Injuries, form slumps and the desire for more X-factor or defensive stability can prompt NRL coaches to roll the dice on the selection table at finals time.   As the 2026 playoffs unfold, Warriors fans are fiercely debating whether their club should gamble on departing half Luke Metcalf when fit, while seemingly season-ending injury diagnoses for Roosters halfback Sam Walker and Knights back-rower Dylan Lucas may be reversed as the finals wear on.  Here’s some of the most surprising and controversial finals series selection calls from down the years.   Willey punts on schoolboy  Brad Fittler dazzled when he came off the bench for heavyweights Penrith in the last two regular season…

In their fourth NRL season, the Dolphins make their maiden finals foray this Saturday against the daunting backdrop of Auckland’s Go Media Stadium as they take on the Warriors.   Clubs’ finals debuts have delivered jarring realities, incredible upsets and memorable moments. We relive every NRL team’s initial post-season outing.   Brisbane Broncos (1990)   After narrowly missing the finals in their first two seasons, Brisbane was edged out for the minor premiership by Canberra on for-and-against – and a grand final showdown between the star-studded line-ups loomed.   Penrith had other ideas in the major preliminary semi-final, however, ambushing the Broncos at the SFS. The Panthers – who had never won a  powered to an 18-2 halftime lead, while rampaging…