This is it.
The final round before the 2026 NRL Finals and the Top 8 teams are set – but the final order is not, including the race for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and the minor premiership.
The Sporting News look at the final round implications for all 17 NRL teams (teams listed in current ladder order):
1. New Zealand Warriors (40 points)
Played 23, Won 17, Lost 6, Points Differential +309
Still to play:
R27: Sea Eagles (home) W
Best finish: 1st
Predicted finish: 1st
The injury-ravaged Warriors beat a 12-man Knights in Round 26 to ensure a top two finish. That means they won’t have to play in Australia again until the NRL grand final if they keep winning. Before then the race for the 2026 minor premiership is incredibly close with the Wahs just 1 point ahead of the Panthers on for and against.
2. Penrith Panthers (40 points)
Played 23, Won 17 Lost 6, Points Differential +308
Still to play:
Best finish: 1st
Predicted finish: 2nd
The Panthers saw off the Bulldogs and, despite a few mid-season wobbles, are still very much in the race for the minor premiership heading into the final round. A top two is already assured so Ivan Cleary may well choose to rest his stars ahead of the main objective: a fifth NRL premiership in six years.
3. Dolphins (38 points)
Played 23, Won 16, Lost 7, Points Differential +152
Still to play:
Best finish: 3rd
Predicted finish: 3rd
The Dolphins beat the Chooks on the field in Round 26 and leap-frogged them on the ladder. A Week 1 finals match-up awaits against either the Warriors or Panthers, while they’re also guaranteed a home final at Suncorp Stadium in Week 2 or 3.
4. Sydney Roosters (38 points)
Played 23, Won 16, Lost 7, Points Differential +142
Still to play:
Best finish: 3rd
Predicted finish: 4th
The Roosters dropped their second straight match at home, this time to the Dolphins, and also lost star No.7 Sam Walker to a season-ending ankle injury. The good news is the Sharks loss means the worst they can finish is 4th.
5. Cronulla Sharks (34 points)
Played 23, Won 14, Lost 9, Points Differential +153
Still to play:
Best finish: 5th
Predicted finish: 5th
The surprise loss to the Eels ended their hopes of a top four finish, but a strong for and against means a home final in Week 1 is all but assured. Need to turn things around quickly.
6. South Sydney Rabbitohs (32 points)
Played 23, Won 13, Lost 10, Points Differential +83
Still to play:
Best finish: 6th
Predicted finish: 8th
The Rabbitohs won against the Titans in Round 26 on an emotional afternoon at Robina to secure their place in the finals. But first comes the small matter of a final round grudge match against the Roosters who have a serious case of the pre-finals wobbles.
7. Newcastle Knights (32 points)
Played 23, Won 13, Lost 10, Points Differential +42
Still to play:
Best finish: 6th
Predicted finish: 6th
The Knights have the final round bye which will take them to 34 points. A Bunnies loss to the Roosters would see them jump the Rabbitohs and earn a home final in Week 1.
8. North Queensland Cowboys (32 points)
Played 23, Won 13, Lost 10, Points Differential -64
Still to play:
Best finish: 7th
Predicted finish: 7th
Got the job done at home against the Tigers to book their ticket for finals footy. A final round win would see them jump to 7th if the Rabbitohs lose to the Roosters.
9. Manly Sea Eagles (28 points)
Played 23, Won 11 Lost 12, Points Differential +100
Still to play:
Best finish: 9th
Predicted finish: 10th
Did what they had to do with a thumping win over the Dragons. But with the Rabbitohs and Cowboys both winning in Round 26, their 2026 season will end just short of the finals in a year of what might have been.
10. Canterbury Bulldogs (28 points)
Played 23, Won 11, Lost 12, Points Differential -46
Still to play:
Best finish: 9th
Predicted finish: 9th
Last weekend’s loss to the Panthers put their top eight hopes on life-support, before wins by the Rabbitohs and Cowboys switched it off. Mad Monday awaits after a final 2026 hurrah against the Broncos.
11. Melbourne Storm (26 points)
Played 23, Won 11, Lost 12, Points Differential +14
Still to play:
Best finish: 10th
Predicted finish: 11th
The Storm end their year away to the Sharks and will look back at 2026 as a season of missed opportunities and injuries – lots of serious injuries.
12. Canberra Raiders (26 points)
Played 23, Won 10, Lost 13, Points Differential -65
Still to play:
Best finish: 10th
Predicted finish: 12th
Coming off the Round 26 bye the Raiders end their season – and Josh Papali’i’s career – away to the Cowboys in the final round.
13. Parramatta Eels (24 points)
Played 23, Won 9, Lost 14, Points Differential -179
Still to play:
Best finish: 13th
Predicted finish: 13th
Shocked the Sharks in Round 26 and will look to make it back-to-back wins to end a disappointing season when they meet the Dragons.
14. Wests Tigers (22 points)
Played 23, Won 8, Lost 15, Points Differential -226
Still to play:
Best finish: 13th
Predicted finish: 14th
A week after stunning the Roosters the Tigers fell to the Cowboys in Townsville. The Panthers will be a tough final round assignment, but the Tigers are likely to finish the year ahead of last year’s premiers, so that’s something to smile about.
15. Brisbane Broncos (20 points)
Played 23, Won 7, Lost 16, Points Differential -220
Still to play:
Best finish: 14th
Predicted finish: 15th
The Broncos were poor against the Storm and finally end their disastrous premiership defence against the Bulldogs on Thursday night. Nothing to play for but pride.
16. Gold Coast Titans (18 points)
Played 23, Won 6, Lost 17, Points Differential -182
Still to play:
Best finish: 15th
Predicted finish: 16th
Competitive again for large portions of the match but still lost to the Rabbitohs. Hoping for much better in 2027 when the pressure will be several notches higher on coach Josh Hannay who will be in his second year with the club.
17. St George Illawarra Dragons (14 points)
Played 23, Won 4, Lost 19, Points Differential -327
Still to play:
Best finish: 17th
Predicted finish: 17th
Smashed by the Sea Eagles, a final round send-off for a host of stars at WIN Stadium is all that’s left before the cavalry arrives for 2027.