NRL TEAMS - 2023 Finals Week 1

The 2023 NRL Finals Series begins Friday 8 September, with 9 matches to be played over four weeks, culminating in the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on October 1. In this article, you can view teamlists as they're announced, plus squad updates 24 hours before kickoff and late mail on game day, as well as information on each match, what happens next, and the appointed match officials.

Times to note as you use this article across the weekend:

• Tuesday afternoon: match official appointments
• Tuesday 4pm: squad lists released for all clubs
• 24 hours from kickoff: squad update (squads reduced to 19 players)
• One hour from kickoff: final lineups (17 players plus one reserve)

All times are listed in AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT). Variations on kickoffs in other time zones are shown where appropriate. All matches are broadcast on Fox League, Kayo Sports, Nine Network & 9Now.

Click here for teamlists from other competitions including NRLW, NSWRL, QRL and squads from the UK.

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Second Qualifying Final
2ND v 3RD
Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm
Fri September 8 2023, 7:50pm
at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

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1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates

Team naming: Out: Tristan Sailor (fullback), Corey Oates (wing), Delouise Hoeter (centre), Jordan Pereira (wing), Josh Rogers (five-eighth), Jock Madden (halfback), Corey Jensen (front row), Blake Mozer (bench), Cory Paix (bench), Xavier Willison (bench), Martin Taupau (bench)
In: Reece Walsh (fullback), Kotoni Staggs (centre), Herbie Farnworth (centre), Selwyn Cobbo (wing), Ezra Mam (five-eighth), Adam Reynolds (halfback), Billy Walters (hooker), Payne Haas (front row), Kurt Capewell (second row), Patrick Carrigan (lock), Kobe Hetherington (bench)
Changes: Jesse Arthars (centre to wing), Tyson Smoothy (hooker to bench), Brendan Piakura (second row to bench), Keenan Palasia (lock to bench)

Squad update: 20. Corey Jensen, 21. Jock Madden and 22. Tristan Sailor were omitted. Corey Oates and Martin Taupau remain in the squad.

Late mail: 1-17. Oates is 18th player, 19. Martin Taupau drops out.

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 19. Tariq Sims 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen 14. Bronson Garlick

Team naming: Out: Grant Anderson (wing), Justin Olam (centre), Reimis Smith (wing), Jayden Nikorima (five-eighth), Tyran Wishart (halfback), Tariq Sims (front row), Tepai Moeroa (front row), Chris Lewis (second row), Jack Howarth (second row), Sualauvi Faalogo (bench), Alec MacDonald (bench), Aaron Pene (bench), Joe Chan (bench)
In: Nick Meaney (fullback), Will Warbrick (wing), Marion Seve (centre), Xavier Coates (wing), Cameron Munster (five-eighth), Jahrome Hughes (halfback), Tui Kamikamica (front row), Harry Grant (hooker), Christian Welch (front row), Trent Loiero (second row), Eliesa Katoa (second row), Tom Eisenhuth (bench), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (bench)
Changes: Ryan Papenhuyzen (fullback to bench), Bronson Garlick (hooker to bench)

Squad update: 18. Tyran Wishart, 20. Tepai Moeroa and 22. Grant Anderson omitted. Tariq Sims and Reimis Smith remain in the squad.

Late mail: Garlick drops to 18th player with Sims coming onto the bench. 21. Reimis Smith drops out.

Referees: Grant Atkins;Sideline Officials: Drew Oultram, Michael Wise;Video Referees: Chris Butler;

FINALS FOCUS: The loser will host a Week 2 Semi Final at home against the winner of Sharks v Roosters, while the winner progresses to host a Week 3 Preliminary Final.

First Qualifying Final
1ST v 4TH
Penrith Panthers v Warriors
Sat September 9 2023, 4:00pm
at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug

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1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 21. Luke Garner 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To'o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 18. Zac Hosking 18. Jaeman Salmon

Team naming: Out: Luke Sommerton (hooker), Luke Garner (second row)
In: Mitch Kenny (hooker), Scott Sorensen (second row)

Squad update: 3. Izack Tago is OUT. Peachey promoted to centre with Salmon joining the bench. 20. Luke Sommerton and 22. Thomas Jenkins drop out with Eisenhuth and Garner remaining.

Late mail: Peach drops back to the bench with Luke Garner promoted to starting centre. 19. Tom Eisenhuth is the omitted player with Salmon dropping back to 18th player.

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 14. Dylan Walker 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 18. Taine Tuaupiki

Team naming: Out: Taine Tuaupiki (fullback), Edward Kosi (wing), Ronald Volkman (halfback), Bunty Afoa (front row), Freddy Lussick (hooker), Tom Ale (bench), Kalani Going (bench), Paul Roache (bench)
In: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (fullback), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (wing), Shaun Johnson (halfback), Addin Fonua-Blake (front row), Wayde Egan (hooker), Jackson Ford (second row), Tohu Harris (lock), Jazz Tevaga (bench)
Changes: Joshua Curran (second row to bench), Dylan Walker (lock to bench)

Squad update: 7. Shaun Johnson is out. Walker comes into the halves to partner with TMM, Afoa joins the bench. 22. Tom Ale and 23. Edward Kosi drop out, with Lussick and Tuaupiki remaining.

Late mail: Lussick takes the final bench spot, Tuaupiki is 18th player and 21. Bunty Afoa misses out.

Referees: Adam Gee;Sideline Officials: David Munro, Chris Sutton;Video Referees: Ashley Klein;

FINALS FOCUS: The loser will host a Week 2 Semi Final at home against the winner of Knights v Raiders, while the winner progresses to host a Week 3 Preliminary Final.

Second Elimination Final
6TH v 7TH
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Roosters
Sat September 9 2023, 7:50pm
at PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

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1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 15. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Oregon Kaufusi 20. Jesse Colquhoun 18. Kayal Iro

Team naming: Unchanged

Squad update: 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele out, Hunt is the new prop with Colquhoun onto the bench, 21. William Kennedy, 22. Matt Moylan cut. Iro and Atkinson remain.

Late mail: 19. Dan Atkinson omitted. Same changes as yesterday. Iro 18th man.

1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 15. Egan Butcher 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 8. Fletcher Baker 14. Sandon Smith 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 20. Corey Allan

Team naming: Out: Corey Allan (centre)
In: Joseph Manu (centre)
Changes: Egan Butcher (front row to bench), Fletcher Baker (bench to front row)

Squad update: 18. Drew Hutchison, 21. Jaxson Paulo and 22. Dylan Napa out; Allan and Whyte remain.

Late mail: 19. Nafuahu Whyte is omitted. Baker back to the bench for Butcher starting up front. Allan 18th man.

Referees: Gerard Sutton;Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Wyatt Raymond;Video Referees: Grant Atkins;

FINALS FOCUS: The loser is eliminated, while the winner will be away in a Week 2 Semi Final against the loser of Broncos v Storm.

First Elimination Final
5TH v 8TH
Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders
Sun September 10 2023, 4:05pm
at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

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1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 20. Dylan Lucas

Team naming: Out: Lachlan Miller (fullback), Enari Tuala (centre), Adam Clune (halfback), Fa'amanu Brown (hooker), Dylan Lucas (second row), Brodie Jones (second row), Riley Jones (bench), Oryn Keeley (bench)
In: Kalyn Ponga (fullback), Dane Gagai (centre), Jackson Hastings (halfback), Phoenix Crossland (hooker), Leo Thompson (front row), Tyson Frizell (second row), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (second row), Kurt Mann (bench)
Changes: Jack Hetherington (front row to bench)

Squad update: 19. Lachlan Miller, 21. Enari Tuala and 22. Brodie Jones cut, Clune and Lucas remain.

Late mail: 3:05pm Sunday

1. Jordan Rapana 2. James Schiller 3. Jack Wighton 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Ata Mariota 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Hohepa Puru 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Trey Mooney 19. Albert Hopoate

Team naming: Out: Sebastian Kris (wing)
In: James Schiller (wing)

Squad update: 20. Danny Levi, 21. Ethan Strange and 22. Xavier Savage cut, Croker and Hopoate remain.

Late mail: 3:05pm Sunday

Referees: Ashley Klein;Sideline Officials: Liam Kennedy, Jon Stone;Video Referees: Adam Gee;

FINALS FOCUS: The loser is eliminated, while the winner will be away in a Week 2 Semi Final against the loser of Panthers v Warriors.

Finals roadmap