- 7 out of 8 games in the final round of the regular season will have an impact on the make-up of the NRL Top-8 that will contest the 2018 Telstra Premiership Finals Series;
- 3 games at Stadium Australia – Rabbitohs v Tigers on Thursday (7.50pm), Eels v Roosters on Saturday (7:30pm) and Bulldogs v Sharks on Sunday (2pm) will have bearing on the make-up of the coveted Top-4;
- Adult tickets to all three games at Stadium Australia start from just $20. Up to 4 children can come in free with a paying adult. All tickets, Club Memberships and Stadium Australia Memberships include return transport on Sydney Trains.
Nathan Davis
THE make-up of the coveted NRL top-4 will be determined by the results of three matches to be played at Stadium Australia this weekend in the final round of the regular season.
As 16 clubs prepare to make a final-round statement:
- The South Sydney Rabbitohs will secure a top-4 spot and have the chance of finishing top-2 by beating Wests Tigers at home at Stadium Australia on Thursday 30 August (7.50pm). The Tigers will be playing for pride and their fans as they are resigned to a ninth-place finish to their season;
- The Parramatta Eels can put a major dent in the Sydney Roosters’ premiership campaign if they can pull off a final-round upset in their last home game of the season at Stadium Australia on Saturday night (7.30pm);
- The fast-finishing Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs can knock the Cronulla Sharks out of the top-4 by continuing their winning form at Stadium Australia on Sunday afternoon (2pm).
The Rabbitohs (32 points and with +104 differential) are currently third on the NRL ladder and will secure a top-4 and give themselves a chance to finish top-2 with a victory against the Tigers need a victory at Stadium Australia in their final home game or risk dropping out of the top-4 and losing a double chance at the title.
Tickets to Rabbitohs v Tigers here
The Sydney Roosters (32 points and with a +147 differential) will secure second spot on the ladder with a win over the Parramatta Eels at Stadium Australia on Saturday night, but they can drop to third or fourth should they get rolled.
The Roosters will know by the time they line up against the Eels whether they are any chance of winning the Minor Premiership as first-placed Melbourne Storm (34 points and +179) play fifth-placed Penrith Panthers (5th and +50) at AAMI Park on Friday night.
The Parramatta Eels are resigned to finishing bottom of the ladder in season 2018 and will be playing for pride in front of their home fans against the Roosters.
Tickets to Eels v Roosters here
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are the big improvers of the NRL, having won four of their past five matches including a last-start 38-0 thumping of premiership contenders St George Illawarra Dragons.
The Bulldogs have won their past three home games at Stadium Australia.
On Sunday afternoon at 2pm, they will line up against a Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (4th and +84) who need to win to secure a top-4 spot and can finish as high as second should the Roosters and Rabbitohs both falter.
Tickets to Bulldogs v Sharks here
The stage is set for a magnificent final round of NRL footy.
Take advantage of the NRL Fans First Initiatives in play at Stadium Australia this weekend and feel the excitement of being at the ground!
The Fans First initiatives are:
- $20 Adult tickets and $40 families;
- Up to four kids in free with a single pre-purchasing adult;
- Return train travel included with all tickets and Club Memberships;
- Discounted food and beverage offers. $2.50 Vili’s Sausage Rolls available for the final round of the NRL season.
