Ricky Stuart’s push for the Raiders to play their qualifying final against the Broncos on Sunday has backfired as they now face the shortest turnaround of all the teams in week two of the playoffs. Stuart’s men will have just six days to pick themselves up after Sunday’s dramatic 29-28 loss to Brisbane in a 94-minute extra-time epic that saw them twice denied victory by the Bunker.
It came after Stuart’s request to the NRL to hand his side the Sunday slot in week one of the finals, so they had at least seven days to prepare for the Broncos clash after their final game of the regular season. The Raiders knew it would mean a shorter turnaround for week two of the finals if they lost, and that’s the brutal reality Stuart’s side now face for their sudden-death clash with the Sharks.
Ricky Stuart’s Raiders will only have a six-day turnaround compared to seven for the Sharks in next Saturday’s NRL semi-final between the two sides. Pic: Getty
While Canberra will go into next Saturday’s home semi-final with a six-day turnaround, Cronulla will enjoy the advantage of an extra day after their elimination final victory over the Roosters. Canterbury and Penrith will then clash next Sunday afternoon at Accor Stadium in the other week-two semi-final.
The schedule comes with an eye to week three of the finals, with the NRL looking to avoid a clash between Melbourne’s home preliminary final and the AFL grand final on Saturday week. The AFL decider gets underway at 2:30pm on September 27, meaning it’s easier for the NRL to avoid a clash in Melbourne, by handing the Storm a Friday night preliminary final.
Raiders cop shortest turnaround for week two of NRL finals
The NRL dictates a minimum six-day turnaround between finals matches, meaning it leaves them with no choice but to schedule the Raiders-Sharks clash for Saturday night. But the situation does put the Raiders at a distinct disadvantage with their six-day turnaround for week two.
Bulldogs the big winners in week two of NRL finals schedule
The battered Bulldogs are the big winners of the schedule, as they enjoy a nine-day turnaround between last Friday night’s loss to Melbourne and next Sunday’s semi-final against Penrith. And the extra days of recovery time could be crucial for Cameron Ciraldo’s injury-hit side as they aim to knock out four-time reigning premiers Penrith.
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Centres Stephen Crichton (ankle) and Enari Tuala (leg) have already been ruled out, while Viliame Kikau (eye socket) and Toby Sexton (sternum) are hoping to avoid joining them after a brutal defeat to the Sharks. Winger Jacob Kiraz also looked to be struggling at times against Cronulla after returning just two weeks after suffering a foot injured that was expected to sideline him for a month.
Viliame Kikau was one of a number of injury concerns for the Bulldogs in their brutal NRL qualifying final defeat to the Sharks. Pic: Getty
The winner of Sunday’s second semi-final between the Bulldogs and Panthers will then face the Broncos on the Saturday night of week three. Brisbane look set to be without rep forward Patrick Carrigan after he was slapped with a one-game ban on Monday for a grade two dangerous contact charge, following a high shot on Canberra’s Morgan Smithies that saw him sin-binned on Sunday.
Brisbane could try and fight Carrigan’s charge at the judiciary so he’s free to play in the preliminary final, but face the prospect of losing him for two games if they’re unsuccessful. Reece Walsh will be free to play for the Broncos on Saturday week, however, after he escaped with a $3000 fine for his head-butt on Canberra forward Hudson Young, which was deemed a grade-one offence. Walsh also copped a separate $1800 fine for a middle-finger salute to Raiders fans on Sunday.
NRL finals schedule for week two
Canberra v Cronulla, Saturday 7:45pm at GIO Stadium
Canterbury v Penrith, Sunday 4:05pm at Accor Stadium
(All times AEST)
with AAP