NRL FINALS FIRST WEEKEND MATCH-UPS1st Elimination Final5-Brisbane Broncos v 8-Gold Coast Titans - Friday September 9, 7:50pm AEST (6:10pm local) at Suncorp StadiumMeetings in 2016 - Brisbane Broncos won only gameR5: Brisbane Broncos 24 def Gold Coast Titans 16 at Cbus Super StadiumBrisbane Broncos:Season record 15-9 - Last 5 WWWWW - Against top 8 sides: Won 5, Lost 6One of the form teams of the competition, the Broncos have bounced back from their State of Origin hangover with a vengeance.Theyve won their past five games and in two of their past three have humbled fellow finalists the Bulldogs and Storm.In a major boost not only have the team hit form but so have playmakers Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford and the latter is vital.Gold Coast Titans: 11-1-12 - Last 5 LLWWL - Against top 8 sides: Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 8The Titans have squeaked into the finals with back-to-back losses and havent beaten a fellow top-eight side since Penrith in round 11, theyre also still waiting for Jarryd Hayne to do something amazing. They might just be waiting until the 2017 season for that.1st Qualifying Final2-Canberra Raiders v 3-Cronulla Sharks - Saturday September 9, 5.30pm AEST at GIO StadiumMeetings in 2016 - Cronulla won one game, Canberra won one gameR7: Cronulla 40 def Canberra 16 at GIO StadiumR22: Canberra 30 def Cronulla 14 at Remondis StadiumCanberra - 17-1-6 - Last 5 WWWWW - Against top 8 sides: Won 7, Lost 4Canberra are red hot.The Raiders are the in-form team of the NRL and as we enter the finals series theyve won their past 10.Scalps in that run include Gold Coast, North Queensland, Cronulla and Melbourne.In the same 10 matches theyve not once failed to score more than 22 points.Cronulla - 17-1-6 - Last 5 LWLLL - Against top 8 sides: Won 8, Drawn 1, Lost 3If Canberra are peaking at the right time the Sharks might have peaked too soon.The pressure of chasing a maiden premiership could be getting to the boys in the black, white and blue, who have coughed up losses to also-rans Souths and St George in the past month.2nd Qualifying Final1-Melbourne Storm v 4-North Queensland Cowboys, Saturday September 10, AAMI Park, 8pmMeetings in 2016 - The Storm have won bothR21: Storm 16 def Cowboys 8 at 1300 Smiles StadiumR10: Storm 15 def Cowboys 14 at Suncorp StadiumMelbourne - 19-5 - Last 5 WLWLW - Against top 8 sides: Won 7, Lost 4Craig Bellamys men carry mixed form into the finals. The last time they put together back-to-back wins was round 22. While they downed minor premiership rivals Cronulla 26-6 on Saturday theyve also been well beaten by fellow contenders the Broncos (26-16) and the Raiders (22-8) in the past month.North Queensland - 15-9 - WWWLL - Against top 8 sides: Won 6, Lost 5The Cowboys are warming to their title defence. Three wins in three weeks over the Warriors (34-6), the Bulldogs (24-16) and the Titans (32-16) gives them some strong momentum even if they havent really been tested by anyone in form.2nd Elimination Final6-Penrith Panthers v 7-Canterbury Bulldogs, Sunday September 11, Allianz Stadium, 4pmMeetings in 2016 - The Bulldogs won their only encounterR2: Bulldogs 18 def Panthers 16 Pepper StadiumPenrith - 14-10 - Last 5 WWWWW - Against top 8 sides: Won 4, Lost 7The Panthers are on the prowl. While the Raiders have taken the NRL by storm the Panthers have quietly gone about their business, marching to the finals on the back of a five-match winning streak. They put an exclamation mark on that by humiliating Manly 36-6 in round 26 but the only top eight side theyve faced since mid July are the Titans and they got away with a 15-14 win there.Canterbury - 14-10 - Last 5 LLLWW - Against top 8 sides: Won 4, Lost 6The Dogs are struggling. Theyve been rolled by Souths (28-10), the Cowboys (24-16) and the Broncos (20-10) over the past three weeks and havent beat a top eight side since mid June. Custom USWNT Jerseys .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. USWNT Jerseys 2021 . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. https://www.cheapuswnt.com/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Cheap USWNT Jerseys . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. USWNT Pro Shop . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. NEW ORLEANS -- Former Saints star Will Smith was executed by an irate driver as Smiths wounded wife lay nearby during the chaos that followed an April 9 traffic accident, a prosecutor told a New Orleans jury Sunday during closing arguments in the shooters trial.But a defense attorney said the defendant, Cardell Hayes, 29, was the victim of a rushed investigation by police reacting to the death of a beloved football star. And he insisted Hayes fired in self-defense.This young man tried his best, trying to avoid doing what he had to do, John Fuller shouted during a thundering closing argument. He reminded jurors not to be star-struck by the parade of Smiths famous former teammates who attended the weeklong trial.Hayes, 29, was on trial for second-degree murder in Smiths death, and attempted second-degree murder in the wounding of Smiths wife, Racquel. A jury was expected to begin deliberations Sunday.Saints coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees, and former running back Deuce McAllister were among those who attended to show support for Smiths widow -- a witness and daily front-row spectator. Former Saints safety Steve Gleason, battling Lou Gehrigs disease, watched closing arguments Sunday from his wheelchair in the courtrooms middle aisle.Racquel Smith was hit first when gunshots rang out on the night of April 9, a bullet tearing through her leg, Assistant Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Napoli told the jury as he recounted the crime in his closing argument.She then listened as the love of her life, the father of her children, was executed, Napoli said, noting that Hayes pumped eight .45-caliber bullets into Smith -- one in the side, seven in the back.Napoli dismissed defense claims that a drunken Smith was the aggressor and that Hayes was defending himself in accordance with Louisianas stand your ground law.That law doesnt appply, Napoli said, because Hayes was the aggressor and was engaged in a criminal act, having armed himself after he purposely rammed his Hummer into Smiths Mercedes SUV.ddddddddddddHayes took the stand Saturday, insisting that he only fired after Smith struck him several times and grabbed a gun from his damaged Mercedes -- and after he heard what sounded like a gunshot.I knew for a fact that I was going to get shot, Hayes told the jury.No other witness said Smith was armed. Prosecutors said the loaded gun remained untouched inside Smiths damaged car.Fuller told jurors that Hayes was the victim of an incomplete investigation. He said police failed to take a DNA sample from a cup found on the crime scene. (Hayes said Smith had thown a drink cup at him at the beginning of their confrontation).Fuller also said investigators failed to obtain video from a bar and two restaurants that Smith had visited prior to the shooting, video that might have helped in gauging Smiths temperament that night.A pathologists report showed Smith was legally drunk after spending time at the citys annual French Quarter Festival. He was driving with a group of friends traveling in several cars when his SUV appeared to lightly bump Hayes Hummer -- a bump captured on surveillance videos. Smith then drove off, with Hayes in pursuit.Hayes vehemently denied that he intentionally rammed Smiths vehicle several blocks later. He told the jury that he was trying to dial 911 and didnt realize how close they were as he tried to report a hit-and-run.Hayes is a former semi-professional football player who said hes an admirer of Smith. He said he didnt realize the man he killed was Smith until hours after the shooting, while he was in police custody. ' ' '