NRL finals live updates: Sharks shake-up starting lineup for knockout final

The Sharks have gone for a shake-up with Riley Jones benched and Mawene Hiroti starting at centre.

Sydney Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Angus Crichton 18. Cody Ramsey 22. Toby Rodwell

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 22. Mawene Hiroti 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 3. Riley Jones 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Billy Burns 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Thomas Hazelton 20. Niwhai Puru

Good evening, Damien McCartney back on the ground at Allianz Stadium for this NRL semi final between the Roosters and Sharks.

Gates have only just opened for punters to enter the ground, but walking through the Entertainment Quarter next door, the atmosphere was already fantastic.

For those unfamiliar with the area, the Entertainment Quarter is the old Fox Studios.

There are dozens of restaurants and bars, and the place is busy on weekends anyway but on game days the venues are chockers before and after the matches.

Unsurprisingly, it felt like there was a significantly bigger crowd than last week.

You would hope for that to be the case considering two local teams are playing. It looks like the whole stadium is open - last week the very top tier was closed.

Multiple Brisbane players will have a nervous wait on injuries and a match review committee ruling heading into the preliminary finals after a bruising 40-16 win over the Knights.

The Broncos had Lillian Yarrow placed on report for a dangerous throw during the second half while Romy Teitzel had two head clashes, the last one coming from a case of friendly fire with Chelsea Lenarduzzi.

Along with those head clashes, the Broncos lost Bree Spreadborough to a possible syndesmosis injury in the first half.

“That is a really huge loss for them,” Ruan Sims said at full-time.

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Ali Brigginshaw couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after the Brisbane Broncos’ victory in front of their home crowd.

After announcing last year that she will retire at the end of the 2026 season, Brigginshaw’s games are limited but with the victory in Brisbane, she and the team now head down to the Gold Coast to take on the Titans.

“Yeah, I just don’t want it to end. Driving to the club today I just thought I don’t want this to end so I’m going to give it everything,” she said on Nine.

“We really turned it on and I’m just so proud of how we were able to perform today. Finals bring a different beast and I thought we played really well today.”

Speaking after the game, star Romy Tietzel admitted the Broncos victory was one for the crowd and for the team.

“I look a bit worse for wear but it was a big game for us today. We’re trying to find some form in the back end of the season,” said Teitzel on Nine.

“This meant a lot to us to play in front of a really big crowd. Brisbane shows up for us week in week out, probably the biggest crowd we get at NRLW games and we heard them today and we had a lot to play for.

“Briggo’s out here on (her) last legs and we want to do her proud, but we have a great team, we know that we have great potential and we just wanted to show that today.”

Teitzel had a double in the first half and spoke to Nine with her head wrapped up in tape after two head knocks in the game.

“I dunno what it is with the finals,” she laughed.

“I split my head open in the semi last year and in the grand final as well and then I got two today so, bit worse for wear but I’m sure Dave Donaghy will pay for the plastic surgery.

“Can’t wait to fix my head.”

And that’s the end and the Brisbane Broncos are headed to a preliminary finals next week, after a 40-16 victory over the Newcastle Knights.

Even though the Knights had back to back tries through Sidney Taylor to make it 16 points for the visitors - it wasn’t enough.

The Broncos will take on the Gold Coast Titans in a Queensland Derby.

For the Knights, their resurgence at half time is not enough. But still worth it.

They get another try, this time through Shanice Parker who battles out Broncos defenders to the try line.

“The Knights are winning the second half,” said Brenton Speed on Nine.

Romy Teitzel has taken another head knock, this time from teammate Chelsea Lenarduzzi and is bleeding from her eyebrow.

“Romy...has she hurt herself again? That’s the second head knock for Romy and that ones over the eyebrow,” said Ferguson.

There are finally some points on the board for the Newcastle Knights after Mercedez Taulelei-Siala scores.

After Kirra Dibb converts, the score hits 40-6.

After, the Knights have a successful captain’s challenge after they are penalised for their play-the-ball and the Bunker finds interference. 

This is not looking good for the Newcastle Knights. Brisbane doesn’t wait long and Bri Clark powers her way over the line and after another great kick from Southwell, the score blows out to 40-0.

“Really did not expect this from the Knights, they’ve been a very dominant team this year,” said Ferguson on Nine.

“Impressive and disappointing,” she said of the game tonight with the Knights’ display.