The 2022 National Rugby League finals series was a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2022 Telstra Premiership season. The series was played over four weekends in September and October, culminating in the 2022 NRL Grand Final on 2 October 2022 won by the Penrith Panthers.
The top eight teams from the 2022 NRL season qualified for the finals series. NRL finals series were continuously played under this format since 2012.
Qualification
Finals structure
The system used for the 2022 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.
Venues
The Grand Final as well as the Sydney-based preliminary finals were held at Stadium Australia, with the Grand Final returning to Sydney after a one-year absence. The North Queensland Cowboys hosted one preliminary final at North Queensland Stadium. All matches in the first two rounds were played at the home stadium of the team with the higher ladder position, except that the semi-final between Cronulla-Sutherland and South Sydney was held at the Sydney Football Stadium rather than Endeavour Field where Cronulla-Sutherland had hosted a qualifying final the previous week.
Sydney Olympic ParkPenrithStadium AustraliaPenrith StadiumCapacity: 82,000Capacity: 22,500TownsvilleMelbourneNorth Queensland StadiumMelbourne Rectangular StadiumCapacity: 25,000Capacity: 29,500ParramattaWooloowareWestern Sydney StadiumEndeavour FieldCapacity: 30,000Capacity: 20,000Moore ParkSydney Football StadiumCapacity: 42,500
Fixtures Summary
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance First week: Qualifying and elimination finals Penrith Panthers 27 – 8 Parramatta Eels 9 September 2022, 19:50 BlueBet Stadium Gerard Sutton 21,863 Melbourne Storm 20 – 28 Canberra Raiders 10 September 2022, 17:40 AAMI Park Grant Atkins 20,838 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30 – 32 North Queensland Cowboys 10 September 2022, 19:50 PointsBet Stadium Adam Gee 12,447 Sydney Roosters 14 – 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 11 September 2022, 16:05 Allianz Stadium Ashley Klein 39,816 Second week: Semi-finals Parramatta Eels 40 – 4 Canberra Raiders 16 September 2022, 19:50 CommBank Stadium Ashley Klein 29,134 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12 – 38 South Sydney Rabbitohs 17 September 2022, 20:00 Allianz Stadium Grant Atkins 39,733 Third week: Preliminary finals North Queensland Cowboys 20 – 24 Parramatta Eels 23 September 2022, 19:50 Queensland Country Bank Stadium Grant Atkins 25,372 Penrith Panthers32 – 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 September 2022, 19:50 Accor Stadium Ashley Klein 50,034 Fourth week: Grand final Penrith Panthers 28 – 12 Parramatta Eels 2 October 2022, 19:30 Accor Stadium Ashley Klein 82,415
Bracket
Matches First week: Qualifying and elimination finals
Team details FB 1 Dylan EdwardsWG 2 Taylan MayCE 3 Izack TagoCE 4 Stephen CrichtonWG 5 Brian To'oFE 6 Jarome LuaiHB 7 Nathan ClearyPR 8 Moses LeotaHK 14 Mitch KennyPR 10 James Fisher-HarrisSR 11 Viliame KikauSR 12 Liam MartinLF 13 Isaah YeoInterchange:IN 9 Apisai KoroisauIN 15 Scott SorensenIN 16 Spencer LeniuIN 17 Jaeman Salmon 18 Charlie StainesCoach: Ivan Cleary FB 1 Clint GuthersonWG 2 Maika SivoCE 3 Will PenisiniCE 4 Tom OpacicWG 5 Waqa BlakeFE 6 Dylan BrownHB 7 Mitchell MosesPR 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardHK 9 Reed MahoneyPR 10 Junior PauloSR 11 Shaun LaneSR 12 Isaiah Papali'iLF 17 Marata NiukoreInterchange:IN 13 Ryan MattersonIN 14 Makahesi MakatoaIN 15 Jake ArthurIN 16 Oregon Kaufusi 18 Nathan BrownCoach: Brad Arthur
Team details FB 1 Nick MeaneyWG 2 David NofoalumaCE 3 Marion Seve CE 4 Justin OlamWG 5 Xavier CoatesFE 6 Cameron MunsterHB 7 Jahrome HughesPR 8 Jesse BromwichHK 9 Harry GrantPR 10 Nelson Asofa-SolomonaSR 15 Tui KamikamicaSR 12 Kenneth BromwichLF 14 Brandon SmithInterchange:IN 11 Felise KaufusiIN 13 Josh KingIN 16 Trent LoieroIN 17 Chris Lewis 18 Young Tonumaipea Coach: Craig Bellamy FB 1 Xavier SavageWG 2 Nick CotricCE 3 Matthew TimokoCE 4 Sebastian KrisWG 5 Jordan RapanaFE 6 Jack WightonHB 7 Jamal Fogarty PR 8 Josh PapaliiHK 9 Zac WoolfordPR 10 Joseph TapineSR 11 Hudson YoungSR 12 Elliot WhiteheadLF 13 Adam ElliottInterchange:IN 14 Tom StarlingIN 15 Emre GulerIN 16 Corey HorsburghIN 17 Corey Harawira-Naera 18 Albert HopoateCoach: Ricky Stuart
Team details FB 1 William KennedyWG 2 Connor TraceyCE 3 Jesse RamienCE 4 Siosifa TalakaiWG 5 Ronaldo MulitaloFE 6 Matt MoylanHB 7 Nicholas HynesPR 8 Toby RudolfHK 9 Blayke BraileyPR 10 Royce HuntSR 11 Briton NikoraSR 12 Wade GrahamLF 13 Dale FinucaneInterchange:IN 14 Teig WiltonIN 15 Cameron McInnesIN 16 Braden Hamlin-UeleIN 17 Andrew Fifita 18 Lachlan MillerCoach: Craig Fitzgibbon FB 1 Scott DrinkwaterWG 2 Kyle FeldtCE 3 Valentine HolmesCE 4 Peta HikuWG 5 Murray TaulagiFE 6 Tom DeardenHB 7 Chad TownsendPR 8 Jordan McLeanHK 9 Reece RobsonPR 10 Reuben CotterSR 15 Tom GilbertSR 12 Jeremiah NanaiLF 13 Jason TaumaloloInterchange:IN 11 Luciano LeiluaIN 14 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowIN 16 Coen HessIN 17 Griffin Neame 18 Jamayne Taunoa-BrownCoach: Todd Payten
Team details FB 1 James TedescoWG 2 Daniel TupouCE 3 Paul MomirovskiCE 4 Drew HutchisonWG 5 Joseph SuaaliiFE 6 Luke KearyHB 7 Sam WalkerPR 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesHK 9 Sam VerrillsPR 17 Matthew LodgeSR 11 Nat ButcherSR 12 Angus CrichtonLF 13 Victor RadleyInterchange:IN 10 Sio Siua TaukeiahoIN 14 Connor WatsonIN 15 Egan ButcherIN 18 Kevin Naiqama 16 Adam KeighranCoach: Trent Robinson FB 1 Latrell MitchellWG 2 Alex JohnstonCE 3 Isaiah TassCE 4 Campbell GrahamWG 5 Taane MilneFE 6 Cody WalkerHB 7 Lachlan IliasPR 8 Tevita TatolaHK 9 Damien CookPR 10 Mark NichollsSR 11 Keaon KoloamatangiSR 12 Jai ArrowLF 13 Cameron MurrayInterchange:IN 14 Kodi NikorimaIN 15 Hame SeleIN 16 Thomas BurgessIN 17 Siliva Havili 21 Michael Chee-KamCoach:Jason Demetriou
Second week: Semi-finals
Team details FB 1 Clint GuthersonWG 2 Maika SivoCE 3 Will PenisiniCE 4 Tom OpacicWG 5 Waqa BlakeFE 6 Dylan BrownHB 7 Mitchell MosesPR 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardHK 9 Reed MahoneyPR 10 Junior PauloSR 11 Shaun LaneSR 12 Isaiah Papali'iLF 17 Marata NiukoreInterchange:IN 13 Ryan MattersonIN 14 Makahesi MakatoaIN 15 Jake ArthurIN 16 Oregon Kaufusi 18 Bailey SimonssonCoach: Brad Arthur FB 1 Xavier SavageWG 2 Nick CotricCE 3 Matthew TimokoCE 4 Sebastian KrisWG 5 Jordan RapanaFE 6 Jack WightonHB 7 Jamal Fogarty PR 8 Josh PapaliiHK 9 Zac WoolfordPR 10 Joseph TapineSR 11 Hudson YoungSR 12 Elliot WhiteheadLF 13 Corey HorsburghInterchange:IN 14 Corey Harawira-NaeraIN 15 Tom StarlingIN 16 Emre GulerIN 17 Ryan Sutton 18 Albert HopoateCoach: Ricky Stuart
Team details FB 1 William KennedyWG 5 Ronaldo MulitaloCE 2 Connor TraceyCE 3 Jesse RamienWG 18 Lachlan MillerFE 6 Matt MoylanHB 7 Nicholas HynesPR 8 Toby RudolfHK 9 Blayke BraileyPR 16 Braden Hamlin-UeleSR 11 Briton NikoraSR 12 Wade GrahamLF 13 Dale FinucaneInterchange:IN 14 Teig WiltonIN 15 Cameron McInnesIN 17 Andrew FifitaIN 19 Aiden Tolman 22 Mawene HirotiCoach: Craig Fitzgibbon FB 1 Latrell MitchellWG 2 Alex JohnstonCE 3 Isaiah TassCE 4 Campbell GrahamWG 5 Taane MilneFE 6 Cody WalkerHB 7 Lachlan IliasPR 8 Tevita TatolaHK 9 Damien CookPR 10 Mark NichollsSR 11 Keaon KoloamatangiSR 12 Jai ArrowLF 13 Cameron MurrayInterchange:IN 14 Kodi NikorimaIN 15 Hame SeleIN 16 Michael Chee-KamIN 17 Siliva Havili 21 Davvy MoaleCoach:Jason Demetriou
Third week: Preliminary finals
Team details FB 1 Scott DrinkwaterWG 2 Kyle FeldtCE 3 Valentine HolmesCE 4 Peta HikuWG 5 Murray TaulagiFE 6 Tom DeardenHB 7 Chad TownsendPR 8 Jordan McLeanHK 9 Reece RobsonPR 10 Reuben CotterSR 11 Tom GilbertSR 12 Jeremiah NanaiLF 13 Jason TaumaloloInterchange:IN 15 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowIN 16 Luciano LeiluaIN 17 Coen HessIN 18 Griffin Neame 18 Jamayne Taunoa-BrownCoach: Todd Payten FB 1 Clint GuthersonWG 2 Maika SivoCE 3 Will PenisiniCE 19 Bailey SimonssonWG 5 Waqa BlakeFE 6 Dylan BrownHB 7 Mitchell MosesPR 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardHK 9 Reed MahoneyPR 10 Junior PauloSR 11 Shaun LaneSR 12 Isaiah Papali'iLF 17 Marata NiukoreInterchange:IN 13 Ryan MattersonIN 14 Bryce CartwrightIN 15 Jake ArthurIN 16 Oregon Kaufusi 18 Makahesi MakatoaCoach: Brad Arthur
Team details FB 1 Dylan EdwardsWG 2 Charlie StainesCE 3 Izack TagoCE 4 Stephen CrichtonWG 5 Brian To'oFE 6 Jarome LuaiHB 7 Nathan ClearyPR 8 Moses LeotaHK 14 Mitch KennyPR 10 James Fisher-HarrisSR 11 Viliame KikauSR 12 Liam MartinLF 13 Isaah YeoInterchange:IN 9 Apisai KoroisauIN 15 Scott SorensenIN 16 Spencer LeniuIN 17 Jaeman Salmon 18 Sean O'SullivanCoach: Ivan Cleary FB 1 Latrell MitchellWG 5 Taane MilneCE 3 Isaiah TassCE 4 Campbell GrahamWG 21 Richard KennarFE 6 Cody WalkerHB 7 Lachlan IliasPR 8 Tevita TatolaHK 9 Damien CookPR 10 Mark NichollsSR 11 Keaon KoloamatangiSR 12 Jai ArrowLF 13 Cameron MurrayInterchange:IN 14 Kodi NikorimaIN 15 Hame SeleIN 16 Michael Chee-KamIN 17 Jed Cartwright 18 Davvy MoaleCoach:Jason Demetriou
Fourth week: Grand final
Team detailsFB 1 Dylan EdwardsWG 2 Charlie StainesCE 3 Izack TagoCE 4 Stephen CrichtonWG 5 Brian To'oFE 6 Jarome LuaiHB 7 Nathan ClearyPR 8 Moses LeotaHK 14 Mitch KennyPR 10 James Fisher-HarrisSR 11 Viliame KikauSR 12 Liam MartinLF 13 Isaah YeoInterchange:IN 9 Apisai KoroisauIN 15 Scott SorensenIN 16 Spencer LeniuIN 17 Jaeman Salmon 18 Sean O'SullivanCoach: Ivan Cleary FB 1 Clint GuthersonWG 2 Maika SivoCE 3 Will PenisiniCE 4 Bailey SimonssonWG 5 Waqa BlakeFE 6 Dylan BrownHB 7 Mitchell MosesPR 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardHK 9 Reed MahoneyPR 10 Junior PauloSR 11 Shaun LaneSR 12 Isaiah Papali'iLF 17 Marata NiukoreInterchange:IN 13 Ryan MattersonIN 14 Nathan BrownIN 15 Jake ArthurIN 16 Oregon Kaufusi 18 Bryce CartwrightCoach: Brad Arthur
References