The 2021 National Rugby League finals series was a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season. The series was played over four weekends in September and October, culminating in the 2021 NRL Grand Final on 3 October 2021. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales, the grand final was played outside of Sydney for the first time in competition history, at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
The top eight teams from the 2021 NRL season qualified for the finals series. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012. Qualification
Venues As a result of the 2021 NRL season's relocation to Queensland due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales and Victoria, all the finals matches were hosted in Queensland with stadiums at full capacity, with the only exception being the grand final at 75% capacity as a result of local COVID-19 cases and Queensland Government restrictions. This saw Rockhampton and Mackay host their first finals matches, whilst Queensland Country Bank Stadium also played host to their first finals at the venue. BrisbaneMackayRockhamptonSuncorp StadiumBB Print StadiumBrowne ParkCapacity: 52,500Capacity: 12,200Capacity: 8,000Games: 3Games: 2Games: 1Sunshine CoastTownsvilleSunshine Coast StadiumQueensland Country Bank StadiumCapacity: 12,000Capacity: 25,000Games: 1Games: 2
Finals structure
The system used for the 2021 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 ground advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks and 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.
Bracket
Summary HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowdQualifying & Elimination FinalsMelbourne Storm 40 – 12 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 10 September, 7:50pmSunshine Coast StadiumGrant Atkins9,120Sydney Roosters 25 – 24 Gold Coast TitansSaturday, 11 September, 5:40pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumAdam Gee15,237Penrith Panthers 10 – 16 South Sydney RabbitohsSaturday, 11 September, 8:05pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumGerard Sutton 18,244Parramatta Eels 28 – 20 Newcastle KnightsSunday, 12 September, 4:05pmBrowne ParkAshley Klein5,087Semi-FinalsManly Warringah Sea Eagles 42 – 6 Sydney RoostersFriday, 17 September, 7:50pmBB Print StadiumGerard Sutton 5,824Penrith Panthers 8 – 6 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 18 September, 7:50pmBB Print StadiumAshley Klein6,011Preliminary FinalsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs 36 – 16 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 24 September, 8:05pmSuncorp StadiumAshley Klein26,249Melbourne Storm 6 – 10 Penrith PanthersSaturday, 25 September, 4:00pmSuncorp StadiumGerard Sutton29,011Grand FinalPenrith Panthers 14 – 12 South Sydney RabbitohsSunday, 3 October, 6:30pm (AEST), 7:30pm (AEDT)Suncorp StadiumGerard Sutton39,322
Qualifying & Elimination Finals
1st Qualifying Final (Melbourne v Manly Warringah)
The First Qualifying Final saw the 1st placed Melbourne Storm against the 4th placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. This was the fifth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2012 Preliminary Final.
Team lists:FB1Ryan PapenhuyzenWG2George JenningsCE3Reimis SmithCE4Justin OlamWG5Isaac LumelumeFE6Cameron MunsterHB7Jahrome HughesPR8Jesse Bromwich (c)HK9Brandon SmithPR10Christian WelchSR11Felise KaufusiSR12Kenneath BromwichLK13Dale FinucaneSubstitutes:IC14Harry GrantIC15Tui KamikamicaIC16Nelson Asofa-SolomonaIC17Nicho HynesConcussion Substitute:RE19Tom EisenhuthCoach:Craig BellamyFB1Tom TrbojevicWG2Jason SaabCE3Brad ParkerCE4Morgan HarperWG5Reuben GarrickFE6Kieran ForanHB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)PR8Josh AloiaiHK15Karl LawtonPR10Martin TaupauSR11Haumole Olakau'atuSR12Josh SchusterLK13Jake TrbojevicSubstitutes:IC14Dylan WalkerIC16Sean KeppieIC17Taniela PasekaIC20Curtis SironenConcussion Substitute:RE19Moses SuliCoach:Des Hasler
1st Elimination Final (Sydney v Gold Coast) The First Elimination Final saw the 5th placed Sydney Roosters against the 8th placed Gold Coast Titans. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs after meeting in the 2010 Preliminary Final.
Team lists:FB1James Tedesco (c)WG2Daniel TupouCE3Josh MorrisCE4Adam KeighranWG5Matt IkuvaluFE6Drew HutchisonHB7Lachlan LamPR8Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK9Sam VerrillsPR15Isaac LiuSR11Angus CrichtonSR12Sitili TupouniuaLK13Victor RadleySubstitutes:IC10Siosuia TaukeiahoIC14Sam WalkerIC16Egan ButcherIC17Fletcher BakerConcussion Substitute:RE18Dale CopleyCoach:Trent RobinsonFB1Jayden CampbellWG2Phillip SamiCE3Brian KellyCE4Patrick HerbertWG5Corey ThompsonFE6Tyrone PeacheyHB7Jamal Fogarty (c)PR8Jarrod WallaceHK9Mitch ReinPR10Moeaki FotuaikaSR11Kevin ProctorSR12Beau FermorLK13Tino Fa'asuamaleauiSubstitutes:IC14Erin ClarkIC15Sam LisoneIC16David FifitaIC17Jaimin JolliffeConcussion Substitute:RE18Sam McIntyreCoach:Justin Holbrook
2nd Qualifying Final (Penrith v South Sydney) The Second Qualifying Final saw the 2nd placed Penrith Panthers against the 3rd placed South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs and a rematch of the 2020 Preliminary Final.
Team lists:FB2Stephen CrichtonWG5Brian To'oCE3Paul MomirovskiCE4Matt BurtonWG20Charlie StainesFE6Jarome LuaiHB7Nathan Cleary (c)PR10James Fisher-HarrisHK9Apisai KoroisauPR18Matthew EisenhuthSR12Kurt CapewellSR17Liam MartinLK13Isaah YeoSubstitutes:IC11Viliame KikauIC14Mitch KennyIC15Spencer LeniuIC16Tevita Pangai JuniorConcussion Substitute:RE19Izack TagoCoach:Ivan ClearyFB1Blake TaaffeWG2Alex JohnstonCE3Dane GagaiCE4Campbell GrahamWG5Jaxson PauloFE6Cody WalkerHB7Adam Reynolds (c)PR8Mark NichollsHK9Damien CookPR10Tevita TatolaSR11Keaon KoloamatangiSR12Jaydn Su'ALK13Cameron MurraySubstitutes:IC14Benji MarshallIC15Jacob HostIC16Thomas BurgessIC17Jai ArrowConcussion Substitute:RE21Patrick MagoCoach:Wayne Bennett
2nd Elimination Final (Parramatta v Newcastle) The Second Elimination Final saw the 6th placed Parramatta Eels against the 7th placed Newcastle Knights. This was the fourth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2001 Grand Final.
Team lists:FB1Clinton Gutherson (c)WG2Haze DunsterCE3Will PenisiniCE4Waqa BlakeWG5Blake FergusonFE6Dylan BrownHB7Mitchell MosesPR8Reagan Campbell-GillardHK9Ray StonePR10Junior PauloSR11Shaun LaneSR12Marata NiukoreLK13Nathan BrownSubstitutes:IC14 Will SmithIC15Bryce CartwrightIC16Isaiah Papali'iIC17Makahesi MakatoaConcussion Substitute:RE20Tom OpacicCoach:Brad ArthurFB1Kalyn PongaWG2Enari TualaCE3Kurt MannCE4Bradman BestWG5Hymel HuntFE6Jake CliffordHB7Mitchell PearcePR8Jacob SaifitiHK9Jayden Brailey (c)PR10Daniel SaifitiSR11Tyson FrizellSR12Mitchell BarnettLK13Connor WatsonSubstitutes:IC14Sauaso SueIC15David KlemmerIC16Josh KingIC17Brodie JonesConcussion Substitute:RE20Simi SasagiCoach:Adam O'Brien
Semi-finals
1st Semi-Final (Manly Warringah v Sydney)
The First Semi-Final saw the loser of the First Qualifying Final, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles against the winner of the First Elimination Final, the Sydney Roosters. This was the ninth finals meeting between the clubs and the first since the 2013 Grand Final. Team lists:FB1Tom TrbojevicWG2Jason SaabCE3Brad ParkerCE4Morgan HarperWG5Reuben GarrickFE6Kieran ForanHB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)PR8Josh AloiaiHK9Lachlan CrokerPR16Sean KeppieSR11Haumole Olakau'atuSR12Josh SchusterLK13Jake TrbojevicSubstitutes:IC10Martin TaupauIC14Dylan WalkerIC15Karl LawtonIC17Taniela PasekaConcussion Substitute:RE19Moses SuliCoach:Des HaslerFB1James Tedesco (c)WG2Daniel TupouCE3Josh MorrisCE4Adam KeighranWG5Matt IkuvaluFE6Lachlan LamHB7Drew HutchisonPR8Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK20Ben MarschkePR10Isaac LiuSR11Angus CrichtonSR12Sitili TupouniuaLK13Victor RadleySubstitutes:IC14Sam WalkerIC15Nat ButcherIC16Egan ButcherIC17Fletcher BakerConcussion Substitute:RE18Dale CopleyCoach:Trent RobinsonOfficials:
Gerard Sutton (Referee)
Dave Munro (Touch Judge)
Todd Smith (Touch Judge)
Ashley Klein (Bunker)
2nd Semi-Final (Penrith v Parramatta) The Second Semi-Final saw the loser of the Second Qualifying Final, the Penrith Panthers against the winner of the Second Elimination Final, the Parramatta Eels. This was the third finals meeting between the clubs and the first since the 2000 Semi-Final. Team lists:FB1Dylan EdwardsWG2Stephen CrichtonCE3Paul MomirovskiCE4Matt BurtonWG20Brent NadenFE6Jarome LuaiHB7Nathan Cleary (c)PR8Moses LeotaHK9Apisai KoroisauPR10James Fisher-HarrisSR12Kurt CapewellSR17Liam MartinLK13Isaah YeoSubstitutes:IC11Viliame KikauIC14Mitch KennyIC15Scott SorensenIC16Tevita Pangai JuniorConcussion Substitute:RE19Izack TagoCoach:Ivan ClearyFB1Clinton Gutherson (c)WG2Haze DunsterCE3Will PenisiniCE4Waqa BlakeWG5Blake FergusonFE6Dylan BrownHB7Mitchell MosesPR8Reagan Campbell-GillardHK9Ray StonePR10Junior PauloSR11Shaun LaneSR12Marata NiukoreLK13Nathan BrownSubstitutes:IC14 Will SmithIC15Isaiah Papali'iIC16Bryce CartwrightIC17Ryan MattersonConcussion Substitute:RE18Makahesi MakatoaCoach:Brad ArthurOfficials:
Ashley Klein (Referee)
Phil Henderson (Touch Judge)
Jon Stone (Touch Judge)
Grant Atkins (Bunker)
Preliminary Finals
2nd Preliminary Final (South Sydney v Manly Warringah) The Second Preliminary Final saw the winner of the Second Qualifying Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the winner of the First Semi-Final, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. This was the fourteenth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2019 Semi-Final.
Team lists:FB1Blake TaaffeWG2Alex JohnstonCE3Dane GagaiCE4Campbell GrahamWG5Jaxson PauloFE6Cody WalkerHB7Adam Reynolds (c)PR8Mark NichollsHK9Damien CookPR10Tevita TatolaSR11Keaon KoloamatangiSR12Jaydn Su'ALK13Cameron MurraySubstitutes:IC14Benji MarshallIC15Jacob HostIC16Thomas BurgessIC17Jai ArrowConcussion Substitute:RE19Patrick MagoCoach:Wayne BennettFB1Tom TrbojevicWG2Jason SaabCE4Morgan HarperCE19Moses SuliWG5Reuben GarrickFE6Kieran ForanHB7Daly Cherry-Evans (c)PR8Josh AloiaiHK9Lachlan CrokerPR16Sean KeppieSR11Haumole Olakau'atuSR12Josh SchusterLK13Jake TrbojevicSubstitutes:IC10Martin TaupauIC14Dylan WalkerIC15Karl LawtonIC17Taniela PasekaConcussion Substitute:RE21Tevita FunaCoach:Des HaslerOfficials:
Ashley Klein (Referee)
Phil Henderson (Touch Judge)
Jon Stone (Touch Judge)
Grant Atkins (Bunker)
1st Preliminary Final (Melbourne v Penrith) The First Preliminary Final saw the winner of the First Qualifying Final, the Melbourne Storm against the winner of the Second Semi-Final, the Penrith Panthers. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs and a rematch of the 2020 Grand Final.