NRL Semi Finals Tips & Predictions

<p>The first week of the NRL finals produced a couple of blowouts and a couple of thrillers. Competition favourites Brisbane and Penrith flexed their respective muscle to cruise into the preliminary finals.</p> <p>Both New Zealand and Melbourne were on the receiving end of each sides’ wrath and will have to play again this week as they look to stay alive in season 2023.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Rooster and the Knights both won their respective elimination finals in thrilling fashion.</p> <p>The Chooks' miraculous revival continued with a one-point win over the Sharks, while the Knights needed extra time against the Raiders to extend their current winning streak to 10 matches in a row.</p> <p>These results now set up week two of the finals, which sees Melbourne play the Roosters and Newcastle travel to New Zealand in two do-or-die encounters.</p> <p>Who will live to fight another day and whose season ends here? Check out our expert NRL semi finals tips and predictions.</p>

<h2>Melbourne Storm v Sydney Rooster Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, September 15, 7:50pm AEST – AAMI Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Week two of the finals kickstarts with old foes <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-sydney-roosters-7622356">the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters</a> squaring off at AAMI Park.</p> <p>These two sides have both been powerhouses over the past decade and as a result have taken part in some all-time classic matchups.This match has all the ingredients to be another epic chapter in their storied rivalry.</p> <p>Melbourne will be reeling from their 26-0 disaster class against Brisbane last week and will need to be a whole lot better if they are to overcome the resilient Roosters in this one.</p> <p>The Storm were their own worst enemy as they were unable to continue their 14-year Suncorp Stadium stranglehold over the Broncos. Although, their lackluster performance was overshadowed by a horrific injury to luckless star Ryan Papenhuyzen.</p> <p>Suncorp Stadium fell silent as Papenhuyzen was taken from the field with a badly broken ankle, just two games after returning from a 15-month injury lay off from a fractured knee.</p> <p>As for the Roosters, they seem to have channeled the Miami Heat and have gone full zombie mode. They just won’t die.</p> <p>Against all the odds they just scraped into the top eight, defying form and injuries to set up last weeks must win clash against the Sharks.</p> <p>Then, away from home, they got the job done. Sam Walker was the hero, icing a decisive field goal with mere minutes left on the clock to give the Chooks a one-point win and send them through to week two of the finals.</p> <p>So, who comes out on top in this one and sets up a date with the Panthers in the prelim?</p> <p>Well, these two sides are on different trajectories at the moment, the Roosters are on the up, while after last week, Melbourne will be truly down in the dumps.</p> <p>However, the Chooks are set to be without gun outside backs Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii, as both were casualties of their win over Cronulla.</p> <p>While the Storm were beyond terrible against Brisbane, we are certain Craig Bellamy will be laying down the law in training this week to get them back to their best.</p> <p>All in all, with home ground advantage, their wealth of finals experience and fallen comrade Papenhuyzen on their mind, we are tipping the Storm to rally against the depleted Zombie Roosters and make it through to the final four.</p>

<h2>New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, September 16, 4:05pm AEST – Mt Smart Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The second semi-final sees <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-newcastle-knights-7623810">the white-hot Knights travel across the ditch to face the Warriors</a> at Mt Smart Stadium.</p> <p>The Wahs qualifying final clash away to Penrith was effectively a non-starter as soon as Shaun Johnson was ruled out with a calf injury.</p> <p>As expected, the Panthers comfortably took care of the New Zealand side sans their star man.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Knights extended their late season winning streak to a mind blowing 10 games in a row with their extra time win over the Raiders.</p> <p>No doubt the Warriors would have sat back and watched with glee as the Knights and the Raiders knocked the stuffing out of each other for an extra 10 minutes than they needed to.</p> <p>Still, it was the Knights who ended up on top after extra time, with a Kalyn Ponga penalty goal the difference in the end.</p> <p>It wasn’t an easy win for Newcastle, and they were reeled in late on by a Raiders side who really sank their teeth into the contest. Jack Wighton, we're looking at you.</p> <p>Biting allegations aside, the biggest news out of this one was the ankle injury to halfback Jackson Hastings.</p> <p>It will be a tale of two injured halves on Saturday when these sides face off. If Shaun Johnson is still out, we aren’t giving the Warriors much hope as he has been at the heart of everything good they have done in 2023.</p> <p>If he does suit up though and Hastings does not, in front of a raucous home crowd it will surely be the Warriors moving on against a Knighs’ side whose fuel gauge will be running close to empty after their extra time war with the Raiders.</p>