After 27 rounds, the NRL finals race is complete. While the top eight prepare for September, nine clubs missed the cut. Some were unlucky, some disappointed, and others are clearly in rebuild mode. Here’s our club-by-club review of positions 9th to 17th on the 2025 ladder.
9th – The Dolphins (12W, 12L)
Expectation vs Reality: While The Dolphins missed the finals again, they were in contention for most of the season after an 0-4 start. Passing 50 points four times showed how dangerous they can be.
Turning Point: Herbie Farnworth’s injury in round 22 hurt the Dolphins’ finals hopes: they lost three in a row to slip to ninth.
Standouts: Jamayne Isaako was the competition’s leading points-scorer with 278 (11 tries and 117 goals).
Outlook for 2026: If the Dolphins can harness their attacking brilliance and find some consistency, they should make the finals in 2026.
10th – Manly Warringah (12W, 12L)
Expectation vs Reality: A frustrating and inconsistent season for Manly (not helped by the distraction of Daly Cherry-Evans’ future), though they finished with three straight wins.
Turning Point: They were sixth after round 19, then lost four of their next five to fall to 10th.
Standouts: Tolutau Koula was in Ken Irvine Medal contention with 17 tries. The ever-consistent Reuben Garrick scored 176 points (12 tries and 64 goals) in 21 games.
Outlook for 2026: Jamal Fogarty arrives to replace DCE; can Fogarty take Manly back to the finals?
11th – Parramatta (10W, 14L)
Expectation vs Reality: Jason Ryles’ rebuild started strongly and Parramatta improved as the season went on.
Turning Point: No Mitchell Moses until round 7 meant Parramatta started with one win and five losses.
Standouts: Isaiah Iongi showed he can be a future star, playing 21 games and scoring 8 tries. Moses’ return sparked the Eels’ resurgence, playing in seven of their 10 wins.
Outlook for 2026: They should be in the finals mix next season.
12th – North Queensland (9W, 14L, 1D)
Expectation vs Reality: The Cowboys struggled in their 30th anniversary season: their -146 points differential showed how their poor defence overshadowed some wonderful attacking moments.
Turning Point: The Cowboys were eighth after 13 rounds, but then lost nine of their next 13 games.
Standouts: Scott Drinkwater scored 184 points (11 tries and 70 goals), trying to plug the points-scoring gap left by Kyle Feldt and Valentine Holmes. Tom Dearden played 22 games (scoring nine tries) and played all three Origins for Queensland, replacing Daly Cherry-Evans at halfback for games two and three (which Queensland both won).
Outlook for 2026: North Queensland will likely be around the same spot next year.
13th – Wests Tigers (9W, 15L)
Expectation vs Reality: The Tigers avoided a fourth-straight wooden spoon, weathered all the Lachlan Galvin drama, and played some promising footy at times.
Turning Point: Nicely poised at 5-4 after round 9, the Tigers lost six in a row, including a 64-0 thumping against Melbourne.
Standouts: Jarome Luai’s big game experience was vital and Adam Doueihi scored 135 points in 21 games (six tries, 55 goals, and one field goal) – and he played his last three games at halfback.
Outlook for 2026: Wests should get closer to breaking their 14-year finals drought in 2026.
14th – South Sydney (9W, 15L)
Expectation vs Reality: Souths’ season was destroyed by a horrendous injury toll, though they showed promise when they finally got some players back, winning three of their last four games.
Turning Point: Nine losses in a row (rounds 13 to 22) had them in wooden spoon territory.
Standouts: Jye Gray was excellent at fullback, was a defensive workhorse, and played in all of Souths’ nine wins.
Outlook for 2026: If Souths can get their best 17 on the park, they’ll be a finals contender.
15th – St George Illawarra (8W, 16L)
Expectation vs Reality: After a promising 2024, the Dragons wavered between 11th and 15th for most of 2025.
Turning Point: They lost 10 games by eight points or less.
Standouts: Valentine Holmes was a smart buy (despite only playing 14 games), scoring 114 points (six tries and 45 goals). Clint Gutherson played all 24 games for his new club (scoring seven tries).
Outlook for 2026: The Dragons will do well to stay out of the bottom four again.
16th – Gold Coast (6W, 18L)
Expectation vs Reality: Another horrible season for the Titans. While they had moments of potential (beating Newcastle twice and beating the Warriors in New Zealand), their lack of consistency cost Des Hasler his job.
Turning Point: Five losses in a row from rounds 5 to 9 saw them fall to 15th. They never recovered from there.
Standouts: After missing almost all of 2024, Tino Fa’asuamaleau came back to play 19 games and regained his Queensland Origin jersey, playing all three games. Jayden Campbell scored 158 points (seven tries and 65 goals).
Outlook for 2026: New coach Josh Hannay has a big job ahead. How long will he need to make the Titans competitive?
17th – Newcastle (6W, 18L, Wooden Spoon)
Expectation vs Reality: After two finals series’ in a row, this was a big fall for the Knights, with Adam O’Brien losing his job.
Turning Point: Newcastle had the worst attack in the NRL (338 points at 14): they lost five of their first seven games and only passed 20 points once in that period.
Standouts: Fletcher Sharpe scored 11 tries in 14 games (including a Magic Round hat-trick) and showed promise at five eighth.
Outlook for 2026: A lot of questions for Newcastle heading into 2026. It’s hard to see them leaving the bottom four.
Wrap-Up: Lessons from the Bottom Nine
- Biggest Fall: Manly, North Queensland, and Newcastle all missed the top eight after making finals in 2024.
- Overachievers: After a slow start, Parramatta improved as the season went on and finished six points outside the top eight.
- Future Hope: While The Dolphins missed the finals for a third straight season, the improvement was clear, and their attack was electric at times. The Wests Tigers had their best finish since 2021 (13th) and their best win-loss record since 2019 (11-13).
- Stuck in Decline: The Gold Coast Titans narrowly avoided a third wooden spoon and will need time to rebuild under Hannay.
The bottom nine of 2025 delivered drama, disappointment, and resilience. Some teams are ready to rise, while others must face tough questions heading into 2026.
