NRL Finals Teams: Week 12013 NRL Premiership Finals Series
By W D Nicolson - September 10, 2013
Follow @NRLTweet
#NRLFinals Week 1 Team Analysis| NRL FINALS WEEK 1 MATCHUPS |
Here are the Week 1 Teams as named on Tuesday afternoon - with www.wdnicolson.com's selection and injury analysis. If a team has not been named yet, the side listed is the one the club named for Round 26.
All teams are named.
Our new feature shows the + Injured List for each team from the list of players potentially available for the Finals (so players with season ending injuries are not listed) - with a Likely or Unlikely designation for every player carrying an ailment.
TEAMS NAMED: Cowboys at 1pm ... Sharks at 4:10pm ... Knights at 4:25pm ... Rabbitohs at 4:30pm ... Sea Eagles at 4:35pm ... Storm at 4:40pm ... Bulldogs at 5:10pm ... Roosters at 6pm.
#NRLFINALS NOTEBOOKS: Monday Week 1 | Tuesday Week 1 | Wednesday Week 1 | Thursday Week 1 Preview | Friday Week 1 |
Take on The Postman in NRL Dream Team Finals - League Code: 692749FRIDAY September 13 at ANZ Stadium | Kick-off 8:00pm
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM: CONFIRMED
SOU: G Inglis, N Merritt, B Goodwin, D Walker, D Farrell, J Sutton (c), A Reynolds, T Burgess, I Luke, R Asotasi, C McQueen, B Te'o, S Burgess.
Bench: L Keary, J Lima, J Clark, G Burgess.
# Team Changes: Same 17 as the team that got beaten by the Roosters last Friday but coach Michael Maguire says he hasn't settled on his final squad, so there may be more players added to the team later in the week. Inglis will definitely play, while Goodwin is expected to play despite an ankle injury. Veterans Crocker and Champion remain out of first grade but Champion may play NSW Cup.
+ Injured List: G Inglis (Knee - Likely), B Goodwin (Ankle - Likely), J Sutton (Knee - Likely), C McQueen (Shoulder - Likely), J Clark (Head - Likely), M Crocker (Knee - Unlikely), B Champion (Ankle - Unlikely for NRL, maybe for NSW Cup).
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM: CONFIRMED
MEL: B Slater, S Waqa, W Chambers, M Blair, J O'Neill, B Finch, C Cronk, J Bromwich, C Smith (c), B Norrie, K Proctor, R Hoffman, R Hinchcliffe.
Bench: J Ryles, T Harris, J McLean, K Bromwich, G Widdop.
# Team Changes: The return of Widdop on the bench may become a straight swap with Finch at five-eighth with the veteran battling a sternum injury. Other than that - the Storm's starting 13 looks set, with a good chance Kenny Bromwich makes way for a veteran like Junior Moors come gameday.
+ Injured List: G Widdop (Hip - Likely), B Finch (Sternum - Unlikely), M Blair (Neck - Likely) J Ryles (Knee - Likely), K Proctor (Knee - Likely), J Sa'u (Foot - Unlikely), J Moors (Knee - TBA).
SATURDAY September 14 at Allianz Stadium | Kick-off 4:00pm
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM: CONFIRMED
CRO: M Gordon, S Feki, B Pomeroy, J Wright, B Ryan, T Carney, J Robson, A Fifita, J Morris, S Tagataese, L Lewis, W Graham, P Gallen (c).
Bench: I De Gois, C Heighington, J Bukuya, A Tupou, B Gibbs, B Ross.
# Team Changes: The big guns are back - Carney, Graham, Bukuya and Tupou were rested last week and Gallen returns from a one week suspension. Townsend, Peachey and Sopoaga miss out, with the final bench to be whittled down from six players with Gibbs and Ross 18th and 19th men.
+ Injured List: T Carney (Hamstring - Likely), L Lewis (Shoulder - Likely), A Fifita (Calf - Likely), W Graham (Shoulder - Likely), A Tupou (Leg - Likely).
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM: CONFIRMED
NQL: M Bowen, W Ulugia, B Tate, K Linnett, A Winterstein, J Thurston (c), R Lui, M Scott (c), R Kostjasyn, J Tamou, G Cooper, G Hall, J Riethmuller.Bench: J Hodges, T Sims, S Bolton, J Taumalolo, A Sims.
# Team Changes: Scott has been named but remains a long shot to play with a broken finger from Round 25. If he misses then Bolton will start and Ashton Sims will join the bench. Taumalolo has retained his spot on the bench after a strong showing in Round 26. Hodges is expected to play significant time at hooker like he did last week, with Kostjasyn playing in a lock forward role when he returns to the field in the 2nd half.
+ Injured List: M Scott (Finger - Likely), M Bowen (Knee - Likely), S Bolton (Ankle - Likely), K Feldt (Ankle - Named for QLD Cup).
SATURDAY September 14 at Allianz Stadium | Kick-off 7:30pm
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM: CONFIRMED
SYD: A Minichiello, D Tupou, M Jennings, S Kenny-Dowall, R Tuivasa-Sheck, J Maloney, M Pearce (c), J Waerea-Hargreaves (Suspended 1 week), J Friend, S Moa, M Aubusson, SB Williams, FP Nuuausala.
Bench: D Mortimer, A Guerra, I Liu, D Napa, L O'Donnell, M Kennedy.
# Team Changes: Just like that the Roosters get some depth back... downside is they lost Waerea-Hargreaves for one match for elbowing in Round 26. However Aubusson, Tuivasa-Sheck and O'Donnell are all set to return to the team that beat the Rabbitohs for the Minor Premiership. O'Donnell and Kennedy are listed as 18th and 19th men but with JWH is out, O'Donnell will almost certainly start, while Kennedy could force Liu or Napa off the bench. Cordner is the only star not available yet due to injury with a Grand Final return probably his best chance of playing again in 2013.
+ Injured List: A Minichiello (Knee - Likely), R Tuivasa-Sheck (Ankle - Likely), M Kennedy (Leg - Likely), M Aubusson (Head - Likely), B Cordner (Ankle - Unlikely).
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM: CONFIRMED
MAN: B Stewart, J Taufua, J Lyon (c), S Matai, D Williams, K Foran, D Cherry-Evans, B Lawrence, M Ballin, B Kite, A Watmough, J Horo, G Stewart.
Bench: R Fa'aoso, T Symonds, D Gower, G Rose, J Hasson.
# Team Changes: Manly will get Anthony Watmough and Jorge Taufua back this weekend (from injury and suspension) but Brett Stewart is considered extremely doubtful with a hamstring strain... expect him to withdraw later in the week. Peta Hiku would come back in at fullback if Stewart withdraws as expected. The bench is starting to look stronger but Jamie Buhrer has not been named due to a rib injury.
+ Injured List: A Watmough (Knee - Likely), B Kite (Arm - Likely), S Matai (Hand - Likely), T Symonds (Thumb - Likely), B Lawrence (Back - Likely), B Stewart (Hamstring - Unlikely), J Buhrer (Ribs - Unlikely).
SUNDAY September 15 at ANZ Stadium | Kick-off 4:00pm
CBY: J Morris, M Brown, T Lafai, K Inu, S Perrett, J Reynolds, T Hodkinson, A Tolman, M Ennis (c), J Graham, T Williams, J Jackson, D Finucane.
Bench: D Halatau, S Kasiano, T Browne, B Barba.
# Team Changes: Barba is named on the bench but may well start with Tim Lafai dropping out of the squad to accommodate the return of Greg Eastwood who the team physio admitted was chomping at the bit to play. Pritchard surprisingly is not named despite being eligible to return from suspension, but expect Browne to make way for him on the bench,. Eastwood may play off the bench with Finucane starting at lock.
+ Injured List: B Barba (Ankle - Likely), Sam Kasiano (Ankle - Likely), Greg Eastwood (Knee - Likely).
Bench: D Halatau, S Kasiano, T Browne, B Barba.
# Team Changes: Barba is named on the bench but may well start with Tim Lafai dropping out of the squad to accommodate the return of Greg Eastwood who the team physio admitted was chomping at the bit to play. Pritchard surprisingly is not named despite being eligible to return from suspension, but expect Browne to make way for him on the bench,. Eastwood may play off the bench with Finucane starting at lock.
+ Injured List: B Barba (Ankle - Likely), Sam Kasiano (Ankle - Likely), Greg Eastwood (Knee - Likely).
FINALS WEEK 1 TEAM NOTES: CONFIRMED
NEW: D Boyd, J McManus, D Gagai, J Leilua, A Uate, J Mullen (c), T Roberts, Z Tetevano, D Buderus, W Mason, R Rochow, B Scott, J Smith.
Bench: A McKinnon, C Houston, N Costigan, D Fa'alogo.
# Team Changes: Fa'alogo continues to start at prop with Tetevano relegated to NSW Cup last weekend. Hilder retains his spot on the bench as backup for Buderus, while Mullen is expected to play despite an ankle injury against the Eels. Cuthbertson and Gower have not been named due to neck injuries, while Gidley was lost for the season two weeks ago.
+ Injured List: J Smith (Sternum - Likely), B Scott (Foot - Likely), D Buderus (Back - Likely , J Mullen (Ankle/Knee - Likely), D Fa'alogo (Knee - Likely), A Cuthbertson (Neck - Unlikely), C Gower (Neck - Unlikely).
Get up to speed with Daily Updates from around the NRL
#NRLFinals Notebook: Monday September 9
#NRLFinals Notebook: Tuesday September 10
#NRLFinals Notebook: Wednesday September 11
#NRLFinals Notebook: Thursday September 12
#NRLFinals Notebook: Friday September 13
We want your feedback or suggestions for the #NRLFinals Notebook - drop us a line here, @NRLTweet or Comment below.
Listen as we crown the 2013 Winner on Monday Night September 9! #NRLTweetPOTY
