Now the top eight is decided, how does the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series play out? Here's your one-stop explainer.
When?
In 2019, the finals begin on Friday, September 13 and run through to Grand Final Day on October 6.
Matches are played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the first week of the finals, then on Friday and Saturday of the following two weeks, before the grand final on Sunday evening.
Where?
In the first three weeks of the finals the higher-ranked team gets home city advantage.
Teams outside Sydney host matches at their own home ground. Sydney-based teams can host matches at their home ground in week one but can only play games at ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium or the Sydney Cricket Ground in weeks two and three.
The grand final is played at ANZ Stadium.
Who plays who?
The teams that finish in the top eight positions on the Telstra Premiership ladder after 25 rounds play out the finals series, as follows.
After being beaten by the Roosters, South Sydney will host Manly at ANZ Stadium in the second week of the finals, while Parramatta will face the Storm in Melbourne after thrashing Brisbane. As top-four teams who won in the opening week of the finals, the Roosters and Raiders advanced to the preliminary finals and are each one win away from a grand final berth.
Week 1
Qualifying finals: 1st v 4th; 2nd v 3rd
Elimination finals: 5th v 8th; 6th v 7th
Week 2
Semi-finals: Loser of first qualifying final v winner of first elimination final; loser of second qualifying final v winner of second elimination final
Week 3
Preliminary finals: Winner of first qualifying final v winner of second semi-final; Winner of second qualifying final v winner of first semi-final
Week 4
Grand final: Winner of first preliminary final v winner of second preliminary final
NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final
Pre-game entertainment: OneRepublic
TV coverage
Channel 9, Fox Sports, Kayo, the NRL app
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