The top 10 performances of Finals Week 1

From late field goals to extra-time drama and a couple of statement wins over fellow top-four sides, Finals Week One had it all.

Some of the game's brightest stars flourished on the biggest weekend of the year so far, while Sam Walker became an unlikely hero for the Roosters in what has been a tough year for the young playmaker. 

1. Nathan Cleary 

One of the better finals performances we've seen from him, which is something considering it was his 17th post-season game. 

Typically damaging with his playmaking, which saw him set up a try and two line breaks, but it was his running game that really killed the Warriors and by full-time he had 194 metres to his name.

The 25-year-old even managed to put Liam Martin over for a try while playing with only one boot on.

2. Kalyn Ponga

A brave effort from the Newcastle skipper to play through the pain of a shoulder injury. His role became even more important when Jackson Hastings was ruled out of the game at the break, leaving Ponga to become increasingly involved on both sides of the field.

He had a direct role in three of his side's five tries, helping set up the first with crisp hands down the left edge, scoring the second and making a long-range break and supplying the final pass for the third. 

Came up with a couple of big takes on kicks too and nailed the game-winning penalty deep into extra time. 

3. Patrick Carrigan

You could tell he was fired up when he got into with his Maroons teammate Harry Grant in an early scuffle and he kept that intensity on both sides of the ball.

Set a solid platform with a game-high 193 run metres, which his backline starred on the back of. A huge reason why the Broncos were able to end their longstanding hoodoo against Melbourne. 

4. Adam Reynolds

Back in 2021 when the powers that be at Red Hill started planning for their next No.7, this is the type of performance they would have dreamed someone like Adam Reynolds could deliver in the finals arena. 

As he has done for much of this year, the 32-year-old orchestrated things beautifully and allowed the superstars around him to shine, with a pair of try assists and a varied kicking game that kept the Storm on their toes. 

It doesn't hurt to have a super reliable boot from the tee at this time of the year either, with Reynolds converting all four of his side's tries and kicking a penalty goal in the 26-0 shutout. 

5. Isaah Yeo 

Part of a middle unit which dominated the Warriors from the opening exchanges and as usual Yeo's work rate was excellent.

No player had more than his 26 runs on the day, while a yardage haul of 196 run metres was easily the most achieved by a forward at BlueBet Stadium. A healthy possession advantage across the 80 minutes helped keep Yeo and co fresh and their line speed suffocated the Warriors as a result. 

6. James Tedesco

Even with spending 10 minutes in the bin for a professional foul in the second half, the Tricolours' skipper was best on park as his side kept their season alive with a sixth-straight win. 

While he finished with over 200 run metres, this wasn't a classic Tedesco game with a bunch of line breaks and try involvements, but when the Roosters needed a big play he showed up.

His excellent carry on the play before Sam Walker booted the game-winning field goal was singled out for praise by coach Trent Robinson post-match and may have been the difference between a clean shot and a potential charge down or miss under pressure. 

7. Payne Haas 

Averaged more than 10 metres across 17 carries, with more post-contact metres alone (77 metres) than his Storm counterpart Christian Welch had in total yardage (67 metres).

A couple of nice offloads to keep plays alive and was mistake free in defence, with 26 tackles and not a single miss. His one-two punch with Carrigan allowed others to deliver the knockout blows. 

8. Nicho Hynes

Outside of a crucial missed conversion in the second half, Hynes couldn't have done much more to get the Sharks over the line. 

Set up the opening try with a clever floating cut-out pass to Sione Katoa, before popping up on the other side of the field to put Ronaldo Mulitalo over later with a quick catch and pass. 

A second-straight finals exit within the first two weeks will burn for a while. 

9. Tyson Gamble 

Without his halfback who was injured and didn't play beyond half-time, Gamble stepped into the chief playmaking role and helped drag his side back from a 16-6 deficit.

Showed some real class in big moments with ball in hand, including patiently waiting for Dom Young to pop up following his long-range break midway through the second half which led to Newcastle's fifth try.

With things not looking good for Jackson Hastings, Gamble will need to be at his best again if the Knights are to get it done in Auckland in week two. 

10. Sam Walker 

Just being in the No.7 jersey for the Roosters in a finals game this season was defying the odds for Walker given what he's endured in 2023, and when presented with the opportunity he delivered a handful of clutch plays for his side in the heat of battle. 

The game-winning field goal eight minutes from time is the obvious one, but he also laid on a peach of a final pass for Joey Manu to score in the second half and contributed plenty with his general play kicking game. 

The fact that he did most of it after suffering an ankle injury, which at one stage had him in visible discomfort, made it all the more impressive.