Well, with the NRL finals beginning, the AFL finals continuing, and the U.S. Open finals this weekend, it’s well and truly ‘finals time’.

Outside of professional sport, good luck to all those playing in community sport finals. I hope you take some inspiration from those doing it on the big stage as you get a chance to write your own piece of history.

If you’ve got a great finals story, I’d love to hear it and share it with our readers!

🏎️ Formula 1 will debut a new circuit this weekend, with the Spanish Grand Prix returning to Madrid for the first time in 45 years. The Madring, a 20 corner circuit on the edge of the city which has been purpose built for F1, will host its first race on Sunday night (AEST). Italian Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers championship on 267 points, ahead of teammate George Russell. Australia's Oscar Piastri sits seventh for McLaren.

🏉 The Sydney Roosters have finished the NRLW regular season undefeated, beating the Bulldogs 42-12 on Thursday night to end with 11 wins from 11 games. The result sealed a second consecutive minor premiership for the Roosters and sends them into the finals as favourites. The Bulldogs’ season came to a close as they finished 10th on the ladder with three wins. In the NRLW, only the top six qualify for the finals series, beginning next week.

🚲 Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič improved his position in the Vuelta a Espana overnight, moving into second place and gaining 30 seconds on overall race leader Enric Mas after a Stage 18 time trial. Roglič, a four time winner of the race, is now just one minute and 37 seconds behind Spain’s Mas with three stages remaining. Switzerland’s Stefan Küng won the stage.

Talking points: The NRL finals begin on Friday night with eight teams left to battle it out for the 2026 premiership. The weekend opens with an elimination final between the South Sydney Rabbitohs (6th) and the Newcastle Knights (7th) in Sydney. On Saturday afternoon, the first qualifying final will see the New Zealand Warriors (2nd) host the Dolphins (3rd) in Auckland. The teams playing in qualifying finals finished in the top four and will get a second chance if they lose and a week off if they win. The first qualifying final will be followed by a do-or-die elimination final between the Cronulla Sharks (5th) and North Queensland Cowboys (8th) in Sydney. On Sunday afternoon, the second qualifying final will see the Sydney Roosters (4th) face the Penrith Panthers (1st), who secured the NRL minor premiership last week for the fourth time in the past seven years.

How to watch: Tonight’s match between the Rabbitohs and Knights will kick off at 7:50pm (AEST). All four NRL finals will be live on Channel 9, Foxtel, and Kayo.

Talking points: Six teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 AFL premiership, and two of them will be gone by Saturday night. Tonight, minor premiers Fremantle will be looking to halt Geelong’s seven-match winning streak and reach a preliminary final for the first time since 2015. In two matches this year, Geelong won 110-100 in Round 1 and Fremantle won 99-90 in Round 15. The winner of this match will play the Sydney Swans next week in a preliminary final. On Saturday night, the Brisbane Lions will host the Adelaide Crows. The Lions are chasing a third straight premiership and will be looking to bounce back from a 53-point loss to Sydney last week. Meanwhile, the Crows will be out to claim their first win at the Gabba since 2018. In the only meeting between the two sides this year, also at the Gabba, the Lions won 127-75. The winner will play Hawthorn next week for a spot in the grand final.

How to watch: Fremantle will play Geelong at 8:10pm on Friday (AEST). Both matches are on Channel 7, Foxtel, and Kayo.

Talking points: Aryna Sabalenka is into the U.S. Open final after beating Jessica Pegula (7-5, 6-2) to extend her New York winning streak to nineteen. The remaining women’s semifinal features Coco Gauff and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who meet for a place in the final against Sabalenka. Rybakina has dominated on serve all fortnight, while Gauff leans on her hard court record and home support. At the time of writing, Gauff is leading. In the men’s draw, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton will play at 9am tomorrow for a spot in the final. Either player will become the first Black American man in a major singles final since 1996, and both will be trying to end the 23 year American men’s Grand Slam win drought dating back to Andy Roddick in 2003. Top seed Alexander Zverev faces Karen Khachanov in the other semi. All four of these players are seeking their first U.S. Open win.

How to watch: You can watch the U.S. Open on 9Gem and Stan Sport.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi and George Finlayson.

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