The 2017 NRL finals series was the 20th annual edition of the NRL final series, the Rugby League tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2017 NRL Season. The series ran over four weekends in September and October 2017, culminating with the 2017 NRL Grand Final at the ANZ Stadium on 1 October 2017.
The top eight teams from the 2017 NRL Season qualified for the finals series. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012. The qualifying teams are Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Parramatta, Cronulla-Sutherland, Manly Warringah, Penrith and North Queensland.
The preliminary finals are the same four teams as the 2015 finals series.
Qualification
Melbourne qualified for their 7th straight finals series, it was also their 2nd straight first-place finish. Sydney returned to the finals after missing out in 2016. Brisbane qualified for the 4th straight year. Parramatta made their first finals appearance since the 2009 Grand Final, it was also their first top four finish since 2005. Cronulla returned to the finals for the 3rd straight year after winning the 2016 NRL Grand Final. Manly played their first finals game since 2014. Penrith returned to the finals after competing in the 2016 finals series. North Queensland qualified for their 7th straight finals series, giving them and Melbourne the best current finals streak.
Venues The matches of the 2017 NRL finals series were contested at four venues in three different states around the country.
Melbourne's AAMI Park hosted 2 matches, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium hosted 1 match and Sydney hosted the remaining 6 matches, which were played at Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium. MelbourneSydneyAAMI ParkAllianz StadiumCapacity: 29,500Capacity: 45,500BrisbaneSydneySuncorp StadiumANZ StadiumCapacity: 52,500Capacity: 83,500
Finals Structure The system used for the 2017 NRL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-state advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks, to the qualifying final winners in the third week.
In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney
Qualifying & Elimination Finals
1st Qualifying final
Team lists:FB1Michael GordonLW3Latrell MitchellLC16Ryan MattersonRC4Mitchell AubussonRW5Blake FergusonFE6Luke KearyHB7Mitchell PearcePR8Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK9Jake Friend (c)PR10Dylan NapaSR11Boyd Cordner (c)SR12Aidan GuerraLK13Isaac LiuSubstitutes:IC14Kane EvansIC15Sio Siua TaukeiahoIC17Connor WatsonIC23Daniel TupouCoach:Trent RobinsonFB5Jordan KahuLW2Corey OatesRC3James RobertsLC4Tautau MogaRW14David MeadFE6Anthony MilfordHB7Benji MarshallPR8Sam ThaidayHK9Ben HuntPR10Adam Blair (c)SR11Alex GlennSR12Matt GillettLK13Josh McGuireSubstitutes:IC1Kodi NikorimaIC15Jai ArrowIC16Joe OfahengaueIC17Herman Ese'eseCoach:Wayne Bennett
2nd Qualifying final
Team lists:FB1Billy SlaterRW2Suliasi VunivaluRC3Will ChambersLC4Curtis ScottLW5Josh Addo-CarrFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Cooper CronkPR8Jesse BromwichHK9Cameron Smith (c)PR10Jordan McLeanSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Tohu HarrisLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC14Kenny BromwichIC15Nelson Asofa-SolomonaIC16Tim GlasbyIC17Slade GriffinCoach:Craig BellamyFB1Will SmithLW2Semi RadradraLC3Michael JenningsRC4Brad TakairangiRW5Kirisome Auva'aFE6Corey NormanHB7Mitchell MosesPR8Daniel AlvaroHK9Cameron KingPR10Tim Mannah (c)SR11Manu MaʻuSR12Tepai MoeroaLK13Nathan BrownSubstitutes:IC14Beau Scott (c)IC15Kenny EdwardsIC16Siosaia VaveIC17Suaia MatagiCoach:Brad Arthur
1st Elimination final
Team lists:FB1Tom TrbojevicLW2Matthew WrightLC3Dylan WalkerRC4Brian KellyRW5Akuila UateFE6Blake GreenHB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)PR8Darcy LussickHK9Apisai KoroisauPR10Martin TaupauSR11Frank WintersteinSR12Curtis SironenLK13Jake TrbojevicSubstitutes:IC14Lewis BrownIC15Lloyd PerrettIC16Brenton LawrenceIC17Addin Fonua-BlakeCoach:Trent BarrettFB20Dylan EdwardsLW2Josh MansourLC3Tyrone PeacheyRC1Dean WhareRW5Dallin Watene-ZelezniakFE6Tyrone MayHB7Nathan ClearyPR8James TamouHK9Peter Wallace (c)PR10Reagan Campbell-GillardSR11Corey Harawira-NaeraSR12Isaah YeoLK13Trent MerrinSubstitutes:IC14Sione KatoaIC15Bryce CartwrightIC17James Fisher-HarrisIC18Moses LeotaCoach:Anthony Griffin
2nd Elimination final
Team lists:FB1Valentine HolmesRW2Sosaia FekiRC3Jack BirdLC4Ricky LeuteleLW5Gerard BealeFE6James MaloneyHB7Chad TownsendPR8Andrew FifitaHK9Jayden BraileyPR10Matt PriorSR11Luke LewisSR12Wade GrahamLK13Paul Gallen (c)Substitutes:IC14Jayson BukuyaIC15Chris HeighingtonIC16Jeremy LatimoreIC17James SegeyaroCoach:Shane FlanaganFB1Lachlan CooteRW2Kyle FeldtLC3Javid BowenRC4Kane LinnettLW5Antonio WintersteinFE6Te Maire MartinHB7Michael MorganPR17Shaun FensomHK9Jake GranvillePR10Scott BoltonSR11Gavin Cooper (c)SR12Ethan LoweLK13Jason TaumaloloSubstitutes:IC14Ben HamptonIC15Coen HessIC16Corey JensenIC8John AsiataCoach:Paul Green
Semi-finals
1st Semi-final
Team lists:FB1Kodi NikorimaLW2Corey OatesRC3James RobertsLC4Tautau MogaRW5Jordan KahuFE6Anthony MilfordHB7Benji MarshallPR8Sam ThaidayHK9Ben HuntPR10Adam Blair (c)SR11Alex GlennSR12Matt GillettLK13Josh McGuireSubstitutes:IC14David MeadIC15Jai ArrowIC16Joe OfahengaueIC17Herman Ese'eseCoach:Wayne BennettFB1Dylan EdwardsLW2Josh MansourLC3Tyrone PeacheyRC4Dean WhareRW5Dallin Watene-ZelezniakFE6Tyrone MayHB7Nathan ClearyPR8James TamouHK9Peter Wallace (c)PR10Reagan Campbell-GillardSR11Corey Harawira-NaeraSR12Isaah YeoLK13Trent MerrinSubstitutes:IC14Sione KatoaIC15Bryce CartwrightIC16Moses LeotaIC17James Fisher-HarrisCoach:Anthony Griffin
2nd Semi-final
Team lists:FB1Will SmithLW2Semi RadradraLC3Michael JenningsRC4Brad TakairangiRW5Kirisome Auva'aFE6Corey NormanHB7Mitchell MosesPR8Daniel AlvaroHK9Cameron KingPR10Tim Mannah (c)SR11Manu MaʻuSR15Kenny EdwardsLK13Nathan BrownSubstitutes:IC14Beau Scott (c)IC17Suaia MatagiIC18Kaysa PritchardIC19Peni TerepoCoach:Brad ArthurFB1Lachlan CooteRW2Kyle FeldtLC19Justin O'NeillRC4Kane LinnettLW5Antonio WintersteinFE6Te Maire MartinHB7Michael MorganPR17Shaun FensomHK9Jake GranvillePR10Scott BoltonSR11Gavin Cooper (c)SR12Ethan LoweLK13Jason TaumaloloSubstitutes:IC8John AsiataIC14Ben HamptonIC15Coen HessIC16Corey JensenCoach:Paul Green
Preliminary Finals
1st Preliminary final
Team lists:FB1Billy SlaterRW2Suliasi VunivaluRC3Will ChambersLC4Curtis ScottLW5Josh Addo-CarrFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Cooper CronkPR8Jesse BromwichHK9Cameron Smith (c)PR10Jordan McLeanSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Tohu HarrisLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC14Kenny BromwichIC15Nelson Asofa-SolomonaIC16Tim GlasbyIC17Slade GriffinCoach:Craig BellamyFB1Darius Boyd (c)LW2Corey OatesRC3James RobertsLC4Tautau MogaRW5Jordan KahuFE6Anthony MilfordHB7Kodi NikorimaPR8Sam ThaidayHK9Ben HuntPR10Adam Blair SR11Alex GlennSR12Matt GillettLK13Josh McGuireSubstitutes:IC14Benji MarshallIC15Tevita Pangai JuniorIC16Joe OfahengaueIC17Herman Ese'eseCoach:Wayne Bennett
2nd Preliminary final
Team lists:FB1Michael GordonLW3Latrell MitchellLC14Ryan MattersonRC4Mitchell AubussonRW5Blake FergusonFE6Luke KearyHB7Mitchell PearcePR8Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK9Jake Friend (c)PR10Dylan NapaSR11Boyd Cordner (c)SR12Aidan GuerraLK13Isaac LiuSubstitutes:IC2Daniel TupouIC15Sio Siua TaukeiahoIC16Zane TetevanoIC17Connor WatsonCoach:Trent RobinsonFB1Lachlan CooteRW2Kyle FeldtLC3Justin O'NeillRC4Kane LinnettLW5Antonio WintersteinFE6Te Maire MartinHB7Michael MorganPR17Shaun FensomHK9Jake GranvillePR10Scott BoltonSR11Gavin Cooper (c)SR12Ethan LoweLK13Jason TaumaloloSubstitutes:IC14Ben HamptonIC15Coen HessIC16Corey JensenIC8John AsiataCoach:Paul Green
Grand Final
Team lists:FB1Billy SlaterRW2Suliasi VunivaluRC3Will ChambersLC4Curtis ScottLW5Josh Addo-CarrFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Cooper CronkPR8Jesse BromwichHK9Cameron Smith (c)PR10Jordan McLeanSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Tohu HarrisLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC14Kenny BromwichIC15Nelson Asofa-SolomonaIC16Tim GlasbyIC17Slade GriffinCoach:Craig BellamyFB1Lachlan CooteRW2Kyle FeldtLC3Justin O'NeillRC4Kane LinnettLW5Antonio WintersteinFE6Te Maire MartinHB7Michael MorganPR17Shaun FensomHK9Jake GranvillePR10Scott BoltonSR11Gavin Cooper (c)SR12Ethan LoweLK13Jason TaumaloloSubstitutes:IC14Ben HamptonIC15Coen HessIC16Corey JensenIC8John AsiataCoach:Paul Green
References