Eight teams, four weeks, one ultimate prize… countless questions to be answered.
Can the Panthers become the first team the Eels in the early 80s to win three straight premierships or can the Broncos claim their first title since 2006?
Can the hard charging Knights become the first team to come from outside the top four to win the competition?
Or will be revealed through a sizzling September of finals footy and on to Accor Stadium on October 1 for the Telstra Premiership decider where the 2023 champion will be crowned.
Each team’s Road to Glory
1st. Penrith Panthers
Penrith finished as the minor premiers and therefore get two home games in the finals series, starting with the Warriors at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday.
If they win, they will have a week off and then move to either Accor Stadium or CommBank Stadium, to play the winner of the Semi Final between the loser of the Broncos/Storm clash and the winner of the Sharks/Roosters game.
If the Panthers lose this week, they will play a home game at either Accor Stadium or CommBank Stadium and play the winner of the Knights/Raiders game in an Elimination Final.
If they win that, they will then go to either Brisbane or Melbourne to face the winner of the Broncos/Storm game this week.
2nd. Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane finished second and are also guaranteed two home finals matches, set to host the Storm on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
If they win, they will get a week off and play the winner of the Semi Final between the loser of the Panthers/Warriors clash and the winner of the Knights/Raiders game, with the game to be played at Suncorp Stadium.
If they lose this week, Brisbane will remain at home to play the winner of the Sharks/Roosters game in an Elimination Final. If they win that, they would travel to either Sydney or New Zealand to face the Panthers or Warriors the following week.
3rd. Melbourne Storm
The Storm head to Brisbane this Friday to take on the Broncos.
If they win that they will have a week off before playing a home Preliminary Final against the winner of the Semi Final between the loser of the Panthers/Warriors match and the winner of the Knights/Raiders game.
Should Melbourne lose this week, they will host the winner of the Sharks/Roosters game at AAMI Park next week in an Elimination Final. If they win that game, they’ll travel to either Sydney or New Zealand to take on either the Panthers or Warriors.
4th. Warriors
The Warriors travel to BlueBet Stadium to play the minor premiers on Saturday. If they defeat Penrith, they will have a week off and host a preliminary final the following week against the winner of the Semi Final between the loser of the Broncos/Storm match and the winner of the Sharks/Roosters game.
If they lose to the Panthers, they will still host an elimination final in Auckland against the winner of the Knights/Raiders game.
Should they win that game, they will then travel to either Brisbane or Melbourne the following week to play the winner of that respective game from this week.
5th. Newcastle Knights
Should the Knights triumph in their Elimination Final against the Raiders in Newcastle this week, they will play the loser of the Panthers/Warriors game in either Sydney or New Zealand. From there, they would go on to play either Brisbane or Melbourne – taking on whoever wins in their game this Friday night.
All games for Newcastle are elimination matches so, if they lose, they are out.
6th. Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks will host an elimination final against the Roosters at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday night. If they win they will take on the loser of the Broncos/Storm encounter in either Brisbane or Melbourne. If they win that game, they’ll play the winner of the Penrith Warriors game in either Sydney or Auckland.
All games for Cronulla are elimination matches so, if they lose, they are out.
7th. Sydney Roosters
Having finished seventh, the Roosters will play all their finals games away from home – starting with a trip to the Shire on Saturday night to face the Sharks.
If they win, they will play the loser of the Broncos/Storm match in either Brisbane or Melbourne. If they win that, then they will face the winner of the Panthers/Warriors game this week in either Sydney or New Zealand.
All games for the Roosters are elimination matches so, if they lose, they are out.
8th. Canberra Raiders
Canberra will be on the road for the duration of the finals series after finishing eighth.
On Sunday, they go to Newcastle to take on the Knights. If they win that game they’ll take on the loser of the Panthers/Warriors game in either Sydney or New Zealand.
If they win that they’ll go to either Brisbane or Melbourne to take on the winner of the Broncos/Storm encounter from this Friday.
All games for Canberra are knockout so, if they lose, they are out.
Source: NRL.com