How do the NRL Finals work? Qualification, structure, seeding and more

We break down the intricacies of the NRL Finals system, and take a closer look at the qualification structure, seedings and much more.

Who qualifies for the NRL Finals?

The top eight teams at the end of each regular NRL Premiership season will advance through to the NRL Finals.

Seventeen teams currently compete in the Premiership, with a points system in place to determine the standings.

During the regular season, which consists of 24 games, each victory is worth two points, while a draw is worth one and teams get zero for a loss. Teams also receive two points for a bye week.

In the case of tied teams, for and against record, which is a subtraction of total points against from total points for, is used to determine league positions.

How are the NRL Finals fixtures decided?

NRL Finals fixtures are determined by the regular season Premiership league ladder.

Teams who finish in first and second position will gain home advantage in their Week 1 Qualifying Finals, and will take on the teams who finished the season in third and fourth positions.

The top two will also benefit from their top two league position by being handed a second opportunity in the Finals should either succumb to defeat in their opening match.

Teams who finish in third position down to eight position are eliminated from the competition following a defeat, whereas seeds one and two return for the Week 2 Semi-Finals if they are beaten in their opening matches.

The NRL Finals are designed to give the teams who finish higher up the Premiership table a greater opportunity of reaching the NRL Grand Final.

NFL Finals format

The NRL finals format has undergone several changes since its inception in 1998.

The somewhat controversial McIntyre System was previously used, however, given the heavy criticism it received for being too complex and unfair, significant changes were made in 2012.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) opted to introduce the competitions current format, which is a modified version of the AFL finals system.

Many feel that this format offers a fairer and more transparent pathway to the Grand Final.

Week One: The Qualifying & Elimination Finals

In the first week of the finals, four games are played:

• 1st Qualifying Final: First placed team against fourth placed team (1 v 4)
• 2nd Qualifying Final: Second placed team against third placed team (2 v 3)
• 1st Elimination Final: Fifth placed team against eighth placed team (5 v 8)
• 2nd Elimination Final: Sixth paced team against seventh placed team (6 v 7)

The winners of the two Qualifying Finals earn a bye in Week Two and advance directly to the Preliminary Finals in Week Three.

Meanwhile, the losers are offered a second opportunity in the Week Two Semi-Finals.

The winners of the two Elimination Finals - teams placed fifth to eighth - progress to the Semi-Finals, while the two losers are eliminated from the competition.

Week Two: The Semi-Finals

Two games are played during the second week of the finals:

• 1st Semi-Final: The loser of the 1st Qualifying Final against the winner of the 1st Elimination Final
• 2nd Semi-Final: The loser of the 2nd Qualifying Final against the winner of the 2nd Elimination Final

The winners of these matches advance to the Preliminary Finals, while the two losers are knocked out of the competition.

Week Three: The Preliminary Finals

The third week of the finals features two hugely significant matches:

• 1st Preliminary Final: The winner of the 1st Qualifying Final against the winner of the 2nd Semi-Final
• 2nd Preliminary Final: The winner of the 2nd Qualifying Final against the winner of the 1st Semi-Final

The two winners progress through to the NRL Grand Final, while the two losers are eliminated from the competition.

Week Four: The Grand Final

The pinnacle of the NRL season, the Grand Final:

• The Grand Final: The winner of the 1st Preliminary Final against the winner of the 2nd Preliminary Final

What happens if there is a draw in the NRL Finals?

If an NRL Finals game is drawn, extra time (two five minute halves) will be played to ensure a winner is found.

Unlike the regular season, NRL Finals games cannot end in a draw, meaning that if the game remains tied following the additional ten minutes, then the golden point rule comes into effect, with the first team to score being declared the winner.

During the regular season, the golden point rule comes into effect straight away, but in the NRL Finals, the full additional ten minutes must be played to ensure there is even opportunity for teams to hit the front.

However, as previously mentioned, If scores are still tied at the end of the additional allotted time period, it will then become golden point with the teams playing until a winner is found.