NRL Preliminary Finals Preview & Predictions

What a late season surge it’s been for Cronulla - they’ve won nine of their last 10 games, including three straight over top eight opposition, shedding the flat track bully tag. The Sharks have restricted the Bulldogs, Roosters and Sharks to 12 points or less in their last three games and now head down to AAMI Park plotting a preliminary final ambush over a Storm side who look there for the taking. Nicho Hynes is stepping up, Brayden Trindall is playing career-best footy and Ronaldo Mulitalo is backing up his smack talk with some lethal try-scoring form on the wing.

Melbourne have been coasting all year without ever really hitting a sustained patch of top form, while they’ve only needed to beat an out-of-form Bulldogs side to make the preliminary finals. Star halfback Jahrome Hughes also remains in doubt. Compared to other sides, the Storm haven’t really had to do much to be within just one win of a Grand Final - are they ready for a steely Sharks side who have nothing to lose and defeated them earlier this season?

It will take a lot to top Brisbane’s previous finals game, but this has all the makings of a classic finals showdown.

The Panthers are seemingly timing their run to perfection and produced their best performance of the season to dismantle the Bulldogs in last week’s elimination semi-final, piling on 36 first half points and never looking back. Nathan Cleary put together another finals masterclass and Penrith could be near impossible to stop if he maintains that sort of level.

However, the Broncos have their own strike weapon in electric fullback Reece Walsh, who basically single-handedly inspired his side to that extraordinary comeback win over the Raiders. It will be interesting to see if Walsh can continue his career-best form with Adam Reynolds likely coming back into the side - he’s excelled and stepped up in both his and Ezra Mam’s absence. Strap yourself in - this could be an absolute belter.