MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2024 NRL Finals Week 3

A full wrap of the weekend's action - MONDAY'S EXPERT recaps all the teamsheets, details, scores and scorers from NRL Finals Week 3, with heaps more info like the match review, POTY standings, crowd figures and fixtures for next week.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.

Storm into the big dance with dominant win over Roosters

27 Sep 2024 10:21PM | Sam Bourke

First Preliminary Final
Melbourne Storm 48 Sydney Roosters 18
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri

Date: Fri, 27th September.   Kickoff: 7:50 PM.   Halftime: Melbourne 22-6.   Penalties: Sydney 6-5.   Referee: Grant Atkins.   Crowd: 29,213.

Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Warbrick, Howarth, Meaney, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Asofa-Solomona, Grant (C), King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Wishart, Welch, Kamikamica, MacDonald.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Manu, Young; Keary, Smith; Waerea-Hargreaves, Watson, Collins, Crichton, Tupouniua, Radley. Int: Leniu, Whyte, Butcher, May, Dockar-Clay.

MELBOURNE STORM (48)
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen (2), Jahrome Hughes (3), Jack Howarth, Cameron Munster (2)
Conversions: Nick Meaney (5/6), Harry Grant (1/1), Tyran Wishart (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Nick Meaney (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Terrell May, Nat Butcher
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (1/1)

Penrith on a collision course for greatness after gritty prelim victory

28 Sep 2024 9:42PM | AJ Lucantonio

Second Preliminary Final
Penrith Panthers 26 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Date: Sat, 28th September.   Kickoff: 7:50 PM.   Halftime: Penrith 10-2.   Penalties: Cronulla 7-3.   Referee: Ashley Klein.   Crowd: 33,753.

Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Alamoti, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Garner, Martin, Yeo. Int: Schneider, Smith, Henry, Eisenhuth, Mclean.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Talakai, Iro, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Kaufusi, Nikora, Wilton, McInnes (C). Int: Williams, Hunt, Hazelton, Atkinson, Hiroti.

PENRITH PANTHERS (26)
Tries: Paul Alamoti (2), Brian To'o, Liam Martin
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (2/3), Paul Alamoti (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Nathan Cleary (2/2)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (6)
Tries: Sione Katoa
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

Match review

Melbourne's Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing 4-5 matches from the opening minute hit he made on Lindsay Collins in Friday's match, and will miss the Grand Final unless he successfully contests the charge or has it downgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 1.

Cronulla's prop Toby Rudolf was also hit with a suspension for a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact (trip) charge, while three others were fined across the two games.

Click here to find out the details on each and every charge.

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

Our writers issue points every game for who they judge as the best player on the field. Includes points accumulated during State of Origin series.

33 points - Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles 30, Maroons 3)

29 points - James Tedesco (Roosters)

26 points - Dylan Edwards (Panthers 23, Blues 3)

20 points - Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Nathan Cleary (Panthers)

19 points - Ben Hunt (Dragons)

18 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

17 points - Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Sam Walker (Roosters), Angus Crichton (Roosters 13, Blues 4)

16 points - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins 14, Maroons 2), Harry Grant (Storm)

15 points - Keano Kini (Titans), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Eliesa Katoa (Storm)

14 points - Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Braydon Trindall (Sharks)

13 points - Zac Lomax (Dragons), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Moses (Eels 10, Blues 3)

12 points - Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Dylan Brown (Eels), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs 11, Blues 1)

11 points - Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Nicho Hynes (Sharks), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), AJ Brimson (Titans), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)

10 points - Toby Sexton (Bulldogs), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Tyrell Sloan (Dragons), Dane Gagai (Knights), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jarome Luai (Panthers 9, Blues 1)

9 points - Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Tyran Wishart (Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Reece Robson (Cowboys)

8 points - Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Kieran Foran (Titans), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Connor Watson (Roosters)

7 points - Trai Fuller (Dolphins), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Terrell May (Roosters), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Sandon Smith (Roosters)

6 points - Kyle Feldt (Cowboys), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Daejarn Asi (Eels), William Kennedy (Sharks), Max Plath (Dolphins), Hudson Young (Raiders), Xavier Coates (Storm), David Fifita (Titans), Daniel Atkinson (Sharks), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Kaeo Weekes (Raiders), Jaydn Su'A (Dragons 5, Maroons 1), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)

5 points - William Warbrick (Storm), Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Bradman Best (Knights), Josh King (Storm), Jack Williams (Sharks), Dylan Lucas (Knights), Jack Cogger (Knights), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Adam Elliott (Knights), Kayal Iro (Sharks), Thomas Hazelton (Sharks)

4 points - Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Zac Hosking (Raiders), Teig Wilton (Sharks), Tristan Sailor (Broncos), Heilum Luki (Cowboys), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), David Armstrong (Knights), Elliott Whitehead (Raiders), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Morgan Smithies (Raiders), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Ethan Strange (Raiders), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Victor Radley (Roosters), Dominic Young (Roosters), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Daine Laurie (Panthers), Cameron Munster (Storm), Cameron McInnes (Sharks)

3 points - Zac Laybutt (Cowboys), Euan Aitken (Dolphins), Junior Paulo (Eels), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Jye Gray (Rabbitohs), Sualauvi Faalogo (Storm), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Brodie Jones (Knights), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Thomas Flegler (Dolphins), Payne Haas (Broncos), Sione Katoa (Sharks), Maika Sivo (Eels), Fletcher Sharpe (Knights), Harry Hayes (Bulldogs), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Ben Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Nathan Brown (Sea Eagles), Shawn Blore (Storm), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Jesse Marschke (Dragons), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Tyson Gamble (Knights)

2 points - Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers), Deine Mariner (Broncos), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Jojo Fifita (Titans), Liam Martin (Panthers), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Grant Anderson (Storm), Taane Milne (Rabbitohs), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Tevita Pangai Junior (Dolphins), Phillip Sami (Titans), Toafofoa Sipley (Sea Eagles), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Izack Tago (Panthers), Jock Madden (Broncos), Billy Walters (Broncos), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Taine Tuaupiki (Warriors), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers), Tommy Talau (Sea Eagles), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Luke Keary (Roosters), Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Luke Garner (Panthers), Paul Alamoti (Panthers)

1 point - Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Jack Bostock (Dolphins), Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Tallyn Da Silva (Wests Tigers), Brad Schneider (Panthers), Nat Butcher (Roosters), Beau Fermor (Titans), Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Heath Mason (Wests Tigers), Asu Kepaoa (Wests Tigers), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Bronson Xerri (Bulldogs), Casey McLean (Panthers), Aidan Sezer (Wests Tigers), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Rocco Berry (Warriors), Samuel Stonestreet (Sharks), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), Lindsay Smith (Panthers), Kurtis Morrin (Bulldogs), Jack Cole (Panthers), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Blake Wilson (Bulldogs), Braidon Burns (Cowboys), Sam Verrills (Titans), Jesse Arthars (Broncos), Nick Meaney (Storm), Luciano Leilua (Dragons), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys), Royce Hunt (Sharks), Jesse McLean (Panthers), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Justin Olam (Wests Tigers), Max King (Bulldogs), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Christian Tuipulotu (Dragons), Taylan May (Panthers), Griffin Neame (Cowboys), Charlie Guymer (Eels), Erin Clark (Titans), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Bronson Garlick (Storm), Harrison Edwards (Bulldogs), Jamie Humphreys (Sea Eagles)

2024 Grand Final

Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers
Sun 6 Oct 7:30PM AEDT at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Full 2024 NRL Draw & Results.