Preliminary Finals at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday (28 April) saw six sides – from six different clubs – book their places in the 2018 UNE Harold Matthews Cup, Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup and UNE SG Ball Grand Finals, respectively.
UNE Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final – Parramatta Eels v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Runners-up in the Harold Matthews Cup last season, Manly ensured they'll have a chance to right the wrongs of 2017 when they downed the Penrith Panthers 22-10 in the first Preliminary Final.
Manly Win Through to 2018 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final
Newcastle Knights were unable to seal a 2017 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final rematch as the Under-16s Parramatta Eels overcame a scare to score a 36-12 win over last year's premiers.
Brennan Backs Under-16s Eels for title 21
Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final – Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights
Competition high-flyers Cronulla Sharks kept on their winning ways, withstanding the efforts of St. George to run away 44-30 victors against the Dragons.
Speedy No.3 Faith Nathan bagged five tries in the 14-point win, all-but single-handedly ensuring the Sharks wouldn't be bundled out at the preliminary finals stage – as they were in 2017.
Tarsha Gale Cup Sharks Secure Grand Final Berth
Newcomers Newcastle Knights will line up opposite the Sharks in the grand final on the back of their 26-16 win over the Wests Tigers.
On a tough afternoon for goal-kickers, blustery conditions saw the Knights prevail six-tries-to-four, setting up a clash with the Sharks – the side's last meeting in Week One of the Finals, Cronulla prevailing 40-38 that day.
First-Year Knights into Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final
UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final – Penrith Panthers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Penrith slotted an extra time field goal to edge Cronulla Sharks 17-16 in the sides' epic preliminary finals clash.
The minor premiers find their way to the decider having lost to Newcastle in Week One of the finals, overcoming a gallant Sharks outfit to set up a date with the Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval.
Under-18 Panthers Win Extra Time Thriller
Finishing the regular season in fifth place, the Bulldogs are no strangers to playing with a 'win at all costs' mentality, having played sudden-death football for the past three weeks.
The mind-set was one which, ultimately, proved the difference in the end – Canterbury-Bankstown scoring a late try against Newcastle to nab a dramatic 32-28 win.
SG Ball Bulldogs Out to end the Drought
