Overview

• Penrith eliminated the Warriors 24-8 in Auckland, with Nathan Cleary’s kicking control pivotal, to book a semi-final at Accor Stadium next Saturday against Canterbury.
• Stephen Crichton’s season is over with a syndesmosis injury, per the Sydney Morning Herald, after he left the Storm loss in a moon boot and on crutches.
• Viliame Kikau has substantial swelling around his right eye with further assessment to determine damage, and Enari Tuala’s calf injury is expected to rule him out next week.
• Coach Cameron Ciraldo is considering a Toby Sexton–Lachlan Galvin halves pairing with Matt Burton at centre after the mid-game reshuffle sparked the Bulldogs’ attack.
• Melbourne beat Canterbury 26-18 to secure a preliminary final and a week off, while Penrith’s win featured a late, questioned forward-pass in the build-up to Casey McLean’s try.