Another NRL season is complete, with Brisbane Broncos taking out the title. Here’s how each of the eight finalists performed across the season — and whether they can go one better (or back it up) in 2026.
🏆 Premiers: Brisbane Broncos (15W, 9L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 4th
Expectation vs Reality:
After missing the finals in 2024 (and losing coach Kevin Walters), the 2025 season under Michael Maguire could have gone either way: but Brisbane won 13 of their last 15 games to claim their seventh premiership, redeeming themselves after the 2023 Grand Final loss.
Turning Point:
Sitting outside the eight after 13 rounds, a 44-14 win over the Gold Coast started a five-game unbeaten run to get in touch with the top four.
Standouts:
Already one of the NRL’s most marketable players, Reece Walsh put on a finals display that will be remembered for a long time, influencing Brisbane’s wins over Canberra (28-12 down), Penrith (14-0 down), and Melbourne (22-12 down). Payne Haas had his most prolific season at the Broncos, playing 24 games. Adam Reynolds finished with 180 points from 22 games (four tries, 81 goals, one two-point field goal), passed 300 NRL games, and won his second premiership.
Outlook for 2026:
After 19 years without a premiership, Brisbane can make up for lost time and be a regular title contender for the next few seasons.
🥈 Runner-Up: Melbourne Storm (17W, 7L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 2nd
Expectation vs Reality:
Despite being premiership favourites, Melbourne would regard this season as failure after a second consecutive Grand Final loss (the first time in their history).
Turning Point:
Melbourne led Brisbane 22-12 at half-time in the Grand Final. Tui Kamikamica looked like scoring early in the second half but dropped the ball over the line. The Storm wouldn’t score another point as the Broncos’ comeback began.
Standouts:
Xavier Coates had another standout season, scoring 20 tries. After a horrible run of injuries, Ryan Papenhuyzen had another 20+ game season, scoring 181 points (15 tries, 60 goals, one field goal). Cameron Munster played 24 games for 16 wins, leading Melbourne to another top two finish.
Outlook for 2026:
Melbourne will be top four minimum in 2026 and will be desperate for another premiership.
🔥 Preliminary Finalists: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Penrith Panthers
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (15W, 9L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 5th
Expectation vs Reality:
Cronulla continued to build towards being a premiership contender, winning two finals games (Sydney Roosters and Canberra) and making another preliminary final.
Turning Point:
Four straight wins from round 19 to 22 got the Sharks in the eight, where they eventually earnt a home elimination final (starting another debate over the viability of Sharks Stadium as a finals venue).
Standouts:
Nicho Hynes showed his critics what he’s capable of: playing all 27 games and scoring 228 points (eight tries and 98 goals) – only behind Jamayne Isaako as the season’s best. Ronaldo Mulitalo scored 17 tries in 26 games.
Outlook for 2026:
Cronulla should be a finals contender again – but can they go a step further in 2026?
Penrith Panthers (13W, 10L, 1D)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 7th
Expectation vs Reality:
Technically 2025 was a failure as Penrith’s premiership run ended. But they rose from last midway through the season to make another preliminary final. They led Brisbane 14-0 at half-time in the prelim, but the Broncos ran over the top of them.
Turning Point:
A loss to Newcastle in round 12 (minus their Origin players) saw the four-time premiers sitting 17th. They’d win 10 of their next 13 to finish seventh.
Standouts:
Nathan Cleary had another outstanding season, playing 22 games for 184 points (six tries, 79 goals, one two-point field goal), and sparking the Panthers’ run to the preliminary final (though he may want that “Miracle in Mudgee” field goal shot over again). Casey McLean established himself in first grade (after seven games in 2024), scoring 16 tries in 23 games.
Outlook for 2026:
While Penrith missed a fifth straight premiership, their “dynasty” isn’t over yet. They’re the one team who has the experience to win a title from outside the top four.
💪 Semi-Finalists: Canberra Raiders and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Canberra Raiders (19W, 5L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: Minor Premiers
Expectation vs Reality:
While they were the fairytale minor premiers for 2025, their “straight sets” finals exit was a major disappointment: a cruel reminder of how important finals experience and big game composure is.
Turning Point:
Canberra was 2-2 entering the round 5 game against Cronulla. A last-minute win over the Sharks started a massive run, with Canberra winning 17 of their next 20 games and selling out GIO Stadium multiple times. Though hopes of a drought-breaking premierships were shattered after the qualifying final loss to Brisbane: they squandered a 28-12 lead, nearly had the game won twice, and lost in the 93rd minute via a Ben Hunt field goal.
Standouts:
While Jamal Fogarty copped plenty of criticism after a disappointing finals series, he was still the competition’s third-highest points scorer (192 with two tries and 92 goals). Captain Joseph Tapine gave every inch of himself as he drove his Raiders to the minor premiership (playing 23 games) and Josh Papalii (24 games) showed he still has plenty left: not only becoming the Raiders’ most capped player but returning to Origin to help Queensland win the series. In his second season, Ethan Strange was so good that he invited Laurie Daley comparisons: his absence from the Cronulla semi-final with illness was the final nail in Canberra’s season.
Outlook for 2026:
Canberra has the talent to be a premiership contender in 2026, but how will they respond to the mental scars of the Brisbane and Cronulla finals losses? And will Ethan Sanders be an adequate replacement for Fogarty?
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (16W, 8L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 3rd
Expectation vs Reality:
Like the Raiders, Canterbury finished in the top four but exited the finals in “straight sets”. Despite this, Canterbury built on an improved 2024 and are becoming a premiership contender.
Turning Point:
While it’s unfair to blame one player, there’s no doubt that Lachlan Galvin’s arrival caused some disruption. Canterbury was 9-2 before Galvin arrived, and they went 7-8 after he debuted, including three straight losses to end their season. Though Galvin showed he can be a match winner in the future, so the short-term pain could turn into long-term gain.
Standouts:
Captain Stephen Crichton was one of Canterbury’s most consistent players: 21 games for 126 points (three tries and 57 goals). His impact was more apparent with his absences: he only played 19 minutes in the qualifying final loss to Melbourne (syndesmosis injury) and missed their semi-final loss to Penrith.
Outlook for 2026:
Expect Canterbury to be a top four contender again in 2026. How far can they go from there?
⚔️ Week 1 Elimination Finalists: New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters
New Zealand Warriors (14W, 10L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 6th
Expectation vs Reality:
A wonderful season for the “Wahs”, but it could have been so much more: they dropped out of the top four and couldn’t capitalise on a favourable run home.
Turning Point:
The Warriors’ season spiritually ended after Luke Metcalf was injured in the round 17 loss to Brisbane, a few weeks after losing Mitch Barnett for the season. They won just four more games from round 18 and lost to Penrith in the elimination final.
Standouts:
After four games in 2024, Leka Halasima played all 25 games in 2025, scoring 13 tries. He scored the match-winning try against Newcastle in round 20, running 45 metres after a Warriors’ field goal attempt was charged down.
Outlook for 2026:
If injuries are kind, then the Warriors will be a finals contender again. But they may struggle if they lose key players again.
Sydney Roosters (13W, 11L)
Ladder Position after Round 27: 8th
Expectation vs Reality:
The Roosters normally have high expectations, so it’s hard to tell if 2025 was a success or a failure? They were 10th after round 14, won eight of their next 12, and lost to Cronulla in the elimination final. It was a disappointing exit as the Roosters were playing well enough to make a dent in the finals.
Turning Point:
After a surprise loss to Parramatta put their finals hopes in jeopardy, commanding wins over Melbourne (40-10 in round 26) and South Sydney (36-6 in round 27) sealed eighth spot.
Standouts:
With no Origin commitments, captain James Tedesco was outstanding, playing all 25 games (11 tries). In his first full NRL season, Rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase won the Ken Irvine Medal (24 tries) and the Dally M Try of the Year (round 11 vs Canterbury). He scored four against Melbourne and three each against Souths and The Dolphins. Returning in round 19, Sam Walker immediately showed how important he was, scoring 79 points (39 goals and one field goal) in nine games.
Outlook for 2026:
Normal service should resume for the Roosters as they push for the top four again.
