The 2019 NRL Finals Series determined the winner of the 2019 National Rugby League season. The series ran over four weeks in September and October 2019. It culminated with the 2019 NRL Grand Final at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on 6 October 2019, where the Sydney Roosters defeated the Canberra Raiders 14–8.
The top eight teams from the 2019 NRL Season qualified for the finals series, playing under the same format since 2012. The qualifying teams were Melbourne, Sydney, South Sydney, Canberra, Parramatta, Manly Warringah, Cronulla-Sutherland and Brisbane.
Qualification
Melbourne qualified for their 9th consecutive finals series. Sydney qualified for their 3rd consecutive final series. South Sydney qualified for their 2nd consecutive finals series. Canberra qualified for their first finals series since 2016. Parramatta qualified for their first finals series since 2017. Manly Warringah qualified for their first finals series since 2017. Cronulla-Sutherland qualified for their 5th consecutive series. Brisbane qualified for their 6th consecutive series.
Venues Canberra's GIO Stadium hosted one match, Melbourne's AAMI Park hosted two matches and Sydney hosted the remaining six matches, between ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium, Lottoland and the Sydney Cricket Ground. +CanberraMelbourneSydneyGIO StadiumAAMI ParkANZ StadiumCapacity: 25,011Capacity: 30,050Capacity: 83,500 Games: 1 Games: 2 Games: 2SydneyBankwest StadiumLottolandSydney Cricket GroundCapacity: 30,000Capacity: 23,000Capacity: 46,000Games: 1Games: 1Games: 2
Finals structure
The system used for the 2019 NRL finals series was a final eight system. In this format, the top four teams in the eight receive a "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team lose in the first week it still remained in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight will play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-ground 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 play the winners of the elimination finals 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.
Bracket
Qualifying and elimination finals
2nd Qualifying final: Sydney v South Sydney
Team lists:FB1James TedescoWG2Daniel TupouCE3Latrell MitchellCE4Joseph ManuWG5Brett MorrisFE6Luke KearyHB7Cooper CronkPR8Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK9Sam VerrillsPR10Isaac LiuSR11Boyd Cordner (c)SR12Mitchell AubussonLK13Victor RadleySubstitutes:IC14Angus CrichtonIC15Zane TetevanoIC16Nat ButcherIC17Sio Siua TaukeiahoCoach:Trent RobinsonFB1Adam DoueihiWG2Alex JohnstonCE3James RobertsCE4Campbell GrahamWG5Corey AllanFE6Cody WalkerHB7Adam ReynoldsPR18George BurgessHK9Damien CookPR10Liam KnightSR11John Sutton (c)SR12Jaydn Su'ALK13Cameron MurraySubstitutes:IC8Tevita TatolaIC14Ethan LoweIC16Thomas BurgessIC17Mark NichollsCoach: Wayne Bennett
1st Qualifying final: Melbourne v Canberra
Team lists:FB1Ryan PapenhuyzenWG2Suliasi VunivaluCE3Will ChambersCE4Justin OlamWG5Josh Addo-CarrFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Jahrome HughesPR8Jesse BromwichHK9Cameron Smith (c)PR10Nelson Asofa-SolomonaSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Kenny BromwichLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC14Brandon SmithIC15Tui KamikamicaIC16Max KingIC17Joe StimsonCoach:Craig BellamyFB1Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWG14Bailey SimonssonCE3Jarrod Croker (c)CE2Nick CotricWG5Jordan RapanaFE6Jack WightonHB7Aidan SezerPR15Dunamis LuiHK9Josh Hodgson (c)PR10Sia SoliolaSR11John BatemanSR12Elliott WhiteheadLK13Joseph TapineSubstitutes:IC4Joseph LeiluaIC8Josh PapaliiIC16Corey HorsburghIC19Emre GulerCoach: Ricky Stuart
2nd Elimination final: Manly-Warringah v Cronulla-Sutherland
Team lists:FB1Brendan ElliotWG2Jorge TaufuaCE3Brad ParkerCE4Moses SuliWG5Reuben GarrickFE6Dylan WalkerHB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)PR8Addin Fonua-BlakeHK9Apisai KoroisauPR10Sean KeppieSR11Corey WaddellSR12Jack GosiewskiLK13Jake TrbojevicSubstitutes:IC14Manase FainuIC15Haumole Olakau'atuIC16Lloyd PerrettIC17Toafofoa SipleyCoach:Des HaslerFB1Josh DuganWG2Sosaia FekiCE3Bronson XerriCE4Josh MorrisWG5Aaron GrayFE6Shaun JohnsonHB7Chad TownsendPR16Andrew FifitaHK9Jayden BraileyPR10Matt PriorSR11Briton NikoraSR12Wade GrahamLK13Paul Gallen (c)Substitutes:IC8Aaron WoodsIC14Kurt CapewellIC15Jack WilliamsIC17Braden Hamlin-UeleCoach: John Morris
1st Elimination final: Parramatta v Brisbane
Team lists:FB1Clint Gutherson (c)WG2Maika SivoCE3Michael JenningsCE4Waqa BlakeWG5Blake FergusonFE6Dylan BrownHB7Mitchell MosesPR15Daniel AlvaroHK9Reed MahoneyPR10Junior PauloSR11Shaun LaneSR12Manu Ma'uLK13Nathan BrownSubstitutes:IC14Brad TakairangiIC16Ray StoneIC17Marata NiukoreIC18Tepai MoeroaCoach:Brad ArthurFB1Anthony MilfordWG5Jamayne IsaakoCE3Kotoni StaggsCE4Alex GlennWG2Corey OatesFE6Darius Boyd (c)HB7Jake TurpinPR8Matthew LodgeHK9Andrew McCulloughPR10Payne HaasSR11David FifitaSR12Matt GillettLK13Joe OfahengaueSubstitutes:IC14James SegeyaroIC15Thomas FleglerIC16Gehamat ShibisakiIC17Patrick CarriganCoach: Anthony Seibold
Semi-finals
2nd Semi-final: South Sydney v Manly-Warringah
Team lists:FB1Adam DoueihiWG2Alex JohnstonCE3James RobertsCE4Dane GagaiWG5Campbell GrahamFE6Cody WalkerHB7Adam ReynoldsPR8Thomas BurgessHK9Damien CookPR10Liam KnightSR11John SuttonSR12Sam Burgess (c)LK13Cameron MurraySubstitutes:IC14George BurgessIC15Mark NichollsIC16Tevita TatolaIC17Ethan LoweCoach:Wayne BennettFB1Brendan ElliotWG2Jorge TaufuaCE3Brad ParkerCE4Moses SuliWG5Reuben GarrickFE6Dylan WalkerHB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)PR8Addin Fonua-BlakeHK9Apisai KoroisauPR10Martin TaupauSR11Corey WaddellSR12Jack GosiewskiLK13Jake TrbojevicSubstitutes:IC14Manase FainuIC15Haumole Olakau'atuIC16Sean KeppieIC17Lloyd PerrettCoach: Des Hasler
1st Semi-final: Melbourne v Parramatta
Team lists:FB1Ryan PapenhuyzenWG2Suliasi VunivaluCE18Curtis ScottCE4Justin OlamWG5Josh Addo-CarrFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Jahrome HughesPR8Jesse BromwichHK9Cameron Smith (c)PR10Nelson Asofa-SolomonaSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Kenny BromwichLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC3Will ChambersIC14Brandon SmithIC15Tui KamikamicaIC16Max KingCoach:Craig BellamyFB1Clint Gutherson (c)WG2Maika SivoCE3Michael JenningsCE4Waqa BlakeWG5Blake FergusonFE6Dylan BrownHB7Mitchell MosesPR8Kane EvansHK9Reed MahoneyPR10Junior PauloSR11Shaun LaneSR12Manu Ma'uLK13Nathan BrownSubstitutes:IC14Brad TakairangiIC15Daniel AlvaroIC16Tepai MoeroaIC17Marata NiukoreCoach: Brad Arthur
Preliminary finals
1st Preliminary final: Canberra v South Sydney
Team lists:FB1Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWG2Nick CotricCE3Jarrod Croker (c)CE4Joseph LeiluaWG5Jordan RapanaFE6Jack WightonHB7Aidan SezerPR8Josh PapaliiHK9Josh Hodgson (c)PR10Sia SoliolaSR11John BatemanSR12Elliott WhiteheadLK13Joseph TapineSubstitutes:IC14Bailey SimonssonIC15Emre GulerIC16Corey HorsburghIC17Dunamis LuiCoach:Ricky StuartFB1Adam DoueihiWG2Alex JohnstonCE5Campbell GrahamCE4Dane GagaiWG19Corey AllanFE6Cody WalkerHB7Adam ReynoldsPR12Sam Burgess (c)HK9Damien CookPR10Liam KnightSR11John SuttonSR16Ethan LoweLK13Cameron MurraySubstitutes:IC8Thomas BurgessIC15Tevita TatolaIC17Mark NichollsIC20Dean BrittCoach: Wayne Bennett
2nd Preliminary final: Sydney v Melbourne
Team lists:FB1James TedescoWG2Daniel TupouCE3Latrell MitchellCE4Joseph ManuWG5Brett MorrisFE6Luke KearyHB7Cooper CronkPR8Isaac LiuHK9Sam VerrillsPR10Sio Siua TaukeiahoSR11Boyd Cordner (c)SR12Mitchell AubussonLK13Victor RadleySubstitutes:IC14Angus CrichtonIC15Zane TetevanoIC16Nat ButcherIC17Lindsay CollinsCoach:Trent RobinsonFB1Ryan PapenhuyzenWG17Will ChambersCE3Curtis ScottCE4Justin OlamWG5Josh Addo-CarrFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Jahrome HughesPR8Jesse BromwichHK9Cameron Smith (c)PR10Nelson Asofa-SolomonaSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Kenny BromwichLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC14Brandon SmithIC15Tui KamikamicaIC16Max KingIC21Sandor EarlCoach: Craig Bellamy
Grand Final
Team lists:FB1James TedescoWG2Daniel TupouCE3Latrell MitchellCE4Joseph ManuWG5Brett MorrisFE6Luke KearyHB7Cooper CronkPR8Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK9Sam VerrillsPR10Isaac LiuSR11Boyd Cordner (c)SR12Mitchell AubussonLK13Victor RadleySubstitutes:IC14Angus CrichtonIC16Nat ButcherIC17Sio Siua TaukeiahoIC20Jake FriendCoach:Trent RobinsonFB1Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWG2Nick CotricCE3Jarrod Croker (c)CE4Joseph LeiluaWG5Jordan RapanaFE6Jack WightonHB7Aidan SezerPR8Josh PapaliiHK9Josh Hodgson (c)PR10Sia SoliolaSR11John BatemanSR12Elliott WhiteheadLK13Joseph TapineSubstitutes:IC14Bailey SimonssonIC15Emre GulerIC16Corey HorsburghIC17Dunamis LuiCoach:Ricky Stuart
References