Heading into the final round, the top eight is all but locked in with only a Roosters upset loss to the Rabbitohs giving the Dolphins a slim chance of changing the status quo.

The Roosters and premiers Penrith are set to attack the playoffs from the bottom two rungs in the bracket, likely taking on Cronulla and the Warriors to kick off their post-season campaign.

They both would be favourites in that scenario – Penrith, after their controversial resting policy in the penultimate round, should be too strong for the Warriors and the Roosters have far more firepower than the Sharks judging by recent form. 

From there, the path to the title will become exponentially harder but both Penrith and the Roosters are a puncher’s chance of making significant inroads from the lower reaches of the playoff equation.

Here’s how the teams stack up after Round 26. 

1. Raiders (Last week 1): They are starting to resemble the 2003 Panthers who came from nowhere to win the minor premiership and then upset the Roosters in the premiership decider. 

Ricky Stuart knows all about that team because that year he was the coach of the red-hot Roosters, who were brought undone on grand final night.

2. Storm (2): They may have stuffed up by resting a few players and opening the door wide for the Roosters to enter the playoffs.

But there’s nothing to worry about for Craig Bellamy and as long as Jahrome Hughes gets through his comeback from injury, they will enter the finals as the favourites for the title. 

Corey Horsburgh celebrates with teammates (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

3. Broncos (3): They weren’t at their best in knocking over the Cowboys, but as long as Reece Walsh’s diamonds outweigh his rocks, so to speak, then they will be capable of doing some damage in the finals 

4. Roosters (5): It was looking grim for Trent Robinson’s team as they headed to Melbourne without Sam Walker, but their second half avalanche of points has all but secured their spot in the top eight. 

If Mark Nawaqanitawase is not in the Ashes squad at season’s end, then even more questions need to be asked about Kevin Walters’ appointment. 

5. Bulldogs (6): They get a slight bump up over Penrith even though it was a Clayton’s win because they beat the NSW Cup version. 

Canterbury will enter the finals in third spot, but with plenty of questions over their ability to beat the top dogs. 

6. Panthers (4): Yes, it was only their reserve grade side that lost to Canterbury, but that’s still three losses on the bounce for Ivan Cleary’s side with just one week before the finals. 

They may be refreshed, but they have lost the momentum they had built up and although they are capable of going deep into the playoffs, a fifth straight premiership seems pretty unlikely.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: Dylan Edwards of the Panthers passes during the round 20 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium, on July 18, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Dylan Edwards passes. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

7. Sharks (7): They took a while to get going before eventually trouncing Newcastle at Shark Park on Sunday. 

Cronulla still appear overly structured in attack and rely more on opposition defensive lapses than their own creativity to put points on the board. 

8. Eels (9): If there were another three or four rounds after this one, you’d put money on Parra making the finals. 

They’ve won four of their past six games, including victories over three finals sides in Brisbane, the Roosters and Warriors.

Parra should knock over the Knights on Sunday to complete an unexpectedly prosperous first season under Jason Ryles. 

9. Warriors (8): They had a few calls go against them in their loss to Parramatta, but unfortunately for them, there’s no hiding from the fact that injuries have derailed their campaign.

They’ve won just twice in the past six weeks and even with home-ground advantage in week one of the finals, they’ll be underdogs in their likely match-up against Penrith. 

10. Rabbitohs (10): They had the bye and get a chance to knock the Roosters out of the finals this Friday.

The decision to potentially play Cameron Murray in the final round is an odd one. There is little to gain but plenty to lose if he gets injured again after his pre-season Achilles rupture. 

11. Sea Eagles (11): They won a nice old game of touch footy against the Dragons at Kogarah on Saturday. 

It has been a disappointing season for them and it won’t just be Daly Cherry-Evans’ last game for the club this Friday against the Warriors. 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Kristian Woolf assistant coach of the Dolphins looks o during the round 17 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Dolphins at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on June 30, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Kristian Woolf. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

12. Dolphins (10): Defensive structures weren’t front of mind either in their Sunday shootout with the Titans.

The fact that they only just got over the top of the team in last place shows that they probably don’t deserve to be in the finals and unless Souths coach Wayne Bennett does his old team an almighty favour, they won’t be there. 

13. Tigers (11): Playing like a team with no motivation at the moment but hey, they have avoided a fourth straight wooden spoon and finishing 11th may not sound like much but it’s an impressive leap forward under Benji Marshall.

14. Cowboys (15): This mob has been playing touch footy all year but unfortunately for them, most of their opponents tend to tackle even though Brisbane also didn’t do too much of it on Saturday night.

Todd Payten’s support staff is reportedly getting the boot which means he will be next unless he can turn their fortunes around early next season. 

15. Dragons (12): A disappointing end to a season that had been for the most part competitive with back-to-back thumpings from South Sydney and Manly.

They are a better team than one that finishes in 15th spot but the ladder doesn’t lie after round 27 when all the byes are finally even.

16. Knights (16): The fact that the Adam O’Brien era is over is not a surprise.

What should be a shock to Knights fans is that the coach said he had to instigate his departure. If management could not see the writing on the wall then they should also be cleaning out their desks. 

17. Titans (17): They have been close but not close enough several times in the past couple of months and so it was again on Sunday when they went down to the Dolphins. 

Des Hasler is adamant that he will rise again in his coaching career but it’s hard to see how he will get another head coaching gig and he is definitely not the kind of guy who will settle into an assistant’s role.