They are the Sydney v Sydney blockbusters that will have a significant influence on the make-up of the NRL finals – and they are coming to ANZ Stadium in June and July.
As we mark the halfway point of the 26-round NRL season, there are four crucial games on the horizon that could make or break the finals hopes of a number of Sydney clubs.
The key ANZ Stadium games that will unfold in coming days are:
- Eels v Dragons, Sunday 18 June;
- Eels v Bulldogs, Thursday 29 June;
- Rabbitohs v Panthers, Sunday 2 July;
- Wests Tigers v Eels, Sunday 23 July.
There are other important games too, but these Sydney v Sydney games will be special.
Of course, looking ahead there is so much more NRL action to come in the countdown to NRL Grand Final Day on Sunday 1 October.
Sydney has witnessed three of the most memorable NRL Grand Finals in history over the past three seasons.
It was the South Sydney Rabbitohs winning their first title in 43 years in 2014; the first all-Queensland Grand Final when the North Queensland Cowboys beat the Brisbane Broncos to win their first ever title in 2015; and who will forget Cronulla’s historic first premiership win in 2016?
So who will it be this year?