The Cowboys will take a gamble in a bid to have skipper Reuben Cotter cleared for Saturday’s must-win game against the Sharks.

Meanwhile, Cronulla fans will be praying that Craig Fitzgibbon names Braydon Trindall in the No. 6 jersey for the must-win elimination final against the Cowboys.

Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

The Warriors are sweating on the availability of three injured stars who are touch-and-go ahead of this week’s elimination final against the Dolphins in Auckland.

The Roosters are set to welcome back $5 million in playing talent which was rested last Friday night.

Elsewhere, the Rabbitohs have confirmed devastating news for one player.

Read for the latest team news ahead of the opening week of the 2026 Finals Series!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights @ Allianz Stadium

Last Week’s Rabbitohs Team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 23. Jai Arrow 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Adam Elliott 13. Cameron Murray 6. Cody Walker 14. Matthew Dufty 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Sean Keppie 17. Jamie Humphreys 18. Euan Aitken 19. Latrell Siegwalt

Team Tips: Euan Aitken suffered a shoulder injury in Friday night’s win over the Roosters with the Rabbitohs confirming on Monday he will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his scapula. “He was shattered and he couldn’t believe it,” Souths skipper Cameron Murray said. “It’s an unforgiving game sometimes, and sometimes you don’t get the rub of the green.

He’s been a pivotal player in our team this year and did some really great things, so we’re going to miss him. We really feel for him, so we’ll just try and get around him and support him as best we can.” “I remember him saying last week that it’s his first finals game in 11 years and he felt like he jinxed himself. But that’s how footy works and that’s how life works sometimes,” added Keaon Koloamatangi. “There’s not much you can do about it. But knowing him and knowing this team, they’ll definitely be back next year and he’ll get his opportunity again.” Adam Elliott also left the field after copping a head knock. Matt Dufty looks locked in at fullback, with Jye Gray only getting the run last week to get match fitness ahead of the finals in case he is needed. Fox League’s Mick Ennis said after the Roosters win that he wasn’t convinced about Jye Gray, saying he hasn’t done enough to lock down his spot ahead of Dufty. Tallis Duncan (hamstring) will return after being rested last week.

Round 26 Knights Team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Harrison Graham 10. Trey Mooney 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker 14. Thomas Cant 15. Cody Hopwood 16. Lachlan Crouch 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Toby Winter 19. Diesel Hagan

Team Tips: The Knights had the final round off with the bye but will still enter the opening week of the finals without the suspended Jacob Saifiti, who won’t play again this season. Cody Hopwood looms as his replacement in the front row while Pasami Saulo also a good chance of getting a call-up to the starting side with Trey Mooney suffering a fractured scapula in the same game. Francis Manuleleua suffered a dislocated elbow in the Round 26 clash against the Warriors and is undertaking a rehabilitation program as he pushes to be fit for the finals. If he is not available, expect Thomas Cant to start in the back row. Phoenix Crossland should play after minor surgery three weeks ago. “I’m playing, I’ll be there. Even if it’s 50 percent, I’ll be doing everything I can to play. I’m ready,” Crossland told the Newcastle Herald.

Marshall looking forward to 2027 reset | 04:34

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins @ Go Media Stadium

Last Week’s Warriors Team: 18. Taine Tuaupiki 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Adam Pompey 3. Ali Leiataua 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Samuel Healey 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Makaia Tafua 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Morgan Gannon 21. Jett Cleary 22. Jye Linnane

Team Tips: The Warriors are expected to get gun forward Jackson Ford back for the qualifying final. Ford suffered a pec injury against the Cowboys in June but should be named. Leka Halasima (ankle) should be back while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (collarbone) is an outside chance. “If DWZ is fit he’ll play,” coach Andrew Webster declared on Saturday. If Ford is named, he will likely be eased in off the bench with James Fisher-Harris and Mitch Barnett both fit and firing. Watene-Zelezniak, meanwhile, would likely bump Taine Tuaupiki to the bench with his return while Halasima would replace Adam Pompey.

Last Week’s Dolphins Team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Tevita Naufahu 20. Jake Averillo 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Tom Gilbert 11. Max Plath 18. Brian Pouniu 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Francis Molo 17. Felise Kaufusi 19. Brad Schneider 21. Connelly Lemuelu

Team Tips: After deciding not to rest the majority of their star players for the final round of the regular season, the Dolphins are only expected to make two changes with Selwyn Cobbo (ankle) and Kodi Nikorima (hamstring tightness) entering the starting side. This will likely see Jake Averillo return to the six-man interchange bench while Tevita Naufahu will drop to the reserves.

Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys @ Allianz Stadium

Last Week’s Sharks Team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Riley Jones 4. Michael Gabrael 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Riley Pollard 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Hohepa Puru 15. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 10. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Siosifa Talakai 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. KL Iro

Team Tips: All eyes will be on Braydon Trindall (dislocated shoulder) this week as the five-eighth looks to make his long-awaited return. According to coach Craig Fitzgibbon, he is expected to return and partner Nicho Hynes in the halves. “All things going well and he gets through training, then we’re looking to get him back,” Fitzgibbon said. In other team news, the Cronulla Sharks decided to rest four of their stars for the final round of the season, so KL Iro, Hynes, Blayke Brailey and Teig Wilton will all make their returns to the starting line-up this week. Hynes will be a direct swap for debutant Riley Pollard in the halves while Brailey and Wilton will push both HohepaPuru and Billy Burns to the interchange bench. In regards to Iro, the Cook Islands international will return to the centres. However, the other spot is up for grabs if MaweneHiroti (ribs) is unable to return in time from injury. “They’re strange injuries, the rib ones. Some of them heal really quickly and you can move and get mobile quickly and then some take a little bit longer. There’s some damage there,” Fitzgibbon said. “So there’s no time frame on that (his recovery).” If Hiroti is unavailable, Fitzgibbon confirmed that either Riley Jones or MichaelGabrael could retain their spot in the centres with an impressive showing against the Storm. Sam Stonestreet is another option but predominantly plays on the wing. “That’s possible, for sure,” he said. “That’s another reason we’re having a look at these kids. We’ve (also) got Sifa there who’s actually played semi-finals in the centres. ”I’ll worry about that next week.“ He may not have made the Sharks starting 13 anyway, but Gabrael has been handed a two-week ban, with an early plea, for his high shot on Storm winger Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown who was rushed to hospital in a neck brace.

Braydon Trindall is racing the clock to be fit. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied

Last Week’s Cowboys Team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Robert Derby 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. John Bateman 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Sam McIntyre 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Kaiden Lahrs 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Ethan King

Team Tips: Reuben Cotter is headed to the judiciary after he was charged for a high tackle in Saturday night’s loss to the Raiders. He’s facing a one-game back with an early plea. The Cowboys confirmed on Monday that Cotter has pleaded not guilty to the Grade 2 careless high tackle charge. Cotter risks a two-game ban if he is unsuccessful. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said on Fox League’s Super Saturday that he thinks Cotter may lose if he fights the charge. “I think he’s going to be guilty,” Waerea-Hargreavessaid. “The thing here with Cotter is he plants his feet. “Obviously there’s a lot of emotion in this first carry. The big man takes the carry, rolls into the tackle and Reuben Cotter plants both feet, jumps directly and hits him flush. He said he copped one flush on the chin… I do see him potentially missing a week or two.”

Matty lauds Panther’s minor premiership | 00:32

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13

Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters @ CommBank Stadium

Last Week’s Panthers Team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Luke Garner 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Liam Henry 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Freddy Lussick 16. Luron Patea 17. Billy Phillips 18. Blaize Talagi 19. Billy Scott 22. Isaah Yeo

Team Tips: Isaah Yeo got through his comeback game in good order and should be right to start next week against the Roosters in a qualifying final. He not only made an early return from a pec injury but got through 54 minutes and made 18 tackles and had nine carries. “He’s quite amazing,” Ivan Cleary said after Sunday’s win. Yeo should return to the starting side with Lindsay Smith shifting to the front row and Liam Henry dropping to the bench. Mitch Kenny also made a successful comeback from a long injury lay-off and played 52 minutes which was a good tune-up for the finals. Expect him to punch out the full 80 minutes this week. Paul Alamoti is racing the clock to be fit with a hamstring issue but should be right to play which will bump Luke Garner back to the bench. Scott Sorensen (calf tightness) is also expected to return. That would likely see Billy Scott and Luron Patea make way. The Panthers won’t get Jack Cogger back (suspension) until they play their second finals game.

Last Week’s Roosters Team: 1. Cody Ramsey 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Tommy Talau 5. Rex Bassingthwaighte 6. Reece Foley 7. Toby Rodwell 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Taylor Losalu 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Egan Butcher 13. Connor Watson 14. Tom Rodwell 16. De La Salle Vaa 17. Aston Warwick 18. Jake Elliott 19. Hayden Barton 20. Lui Lee

Team Tips: Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson decided to rest a number of his stars for Round 27 so James Tedesco, Billy Smith, Rob Toia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Hugo Savala, Daly Cherry-Evans, Naufahu Whyte, Reece Robson, Siua Wong and Nat Butcher will all make their returns for the finals. Victor Radley (concussion) will also return after undergoing the NRL’s mandatory stand-down policy. Their inclusions will see FetalaigaPauga, RexBassingthwaighte, Reece Foley, TaylorLosalu, Tom Rodwell, De La Salle Vaa, Aston Warwick, JakeElliott, HaydenBarton and LuiLee drop out of the squad. Meanwhile, trio CodyRamsey, TommyTalau and TobyRodwell (who will be used as a back-up half) are expected to be members of the 19-man bench. Veteran winger Daniel Tupou managed to get through last week’s match unscathed and will be available. However, all eyes will be on the availability of back-rower Angus Crichton (foot) who has been sidelined for some time but is on track to be named for the opening week of the finals. In other news, star halfback SamWalker (ankle) is progressing well with multiple reports indicating that he could return as early as the preliminary final, if the Tricolours are to make it that far.