Overview
- Penrith routed Canterbury 46-26 after a record 36-8 halftime lead, with Nathan Cleary starring as Paul Alamoti scored a hat-trick and Brian To'o crossed twice.
- The Panthers booked a preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium against Brisbane next Sunday, with coach Ivan Cleary expecting Liam Martin (rib) and Casey McLean (hip) to be available after precautionary exits.
- Canterbury exited the finals in straight sets and sorely missed injured captain Stephen Crichton, whose ankle syndesmosis layoff forced disruptive backline reshuffles.
- Cronulla advanced to face Melbourne in the other preliminary final after defeating Canberra, leaving four teams in the premiership race.
- The Wallabies lost flanker Rob Valetini to a calf injury and remain without Will Skelton, as the All Blacks welcomed back Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Codie Taylor and Patrick Tuipulotu ahead of Eden Park.