The first week of Nine’s Finals Footy delivered drama and excitement, as well as a bit of everything from shock upsets to emphatic victories, and more is in store for week two.
With Nine being the only place to watch EVERY game LIVE and in HD, the stage is set for two huge elimination Semi-Finals this week, with the victors going on to face the Roosters and Raiders next week in the Preliminary Finals.
Tonight on Friday Night Footy, it’s the 1st Semi-Final between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium.
After a heavy loss to the Roosters last week, the defiant Rabbitohs will be overjoyed to welcome back Sam Burgess, the leader of the pack, and Queensland Origin star Dane Gagai, giving them their strongest side in months. Should they lose, it will be the final game for the club’s most-capped player, John Sutton.
The Sea Eagles regain their version of Sam Burgess in the form of Marty Taupau, after suspension. They sunk the Sharks last week in a major upset and continue to threaten, thanks to coach Des Hasler who has been hailed for getting a team unfancied before the season started deep into the 2019 finals.
Making this match-up even more enticing is the fact that both sides have won a game apiece this season against the other, by a solitary point, meaning this one could again go down to the wire.
On Saturday Night Footy, the mouth-watering 2nd Semi-Final pits the Melbourne Storm against the Parramatta Eels. While the minor premiers were pipped at the post by the Raiders last week, it was the Eels who had everyone talking after dismantling the Broncos in a record 58-0 demolition at Bankwest Stadium.
While the Eels have all the momentum, the Storm will back themselves to get the job done at home, AAMI Park. Both teams are virtually unchanged, although Eels prop Kane Evans sees a welcome return. Mitchell Moses, brilliant in attack, and Fijian wing sensation Maika Sivo, the leading try-scorer in 2019, shape as keys to a Parramatta win.
Melbourne will look to their dangerous scheming duo, Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster, to steer them home and stay alive in the race for the premiership. The prize for the winner is a Preliminary Final against the title-holders, the Roosters.
Round two of the NRLW season continues on Nine and 9Gem this weekend, with the Broncos taking on the Roosters on Saturday ahead of the 2nd Semi-Final, followed by Warriors versus Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
If the first week of NRLW matches were anything to go by, week two of this wide open competition will be absorbing.
