An NRL premiership is a tall mountain to climb and it can take years to build towards but just one injury or one player or coach exit for all of that work to come crashing down.

The Panthers’ four-peat made winning titles look easy to achieve, but in reality for most clubs, premierships are few and far between.

Just ask the Warriors, who have not won one since coming into the NRL in 1995 or the Titans, who haven’t even made a Grand Final since joining the competition in 2007.

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Meanwhile the Eels have the longest premiership-drought in NRL history standing at 39 years and counting, while the Tigers are in the midst of the longest finals drought, stretching back to 2011.

The Storm will always be a chance so long as Craig Bellamy is around, but even they are coming off back-to-back Grand Final defeats and haven’t won since 2020.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are always a chance while the Cleary’s are at the club and the Roosters will be contending for titles as long as uncle Nick Politis is running the show, but what about the other clubs?

Will the Broncos have to wait another 19 years for their next title or can Wayne Bennett avenge his 2021 Grand Final heartbreak with Souths?

And can Ricky Stuart take the Raiders from minor premiers to a first title since 1994 or will Craig Fitzgibbon get the Sharks back to a first Grand Final since 2016?

There are such small margins in the race for the premiership each season and realistically not all 17 teams will have a chance in 2016, so when is your club’s premiership window set to open and close?

Below, foxsports.com.au has predicted every club’s best window to secure an NRL premiership before a rebuild must take place.

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Premiership window: 2026-2030

Last title: 2025

Analysis: Much depends on Payne Haas’ future, but while ever the Broncos have him and Reece Walsh at the club, they are a chance to win a premiership.

Haas has been linked with a switch to R360, but if he re-signs with the Broncos long-term, Brisbane have the best forward in the game and ask any expert, you need a world class prop to win a title.

In Walsh the Broncos have potentially the best player in the game and some suggest he might even be there already, but at 23 he is only going to get better as the seasons goes on.

The question mark over a Broncos dynasty is that veteran playmakers Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt are coming to the end of their careers, with some suggesting 2026 could be their last shot at the title before a rebuild.

However, with Jonah Pezet coming in 2027, he can form a long-term halves pairing with Ezra Mam and Blake Mozer can replace Hunt at hooker when he retires.

With Haas and Carrigan leading the pack and a spine of Walsh, Mam, Pezet and Mozer, the Broncos can aim for the title for the next five years at least.

The Broncos ended a 19-year title drought in 2025.Source: Supplied

CANBERRA RAIDERS

Premiership window: 2027-2029

Last title: 1994

Analysis: It’s rare the defending minor premiers are not in a premiership window the following season, but the loss of Jamal Fogarty has pushed out their title hopes for a year or two.

Ethan Sanders will start next season at halfback with just four games of NRL experience to his name, while Coby Black will join the club in 2027 and could be released by the Broncos earlier, but he is yet to debut in the NRL.

In Ethan Strange the Raiders have a five-eighth they can build their future around, but he will need a steady hand at halfback beside him and Sanders and Black are still a couple of years away from being consistent first grade playmakers.

The Raiders have an excellent pack led by Joe Tapine and Hudson Young and some attacking brilliance in their backline with Kaeo Weekes, Sebastian Kris and Strange, which will see them be competitive.

But as evidence from their finals fade-out last season, you need a quality No.7 to win it all and the Raiders are still a couple of years away from having that at best.

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CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

Premiership window: 2027-2029

Last title: 2004

Analysis: Cameron Ciraldo has done a remarkable job to rebuild the Bulldogs into a top four team, but they still have a way to go to challenge for a drought-breaking first title since 2004.

The Bulldogs led the NRL early last season, but the decision to move Reed Mahoney and Toby Sexton on and invest in youth has moved the goal posts in their title push.

Lachlan Galvin has the potential to be the best five-eighth in the game, but at 20, he still has a few seasons to go before reaching his enormous potential.

And Bailey Hayward is versatile and an excellent young playmaker, but there are doubts he can be the starting hooker that Ciraldo needs to win a premiership.

With Leo Thompson boosting their forwards ranks and Stephen Crichton leading the side, the Bulldogs can be a top four team again in 2026, but one feels their premiership window won’t open until Mitchell Woods or another halfback steps up to guide the team to the promised land.

Lachlan Galvin’s Bulldogs look a couple of years away from a title.Source: Getty Images

CRONULLA SHARKS

Premiership window: 2026-2027

Last title: 2016

Analysis: The Sharks are getting closer after making back-to-back preliminary finals, but one feels they are running out of chances with the current squad, before they need to try a new direction.

Addin Fonua-Blake was supposed to be the missing piece in their premiership puzzle and while he had an outstanding season in 2025, he couldn’t help the Sharks get over the hump.

The criticism of the Sharks is that they don’t have the elite playmakers to deliver in the finals and it is fair to say Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall didn’t step up and grab the game by the throat in the last two prelim losses.

There are also doubts William Kennedy is the fullback to take them to the title, after the club opted to sign him for just one more season in 2026, and it remains to be seen where they go with the No.1 jersey after that.

In skipper Blayke Brailey and Fonua-Blake, the Sharks have the pack to match the top sides, while they have the firepower in the backline in KL Iro, Jesse Ramien and Ronaldo Mulitalo to mix it with the best, but they need their halves to deliver or Craig Fitzgibbon might have to start looking for some new playmakers on the open market.

DOLPHINS

Premiership window: 2027-2029

Last title: N/A

Analysis: At times last season the Dolphins looked like they were a top four team, but the next week they would get thrashed and expose how far they still have to go.

Given the roster they have, you wouldn’t write them off from giving the premiership a shake in 2026, but given they are yet to make the finals that is the first hurdle to climb, so it is baby steps for this team.

The Dolphins were hurt last season by a horror casualty ward that saw most of their starting pack wiped out and much will depend on how Tom Flegler and skipper Tom Gilbert return from long injury lay-offs next season.

However, a spine of Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jeremy Marshall-King and Kodi Nikorima with George Williams to come, can set the Dolphins up for a premiership window from 2027 onwards.

The first step is to make a maiden finals appearance in 2026 and iron out the issues with their defence, but they have the attacking class to make a run at a maiden title in the next few seasons.

Isaiya Katoa can lead the Dolphins to a title in the next few years.Source: Getty Images

GOLD COAST TITANS

Premiership window: 2029-2030

Last title: N/A

Analysis: Josh Hannay has been a breath of fresh air since taking over from Des Hasler, but it is fair to say he is playing the long game in his approach to building the Titans into a title contender.

Hannay has released big money stars David Fifita and Reagan Campbell-Gillard as well as Wallaby Carter Gordon back to rugby union, while he has brought in Luke Sommerton (Panthers), Lachlan Ilias (Dragons) and Kurtis Morrin (Bulldogs) to improve the balance of his roster.

Depth has been an issue for the Titans in recent years and they were paying big money to too many forwards, while neglecting their spine.

However, you still need star players to make the finals in the NRL, let alone compete for a premiership and Hannay’s rebuild has moved their premiership window down the line.

In Keano Kini, Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson, the Titans have some exciting backline stars, but skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is no guarantee to stay and if they lose him, they are even further away from competing for a title.

In young gun Zane Harrison, the Titans have a potential 10-year halfback, but Hannay won’t rush the prodigious No.7, so it will be a few seasons before they are a chance to compete for a premiership.

MANLY SEA EAGLES

Premiership window: 2027-2028

Last title: 2011

Analysis: It is hard to imagine the Sea Eagles losing their halfback of the last 15 years and captain Daly Cherry-Evans and getting closer to a premiership, at least in the short term.

Jamal Fogarty is a solid replacement at halfback, but he is not Cherry-Evans and it will take time for Anthony Seibold’s team to develop combinations around their new playmaker.

With Tom Trbojevic being made captain with only a couple of years left on his deal and brother Jake closing in on retirement, Manly are coming towards the dawn of a new era without their three most important players from the last decade.

However, there is an argument Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic’s took up a large chunk of Manly’s salary cap and hurt their chances of building a balanced roster to give the premiership a real shake.

The Sea Eagles have some impressive forwards, but they are lacking a hooker amid reports Lachlan Croker could be medically retired and unless Luke Brooks and Fogarty step up, they won’t be challenging for a title in 2026.

With Seibold’s future also uncertain, Manly could be set for a full scale rebuild when the Trbojevic era eventually comes to an end in the next couple of seasons.

Turbo new manly captain for 26 | 00:34

MELBOURNE STORM

Premiership window: until Craig Bellamy retires

Last title: 2020

Analysis: With five wins from 11 Grand Finals, the Storm are always a chance of winning the title while ever Craig Bellamy is at the helm.

They may have been beaten in back-to-back grand finals, but the Storm still got to the last day of the season and were it not for Nathan Cleary and Reece Walsh they might be two time defending premiers heading into 2026.

However, the winds of change have descended on the Storm, with Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet leaving the club, while Eliesa Katoa will miss all of the 2026 season, so it will be a new look team next year.

But as long as Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant are at the club, the Storm are a realistic chance to win it all every year, especially with Bellamy in the coach’s box.

Much will depend on how they cover for Katoa and Asofa-Solomona next season and how well Sua Fa’alogo fares in the No.1 hot seat, but the Storm are such a good club under Bellamy that their premiership window is open as long as he and his three star players are at the coalface.

Craig Bellamy’s reign is coming to an end eventually.Source: The Courier-Mail

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Premiership window: 2028-2029

Last title: 2015

Analysis: The Cowboys have a solid squad on paper, but the challenge for Todd Payten has been getting them to defend consistently to challenge for a title run and until they fix that, their premiership window looks a long way off.

In 2022 the Cowboys were 20 minutes from a Grand Final, but lost to the Eels and their defence has limped on ever since, with Payten missing the finals in three of his five years at the helm.

The loss of Reece Robson to the Roosters is a big blow, but the arrival of Reed Mahoney from the Bulldogs will offset that loss at dummyhalf somewhat.

In Tom Dearden, the Cowboys have a halfback to build the team around for the next decade, but they need to unearth a halves partner for him and Jaxon Purdue is not ready just yet.

And while Scott Drinkwater looks like an elite fullback in attack at times, his defence lets him down and that is a common theme for the team across the board.

The Cowboys need to get some steel in their defence and a couple more hard-nosed forwards and strike centres before they can genuinely challenge for the top eight, let alone the title.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Premiership window: 2026-2027

Last title: 2001

Analysis: When you are coming off a wooden spoon your premiership window should be a long way off, but the Knights have Kalyn Ponga for two more seasons and that is their only chance at a title, before they have to start again.

Justin Holbrook has taken over as coach and Kiwis star Dylan Brown has joined the club on a record $13 million deal in good form, while Sandon Smith has also joined the club, so the Knights have the potential to be one of the big movers up the ladder next season.

However, those arrivals are offset by the departure of Leo Thompson and the Knights look one or two class forward short of being genuine title contenders.

However, a backline with Bradman Best, Dane Gagai, Fletcher Sharpe, Ponga, Brown and Smith can hopefully fix their woeful attack from last season and give their long-suffering fans some hope.

But until Holbrook fixes their leaky defence, they won’t be a top eight team and if they lose Ponga in the next year or two, Newcastle will have to start again and build a more balanced roster to chase a first premiership since 2001.

Brailey ready for battle as Raiders 9 | 01:13

PARRAMATTA EELS

Premiership window: 2027-2029

Last title: 1986

Analysis: The Eels may have finished 11th last year, but there were signs they are heading in the right direction under Jason Ryles and they could be back competing for a drought-breaking title in a couple of seasons.

Ryles has cut a number of ageing stars from the Eels’ top heavy roster and is starting to create a more balanced team around superstar halfback Mitchell Moses.

Isaiah Iongi is a potential superstar at fullback, while Jonah Pezet is an excellent short term buy to partner Moses next season and Tallyn Da Silva has the makings of a future representative hooker, so their spine is taking shape nicely.

However, the Eels still look one or two elite forwards away from competing for a premiership and Jack de Belin is their only recruit in that department for 2026.

The club have been linked to ex-Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona, which would certainly boost their pack, but Ryles probably needs another season to develop players from within the club and bolster his pack on the open market before they can contend.

And with Pezet joining the Broncos, they will need to unearth or sign a new five-eighth after next season, but the club needs to push hard for a title before Moses’ deal expires in 2029 or they could be set for a full scale rebuild.

Mitchell Moses’s Eels have the longest title drought in the game.Source: Getty Images

PENRITH PANTHERS

Premiership window: until the Cleary’s retire

Last title: 2024

Analysis: The dynasty may have ended at the hands of the Broncos last season, but the Panthers were just 40 minutes from a sixth straight grand final and their premiership window looks open for as long as Nathan and Ivan Cleary are at the club.

Nathan Cleary is signed until the end of 2027, so unless he switches codes the Panthers will back themselves to re-sign him and at worst they will compete for the premiership over the next two seasons at least.

Importantly, 2026 will be the first year since their first title of the four year dynasty in 2021 when the Panthers haven’t lost a star player to a rival club.

And with Blaize Talagi another year into his combination with Cleary and the bulk of their squad staying together, the Panthers will be one of the favourites for the 2026 title.

However, enforcers Lindsay Smith and Liam Henry have been linked with the Perth Bears and they will need to be replaced in the engine room, if the Panthers want to keep competing for titles.

But with Cleary and Isaah Yeo on the field and Ivan in the coach’s box, the Panthers have the pathways and systems to keep putting the right people around their star core to be in the premiership race every season until they are no longer there.

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Premiership window: 2028-2030

Last title: 2010

Analysis: The Dragons have opted to rebuild from within with a number of promising juniors coming through their system, so it will take time for Shane Flanagan to get them competing for a title.

In the Couchman brothers Ryan and Toby, Hamish Stewart and Loko Pasifiki Tonga, the Dragons have some exciting forwards to build their pack around in the years to come.

But at the moment they look a couple of elite forwards short of being a contender, which is why they went hard for Tino Fa’suamaleuai to build their pack around.

The Dragons have struggled to attract big fish to the club, with Clint Gutherson their best signing from last season, but he is getting to the back end of his career.

Daniel Atkinson has the potential to be a solid playmaker, but it remains to be seen if Kyle Flanagan can lead them to where they want to go and with Damien Cook coming towards retirement, the Dragons look a couple of elite spine players short of being genuine title contenders.

Flanagan needs to land a couple of big buys on the open market and hope that his young core can develop to challenge for the title in a couple of seasons, but they won’t be there on grand final day any time soon.

Tedesco re-signs with Roosters | 00:36

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Premiership window: 2026-2027

Last title: 2014

Analysis: The Rabbitohs are coming off a horror season, but Wayne Bennett is signed until the end of 2027, so as long as he is at the club write off the Bunnies at your peril.

Bennett has won a record seven premierships from 10 Grand Finals and he came back to Souths for some unfinished business, after the 2021 defeat to the Panthers ended his last stint at the club.

After finishing 14th last season, the Rabbitohs look a long way from their next title, but they were plagued by the worst injury run in Bennett’s career and they unearthed a number of young stars that will be better for the exposure to first grade in 2025.

The arrival of David Fifita from the Titans give Souths some genuine star power and X-factor in their pack, which is looking solid with the likes of Cameron Murray, Jai Arrow and Tallis Duncan next season.

And with a backline featuring Latrell Mitchell at centre, Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston and Jye Gray, Souths should be able to score plenty of points.

The big question mark is around the halves, with Cody Walker in the twilight of his career and Jamie Humphreys battling Jonah Glover and Ashton Ward for the No.7 jersey, while Bronson Garlick and Peter Peter Mamouzelos are vying with Brandon Smith for the all important hooker spots.

If Bennett can get his selections right in the halves and have some luck with injuries, Souths might be a lot closer to a title than most people think, but if the master coach leaves for the PNG Chiefs in 2028, they will have to start again from scratch.

How many more chances will Souths get with Wayne and Latrell?Source: Supplied

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Premiership window: 2026-2030

Last title: 2019

Analysis: The Roosters are a bit like the Storm in that as long as uncle Nick Politis and Trent Robinson are around, they have the clout to chase premierships every year, but they have been a fair way off the mark since their last title in 2019.

The Roosters have had trouble holding onto their star players, with Joey Manu and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii leaving in recent years, which they have struggled to replace.

However, the biggest issue the Roosters have had since Cooper Cronk retired is a lack of a veteran playmaker to guide them and that is why Politis and Robinson signed Daly Cherry-Evans on a two-year deal.

Critics will say Cherry-Evans is passed it and he is not on Cronk’s level, but put the former Manly skipper in the Roosters’ system with James Tedesco, Sam Walker and fellow new recruit Reece Robson and watch him shine.

The Roosters already have a title winning pack, even allowing for Victor Radley’s suspension and after unearthing Robert Toia, they have a strike centre to fill Manu’s huge void.

But Cherry-Evans can be the general and provide the kicking game for Walker to run riot as a roaming half and the Roosters on paper look like title contenders for the next two seasons at least.

And if they can hold onto Hugo Savala, he and Walker can learn from DCE and keep the Chooks contending for the title for the next five years when Cherry-Evans and Tedesco hang up the boots, particularly if they land Kalyn Ponga to play fullback.

‘Made the right decision’ DCE | 00:48

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Premiership window: 2026-2028

Last title: N/A

Analysis: Were it not for two ACL injuries to Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett, the Warriors were a good chance of contending for a maiden title in 2025, but those two losses derailed their season.

The Warriors missed the top four and were beaten by the Panthers in the first week of the finals, but with Metcalf and Barnett back on deck they are a legitimate contender over the next couple of years.

Andrew Webster has the Warriors playing with a renewed steel in defence and they have a number of exciting forwards, including Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban to build their forward pack around.

And with Wayde Egan at hooker and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback, they have a spine capable of riding off the momentum of their formidable forward pack led by Barnett and James Fisher-Harris.

Metcalf’s horror injury history is the main concern, but if he can put a full season together and Chanel Harris-Tavita can form a combination with him, the Warriors have all the pieces to win their maiden title since entering the competition back in 1995.

But if Metcalf does not realise his potential at halfback, they may need to go to market to find a chief playmaker to lead them to the promised land.

The Warriors have the pathways to be a massive force in the NRL, but they need an elite playmaker to step up in the No.7 jersey and they are hoping that Metcalf can be that man.

WESTS TIGERS

Premiership window: 2028-2030

Last title: 2005

Analysis: The Tigers have the longest finals drought in the NRL stretching back to 2011 and they need to first get back to the top eight, before they can think about winning a drought-breaking title.

After three straight wooden spoons, the Tigers made some big strides in 2025 to win nine games and finish 13th, but they still have a way to go to get back to the finals, let a lone competing for a title.

Losing their best young player in Lachlan Galvin to the Bulldogs was a setback, but with Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau in the team, Benji Marshall can build around those two premiership winning players.

The challenge now is to unearth a halfback out of Latu Fainu and Adam Doueihi to steer the team around and allow Luai to play to his strengths, while Jahream Bula’s development has stalled after announcing himself as a potential superstar at fullback.

The Tigers also have depth issues in the forwards and need more elite players around Terrell May up front.

Kai Pearce-Paul will add some firepower in the pack, but the Tigers need Samuela Fainu to blossom into an elite enforcer and they may need to go to market to improve their depth in the pack going forward.

The Tigers are also lacking a strike centre and they are hoping young gun Heamasi Makasini can be that man, but he is still a teenager and will need time to develop into a consistent force in first grade.

Marshall has his team heading in the right direction, but they will need to keep improving to convince Luai and Bula to stay and they need to be on the lookout for players that can take them first back to the finals and then to a first title since Marshall was a young pup in 2005.