The 2021 National Rugby League finals series was a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season. The series was played over four weekends in September and October, culminating in the 2021 NRL Grand Final on 3 October 2021. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales the grand final was played outside of Sydney for the first time in competition history, at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.[1]
| 2021 NRL finals series | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 September 2021 – 3 October 2021 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers |  Penrith Panthers |
| Minor premiers |  Melbourne Storm |
| Matches played | 9 |
| Broadcast partners | Nine Network Fox League |
The top eight teams from the 2021 NRL season qualified 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 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 815 | 316 | +499 | 44 |
| 2 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 676 | 286 | +390 | 44 |
| 3 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 775 | 453 | +322 | 42 |
| 4 |  Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 744 | 492 | +252 | 34 |
| 5 |  Sydney Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 630 | 489 | +141 | 34 |
| 6 |  Parramatta Eels | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 566 | 457 | +109 | 32 |
| 7 |  Newcastle Knights | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 428 | 571 | −143 | 26 |
| 8 |  Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 580 | 583 | −3 | 22 |
| 9 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 520 | 556 | −36 | 22 |
| 10 |  Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 481 | 578 | −97 | 22 |
| 11 |  St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 474 | 616 | −142 | 18 |
| 12 |  New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 453 | 624 | −171 | 18 |
| 13 |  Wests Tigers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 500 | 714 | −214 | 18 |
| 14 |  Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 446 | 695 | −249 | 16 |
| 15 |  North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 460 | 748 | −288 | 16 |
| 16 |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 340 | 710 | −370 | 8 |
Venues
As a result of the 2021 NRL season's relocation to Queensland due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales and Victoria, all the finals matches were hosted in Queensland with stadiums at full capacity, with the only exception being the grand final at 75% capacity as a result of local COVID-19 cases and Queensland Government restrictions.[2][3] This saw Rockhampton and Mackay host their first finals matches, whilst Queensland Country Bank Stadium also played host to their first finals at the venue.
| Brisbane | Mackay | Rockhampton |
|---|---|---|
| Suncorp Stadium | BB Print Stadium | Browne Park |
| Capacity: 52,500 | Capacity: 12,200 | Capacity: 8,000 |
 |  | |
| Games: 3 | Games: 2 | Games: 1 |
| Sunshine Coast | Townsville | |
| Sunshine Coast Stadium | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | |
| Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 25,000 | |
 |  | |
| Games: 1 | Games: 2 | |
Finals structure
The system used for the 2021 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 and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Grand Final | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 September – Sunshine Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 12 | 17 September – Mackay | ||||||||||||||||
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11 September – Townsville | Sydney Roosters | 6 | 25 September – Brisbane | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Sydney Roosters | 25 | Melbourne Storm | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | Penrith Panthers | 10 | 3 October – Brisbane | ||||||||||||||
| Penrith Panthers | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12 September – Rockhampton | 24 September – Brisbane | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 28 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 36 | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | Newcastle Knights | 20 | 18 September – Mackay | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 16 | ||||||||||||||
| Penrith Panthers | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11 September – Townsville | Parramatta Eels | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penrith Panthers | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
Summary
Qualifying & Elimination Finals
1st Qualifying Final (Melbourne v Manly Warringah)
The First Qualifying Final saw the 1st placed Melbourne Storm against the 4th placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. This was the fifth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2012 Preliminary Final.
| Melbourne Storm | 40 – 12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 6 Papenhuyzen  39', 45'Lumelume 3'K Bromwich 10'Welch 14'Olam 77'Goals: 7 Papenhuyzen  5', 15', pen 24', 40', 47', pen 61', 78' (7/8)Field goals: 1 Papenhuyzen 80' (2 pt) | 1st: 24–6 2nd: 16–6 | Tries: 2 Saab 31', 51'Goals: 2 Garrick 32', 53' (2/2) |
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast Attendance: 9,120 Referee: Grant Atkins Bunker: Ashley Klein Touch judges: Todd Smith, Peter Gough |
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1st Elimination Final (Sydney v Gold Coast)
The First Elimination Final saw the 5th placed Sydney Roosters against the 8th placed Gold Coast Titans. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs after meeting in the 2010 Preliminary Final.
| Sydney Roosters | 25 – 24 | Gold Coast Titans |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 4 Ikuvalu 24'Tedesco 32'Tupou 42'Morris 60'Goals: 4 Keighran pen 11', 34', 43', 61' (4/5)Field goals: 1 Walker 78' | 1st: 12–6 2nd: 13–18 | Tries: 4 Fermor 40'Fa'asuamaleaui 47'Kelly 55'Wallace 69'Goals: 4 Fogarty pen 14', 48', 56', 71' (4/5)Sin Bin: 1 Peachey  10' |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 15,237 Referee: Adam Gee Bunker: Steve Chiddy Touch judges: Liam Kennedy, Chris Butler |
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2nd Qualifying Final (Penrith v South Sydney)
The Second Qualifying Final saw the 2nd placed Penrith Panthers against the 3rd placed South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs and a rematch of the 2020 Preliminary Final.
| Penrith Panthers | 10 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 1 Crichton 9'Goals: 3 Cleary 10', pen 29', pen 40' (3/3) | 1st: 10–10 2nd: 0–6 | Tries: 2 Walker 25'Paulo 44'Goals: 4 Reynolds pen 4', 27', pen 35', pen 65' (4/5) |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 18,244 Referee: Gerard Sutton Bunker: Alan Shortall Touch judges: Dave Munro, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski |
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2nd Elimination Final (Parramatta v Newcastle)
The Second Elimination Final saw the 6th placed Parramatta Eels against the 7th placed Newcastle Knights. This was the fourth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2001 Grand Final.
Sunday, 12 September 4:05pm |
| Parramatta Eels | 28 – 20 | Newcastle Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 5 Ferguson 38', 48'Blake 10'Moses 36'Penisini pen 77'Goals: 4 Moses 11', 38', 50', 78' (4/5) | 1st: 16–10 2nd: 12–10 | Tries: 4 Tuala 2', 53', 58'Hunt 25'Goals: 2 Clifford 27', 54' (2/4) |
Browne Park, Rockhampton Attendance: 5,087 Referee: Ashley Klein Bunker: Grant Atkins Touch judges: Phil Henderson, Jon Stone |
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Semi-finals
1st Semi-Final (Manly Warringah v Sydney)
The First Semi-Final saw the loser of the First Qualifying Final, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles against the winner of the First Elimination Final, the Sydney Roosters. This was the ninth finals meeting between the clubs and the first since the 2013 Grand Final.
Friday, 17 September 7:50pm |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 42 – 6 | Sydney Roosters |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Tom Trbojevic (6', 46') 2 Kieran Foran (12') 1 Daly Cherry-Evans (18') 1 Morgan Harper (32') 1 Dylan Walker (48') 1 Jason Saab (69') 1 Goals: Reuben Garrick 7/7 (8', 14', 19', 34', 47', 50', 71') | 1st: 24 – 6 2nd: 18 – 0 | Tries: 1 (25') Matt Ikuvalu Goals: 1/2 Adam Keighran (40' pen) |
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| Officials: Gerard Sutton (Referee) Dave Munro (Touch Judge) Todd Smith (Touch Judge) Ashley Klein (Bunker) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd Semi-Final (Penrith v Parramatta)
The Second Semi-Final saw the loser of the Second Qualifying Final, the Penrith Panthers against the winner of the Second Elimination Final, the Parramatta Eels. This was the third finals meeting between the clubs and the first since the 2000 Semi-Final.
Saturday, 18 September 7:50pm |
| Penrith Panthers | 8 – 6 | Parramatta Eels |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Kurt Capewell (17') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 2/2 (18', 40' pen) | 1st: 8 – 6 2nd: 0 – 0 | Tries: 1 (11') Waqa Blake Goals: 1/1 Mitchell Moses (12') |
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| Officials: Ashley Klein (Referee) Phil Henderson (Touch Judge) Jon Stone (Touch Judge) Grant Atkins (Bunker) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preliminary Finals
2nd Preliminary Final (South Sydney v Manly Warringah)
The Second Preliminary Final saw the winner of the Second Qualifying Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the winner of the First Semi-Final, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. This was the fourteenth finals meeting between these clubs and the first since the 2019 Semi-Final.
Friday, 24 September 8:05pm |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 36 – 16 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Cody Walker (13', 29') 2 Jaxson Paulo (38', 60') 2 Alex Johnston (23', 80') 2 Campbell Graham (51') 1 Goals: Blake Taafe 4/7 (14', 24', 31', 52') | 1st: 22 – 0 2nd: 14 – 16 | Tries: 2 (44', 77') Reuben Garrick 1 (74') Tom Trbojevic Goals: 2/3 Reuben Garrick (45', 78') Sin Bin: (68') Josh Aloiai |
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| Officials: Ashley Klein (Referee) Phil Henderson (Touch Judge) Jon Stone (Touch Judge) Grant Atkins (Bunker) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st Preliminary Final (Melbourne v Penrith)
The First Preliminary Final saw the winner of the First Qualifying Final, the Melbourne Storm against the winner of the Second Semi-Final, the Penrith Panthers. This was the second finals meeting between these clubs and a rematch of the 2020 Grand Final.
Saturday, 25 September 4:00pm |
| Melbourne Storm | 6 – 10 | Penrith Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen (63') 1 Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen 1/1 (65') | 1st: 0 – 6 2nd: 6 – 4 | Tries: 1 (3') Stephen Crichton 1 (43') Brian To'o Goals: 1/2 Nathan Cleary (5') |
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| Officials: Gerard Sutton (Referee) Dave Munro (Touch Judge) Todd Smith (Touch Judge) Ashley Klein (Bunker) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Final
The Grand Final saw the winner of the First Preliminary Final, the Penrith Panthers, against the winner of the Second Preliminary Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was the third finals meeting between the two sides, after the 2021 Qualifying Final, and the first Grand Final played between the teams.
| Penrith Panthers | 14 – 12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
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| Tries: 2 Burton 17'Crichton 67'Goals: 3 Cleary 19', pen 33', 69' (3/3) | 1st: 8–6 2nd: 6–6 | Tries: 2 Walker 21'Johnston 75'Goals: 2 Reynolds 23', pen 45' (2/3) |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 39,322 Referee: Gerard Sutton Touch judges: Dave Munro, Todd Smith Clive Churchill Medal: Nathan Cleary (Penrith) |
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| Officials: Gerard Sutton (Referee) Dave Munro (Touch Judge) Todd Smith (Touch Judge) Grant Atkins (Bunker) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||