NRL finals: Raiders eye Eels ambush as Sharks host Souths on ‘home’ turf

And then there were six. Goodbye Sydney Roosters, see you later Melbourne Storm. Buckle up, because week two of the finals series is here. For a reason escaping just about everybody except the NRL, there are three weeks still to go but we have already reached the “semi-finals” stage. But stranger things have happened in rugby league. And more curious turns could be taken yet. Penrith and North Queensland are now sitting pretty in the preliminary finals and will watch as Parramatta, Canberra, Cronulla and South Sydney play for the privilege of facing them with a grand-final berth on the line.

Not only do Parramatta face a trickier route to the grand final given their chastening 27-8 qualifying-final loss to Penrith last weekend, but they may also have to play for their season without Mitchell Moses. The half-back is navigating the NRL’s concussion protocols after failing a HIA following a worrying head knock during the Panthers game and, while he insists he is fine to return to the field, doctors may yet rule otherwise.

Moses has this week made a plea for involvement but should he be ruled out, coach Brad Arthur may call on his son Jake to help the Eels progress past week two of the finals for the first time in five attempts since 2017.

With a rare window of opportunity to make the most of, Arthur will be counting on home support against a Raiders outfit which notched a fifth consecutive win to the tune of 28-20 against the Melbourne Storm in last Saturday’s elimination final. The only sour note on that front was Adam Elliott. Or, more specifically, Adam Elliott’s hip, which gave the lock so much grief he called it a night after 30 minutes and could well be forced to sit this one out.

Still, they have Josh Papalii and