Photo credit: NRL
It’s finals time in the world of Rugby League, which means it’s fierce competition as the top eight battle it out to reach the prestigious Grand Final match of the season.
There has been plenty of talk surrounding the top eight as each game has played out in front of fans; with controversy lining the tabloids, sparking plenty of attention.
This week, the at risk teams of elimination are the Canberra Raiders, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, and Penrith Panthers.
Two games over Saturday and Sunday hold high stakes for each team heading into the weekend as each play to confirm their place in the big-bang match for the end of the year – but injuries could be at play.
Penrith Panthers were controversially rested for two weeks, leaving one man on-field – trusty Brad Schneider – while the rest of the 16-players from the squad had the time to rest up ahead of Finals.
Arguably, the team will be in a better position for playing, having already proven the rest worth their while after annihilating the Warriors last weekend, effectively knocking the Wahs out of Finals competition with an excruciating 8-24.
During the two week rest, the lower-grade stand in team lost against the South-Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, however the controversial rest has aided the team in advantage against their upcoming clash this Sunday.
Injuries will play another big blow to teams in week two of the finals, with speculation about Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs potentially playing Captain Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, and Marcelo Montoya. Crichton suffered an ankle injury during week one’s clash against Melbourne Storm, which was to be seen as season-ending.
Montoya copped yet another injury this season, this time an ankle injury was the reason to be side-lined. Kikau copped a bad knock to the face, which he refused scans to assess the extent of the eye-socket injury, meaning three key players were potentially out – which was later confirmed each would play this Sunday.
At the well-rested Penrith Panthers, Mitch Kenny suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined last week, but is set to return to the field this weekend. The Cronulla Sharks prop Tom Hazelton who suffered a knee injury that got quite serious, will also be back on deck.
A blockbuster weekend of footy is set to play out while sudden-death games take place for both NRLW and NRL, with the Telstra Premiership games taking place in Canberra’s GIO Stadium and Sydney’s Accor Stadium. The Telstra Women’s Premiership games will be in Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium and Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium – both games to be played tomorrow.
Until next time,
Tayla Talks
Tayla Talks 
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