A spot in the preliminary final is on the line when minor premiers Penrith host the Sydney Roosters in a qualifying final worthy of a grand final. With both clubs considered premiership favourites throughout the season, Saturday night’s showdown could be a preview of a much bigger meeting still to come.
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- Rabbitohs vs Knights → rabbitohs-vs-knights-week-1-finals-preview-2026
- Warriors vs Dolphins → warriors-vs-dolphins-week-1-finals-preview-2026
- Sharks vs Cowboys → sharks-vs-cowboys-week-1-finals-preview-2026
- Panthers vs Roosters → panthers-vs-roosters-week-1-finals-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Sunday, 13 September 2026 – 4:05pm AEST – CommBank Stadium, Sydney
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Gerard Sutton | Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Luke Garner, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jack Cole, 7. Nathan Cleary (c), 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Freddy Lussick, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Liam Henry, 17. Billy Phillips, 18. Blaize Talagi, 19. Billy Scott, 20. Luron Patea, 21. Kalani Leuluai-Going, 22. Jesse McLean
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco (c), 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, 19. Tommy Talau, 20. Egan Butcher, 21. Benaiah Ioelu, 22. Taylor Losalu
Match Preview
The first week of finals doesn’t get much bigger than this.
Minor premiers Penrith Panthers welcome the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters to CommBank Stadium with a direct path to the preliminary finals on offer. The winner will earn a week’s rest and move within one victory of the grand final, while the loser faces a far more difficult route through September.
Intriguingly, this was the grand final matchup RugbyLeagueZone predicted before the season began. With both sides still firmly in premiership contention, there’s every chance this qualifying final is merely the first chapter in a finals rivalry that could culminate on the last Sunday of the season.
The most significant recent meeting between these sides came in Round 24 when the Roosters stunned Penrith 12-6 in a fierce and physical encounter. Daly Cherry-Evans scored both Roosters tries that night as Trent Robinson’s men produced one of the defensive performances of the season.
That result proved a turning point for both clubs.
Penrith responded exactly as premiers-in-waiting should. Ivan Cleary’s side went unbeaten through the final three rounds, eventually reclaiming top spot on the ladder with a convincing 38-10 victory over the Wests Tigers in the final round of the regular season.
The Roosters, meanwhile, have arrived in the finals carrying some concerning form. They were upset by the Tigers the week after defeating Penrith before losing to the Dolphins in a match that also cost them star halfback Sam Walker. Last week’s 50-20 defeat to South Sydney came with much of their squad rested, but the reality remains the Roosters enter September on a three-game losing streak.
Some critics have compared their late-season management to Canberra’s approach in 2025, when the Raiders entered the finals out of rhythm and exited in straight sets.
Penrith receive a significant boost with captain Isaah Yeo and hooker Mitch Kenny continuing their return from injury.
Yeo played 54 minutes last week, while Kenny logged similar game time in his comeback after missing several months following an injury suffered in April. Their growing fitness levels are crucial as Penrith prepare for finals football.
The Panthers remain without Jack Cogger, who serves the final week of a suspension, while Paul Alamoti and Izaack Tago are expected to return later in the finals series.
The Roosters welcome back two of their most influential forwards with Angus Crichton returning from a foot injury and Victor Radley cleared after concussion protocols.
However, the absence of Sam Walker looms as a major concern. His injury hands Hugo Savala the biggest assignment of his young career as he partners Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves. While Savala has impressed as a utility and centre throughout the season, this will be just the second finals match of his career at five-eighth.
The blueprint for a Roosters victory was on display in Round 24.
On that occasion they repeatedly repelled Penrith on their own goal line, absorbed wave after wave of pressure and kept the Panthers scoreless for 66 minutes before Moses Leota eventually crossed. Just when it appeared momentum had shifted, the Roosters forced a line dropout and sealed the match through Daly Cherry-Evans.
That defensive intensity is what made many observers label Sydney the team to beat. The question heading into this weekend is whether they can rediscover it.
The aggression and physical dominance that overwhelmed Penrith has been largely absent during their three-match losing streak. Victor Radley’s return will help address that issue, but discipline remains a concern, particularly around the involvement of Spencer Leniu in what is expected to be an emotionally charged contest.
Penrith, by contrast, appear to be peaking at the perfect time. They showed enormous composure to defeat Melbourne despite spending significant periods reduced to 12 men, backed that up with a clinical defensive display against Canterbury and then flexed their attacking muscle against the Tigers.
The forward battle looks evenly matched. Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Moses Leota are proven finals performers, while Mitch Kenny’s return adds another layer of control through the middle third.
Ultimately, however, the game will be decided by the playmakers.
Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans are among the competition’s premier game managers. Whether it’s a perfectly weighted grubber, a tactical kicking masterclass or a momentum-shifting 40/20, both possess the ability to turn a contest in an instant.
The statistics also favour Penrith in the areas that often decide finals football. The Panthers finished the regular season ranked third for set completions at 81 per cent, compared to the Roosters in ninth at 78 per cent. Just as importantly, Penrith committed only 267 errors during the season, while the Roosters topped the competition with 300.
In a game where every possession matters, those extra mistakes could prove costly.
Saturday’s clash will be the 106th meeting between two of the NRL’s most successful clubs.
The Roosters hold the overall advantage with 58 wins to Penrith’s 46, with one draw.
Finals football tells a different story.
The Panthers lead the finals head-to-head 4-1, with the Roosters’ lone postseason victory coming in a 34-12 triumph at the Sydney Football Stadium in 2010.
This decade, the clubs have met twice in finals football, both at BlueBet Stadium, with Penrith prevailing 29-28 in 2020 and 30-10 in 2024.
At CommBank Stadium, however, the Roosters have enjoyed success, winning two of three meetings, including their crucial 12-6 victory earlier this season.
The Roosters have already shown they can beat Penrith, but their recent form raises genuine concerns.
Three consecutive losses, the absence of Sam Walker and questions around their attacking cohesion place enormous responsibility on Cherry-Evans to control the contest. While the return of Radley and Crichton is significant, Penrith appear to be building momentum at exactly the right time.
The Panthers are healthier, more settled and playing the more consistent football. With Cleary pulling the strings and their representative-laden forward pack ready for finals intensity, they look primed to take the first step towards another premiership campaign.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 12
Week 1 Finals tips → /nrl-week-1-finals-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Casey McLean produces a breakout finals performance, making crucial defensive plays and crossing for a try as Penrith book their place in the preliminary final.
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Related
- Full Week 1 Finals coverage → /week-1-finals/
- NRL Week 1 Finals Team Lists → /nrl-team-lists-week-1-finals-2026/
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
- NRL Round 27 Review → /nrl-round-27-review-2026/
