The NRL has delivered 25 weeks of madness so far, but the final fortnight promises

to be on another level with teams fighting for the minor premiership, an all-time duel for the try-scoring title, and a player on the cusp of greatness.

Here are the biggest storylines from the weekend and what they mean going

forward.

EIGHTH WONDER

They say Leichhardt Oval is the eighth wonder of the world, but the Wests Tigers beating the Roosters on Sunday to snap an eight-game losing streak is more astonishing. Benji Marshall’s men were 24.5 point outsiders against a team that started the round in top spot and had won eight on the trot. Even movies made in Hollywood don’t have upsets like this, but the Tigers somehow found form to shock the world. “I reckon that’s as proud as I’ve ever been as a coach,” Marshall said.

RACE TO THE TOP

The major upset at Allianz Stadium rocked the minor premiership race with the Warriors now on top thanks to a Luke Hanson field goal at the death to seal a 45-26 win over Souths. It was a scorigami (a scoreline never seen before in the NRL) and moved the Warriors to +295, one ahead of the Panthers. It sets up an epic race over the final fortnight of the season for the minor premiership.

FINALS FANTASY

The Bulldogs and Sea Eagles are still a mathematical chance after South Sydney’s loss to the Warriors. Canterbury produced their best attack of the season to thump the Dragons but must beat Penrith and Brisbane, and hope the Rabbitohs and Cowboys falter in the coming weeks. Manly’s path is much tougher, but their superior for and against gives them the faintest hope after their big win in Newcastle.

TRY AND TRY AGAIN

There was chat about Tom Jenkins breaking Dave Brown’s single season record of 38 tries, but the Panthers winger is now in a desperate fight just to finish 2026 as the NRL’s leading tryscorer. Jenkins started the year on fire but has gone three weeks without scoring which has opened the door for Alex Johnston to catch up. The game’s greatest finisher has scored in six-straight matches and is level with Jenkins on 28 tries. A strong finish will see him go past his previous best of 30 tries in 2021 and 2022.

THE STREAK IS OVER

The only thing more automatic than the Storm making finals was seeing the Undertaker win at WrestleMania. The Undertaker won 21 matches in a row at the showpiece event before the streak ended in 2014, with the Storm’s incredible run finally over after making the finals every year since 2011.

PAPA DON’T PREACH

There was no fairy tale farewell for Raiders legend Josh Papali’i in his final game in Canberra, with Brisbane returning to the scene of their epic 2025 heist to salvage something from a disastrous campaign. The defending premiers picked up just their second win since Anzac Day to ensure they don’t finish with the wooden spoon which is set to go to the Dragons for the first time.

MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

After conquering an Origin decider and silencing his haters, there is only one thing left for Nathan Cleary to achieve. The world’s best playmaker is odds on to win the Dally M Medal this year after leading Penrith to a win over the Storm. He was three points clear when voting went behind closed doors after 12 rounds, with rivals like Jackson Ford, James Tedesco, Braydon Trindall and teammate Dylan Edwards all missing crucial games in the race for the medal.

Originally published as Records, streaks and a crazy race to the top have emerged after a wild weekend in the NRL