The 2018 finals series is upon us with the South Sydney Rabbitohs travelling down to Melbourne to take on the Storm in week 1 of the finals.
After impressively dispatching the Wests Tigers in the last game of the regular season the Rabbitohs consolidated third position on the NRL ladder and will now face the Storm at AAMI Park Friday 7 September.
The Rabbitohs will kick off what is set to be the most anticipated finals series in recent memory after the tightest finish ever season in an NRL season seeing the top eight teams separated by just two points.
The last time these two teams met, it was the Red and Green that left the field with the rewards as they overcame the Storm 30-20 in a classic at ANZ Stadium, notching just their fifth-ever win against the men in purple.
This coming Friday, the cardinal and myrtle are looking to go one better by beating the Storm on their own patch for the first time ever, whilst also advancing into the preliminary final.
In the other top four qualifying final, the Sydney Roosters will host the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks and in the elimination finals the Penrith Panthers will take on the New Zealand Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos will play the St George Illawarra Dragons.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the opening weekend of the Finals Series offered some wonderful match-ups.
"Based on how the top eight unfolded, our Finals Series is likely to be incredibly close," Mr Greenberg said.
"Just two points separated the entire top eight, which highlights how open the Finals Series will be.
"Anything can happen on any given day and I'm sure we will see the closeness of the regular season replicated in the Finals Series.
"This will be a great way to kick off the Finals Series."
Ticketed members prices start from $50 for families and $20 for Adults at every venue for the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series.
General Public tickets start from $65 for families and $25 for Adults.
Tickets will be on sale to Ticketed Club Members at 10am on Monday 3 September, while tickets for non-ticketed members will be on sale at 1pm.
Finals Series tickets will be on sale to the general public at 10am on Tuesday 4 September at www.nrl.com/tickets.
The NRL will donate $100 for every point scored during the Finals Series to Rural Aid to aid drought relief.
