Round 3 produced a plethora of talking points. Some positive, some not to much.<\/p>\n
Two teams remain undefeated following the Broncos’s second half comeback to beat the previously unblemished Storm.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile two teams remain winless. Funnily enough, they play this upcoming weekend, which means (most likely) only one team won’t have a win through four rounds.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the Dogs and Dolphins<\/a> both recorded second wins, while the Sharks and Roosters were humbled.<\/p>\n This is likely the last week (crazy results aside of course) where we’ll see big jumps based on one result.<\/p>\n With that said, below are our Power Rankings<\/a> following Round Three:<\/p>\n 1. Penrith Panthers (Last Week: 2)<\/p>\n As well as the second team here have played, I don’t believe there is a single person in the world who could dispute the Panthers being number one.<\/p>\n They absolutely dismantled the Roosters on Friday night. I was there and Roosters fans were broken by halftime. <\/p>\n These new rules are literally perfect for the Panthers line-up, who could win under any circumstances if we’re being serious.<\/p>\n They start as ridiculously short priced favourites on Saturday evening against the Eels.<\/p>\n 2. New Zealand Warriors (3)<\/p>\n I love what I’ve seen from the Warriors to start the 2026 season. They beat the undermanned Knights, with ease, to continue their perfect run.<\/p>\n Tanah Boyd<\/a> and Jackson Ford<\/a> have turned into future immortals over the off-season.<\/p>\n Erin Clark<\/a> is literally twice the player right now than he was prior to wearing Warriors colours.<\/p>\n Friday night’s game, at home, against the depleted Tigers, presents a perfect opportunity to go 4-0.<\/p>\n 3. Melbourne Storm (1)<\/p>\n The Storm copped a brutal reality check in the second half of their loss to the Brisbane Broncos<\/a> on Friday night.<\/p>\n 14-0 up at the break, it looked like business as usual for the competition heavyweights but they lost momentum big time in the second stanza.<\/p>\n Sualauvi Faalogo continued his unbelievable start to 2026 with yet another try and 256 run metres.<\/p>\n Hard not to see the Storm bounce right back in Townsville on Saturday night.<\/p>\n 4. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (7)<\/p>\n The Bulldogs recorded their second win of the season, having enjoyed the bye last week, when they beat Canberra on Thursday night.<\/p>\n The Dogs were good, in dreadful conditions. Ok there was a little luck involved late on but good teams take full advantage.<\/p>\n Connor Watson<\/a> was blistering, with two try saving plays to literally win the game for his side.<\/p>\n The Dogs play their first game at Accor Stadium on Saturday. They’ll fancy their chances against the Knights.<\/p>\n 5. The Dolphins (11)<\/p>\n The Dolphins<\/a> sent a message on Saturday evening that they’re a very real deal in 2026.<\/p>\n Their mobile forward pack absolutely ran rings around the Sharks big men. Herbie Farnworth<\/a> and Jake Averillo<\/a> feasted out wide.<\/p>\n If you haven’t seen “that” pass by Isaiya Katoa<\/a>, go source it right away. It was beautiful!<\/p>\n An “away” game against the Broncos on Friday night shapes as the game of the round.<\/p>\n 6. South Sydney Rabbitohs (9)<\/p>\n The Bunnies 20-16 win over the Tigers on Saturday night was a super entertaining affair.<\/p>\n Latrell Mitchell’s move back to the centres has worked wonders as he looks 23 again. Jye Gray<\/a> was best on ground at fullback, proving the move has been a big success.<\/p>\n Keaon Koloamatangi<\/a> is absolutely walking into the Origin set up. Another 157 run metres effort in the middle saw him lead all forwards on the park.<\/p>\n A bye this weekend is well timed as they can rest up and look back on a pretty handy start to the season.<\/p>\n 7. Newcastle Knights (4)<\/p>\n The Knights always looked as though they would struggle against the Warriors sans their three main men.<\/p>\n Unfortunately they couldn’t go with the red hot Warriors, despite being cheered on by a monster, first up home crowd for 2026.<\/p>\n Greg Marzhew<\/a> has reverted back to the beastly winger we knew and loved. Sandon Smith<\/a> has proven to be a brilliant pick up.<\/p>\n A Saturday afternoon clash with the Dogs looks tough, but hopefully at least some of their cattle will be back on deck.<\/p>\n 8. Brisbane Broncos (13)<\/p>\n The Broncos are on the board for 2026. A second half blitz saw them overcome the mighty Melbourne Storm<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jordan Riki<\/a> crossed for a double, less than a week after I said he was part of the most underperforming second row of the competition.<\/p>\n Carrigan and Haas bossed the middle allowing Staggs and Walsh to work their magic in space. It’s a simple yet effective game-plan for Brisbane.<\/p>\n A monster Friday night clash with the Dolphins<\/a> is honestly the game I’m most looking forward to this weekend.<\/p>\n 9. Wests Tigers (6)<\/p>\n The Tigers were dreadfully unlucky in their close loss to the Bunnies in Gosford.<\/p>\n Losing Jarome Luai<\/a> with 15 minutes to go made their job infinitely more difficult. Adam Doueihi<\/a> also left the field late on, ending any chance of a miracle.<\/p>\n Alex Twal<\/a> and Sione Fainu<\/a> were massive on the night. Terrell May’s role has changed but I like what I saw.<\/p>\n A tough trip across the Tasman awaits as the Tigers look to bounce straight back sans their star number six.<\/p>\n 10. Parramatta Eels (12)<\/p>\n The Eels have an extra win over the two teams above them but boy was their Sunday defeat over the Dragons scratchy. Plus Round One still lingers in my mind.<\/p>\n Ultimately they got the job done against the Dragons to the tune of 30 points to 20. Job very much done.<\/p>\n Tallyn Da Silva<\/a> put in one of the all time great, twenty minute spells. It literally turned the game. Two tries and a try assist before injury ended his day.<\/p>\n To say they face a tough contest against the Panthers this weekend is the mother of all understatements.<\/p>\n 11. Cronulla Sharks (5)<\/p>\n The Sharks were absolutely battered in front of their home fans on Saturday evening by the Dolphins<\/a>.<\/p>\n A host of horribly out of form players were outplayed and out-enthused by a far superior Phins outfit.<\/p>\n Sam Stonestreet<\/a> was brilliant for the Sharks, while Will Kennedy literally ran himself to exhaustion. <\/p>\n Fans will expect a far better effort in Canberra against the Raiders. <\/p>\n 12. Canberra Raiders (10)<\/p>\n The Raiders were good, at times, despite their loss to the Bulldogs on Thursday night.<\/p>\n They had the run late on and looked to have it won, if not for a brilliant Connor Tracey<\/a> tackle.<\/p>\n Savelio Tamale<\/a> was brilliant in scoring a double and running for over 270 metres. Kaeo Weekes<\/a> is an absolute joy to watch.<\/p>\n Canberra remain at home and will be well rested for the visit of the Sharks on Sunday. They’ll fancy their chances.<\/p>\n 13. Sydney Roosters (8)<\/p>\n The Roosters were absolutely smashed on Friday night by a much, much better Penrith side.<\/p>\n The home team actually scored first but then spent the rest of the game chasing shadows as Penrith put on 40 unanswered points.<\/p>\n James Tedesco<\/a> tried hard and had some success but every time the Roosters threatened, they turned the ball over.<\/p>\n The tri colours will be expected to be much better on Thursday night when Daly Cherry-Evans<\/a> returns to Brookvale Oval.<\/p>\n 14. North Queensland Cowboys (16)<\/p>\n The Cowboys are on the board for 2026 thanks to a 30 points to 16 win over the Titans on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n It was a Scott Drinkwater<\/a> masterclass as the fullback ran riot. <\/p>\n Jaxon Purdue<\/a> proved why he is a must re-sign for the North Queensland based outfit. Jason Taumalolo<\/a> is flourishing in the faster game.<\/p>\n A second straight home game awaits as they host the Melbourne Storm<\/a> on Saturday night. Safe to say this is a step up in quality.<\/p>\n 15. St George Illawarra Dragons (14)<\/p>\n The Dragons played their part in a very entertaining Sunday afternoon clash, albeit in a loss to the Eels.<\/p>\n They’ll feel they did enough to win that contest. Despite a man advantage late on, they just couldn’t get the job done.<\/p>\n I know it’s early but I feel it is time for Shane Flanagan<\/a> to start making some tough decisions before the season slips away.<\/p>\n A trip to the Gold Coast shapes as a near must win, already.<\/p>\n 16. Gold Coast Titans (15)<\/p>\n It was always going to be a slow rebuilt at the Titans. After their loss to fellow strugglers the Cowboys, it may be slower than expected.<\/p>\n