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All on the line with finals spots up for grabs in last round
Melbourne are all but certain to take on Cronulla in the opening round of the NRL playoffs with Penrith up against the Roosters in the other qualifying final.
Week one for the NRL finals will be officially announced after Sunday’s matches complete Round 27 with the Storm hosting their playoff the only fixture that is locked in heading into the final two days of the season.
The Roosters leapt into second spot with their win over the Rabbitohs on Friday night but the Panthers can claim home-ground advantage for their showdown next weekend as long as they put away the Titans on Saturday night.
If the premiers lose to the Gold Coast, they could not only slip to third spot but could drop to fourth if the fourth-placed Sharks account for Manly at Brookvale on Sunday.
Cronulla could plummet to fifth if they go down to the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs beat the Cowboys on Saturday although Canterbury would have to make up a 68-point differential from the two results in the process.
The winner of the Dogs v Cowboys clash at Accor Stadium in the middle game on Saturday is likely to end up in fifth spot and the loser could sink to seventh if Manly, just one competition point behind, are victorious on the last Sunday of the regular season.
