2020 NRL Finals Series
2020 NRL Finals Series | |
---|---|
Duration | 2 Oct – 25 Oct 2020 |
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | Melbourne Storm |
Minor premiers | Penrith Panthers |
Matches played | 9 |
Broadcast partners | Nine Network Fox League |
Top try-scorer(s) | Ryan Papenhuyzen (4) Nathan Cleary (4) |
The 2020 National Rugby League finals series was a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2020 Telstra Premiership season. The series was played over four weekends in October, culminating in the 2020 NRL Grand Final on 25 October 2020 at ANZ Stadium. The Grand Final was ultimately won by the second-placed Melbourne Storm, who defeated the minor premiers the Penrith Panthers 26–20.
The top eight teams from the 2020 NRL season qualify for the finals series. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012.
Qualification[]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Penrith Panthers | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 537 | 238 | +299 | 37 |
2 | Melbourne Storm (P) | 20 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 534 | 276 | +258 | 32 |
3 | Parramatta Eels | 20 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 392 | 288 | +104 | 30 |
4 | Sydney Roosters | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 552 | 322 | +230 | 28 |
5 | Canberra Raiders | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 445 | 317 | +128 | 28 |
6 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 521 | 352 | +169 | 24 |
7 | Newcastle Knights | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 421 | 374 | +47 | 23 |
8 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 20 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 480 | 480 | 0 | 20 |
9 | Gold Coast Titans | 20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 346 | 463 | −117 | 18 |
10 | New Zealand Warriors | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 343 | 458 | −115 | 16 |
11 | Wests Tigers | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 440 | 505 | −65 | 14 |
12 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 378 | 452 | −74 | 14 |
13 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 375 | 509 | −134 | 14 |
14 | North Queensland Cowboys | 20 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 368 | 520 | −152 | 10 |
15 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 20 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 282 | 504 | −222 | 6 |
16 | Brisbane Broncos | 20 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 268 | 624 | −356 | 6 |
Venues and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic[]
For the 2020 NRL Finals Series, the stadia will be permitted to hold up to 50% of capacity under New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland government guidelines.[1] For the preliminary finals Lang Park's permitted capacity was increased to 75%.[2]
Due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, the Melbourne Storm will play their home finals at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane rather than their regular home ground of AAMI Park in Melbourne. Suncorp will hold two games, Canberra's GIO Stadium will host one match and Sydney will host the remaining six matches, between ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium, Panthers Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground.[3]
Brisbane | Canberra | Sydney |
---|---|---|
Suncorp Stadium | GIO Stadium | ANZ Stadium |
Capacity: 52,500 | Capacity: 25,011 | Capacity: 83,500 |
Games: 2 | Games: 1 | Games: 3 |
Sydney (four venues) Canberra Brisbane | ||
Sydney | ||
Bankwest Stadium | Panthers Stadium | Sydney Cricket Ground |
Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 22,500 | Capacity: 46,000 |
Games: 1 | Games: 1 | Games: 1 |
Finals structure[]
The system used for the 2020 NRL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home ground advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks and to the qualifying final winners in the third week.
In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final.[4]
Bracket[]
Qualifying / Elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | ||||||||||||||
QF1: 2 Oct, Panthers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Penrith | 29 | |||||||||||||||
4 | Sydney | 28 | SF1: 9 Oct, Sydney Cricket Ground | ||||||||||||||
Sydney | 18 | ||||||||||||||||
EF1: 3 Oct, GIO Stadium Canberra | Canberra | 22 | PF1: 17 Oct, ANZ Stadium | ||||||||||||||
5 | Canberra | 32 | Penrith | 20 | |||||||||||||
8 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 20 | South Sydney | 16 | GF: 25 Oct, ANZ Stadium | ||||||||||||
Penrith | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
EF2: 4 Oct, ANZ Stadium | PF2: 16 Oct, Suncorp Stadium | Melbourne | 26 | ||||||||||||||
6 | South Sydney | 46 | Melbourne | 30 | |||||||||||||
7 | Newcastle | 20 | SF2: 10 Oct, Bankwest Stadium | Canberra | 10 | ||||||||||||
Parramatta | 24 | ||||||||||||||||
QF2: 3 Oct, Suncorp Stadium | South Sydney | 38 | |||||||||||||||
2 | Melbourne | 36 | |||||||||||||||
3 | Parramatta | 24 |
Summary[]
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time (Local) | Venue | Referees | Crowd | |||||
QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS | ||||||||
Penrith Panthers | 29 – 28 | Sydney Roosters | 2 October 2020, 7:50 pm | Panthers Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 7,209 | ||
Canberra Raiders | 32 – 20 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 3 October 2020, 5:40 pm | GIO Stadium Canberra | Grant Atkins | 9,602 | ||
Melbourne Storm | 36 – 24 | Parramatta Eels | 3 October 2020, 7:50 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Ashley Klein | 16,238 | ||
South Sydney Rabbitohs | 46 – 20 | Newcastle Knights | 4 October 2020, 4:05 pm | ANZ Stadium | Ben Cummins | 17,212 | ||
SEMI FINALS | ||||||||
Sydney Roosters | 18 – 22 | Canberra Raiders | 9 October 2020, 7:55 pm | Sydney Cricket Ground | Ashley Klein | 18,110 | ||
Parramatta Eels | 24 – 38 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 10 October 2020, 7:50 pm | Bankwest Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 14,510 | ||
PRELIMINARY FINALS | ||||||||
Melbourne Storm | 30 – 10 | Canberra Raiders | 16 October 2020, 7:50 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Ashley Klein | 37,112 | ||
Penrith Panthers | 20 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 17 October 2020, 7:50 pm | ANZ Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 30,116 |
† Match decided in extra time.
Qualifying & elimination finals[]
1st Qualifying final[]
Friday, 2 October
7:50pm |
Penrith Panthers | 29 – 28 | Sydney Roosters |
---|---|---|
Tries: Nathan Cleary (22', 27', 37') 3 Josh Mansour (16') 1 Stephen Crichton (49') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 4/6 (23', 28', 39', 51') Field Goals: Nathan Cleary (78') 1 |
1st 22 – 10 2nd: 7 – 18 |
Tries: 2 (6', 64') Josh Morris 1 (9') Freddy Lussick 1 (53') James Tedesco 1 (79') Angus Crichton Goals: 4/5 Kyle Flanagan (7', 54', 65', 79') |
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1st Elimination final[]
Saturday, 3 October
5:40pm |
Canberra Raiders | 32 – 20 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
---|---|---|
Tries: Jack Wighton (47', 50') 2 George Williams (38', 58') 2 Joseph Tapine (9') 1 Elliott Whitehead (67') 1 Goals: Jarrod Croker 4/6 (11', 48', 51', 59') |
1st: 10 – 14 2nd: 22 – 6 |
Tries: 1 (19') Ronaldo Mulitalo 1 (27') Blayke Brailey 1 (79') Sione Katoa Goals: 4/5 Chad Townsend (6' pen, 23' pen, 28', 80') |
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2nd Qualifying final[]
Saturday, 3 October
7:50pm |
Melbourne Storm | 36 – 24 | Parramatta Eels |
---|---|---|
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen (33', 63') 2 Suliasi Vunivalu (30') 1 Josh Addo-Carr (43') 1 Jesse Bromwich (55') 1 Brenko Lee (58') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 6/6 (32', 34', 44', 56', 59', 64') |
1st: 12 – 12 2nd: 24 – 12 |
Tries: 1 (2') Nathan Brown 1 (22') Clinton Gutherson 1 (50') Blake Ferguson 1 (67') Shaun Lane Goals: 4/4 Mitchell Moses (3', 23', 51', 69') |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 16,238 Referee: Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Ryan Papenhuyzen |
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2nd Elimination final[]
Sunday, 4 October
4:05pm |
South Sydney Rabbitohs | 46 – 20 | Newcastle Knights |
---|---|---|
Tries: Alex Johnston (24', 69') 2 Tevita Tatola (62', 75') 2 Corey Allan (16') 1 Cody Walker (20') 1 Cameron Murray (36') 1 Damian Cook (76') 1 Goals: Adam Reynolds 6/8 (21', 38', 48' pen, 63', 71', 75') Dane Gagai 1/1 (78') |
1st: 20 – 14 2nd: 26 – 6 |
Tries: 2 (2', 80') Hymel Hunt 1 (7') Bradman Best Goals: 3/3 Kalyn Ponga (3', 9', 12' pen) 1/1 Aidan Guerra (80') |
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Semi-finals[]
1st Semi-final[]
Friday, 9 October
7:55pm |
Sydney Roosters | 18 – 22 | Canberra Raiders |
---|---|---|
Tries: James Tedesco (36', 75') 2 Joseph Manu (58') 1 Goals: Kyle Flanagan 3/3 (38', 59', 76') |
1st: 6 – 16 2nd: 12 – 6 |
Tries: 1 (5') Josh Papalii 1 (18') George Williams 1 (23') Joseph Tapine 1 (69') Jack Wighton Goals: 3/4 Jarrod Croker (6', 20', 71') |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 18,110 Referee: Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad |
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2nd Semi-final[]
Saturday, 10 October
7:50pm |
Parramatta Eels | 24 – 38 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
---|---|---|
Tries: Clinton Gutherson (24', 29') 2 George Jennings (26', 75') 2 Goals: Mitchell Moses 4/5 (25', 27', 30', 76') |
1st: 18 – 8 2nd: 6 – 30 |
Tries: 2 (17', 71') Jaxson Paulo 1 (46') Liam Knight 1 (55') Cameron Murray 1 (63') Bayley Sironen 1 (79') Damien Cook Goals: 7/7 Adam Reynolds (5' pen, 19', 48', 56', 64', 72', 80') |
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Preliminary finals[]
1st Preliminary Final[]
Friday, 16 October
7:50pm |
Melbourne Storm | 30 – 10 | Canberra Raiders |
---|---|---|
Tries: Jesse Bromwich (4') 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen (6') 1 Suliasi Vunivalu (9') 1 Justin Olam (22') 1 Dale Finucane (62') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 5/6 (6', 8', 15' pen, 24', 63') |
1st: 24 – 6 2nd: 6 – 4 |
Tries: 2 (29', 71') Nick Cotric Goals: 1/2 Jarrod Croker (31') |
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2nd Preliminary Final[]
Saturday, 17 October
7:50pm |
Penrith Panthers | 20 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
---|---|---|
Tries: Brian To'o (8') 1 Tyrone May (27') 1 Dylan Edwards (67') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 4/4 (9', 29', 40' pen, 69') |
1st: 14 – 6 2nd: 6 – 10 |
Tries: 1 (5') Alex Johnston 1 (50') Dane Gagai 1 (73') Corey Allan Goals: 2/4 Adam Reynolds (6', 51') |
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 30,116 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Apisai Koroisau |
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Grand Final[]
Sunday, 25 October
7:40 pm (AEDT) |
Penrith Panthers | 20 – 26 | Melbourne Storm |
---|---|---|
Tries: To'o (52') 1 Crichton (68') 1 Mansour (71') 1 Cleary (79') 1 Goals: Cleary (53', 69') 2/3 |
[5] 1st: 0 – 22 2nd: 20 – 4 |
Tries: 1 (3' pen) Olam 1 (30') Vunivalu 1 (39') C Smith 1 (45') Papenhuzen Goals: 5/6 C Smith (4', 22' pen, 26' pen, 31', 40') Sin Bin: (70') Hughes (79') B Smith |
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References[]
- ^ "Sports crowds to double at NSW stadiums". Austadiums. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ "Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders Tickets". Ticketek. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
With the increase in capacity at Suncorp Stadium to 75%, new measures have been developed to ensure the safety of you and others.
- ^ "Everything you need to know: Week one of the 2020 finals". National Rugby League. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
- ^ "NRL finals format explained: How do the NRL finals work?". The Roar. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ "Master and commander: Smith shines as Storm hold off Panthers comeback". NRL.com. 25 October 2020.
- 2020 NRL season
- 2020 in Australian rugby league