2020 NRL Finals Series

2020 NRL Finals Series
Duration	2 Oct – 25 Oct 2020
Teams	8
Premiers	Melbourne Storm
Minor premiers	Penrith Panthers
Matches played	9
Broadcast partners	Nine Network Fox League
Top try-scorer(s)	Ryan Papenhuyzen (4) Nathan Cleary (4)

The 2020 National Rugby League finals series was a tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2020 Telstra Premiership season. The series was played over four weekends in October, culminating in the 2020 NRL Grand Final on 25 October 2020 at ANZ Stadium. The Grand Final was ultimately won by the second-placed Melbourne Storm, who defeated the minor premiers the Penrith Panthers 26–20.

The top eight teams from the 2020 NRL season qualify for the finals series. NRL finals series have been played under the current format since 2012.

Qualification

v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Penrith Panthers	20	18	1	1	0	537	238	+299	37
2	Melbourne Storm (P)	20	16	0	4	0	534	276	+258	32
3	Parramatta Eels	20	15	0	5	0	392	288	+104	30
4	Sydney Roosters	20	14	0	6	0	552	322	+230	28
5	Canberra Raiders	20	14	0	6	0	445	317	+128	28
6	South Sydney Rabbitohs	20	12	0	8	0	521	352	+169	24
7	Newcastle Knights	20	11	1	8	0	421	374	+47	23
8	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	20	10	0	10	0	480	480	0	20
9	Gold Coast Titans	20	9	0	11	0	346	463	−117	18
10	New Zealand Warriors	20	8	0	12	0	343	458	−115	16
11	Wests Tigers	20	7	0	13	0	440	505	−65	14
12	St. George Illawarra Dragons	20	7	0	13	0	378	452	−74	14
13	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	20	7	0	13	0	375	509	−134	14
14	North Queensland Cowboys	20	5	0	15	0	368	520	−152	10
15	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	20	3	0	17	0	282	504	−222	6
16	Brisbane Broncos	20	3	0	17	0	268	624	−356	6

Venues and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

For the 2020 NRL Finals Series, the stadia will be permitted to hold up to 50% of capacity under New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland government guidelines.^[1] For the preliminary finals Lang Park's permitted capacity was increased to 75%.^[2]

Due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, the Melbourne Storm will play their home finals at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane rather than their regular home ground of AAMI Park in Melbourne. Suncorp will hold two games, Canberra's GIO Stadium will host one match and Sydney will host the remaining six matches, between ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium, Panthers Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground.^[3]

Brisbane	Canberra	Sydney
Suncorp Stadium	GIO Stadium	ANZ Stadium
Capacity: 52,500	Capacity: 25,011	Capacity: 83,500
Games: 2	Games: 1	Games: 3
Sydney (four venues) Canberra Brisbane
Sydney
Bankwest Stadium	Panthers Stadium	Sydney Cricket Ground
Capacity: 30,000	Capacity: 22,500	Capacity: 46,000
Games: 1	Games: 1	Games: 1

Finals structure

The system used for the 2020 NRL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home ground advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks and to the qualifying final winners in the third week.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final.^[4]

Bracket

	Qualifying and elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals					Grand Final
	2 Oct, Panthers Stadium
	1	Penrith	29
	4	Sydney	28			9 Oct, Sydney Cricket Ground
						Sydney		18
	3 Oct, GIO Stadium Canberra					Canberra		22				17 Oct, ANZ Stadium
	5	Canberra	32									Penrith		20
	8	Cronulla-Sutherland	20									South Sydney		16			25 Oct, ANZ Stadium
																	Penrith		20
	4 Oct, ANZ Stadium											16 Oct, Suncorp Stadium					Melbourne		26
	6	South Sydney	46									Melbourne		30
	7	Newcastle	20			10 Oct, Bankwest Stadium						Canberra		10
						Parramatta		24
	3 Oct, Suncorp Stadium					South Sydney		38
	2	Melbourne	36
	3	Parramatta	24

Summary

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time (Local)	Venue	Referees	Crowd
QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS
Penrith Panthers	29 – 28	Sydney Roosters	2 October 2020, 7:50 pm	Panthers Stadium	Gerard Sutton	7,209
Canberra Raiders	32 – 20	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	3 October 2020, 5:40 pm	GIO Stadium Canberra	Grant Atkins	9,602
Melbourne Storm	36 – 24	Parramatta Eels	3 October 2020, 7:50 pm	Suncorp Stadium	Ashley Klein	16,238
South Sydney Rabbitohs	46 – 20	Newcastle Knights	4 October 2020, 4:05 pm	ANZ Stadium	Ben Cummins	17,212
SEMI FINALS
Sydney Roosters	18 – 22	Canberra Raiders	9 October 2020, 7:55 pm	Sydney Cricket Ground	Ashley Klein	18,110
Parramatta Eels	24 – 38	South Sydney Rabbitohs	10 October 2020, 7:50 pm	Bankwest Stadium	Gerard Sutton	14,510
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Melbourne Storm	30 – 10	Canberra Raiders	16 October 2020, 7:50 pm	Suncorp Stadium	Ashley Klein	37,112
Penrith Panthers	20 – 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs	17 October 2020, 7:50 pm	ANZ Stadium	Gerard Sutton	30,116

† Match decided in extra time.

Qualifying & elimination finals

1st Qualifying final

Friday, 2 October 7:50pm

Penrith Panthers	29 – 28	Sydney Roosters
Tries: Nathan Cleary (22', 27', 37') 3 Josh Mansour (16') 1 Stephen Crichton (49') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 4/6 (23', 28', 39', 51') Field Goals: Nathan Cleary (78') 1	1st 22 – 10 2nd: 7 – 18	Tries: 2 (6', 64') Josh Morris 1 (9') Freddy Lussick 1 (53') James Tedesco 1 (79') Angus Crichton Goals: 4/5 Kyle Flanagan (7', 54', 65', 79')

Panthers Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 7,209 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Nathan Cleary

1st Elimination final

Saturday, 3 October 5:40pm

Canberra Raiders	32 – 20	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tries: Jack Wighton (47', 50') 2 George Williams (38', 58') 2 Joseph Tapine (9') 1 Elliott Whitehead (67') 1 Goals: Jarrod Croker 4/6 (11', 48', 51', 59')	1st: 10 – 14 2nd: 22 – 6	Tries: 1 (19') Ronaldo Mulitalo 1 (27') Blayke Brailey 1 (79') Sione Katoa Goals: 4/5 Chad Townsend (6' pen, 23' pen, 28', 80')

GIO Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 9,602 Referee: Grant Atkins Player of the Match: Jack Wighton

2nd Qualifying final

Saturday, 3 October 7:50pm

Melbourne Storm	36 – 24	Parramatta Eels
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen (33', 63') 2 Suliasi Vunivalu (30') 1 Josh Addo-Carr (43') 1 Jesse Bromwich (55') 1 Brenko Lee (58') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 6/6 (32', 34', 44', 56', 59', 64')	1st: 12 – 12 2nd: 24 – 12	Tries: 1 (2') Nathan Brown 1 (22') Clinton Gutherson 1 (50') Blake Ferguson 1 (67') Shaun Lane Goals: 4/4 Mitchell Moses (3', 23', 51', 69')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 16,238 Referee: Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Ryan Papenhuyzen

2nd Elimination final

Sunday, 4 October 4:05pm

South Sydney Rabbitohs	46 – 20	Newcastle Knights
Tries: Alex Johnston (24', 69') 2 Tevita Tatola (62', 75') 2 Corey Allan (16') 1 Cody Walker (20') 1 Cameron Murray (36') 1 Damian Cook (76') 1 Goals: Adam Reynolds 6/8 (21', 38', 48' pen, 63', 71', 75') Dane Gagai 1/1 (78')	1st: 20 – 14 2nd: 26 – 6	Tries: 2 (2', 80') Hymel Hunt 1 (7') Bradman Best Goals: 3/3 Kalyn Ponga (3', 9', 12' pen) 1/1 Aidan Guerra (80')

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 17,212 Referee: Ben Cummins Player of the Match: Damien Cook

Semi-finals

1st Semi-final

Friday, 9 October 7:55pm

Sydney Roosters	18 – 22	Canberra Raiders
Tries: James Tedesco (36', 75') 2 Joseph Manu (58') 1 Goals: Kyle Flanagan 3/3 (38', 59', 76')	1st: 6 – 16 2nd: 12 – 6	Tries: 1 (5') Josh Papalii 1 (18') George Williams 1 (23') Joseph Tapine 1 (69') Jack Wighton Goals: 3/4 Jarrod Croker (6', 20', 71')

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 18,110 Referee: Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

2nd Semi-final

Saturday, 10 October 7:50pm

Parramatta Eels	24 – 38	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tries: Clinton Gutherson (24', 29') 2 George Jennings (26', 75') 2 Goals: Mitchell Moses 4/4 (25', 27', 30', 76')	1st: 18 – 8 2nd: 6 – 30	Tries: 2 (17', 71') Jaxson Paulo 1 (46') Liam Knight 1 (55') Cameron Murray 1 (63') Bayley Sironen 1 (79') Damien Cook Goals: 7/7 Adam Reynolds (5' pen, 19', 48', 56', 64', 72', 80')

Bankwest Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 14,510 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Damien Cook

Preliminary finals

1st Preliminary Final

Friday, 16 October 7:50pm

Melbourne Storm	30 – 10	Canberra Raiders
Tries: Jesse Bromwich (4') 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen (6') 1 Suliasi Vunivalu (9') 1 Justin Olam (22') 1 Dale Finucane (62') 1 Goals: Cameron Smith 5/6 (6', 8', 15' pen, 24', 63')	1st: 24 – 6 2nd: 6 – 4	Tries: 2 (29', 71') Nick Cotric Goals: 1/2 Jarrod Croker (31')

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 37,112 Referee: Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Jahrome Hughes

2nd Preliminary Final

Saturday, 17 October 7:50pm

Penrith Panthers	20 – 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tries: Brian To'o (8') 1 Tyrone May (27') 1 Dylan Edwards (67') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 4/4 (9', 29', 40' pen, 69')	1st: 14 – 6 2nd: 6 – 10	Tries: 1 (5') Alex Johnston 1 (50') Dane Gagai 1 (73') Corey Allan Goals: 2/4 Adam Reynolds (6', 51')

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 30,116 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Apisai Koroisau

Grand Final

2020 NRL Grand Final

Sunday, 25 October 19:40 AEDT (UTC+11)

Penrith Panthers	20 – 26	Melbourne Storm
Tries: 4 To'o  52' Crichton  68' Mansour  71' Cleary  79' Goals: 2 Cleary  53', 69' (2/3)	1st: 0–22 2nd: 20–4 Report	Tries: 4 Olam  (penalty) 3' Vunivalu  30' C. Smith  39' Papenhuzen  45' Goals: 5 C. Smith  4', pen 22', pen 26', 31', 40' (5/6) Sin Bins: 2 Hughes 70' B. Smith 79'

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 37,303[5] Referee: Gerard Sutton Touch judges: Chris Butler, Todd Smith Clive Churchill Medal: Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne)

References