The most bizarre penultimate round of the regular season has handed Penrith back control of its own destiny in terms of a home Final.
For the Panthers to reclaim a spot in the top two they needed to beat Souths on Friday night and then hope both the Sharks and the Roosters suffered unlikely losses.
Enter the rugby league Gods.
After Penrith breezed past Souths on Friday, the Warriors came from 22-4 down at half-time to beat the Sharks in the last minute on Saturday night.
And this afternoon, the Roosters’ Premiership hopes were left in tatters when halfback Sam Walker suffered a serious knee injury – possibly a season-ending ACL tear – and they went down to the Raiders 14-12 at Allianz Stadium.
Making the results even more extraordinary is that both the Sharks and Roosters lost at home.
For the Roosters, it was a day of carnage with Walker, Victor Radley and Brandon Smith all suffering injuries that could rule them out of the club’s Premiership campaign.
Penrith are now in second spot and only need to beat Gold Coast next Saturday night at Penrith Park to confirm a Home Final.
The most likely scenario is that the Panthers play the Roosters on either Friday, September 13 or Saturday, September 14 in what would be Ivan Cleary’s side’s last ever game at their traditional home before it is redeveloped.
But if the Rabbitohs can upset the Roosters on Friday and the Sharks beat the Sea Eagles, it would be Penrith versus Cronulla in week one.
Melbourne have already secured the Minor Premiership.
Meanwhile, the top eight will not be settled until the very last game of the regular season after the Dragons’ shock loss to Parramatta yesterday.
The Knights and Dolphins will play at 4.05pm next Sunday with the winner to finish in eighth spot on the ladder.
The NRL will not release the week one Finals schedule until next Sunday night.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.