From premiership winners to who won’t make the finals, it’s time to make some big calls for the 2026 NRLW season.

Here are 12 bold predictions.

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ROOSTERS WIN PREMIERSHIP

The Roosters came just four points shy of a perfect season and premiership in 2025, and they will not let themselves fall agonisingly short again.

This season won’t be a two-horse race like last year, with teams across the board facing player shuffles that are set to rock the competition.

One of the few stable forces is the Roosters. The side is stacked with elite talent, boasting names like Isabelle Kelly, Olivia Kernick and Rima Butler. The Tricolours are hopeful of seeing a strong return for gun playmaker Tarryn Aiken, who suffered an ACL injury last season.

With Aiken currently set for a mid-season return, the Roosters are the best bet to take out the title they came so close to in 2025.

KELLY WINS DALLY M MEDAL

We’re tipping the Roosters to take out the title and Isabelle Kelly is sure to play a huge role in the win.

Kelly fell six points shy of Broncos superstar Tamika Upton for the Dally M Medal last season, yet her skills did not go unrecognised, as she took out Dally M Centre of the Year and Captain of the Year.

Averaging 193 run metres, the NRLW’s second-highest output in 2025, Kelly will be looking to uphold the same standard, as she chases a premiership and then a Jillaroos World Cup triumph on home soil.

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2025 grand final captains: Ali Brigginshaw of the Broncos and Isabelle Kelly of the Roosters.Source: News Corp Australia

WARRIORS MAKE FIRST-EVER FINALS

After re-entering the competition last year, the Warriors fell short of a finals campaign. Yet following the signing of a huge Broncos trio, New Zealand is poised to make a serious play for the title.

With the addition of Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year Gayle Broughton, veteran forward Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala and Kiwi Ferns star Mele Hufanga, the Warriors are ready for their first finals campaign.

These three share a winning history together, which they will be ready to uphold in a new jersey.

The addition of these premiership winning stars from Brisbane will make a huge difference for the Warriors, especially when led by two-time title winning coach, Ronald Griffiths.

GRIFFITHS WINS DALLY M COACH OF THE YEAR

With the Warriors set to make their mark, Griffiths will play a key part in their success.

He came close in 2022 and 2023 following grand final wins with the Knights, but this could be the year Griffiths finally takes home the top coach gong.

With new talent from the Broncos as well as rugby union star Stacey Waaka joining the squad, creating the perfect line-up will be essential, but we are betting on the veteran coach to get it done.

Mele Hufanga of the Broncos poses after winning the Karyn Murphy Medal – but she’ll suit up for the Warriors in 2026.Source: Getty Images

BRONCOS MISS GRAND FINAL

The Broncos may have been a powerful force last season, but with a staggering seven players departing, the dominant side will not be going back-to-back in 2026.

Without Gayle Broughton, the premiership-winning spine is broken up, while Nu’uausala and Hufanga are also serious losses; the latter having won the Karyn Murphy Medal in the grand final.

The side will benefit from the addition of Jesse Southwell, but the young gun’s talent likely won’t be enough to offset such huge losses.

With the Roosters maintaining consistency and teams like Warriors and Sharks growing stronger, another Brisbane grand final is in serious doubt.

KNIGHTS MISS TOP FOUR

The Knights have always been a dominant force, making the top-four in four of their five seasons, including two premiership and a semi-final run last year.

However, the team’s years of success came largely from the hands of Southwell, while they also had to cover the loss of megastar fullback Tamika Upton last year.

Southwell was a driving force behind the Knights success, and without her the team will need to hope Kirra Dibb can fill the void.

Newcastle are a tough team to count out, but with the blow of Southwell and announcement that Dally M Winger of the Year Sheridan Gallagher is also departing, we’re calling that Knights won’t make the four, likely having an early exit from the finals.

Jesse Southwell is in for a gigantic 2026. Picture: NRL Imagery/David HossackSource: Supplied

SOUTHWELL JILLAROOS HALFBACK AT WORLD CUP

Southwell is going to be a huge factor for the Broncos in 2026, and following a stellar campaign with the Jillaroos during the Pacific Championships, she has a real chance at doing it all again.

The 20-year-old was named in the Pacific Championship squad following the ACL injury to Tarryn Aiken, yet as Dally M Halfback of the Year, she was a clear choice in her own right.

With Aiken currently set to return mid-season, coach Jess Skinner will be in for a difficult selection, although after what is sure to be an impressive season leading Brisbane, we think Southwell will earn the spot.

The big question may be whether it’s Aiken or legend Ali Brigginshaw who partners Southwell. Brigginshaw will spend the entire NRLW season alongside Southwell – but has selflessly declared that the time has arrived for her new Broncos teammate and Aiken to lead the way, and she’ll only play if needed.

KEELEY DAVIS STARTING HOOKER

Skinner will have a wealth of options at No.9 for the World Cup, but we’re putting our money on Roosters’ Keeley Davis to come away with it.

Davis was initially selected in the Jillaroos squad for the Pacific Championships, yet missed the final after suffering a dislocated shoulder against New Zealand in the third round.

Arising as back-up options were Olivia Higgins and Quincy Dodd, while Dally M Hooker of the Year Emma Manzelmann was desperately unlucky not to get a shot.

Davis’ initial selection and strong early showing should be enough to keep her atop Skinner’s mind, though she’ll certainly need to earn it; and should, in a mighty Roosters team.

Emma Manzelmann, Romy Teitzel and Makenzie Weale will all hope to push their World Cup claims with a victorious Origin series for Queensland. Picture: Evan MorganSource: News Corp Australia

QUEENSLAND WIN CLOSE ORIGIN SERIES

Last year saw NSW win 2-1 with a dominant first two games, but with Brigginshaw set to play her final Origin series, Queensland is sure to put up an incredible fight.

Upton will be back and no doubt on fire. Meanwhile, Aiken will be looking to return, while the likes of Keilee Joseph and Romy Teitzel are playing for a World Cup spot.

The NSW side will not let up easy though, with Jillaroos Isabelle Kelly, Jesse Southwell and Kezie Apps looking to go back-to-back.

RAIDERS MAKE FINALS

After they finished 11th last year, this is a big call – but with a strong forward pack, plus a huge signing in former Knights star Sheridan Gallagher, the Raiders are poised to make a real run this season.

Gallagher will be a huge addition to Canberra, coming away from three seasons with Newcastle where she was their leading try-scorer, scoring 25 tries over 32 NRLW games.

As a 2025 Dally M Winger of the Year, Gallagher will work alongside co-captains Zahara Temara and Simaima Taufa to form a new-look Raiders outfit that should be much improved after an encouraging end to last season.

With the Raiders playing some of last year’s biggest competitors in the Broncos, Roosters and Sharks at home, they are in with a real shot at a finals campaign.

Second-last to finals? Zahara Temara will hope it’s possible for the Canberra Raiders.Source: Getty Images

DRAGONS TAKE WOODEN SPOON

The Dragons finished 10th in 2025 and without their veteran captain, Raecene McGregor, the side will struggle to climb any higher.

Coach Nathan Cross is relying on young talent to lead the side, with 23-year-old Zali Hopkins set to captain the side in McGregor’s absence, working alongside fellow young guns like Indie Bostock, while there’s been the welcome addition of Sharks lock Brooke Anderson.

While Cross will be hopeful the likes of Hopkins, Kasey Reh and Teagan Berry could lead the side in 2026, the Dragons will likely suffer without the experience and leadership to back them.

EXPANSION PLANS ANNOUNCED

The NRLW has seen rapid growth since its inaugural season in 2018, with 2025 marking the league’s biggest year yet, with 12 teams and an 11-round regular season plus a three-week finals series.

Following the addition of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and return of the New Zealand Warriors to the competition, league chief executive Andrew Abdo has revealed his plan to see every NRL team awarded an NRLW side.

There are five NRL clubs that don’t have a team in the NRLW yet: the Storm, Panthers, Dolphins, Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs, as well as the incoming Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs.

However, Abdo is confident these teams will have a team in the not-too-distant future, and we think an announcement could be made in 2026.

With the Bears and Chiefs to join the NRL in 2027 and 2028 respectively, Abdo has said their addition to the NRLW was an important consideration and would expect to see both teams appearing in the women’s competition very soon.