After consolidating fifth place on the NRL ladder with their win over the Knights, before the Bulldogs upset the Dragons in knocking them out of the 2017 Finals face, has meant the Sharks will square off against the North Queensland Cowboys next Sunday.
The Cowboys were given a lifeline by the Bulldogs, leaving them in eighth position on the ladder, with the game against the Sharks scheduled for next Sunday at Allianz Stadium.
The Sharks Holden Cup side, minor premiers but last start losers to the Knights, have also been drawn to play on Sunday at Allianz, with their opponents the fourth placed Parramatta Eels.
Sharks Ticketed Members will be able to purchase tickets from 10am tomorrow (Monday), Non-ticketed members from 1pm (Monday), while the General public can buy their tickets from 1pm Tuesday.
See following the NRL press release detailing the schedule for week one of the NRL finals.
2017 TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP FINALS SERIES WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters will open a blockbuster 2017 Telstra Premiership Finals Series on Friday night against Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium.
The NRL today confirmed the times and venues for Week One of the Telstra Premiership Finals Series, which will also feature Melbourne facing Parramatta Eels on Saturday at AAMI Park.
The last two Premiers, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys, will play each other on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.
• Second-placed Sydney Roosters will play third-placed Brisbane Broncos on Friday night at 7.55pm at Allianz Stadium;
• Minor Premiers Melbourne Storm will clash with Parramatta Eels on Saturday at 4.10pm at AAMI Park;
• Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles will play Penrith Panthers on Saturday at 7.40pm at Allianz Stadium;
• Premiers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks will host an elimination final against North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.
Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith will break the record for all-time NRL matches in the Storm-Eels contest.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the opening weekend of the Finals Series offered some wonderful match-ups.
“The competition for Finals Series positions was incredibly close this year and we saw how much the makeup of the top eight changed even over the final few days of the regular season,” Mr Greenberg said.
“That just highlights how close these teams in the Finals Series are.
“Anything can happen on any given day and I’m sure we will see the closeness of the regular season replicated in the Finals Series.
“This will be a wonderful way to kick off the Finals Series.”
NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series – Week 1
Qualifying Final: Friday, September 8, 7.55pm, Allianz Stadium
NRL: Sydney Roosters (2) v Brisbane Broncos (3)
Holden Cup: Brisbane Broncos (6) v Newcastle Knights (7); 5.15pm
Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 9, 4.10pm, AAMI Park
NRL: Melbourne Storm (1) v Parramatta Eels (4)
Elimination Final: Saturday, September 9, 7.40pm, Allianz Stadium
NRL: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (6) v Penrith Panthers (7)
Holden Cup: Penrith Panthers (2) v St George Illawarra Dragons (3); 5.00pm
Elimination Final: Sunday, September 10, 4.10pm, Allianz Stadium
NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (5) v North Queensland Cowboys (8)
Holden Cup: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1) v Parramatta Eels (4); 1.30pm
Holden Cup: Nth Qld Cowboys (5) V Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (8); 11.15am
Ticketed members prices start from $50 for families and $20 for Adults at every venue for the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series.
General Public tickets start from $65 for families and $25 for Adults at Sydney games.
Tickets will be on sale to Ticketed Club Members at 10am on Monday (September 4), while tickets for non-ticketed members will be on sale at 1pm and for nrl.com members at 4pm on Monday.
Finals Series tickets will be on sale to the general public at 10am on Tuesday (September 5) at www.nrl.com/tickets.
All tickets to Allianz Stadium matches include return transport on Sydney trains and direct buses from Central to Allianz Stadium.
Fans are also reminded that tickets for the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final, on October 1, are also on sale at www.nrl.com/tickets.
