2021 NRL finals series

As a result of the 2021 NRL season's relocation to Queensland due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales and Victoria, all the finals matches were hosted in Queensland with stadiums at full capacity, with the only exception being the grand final at 75% capacity as a result of local COVID-19 cases and Queensland Government restrictions.[2][3] This saw Rockhampton and Mackay host their first finals matches, whilst Queensland Country Bank Stadium also played host to their first finals at the venue.

Brisbane	Mackay	Rockhampton
Suncorp Stadium	BB Print Stadium	Browne Park
Capacity: 52,500	Capacity: 12,200	Capacity: 8,000
Games: 3	Games: 2	Games: 1
Brisbane Mackay Rockhampton Sunshine Coast Townsville
Sunshine Coast	Townsville
Sunshine Coast Stadium	Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Capacity: 12,000	Capacity: 25,000
Games: 1	Games: 2

The system used for the 2021 NRL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home ground advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks and to the qualifying final winners in the third week.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final.[4]

Bracket

	Qualifying and elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals					Grand Final
	10 September – Sunshine Coast
	1	Melbourne Storm	40
	4	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	12			17 September – Mackay
						Manly Warringah Sea Eagles		42
	11 September – Townsville					Sydney Roosters		6				25 September – Brisbane
	5	Sydney Roosters	25									Melbourne Storm		6
	8	Gold Coast Titans	24									Penrith Panthers		10			3 October – Brisbane
																	Penrith Panthers		14
	12 September – Rockhampton											24 September – Brisbane					South Sydney Rabbitohs		12
	6	Parramatta Eels	28									South Sydney Rabbitohs		36
	7	Newcastle Knights	20			18 September – Mackay						Manly Warringah Sea Eagles		16
						Penrith Panthers		8
	11 September – Townsville					Parramatta Eels		6
	2	Penrith Panthers	10
	3	South Sydney Rabbitohs	16

Summary

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Crowd
Qualifying & Elimination Finals
Melbourne Storm	40 – 12	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Friday, 10 September, 7:50pm	Sunshine Coast Stadium	Grant Atkins	9,120
Sydney Roosters	25 – 24	Gold Coast Titans	Saturday, 11 September, 5:40pm	Queensland Country Bank Stadium	Adam Gee	15,237
Penrith Panthers	10 – 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Saturday, 11 September, 8:05pm	Queensland Country Bank Stadium	Gerard Sutton	18,244
Parramatta Eels	28 – 20	Newcastle Knights	Sunday, 12 September, 4:05pm	Browne Park	Ashley Klein	5,087
Semi-Finals
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	42 – 6	Sydney Roosters	Friday, 17 September, 7:50pm	BB Print Stadium	Gerard Sutton	5,824
Penrith Panthers	8 – 6	Parramatta Eels	Saturday, 18 September, 7:50pm	BB Print Stadium	Ashley Klein	6,011
Preliminary Finals
South Sydney Rabbitohs	36 – 16	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Friday, 24 September, 8:05pm	Suncorp Stadium	Ashley Klein	26,249
Melbourne Storm	6 – 10	Penrith Panthers	Saturday, 25 September, 4:00pm	Suncorp Stadium	Gerard Sutton	29,011
Grand Final
Penrith Panthers	14 – 12	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Sunday, 3 October, 6:30pm (AEST), 7:30pm (AEDT)	Suncorp Stadium	Gerard Sutton	39,322

The Grand Final saw the winner of the First Preliminary Final, the Penrith Panthers, against the winner of the Second Preliminary Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was the third finals meeting between the two sides, after the 2021 Qualifying Final, and the first Grand Final played between the teams.

2021 NRL Grand Final

Sunday, 3 October 18:35 AEST (UTC+10)

Penrith Panthers	14 – 12	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tries: 2 Burton  17' Crichton  67' Goals: 3 Cleary  19', pen 33', 69' (3/3)	1st: 8–6 2nd: 6–6	Tries: 2 Walker  21' Johnston  75' Goals: 2 Reynolds  23', pen 45' (2/3)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 39,322 Referee: Gerard Sutton Touch judges: Dave Munro, Todd Smith Clive Churchill Medal: Nathan Cleary (Penrith)