As it happened: Super Sharks sink Roosters

Fulltime: A late Toby Rudolf try has secured the Sharks a place in next weekend's semi-final against the loser of Sunday's Raiders-Broncos qualifying final. The match was on a knife's edge after Angus Crichton scored for the Roosters early in the second half but the Sharks maintained a narrow lead and Rudolf sealed the 20-10 win when he barged over from close range. It was the prop's first try of the season and he will never likely score a more important one. The loss ends the Roosters season - one in which many thought they would struggle after losing so many big name stars but Gen Next stepped up and they are expected to be contenders again next year.

76 min: Toby Rudolf has revived memories of Andrew Fifita's 2016 grand final try when he charged over the top of Tedesco from a pass out of dummy half by Brailey. Sharks 20 Roosters 10.

72 min: The Roosters have received a penalty after winning a captain's challenge for Trindall "unnecessarily" dropping his shoulder into Victor Radley as the England forward ran into the defence as a decoy runner.

68 min: Hynes has kicked a penalty goal after Billy Smith was pinged for a 2-on-1 strip. Sharks 14 Roosters 10.

64 min: The Sharks are coming home strong, with KL Iro forcing an error from Toia. However, Iro lost the ball short of the line from the scrum win.

62 min: Daniel Tupou has put down a pass coming out of the Roosters end of the field.

58 min: Mulitalo has been denied a third try by the scrambling defence of Nawaqanitawase, Toia and Tedesco.

53 min: Briton Nikora and Fonua-Blake are on as Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon tries to stem the tide.

52 min: Another Roosters break - this time by Connor Watson. Momentum has turned.

50 min: Crichton makes a break from the re-start but Tedesco was unable to hold the pass in support. 

49 min: The Roosters needed to score first after halftime and they have with Walker putting a deftly placed grubber into the in-goal off the outside of his foot as he looked to pass for Angus Crichton to charge through and score. Walker converted. Sharks 12 Roosters 10.

41 min: We are back for what will be the last 40 minutes of the season for one of these teams.

Halftime summary: Ronaldo Mulitalo summed it up as he was interviewed while leaving the field at halftime - "2-1 Marky Mark. Let's go". In a gripping first half, the best tryscoring opportunies came in the one-on-one dual between the superstar wingers and while Nawaqanitawase had the better of the early challenges, Mulitalo scored two tries just before the break to give the Sharks a 12-4 lead. Cronulla's defence can take huge credit too, after being forced to make up to 60 more tackles than their opponents at one stage. Remarkably the possession stakes turned around in the latter stages of the first half and the Roosters were just hanging on at the interval. Braydon Trindall has had a hand in both tries, while Sam Walker is pulling all the strings for the Roosters. There is 40 minutes left to decide which team's season ends and who will play the loser of the Raiders and Broncos next weekend.  

40 min: Mulitalo has got his second try after Walker lost the ball and Jesse Ramien raced away before linking with Billy Burns, who was tackled short. On the next play, the Sharks spread the ball wide and Trindall threw another cut out pass for Mulitalo to score. Hynes converted. Sharks 12 Roosters 4.

35 min: Mulitalo has hit back for the Sharks after Trindall beat a rushing Toia, swerved around Savale and threw a one-handed overhead pass for the Kiwis winger to race over to score. Hynes converted from out wide. Sharks 6 Roosters 4.

33 min: A Blayke Brailey banana kick has forced a goal line drop out. 

31 min: The Sharks defence has been impressive and now they get a relieving penalty.

24 min: Mark Nawaqanitawase opens the scoring in the corner after quick hands by Walker, five-eighth Hugo Savale and fullback James Tedesco, who threw a cut-out pass to the Ken Irvine Medallist. Walker missed the conversion attempt. Roosters 4 Sharks 0.

23 min: Addin Fonua-Blake has been penalised for a shoulder charge on Nat Butcher after the Roosters forward made a half break.

17 min: Another aerial assault from Walker to Nawaqanitawase's wing has led to a goal line drop out after Mulitalo knocked the ball down in his own in-goal.

13 min: Sharks secondrower Teig Wilton has put down his side's first scoring opportunity after being unable to take a hard pass from Nicho Hynes as he ran into a gap near the Roosters line. 

9 min: Mulitalo has made amends for his earlier error with a bone rattling tackle on Toia that shook the ball loose. 

3 min: The Sharks have survived an aerial attack after Mark Nawaqanitawase batted back a Sam Walker cross-field kick for centre Rob Toia.

1 min: We are underway in the elimination final at Shark Park and Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has made the first error of the game after failing to play the ball properly.

The last word

Starting line-ups finalised

Sharks: A huge IN for the Sharks with strike secondrower Briton Nikora named on the interchange. Dan Atkinson drops to 18th man after yesterday being added to the 17 following the loss of prop Tom Hazelton with a knee infection. Nikora returns after serving a three-game suspension but coach Craig Fitzgibbon revealed that he also suffered an injury while on the sidelines. Five-eighth Braydon Trindall is back after missing Round 27 with an ankle injury.

Roosters: Coach Trent Robinson goes with the same 17 that got the job done in style against the Rabbitohs in Round 27. Benaiah Ioelu comes into the starting side in a late swap with Connor Watson as has been the game plan in recent weeks. Sandon Smith is 18th man.

Catch up we wait for kick off

 

Warriors v Panthers at Go Media Stadium

Fulltime: The Panthers will take on the Bulldogs in next weekend's semi-final at Accor Stadium after downing the Warriors 24-8 in Auckland. The Panthers will aim to become the first team in the NRL era to win the premiership from outside the top four after being last in Round 12. If any team is able to achieve the feat it is likely to be the four-times premiers, who ground down the Warriors in a gripping contest played in wet and windy conditions at Go Media Stadium. Nathan Cleary declined to take the last two conversion attempts but he continued to kick in general play. Panthers officials reported their star playmaker had merely suffered a cork but it was noted that he was wearing a groin strap. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary's decision to opt for Paul Alamoti on the wing ahead of Tom Jenkins was vindicated as he and fellow winger Brian To'o topped the run metres and were heavily involved.

72 min: To'o has picked up a fumble by Halasima and raced 60m to all but secure victory for the Panthers. Edwards converted. Panthers 24 Warriors 8. 

66 min: Casey McLean has finished a spectacular try after Cleary kicked from within 20m of his own line and the ball bounced back towards a chasing Luke Garner, who linked with Talagi. The Panthers five-eight then grubbered into space and McLean raced through to pick up the ball and score. Edwards converted. Panthers 18 Warriors 8.

64 min: Warriors halfback Tannah Boyd and hooker Wayde Egan are undergoing HIAs.

58 min: Great defence by the Warriors on their own line and they get a penalty after Cleary refuses to hand the ball over when caught on the last tackle.

54 min: Teenage tearaway Leka Halasima has broken the game open after charging onto a pass from Nicoll-Klokstad, who held the ball up to create doubt in the defence, and wrestling his way out of a tackle by Edwards to ground the ball. Boyd converted. Panthers 12 Warriors 8.

50 min: Watene-Zelezniak has knocked on in-goal but the Warriors regain the ball from the drop out.

47 min: Schneider has done a Harry Grant to score after taking advantage of  defensive lapse on the Warriors line as the defenders were focused on Cleary. Cleary converted. Panthers 12 Warriors 2. 

42 min: Papalii is on report for a high shot.

Halftime summary: One of these teams only has 40 minutes left of their season but little separates them at halftime. A piece of Nathan Cleary magic led to the only try of the first half by Isaiah Papalii but the Warriors overcame a nervous start and have had 56 per cent of possession. The conditions are wet and windy but both teams are completing high. However, there have been very few scoring chances and the kicking games of Chanel Harris-Tavita and Cleary are going to be crucial. Cleary has forced three goal line drop-outs and constantly puts the Warriors back three under pressure. James Fisher-Harris has led a physical Warriors forward pack against his former Penrith team-mates.   

38 min: A long-range Tannah Boyd break ends with Harris-Tavita kicking into space but Edwards cleans up and races 30m towards the Warriors line.

30: Cleary forced a goal line drop out with a skidding grubber kick that forced Nicoll-Klokstad to dive on the ball as he slid into the in-goal. Talagi forces another goal line drop out.

28 min: The Panthers have taken the lead after Cleary opted to run the ball on the last play and put Isaiah Papalii over to score with a perfectly weighted pass for the Kiwis backrower. Cleary converted. Panthers 6 Warriors 0.

15 min: Harris-Tavita saves the day for the Warriors after Penrith winger Brian To'o grubbered for himself close to the line. Harris-Tavita knocked the ball into touch. The Panthers lose the ball near the Warriors line.

14 min: After having to defend their own line for so long, the Panthers are now on the attack after a penalty for a lifting tackle on Edwards.

13 min: Kurt Capewell has sliced through the defence but his pass went to a Panthers player in-goal. Penrith have regained possession from the goal line drop out.

11 min: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has knocked on trying to ground a loose ball in the in-goal after Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards was unable to take another Harris-Tavita kick.

8 min: Another knock on from Izack Tago and a penalty against the Panthers for being offside from the scrum has enabled Boyd to open the scoring with a penalty goal. Warriors 2 Panthers 0.

6 min: Momentum is turning after Panthers winger Paul Alamoti put down a Chanel Harris-Tavita bomb and hooker Brad Schneider was sent from the field for a HIA.

4 min: The Warriors have have survived a scare after Dallin Watene-Zelezniak knocked down a pass from Blaize Talagi to Casey McLean on their line.  

2 min: Tannah Boyd has failed to find touch from a Warriors penalty, enabling the Panthers to go on the attack and force a repeat set.

1 min: We have kick off and it is absolutely hammering down at Go Media Stadium

The last word

Weather report: The temperature is currently 14 degrees and windy at Go Media Stadium.

Starting line-ups finalised

Warriors: Utility Sam Healey joins the bench in place of rookie secondrower Eddie Ieremia-Toeavahe in a change when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick off. The versatile Kurt Capewell reverts to the back row, with young gun Leka Halasima switching to centre in a late swap after being called into the starting side to replace Rocco Berry (shoulder). Hooker Wayde Egan (hip) and prop Jackson Ford (suspension) are both back for the sudden-death showdown. Taine Tauapiki is the 18th man.

Panthers: Brad Schneider will start at hooker with Luke Sommerton shifting to the bench in a late change to cover the absence of Mitch Kenny, who will miss the game with a hamstring injury. "We took Mitch off at half-time last week as a precaution but it's a little bit worse that we first thought," coach Ivan Cleary said. "It's still only a minor strain but it's just enough to not be at his absolute best which is what we need." Brian To'o and Liam Martin are back on deck after being given two games off to get over niggling injuries. Paul Alamoti retains his place on the wing with Thomas Jenkins dropping to 18th man.