The Panthers have avoided a suspension for Brad Schneider after he was charged for a cannonball tackle on Sitili Tupouniua.
The Broncos are set to welcome back an injured trio, but how they fit in for Sunday’s huge preliminary final showdown with Penrith remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm face a similar selection headache with superstar halfback Jahrome Hughes in the frame to return for the clash with Cronulla, with Cameron Munster providing a big update.
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Read on for the Team Tips for the Preliminary Finals.
WEEK 3 – PRELIMINARY FINALS – SEPTEMBER 26-28
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26
Second Preliminary Final:Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks at AMMI Park, 7.50pm AEST
Storm finals week one team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Grant Anderson 20. Jack Howarth 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 14. Jonah Pezet 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 4. Joe Chan 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 7. Tyran Wishart 11. Ativalu Lisati 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica. 18th man: 17. Bronson Garlick
Team Tips: Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes missed the win over the Bulldogs in the first week of the finals but both are likely to be available. Hughes’ return would be a huge boost given there were fears he may not play again this season after suffering a fractured forearm in Round 27. “He’s ticked all the boxes,” Cameron Munster told the Today show.
“Unfortunately, I’m not smart enough to be a physio, so I will leave that to them. He’s done everything he can and he trained last week, so it’s all systems go for him. We’ll be training this morning and hopefully he gets through unscathed. If he gets through today, I’m pretty sure he’s ready to fire up on Friday night.” It would also present coach Craig Bellamy with some decisions to make. Impressive young gun Jonah Pezet could drop out of the side, with Tyran Wishart the likely man to be picked in the utility role off the bench. Papenhuyzen is also set to return from a head knock, which will spark a backline reshuffle. Nick Meaney will revert to the centres to partner Jack Howarth, which would likely see Grant Anderson lose his spot in the backline despite his impressive form. Joe Chan, meanwhile, could be set to remain in the back row with Shawn Blore’s return timeline unclear after he suffered a larynx fracture. Chan suffered a head knock in the qualifying final, but the two week break means he will be ready to play.
Last week’s Sharks team: Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3 Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Briton Nikora 15. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Thomas Hazelton 18th man: 18. Daniel Atkinson
Team Tips: Prop Toby Rudolf escaped a ban after earning only a fine for a careless high tackle on Raiders enforcer Joseph Tapine. Tom Hazelton, though, suffered an ugly head knock and will be sidelined for a week after a category one concussion. Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed Oregon Kaufusi will come back into the side, after he was a late scratching against the Raiders due to a calf injury. Should Kaufusi fail to recover in time, Tuku Hau Tapuha is the next cab off the rank. Billy Burns and Teig Wilton once again look set to start in the back row after they both delivered strong performances in a win over Canberra, with Briton Nikora set to remain on the bench. Daniel Atkinson will likely be 18th man again, but could come into calculations for a bench spot, given the importance of the game and having cover if halves go down injured.
Cleary magic seals Bulldogs exit | 02:37
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28
First Preliminary Final: Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium at 4.05pm AEST
Broncos finals week one team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Jaiyden Hunt. 18th man: 18. Jesse Arthars
Team Tips: Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo are all set to be fit for selection in the squad, but where they all fit in remains to be seen. Cobbo played for Wynnum-Manly in Queensland Cup on Sunday, while Reynolds and Mam were both spotted running at training last week. Mam could take Billy Walters’ spot at five-eighth after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Reynolds’ return will also see Ben Hunt shift to hooker, with Cory Paix reverting to the bench as a utility and Tyson Smoothy potentially retaining his spot after the loss of Patrick Carrigan due to suspension. However, given the lack of football for Mam in recent weeks, another option could be to ease him back via the bench, with Reynolds and Hunt combining in the halves and Paix and Smoothy retaining the hooker duties. Hunt at halfback has helped unlock Reece Walsh’s best and the Broncos need everyone firing to topple the Panthers’ juggernaut. Kobe Hetherington will shift into the lock role for Carrigan, with Xavier Willison bidding to return from a broken arm on the bench. Another option for Michael Maguire could be to select an outside back utility on the pine, which could be Jesse Arthars or Cobbo depending on the make-up of his backline. If he starts, Cobbo’s potential return could see either Josiah Karapani or Deine Mariner drop out, which would be a brutal call given both their form of late. Brendan Piakura is bidding to overcome a facial injury suffered against the Raiders to take his place in the back row.
Last week’s Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 22. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Luke Garner. 18th man: 20. Daine Laurie
Team Tips: Bench utility Brad Schneider has escaped with a fine after he was splaced on report for a dangerous tackle on Sitili Tupouniua. Schneider launched himself at the knees of Tupouniua in a cannonball tackle — an act the NRL is trying to eradicate, but it wasn’t deemed serious enough to warrant a suspension. Meanwhile, Nathan Cleary was fined for his careless high tackle charge on Connor Tracey, but is free to play. Liam Martin looked in trouble with a shoulder and rib injury from a tackle on Viliame Kikau and went off in distress. Post-match Martin said he was just winded, but there could be more damage than he was letting on, judging by his reaction when it happened. However, given his toughness and the importance of the game, Martin is unlikely to miss out unless he absolutely has to. Centre Casey McLean suffered a hip injury against the Bulldogs, but is expected to line up in the preliminary final.
NRL GRAND FINAL 2025
Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final
Sunday October 5, 7:30pm at Accor Stadium
*****
Cleary Praises Panthers’ First Half | 03:16
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