NRL and AFL Finals Deliver Blockbuster Weekend of Footy
Finals football delivered drama across two codes this week, with the Sydney Roosters cementing themselves as genuine premiership contenders in the NRL and the Brisbane Lions surviving an AFL thriller against Hawthorn.
At a sold-out Allianz Stadium, the Roosters produced a dominant performance to overpower the Cronulla Sharks, putting themselves within reach of a first grand final appearance since their title-winning run seven years ago. The comprehensive win in front of a packed home crowd has reignited talk of a deep finals charge, with the Tricolours looking sharp in both attack and defence heading into the business end of the season.
Cronulla, who had entered the fixture with genuine finals aspirations of their own, were unable to match the Roosters' intensity and paid for a string of uncharacteristic errors. The scale of the defeat leaves the Sharks facing an anxious wait to discover whether their season will continue, while the Roosters now turn their attention to booking a grand final berth.
Across the country, the AFL produced a finals contest already being talked about as one of the most thrilling in the competition's history. The Brisbane Lions got the better of Hawthorn in a see-sawing battle that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final siren, with the margin between the two sides wafer-thin for long stretches of the game.
Both teams traded the lead multiple times, with momentum swinging back and forth as the contest entered its closing minutes. The Lions ultimately found the composure to hold their nerve, booking their spot in the next round of finals and keeping alive their pursuit of a premiership. Hawthorn, despite the heartbreaking loss, will take confidence from a performance that pushed one of the competition's benchmark sides to the brink.
The results cap off a weekend that underlined why September remains the most captivating stretch of the Australian sporting calendar, with both codes producing finals football at its highest intensity. Attention now turns to the next round of fixtures, as clubs across both competitions push for a place in their respective grand finals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Roosters comfortably defeated the Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium, moving a step closer to their first grand final appearance in seven years.
It was extremely tight, with the lead changing hands multiple times before the Brisbane Lions held on to win in what many are calling one of the most thrilling finals in AFL history.
Cronulla and Hawthorn both face a nervous wait, with their seasons hanging in the balance as they look to bounce back in the next stage of their respective finals series.