom after beating Penrith 12-6 in NRL Round 24, in what many described as a Grand Final preview.
After a very similar scoreline – albeit a very different result – last week though, the Roosters have been forced to take the long route to the 2026 NRL Grand Final, starting with Cronulla.
The Panthers did a tremendous job of putting work into Daly Cherry-Evans early last week and it paid dividends last. With a near season-high 32 tackles by fulltime, DCE was gassed and out of position to make the winning play.
Aside from a response from the veteran halfback, I’m expecting a more balanced approach in attack overall from the Roosters this week.
Hugo Savala didn’t spend a lot of time on the ball v Penrith as Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco called the shots in attack but I like the five-eighth to feature more prominently on Saturday night.
A big body capable of passing at the line profiles well against a Cronulla left edge that continues to be a spot for opposing teams. If Savala can get at Nicho Hynes and hold him up with a Salesi Foketi lead, I like the spaces to appear around the Cronulla halfback. North Queensland tied him up to cash in three times last week and I like the Roosters to attempt the same.
For Cronulla, short of a full-frontal forward assault around the ruck, they may have to try something different in attack here.
Their slingshot attack has historically struggled against Easts edges who have defended expertly in recent weeks. The Sharks might have some more joy taking a leaf out of Penrith’s book and crashing the middle, generating momentum through Blayke Brailey and flood the ruck once fatigue sets in.
They can do it, but it’s Easts with the experience and the gameplan to progress to the prelims.
Tips: Sydney Roosters to Win @ $1.46
Anytime Tryscorer: Hugo Savala @ $3.45, James Tedesco @ $2.40
Newcastle are defying the injury odds to arrive in Week 2 of the 2026 NRL Finals.
Dylan Lucas and Dylan Brown were considerable absences to overcome throughout the regular season but to win without both starting props last week was an immense feat. Trey Mooney and Jacob Saifiti have both been Newcastle’s best at different times this year and the Knights impressed to do enough without them v South Sydney on Friday night.
It’s a different story here though.
Where Souths rank only fairly in yardage this year, the New Zealand Warriors have owned the middle-third for the best part of the regular season. Even in a shock loss to Redcliffe last week, the Wahs pack performed better in yardage and post-contact and profile well to do the same here.
Newcastle will look to shift the ball out of the backfield and attack from their side of halfway as they have done all season. Their ability to put Kalyn Ponga into positive situations on the edges can cause New Zealand some issues but overall it feels like the Wahs can bash and bully their way to a win here.
Taine Tuaapiki played out a career game against the Dolphins and can expect plenty of defensive attention here as a result. While the Knights fly from the outside-in to protect their edges though, I think the Wahs might have some joy closer to the ruck through Wayde Egan or Erin Clark.
Egan is flying under the radar as one of the most influential players still alive in this finals series.
His ability to create half-spaces for his forwards plays a huge part in New Zealand’s dominance around the ruck, while his involvements in attack – even if just for half a second before passing – are often crucial for any scoring action out wide.
When the Wahs set up on Newcastle’s line this weekend, watch the subtle movements Egan takes from behind the ruck once he scoops the ball; where he looks, where he points, how late he releases the pass before contact and how clean the ball travels through the air.
The flow-on effect of Egan’s subtleties is best seen in the defensive line. The A, B, C and even D-defenders sink in to protect their inside shoulders which inevitably leaves spaces a little wider – often around the three-man (the defending half).
Erin Clark has relished attacking these spaces all season (six tries, six assists) and profiles as a point of difference for New Zealand this weekend. Equally capable of barging through himself as he is tipping a teammate off his hip, I won’t be surprised to see Clark on the highlights reel here.
Anytime Tryscorer: James Fisher-Harris @ $8.50, Erin Clark @ $6.60, Kalyn Ponga @ $3.20, Bradman Best @ $3.60
