AdvertisementBillie EderUpdated September 13, 2026 — 3:47pm,first published 3:30pm
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Roosters team list: minimal changes for RobinsonPanthers team list: Talagi to start, Yeo benchedThe finals map so farWelcome
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If Daly Cherry-Evans ends his NRL career the way he began it – with a premiership – the 15-year gap between the feats would be the largest in history.
When he burst onto the scene for Manly in 2011 and won a grand final, the youngster from Redcliffe couldn’t have imagined just how hard that success would be to replicate.
Now, 352 first-grade games later, the only current player born in the 1980s pauses to consider how sweet it would be to finish as a winner.
“Bloody oath it would be,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I don’t know if anyone has done that, have they? First and last? There’s just been a big gap between winning them.”
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is convinced rookie utility Hugo Savala can handle the heat of NRL finals action, but it could be a temporary solution with star halfback Sam Walker back running.
Walker had ankle surgery on August 30 after suffering a syndesmosis injury in the round 26 clash with the Dolphins a day earlier, and has made a remarkable recovery.
Robinson wouldn’t be drawn on whether Walker could feature in a preliminary final should the Roosters beat Penrith in today’s qualifying final, but neither did he rule out the possibility.
“He’s recovered probably quicker than I’ve seen most syndesmosis injuries and he’s back moving in a straight line in a pretty good way which is really pleasing,” Robinson said.
“He’s on a good track to progress over the next couple of weeks.”
Read the full story here.
A little bit of shuffling for Roosters coach Trent Robinson, with Egan Butcher to start and Salesi Foketi moved to the bench.
1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Hugo Savala, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 12. Siua Wong, 20. Egan Butcher, 13. Victor Radley
Interchange: 11. Salesi Foketi, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Nat Butcher, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Tommy Talau
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has shuffled his team around, with Luke Garner out of the side with a minor groin strain, which has paved the way for Blaize Talagi to start in the centres.
The other big news is co-captain Isaah Yeo will start on the bench.
Here’s how the team lines up today.
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 4. Casey McLean, 18. Blaize Talagi, 5. Brian To’o. 6. Jack Cole, 7. Nathan Cleary (c), 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 16. Liam Henry, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Liam Martin, 10. Lindsay Smith.
Interchange: 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Freddy Lussick, 15. Scott Sorenson, 17. Billy Phillips, 19. Billy Scott
Good afternoon readers, and what a beautiful afternoon it is.
It’s a warm 25 degrees out in Parramatta right now, which is where I’m coming to you from for the Panthers and Roosters qualifying final at CommBank Stadium this afternoon.
The winner of this match will be rewarded with a week off, while the loser will have to face Cronulla next week.
Kick-off is 4.05pm, but we have plenty of news for you until then. Enjoy.
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