After 27 rounds, the NRL finals race is over and attention has already begun to shift towards 2027 for the clubs left on the outside looking in. Some teams narrowly missed September, others endured disappointing campaigns, and a few are firmly entrenched in rebuilding phases. From Melbourne’s shock finals miss to St George Illawarra’s wooden spoon and Manly’s late-season collapse, here’s a club-by-club review of the teams that finished ninth to 17th in 2026.
9th – Manly Warringah (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: It was a strange season for Manly: they lost their opening three games under Anthony Seibold, embraced their “Fozball” run under Kieran Foran (winning eight of their next 11 games), then faded to miss the finals.
Turning Point: Their Round 18 loss to Parramatta was the start of a six-game losing run that saw them fall out of the top eight. Luke Brooks’ injury in Round 17 coincided with the Sea Eagles’ losing streak as – in his absence – he showed how valuable he is to Manly.
Standouts: While he didn’t get his deserved opportunities for NSW, Haumole Olakau’atu was tremendous for Manly and a constant right edge threat. He played 21 games for 538 tackles (93.57% tackle efficiency) and 3,598 running metres (171/game). Lehi Hopoate (19) and Jason Saab (15) combined for 34 tries. Joey Walsh (nine games) showed potential as he filled in for Brooks and Jamal Fogarty (who again struggled in pressure moments).
Outlook for 2027: Manly have shown what they’re capable of under Foran and they’ll want to be a finals contender in his first full season.
10th – Melbourne (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: A rare poor season for Melbourne, missing the finals for the first time since 2002 (not counting 2010 when they couldn’t earn competition points). While a drop-off was anticipated with so many changes before the season started, few would have expected the Storm to fall this far.
Turning Point: Seven straight losses (Round 3 to Round 9) saw them drop to 16th: though they rallied with five wins from their next six, they never got into the top eight.
Standouts: Sualauvi Faalogo (18 tries and 11 goals) showed he’ll be the Storm’s next superstar as he replaced Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback. Faalogo was a constant threat with his kicking game, speed, and willingness to improvise. Cooper Clarke played all 24 games in his debut season, while Harry Grant stepped up as captain with moments of brilliance that turned games.
Outlook for 2027: With Jamayne Isaako arriving, and Xavier Coates likely to return, expect Melbourne to be premiership challengers again.
11th – Canberra (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: Canberra didn’t learn the harsh lessons from last year’s finals and fell into bad habits. But the silver lining of a disappointing season was some of their younger players got time to develop, including Coby Black’s 26 points on debut. Will he challenge Ethan Sanders for the first grade halfback spot or continue to develop in NSW Cup?
Turning Point: They never recovered from a 1-4 start, and their inability to control games that they should have won hurt them, especially against Parramatta (nearly chasing down a 15-0 deficit) and Brisbane (squandering a 30-16 lead).
Standouts: Simi Sasagi, Sanders, Joe Tapine, and Owen Pattie. Sasagi was easily Canberra’s best player when fit; Sanders grew into his first full season, scoring 175 points: three tries, 81 goals, and a one-point field goal; Tapine again gave his all as captain (749 tackles at 94.21% efficiency); and Pattie graduated from NSW Cup to starting hooker (overtaking Tom Starling and Jayden Brailey).
Outlook for 2027: If Canberra can keep their composure in tight games, then they should return to the finals. While Josh Papalii will be a big loss, the Raiders’ young squad has the potential to be a premiership contender, but they need to find consistency.
12th – Canterbury-Bankstown (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: After two straight finals appearances under Cameron Ciraldo, the Bulldogs regressed in 2026, with constant questions about their ideal halves pairing (eventually settling on Stephen Crichton and Lachlan Galvin).
Turning Point: The adjustment to the Six Again rule impacted Canterbury’s defensive style, with eight losses from their first 13 games.
Standouts: Galvin won the Dr. George Peponis Medal as Player of the Year and made the most of his dangerous right edge combination with Jacob Preston. Galvin has shown what he can do now the off-field noise has decreased and he can focus on playing footy.
Outlook for 2027: Finals will be the minimum requirement for Canterbury in 2027. Can they settle on a successful halves combination?
13th – Parramatta (9W, 15L)
Expectation vs Reality: Another disappointing season, but they showed resilience nearly every week despite a horrific injury toll.
Turning Point: A 52-4 loss to Melbourne in Round 1 set the tone for their season. While they beat Brisbane and St George Illawarra in the next two games, they won only seven games after that.
Standouts: With Jonah Pezet only playing seven games, Ronald Volkman stepped up (switching between five-eighth and halfback), playing 19 games and re-signing with the Eels until 2028. Jack Williams backed up his 2025 Ken Thornett Medal with 24 games and a career-high 952 tackles (92.34% tackle efficiency).
Outlook for 2027: Parramatta will need to be a finals contender in 2027, or Jason Ryles may be the next coach under pressure. Can Jarome Luai make a difference?
14th – Brisbane (8W, 16L)
Expectation vs Reality: The Broncos had the worst premiership defence in 20 years, not only missing the finals, but looking like possible wooden spooners in the final few rounds. It wasn’t just the poor on-field results (including two wins from 14 at Suncorp Stadium), but also the off-field headlines that followed them for most of the season.
Turning Point: You could argue the World Club Challenge loss to Hull KR set the tone, followed by the drama over Payne Haas signing with Souths. Brisbane were 5-3 after the Anzac weekend, then lost eight straight to plummet to the bottom four.
Standouts: Haas showed he was still committed in his final season at Brisbane, playing 17 games, making 597 tackles (97.23% efficiency), and running for 2,657 metres (an average of 156).
Outlook for 2027: Losing Haas and Adam Reynolds will hurt Brisbane and the pressure will increase on Michael Maguire if the Broncos start slowly. It could be another tough season.
15th – Wests Tigers (8W, 16L)
Expectation vs Reality: Wests missed finals for the 15th straight season, fading away after a positive start, and distracted by more off-field drama.
Turning Point: They were in the top four after Round 8, but won only three more games after that, including eight straight losses from Round 16 to Round 24.
Standouts: Terrell May was one of the Tigers’ most consistent performers, playing 23 games and making 918 tackles (97.97% tackle efficiency).
Outlook for 2027: While they’re unlikely to break their finals drought next year, will there be more focus on footy or the almost inevitable off-field issues?
16th – Gold Coast (6W, 18L)
Expectation vs Reality: Another poor season for the Titans, though they showed glimpses of what they could become under Josh Hannay.
Turning Point: Five straight losses between Round 7 and Round 12 put them in the bottom four, and they finished the season with six straight losses.
Standouts: Keano Kini had some brilliant moments, including the match-winning try against Brisbane. Zane Harrison showed he could be the Titans’ future halfback, playing 11 games and kicking the match-winning one-point field goal against Penrith (while wearing the popular Gold Coast Chargers heritage jersey). Jayden Campbell scored 178 points from 22 games (12 tries, 65 goals) and was one of the Titans’ most consistent players.
Outlook for 2027: While they have the talent, the Titans’ rebuild will take a while. They’ll be lucky to leave the bottom four in 2027.
17th – St George Illawarra (5W, 19L, Wooden Spoon)
Expectation vs Reality: The Dragons earned the joint-venture club’s first wooden spoon this season, though they showed promising signs under new coach Dean Young.
Turning Point: St George Illawarra hit rock bottom on Anzac Day. After Shane Flanagan was sacked following seven straight losses, Young’s first game as interim coach resulted in a 62-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters. They stayed in last place for the rest of the season.
Standouts: The Couchmans (Toby and Ryan) and Hamish Stewart were outstanding, combining for 2,721 tackles this season (Stewart 996, Toby Couchman 872, Ryan Couchman 853).
Outlook for 2027: With Young secured as head coach and some big signings arriving (including Scott Drinkwater, Keaon Koloamatangi, Luke Metcalf, Kodi Nikorima, Phillip Sami, and Connor Watson), the Dragons could be one of the most improved sides in 2027.
Wrap-Up: Lessons from the Bottom Nine
- Biggest Fall: The top four from 2025 (Canberra, Melbourne, Canterbury-Bankstown, Brisbane) all missed the 2026 finals.
- Overachievers: Manly Warringah.
- Future Hope: St George Illawarra.
- Stuck in Decline: Wests Tigers and Gold Coast.
The bottom nine of 2026 delivered drama, disappointment, and resilience. Some teams are ready to rise, while others must face tough questions heading into 2027.
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 2026 ladder.
9th – Manly Warringah (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: It was a strange season for Manly: they lost their opening three games under Anthony Seibold, embraced their “Fozball” run under Kieran Foran (winning eight of their next 11 games), then faded to miss the finals.
Turning Point: Their Round 18 loss to Parramatta was the start of a six-game losing run that saw them fall out of the top eight. Luke Brooks’ injury in Round 17 coincided with the Sea Eagles’ losing streak and highlighted just how valuable he is to Manly.
Standouts: While he didn’t get his deserved opportunities for NSW, Haumole Olakau’atu was tremendous for Manly and a constant right edge threat. He played 21 games for 538 tackles (93.57% tackle efficiency) and 3,598 running metres (171/game). Lehi Hopoate (19) and Jason Saab (15) combined for 34 tries. Joey Walsh (nine games) showed potential as he filled in for Brooks and Jamal Fogarty (who again struggled in pressure moments).
Outlook for 2027: Manly have shown what they’re capable of under Foran and they’ll want to be a finals contender in his first full season.
10th – Melbourne (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: A rare poor season for Melbourne, missing the finals for the first time since 2002 (not counting 2010 when they couldn’t earn competition points). While a drop off was anticipated with so many changes before the season started, few would have expected the Storm to fall this far.
Turning Point: Seven straight losses (Round 3 to Round 9) saw them drop to 16th: though they rallied with five wins from their next six, they never got into the top eight.
Standouts: Sualauvi Faalogo (18 tries and 11 goals) showed he’ll be the Storm’s next superstar as he replaced Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback. Faalogo was a constant threat with his kicking game, speed, and willingness to improvise. Cooper Clarke played all 24 games in his debut season, while Harry Grant stepped up as captain with moments of brilliance that turned games.
Outlook for 2027: With Jamayne Isaako arriving, and Xavier Coates likely to return, expect Melbourne to be premiership challengers again.
11th – Canberra (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: Canberra didn’t learn the harsh lessons from last year’s finals and fell into bad habits. But the silver lining of a disappointing season was some of their younger players got time to develop, including Coby Black’s 26 points on debut. Will he challenge Ethan Sanders for the first grade halfback spot or continue to develop in NSW Cup?
Turning Point: They never recovered from a 1-4 start, and their inability to control games that they should have won hurt them, especially against Parramatta (nearly chasing down a 15-0 deficit) and Brisbane (squandering a 30-16 lead).
Standouts: Simi Sasagi, Sanders, Joe Tapine, and Owen Pattie. Sasagi was easily Canberra’s best player when fit; Sanders grew into his first full season, scoring 175 points: three tries, 81 goals, and a one-point field goal; Tapine again gave his all as captain (749 tackles at 94.21% efficiency); and Pattie graduated from NSW Cup to starting hooker (overtaking Tom Starling and Jayden Brailey).
Outlook for 2027: If Canberra can keep their composure in tight games, then they should return to the finals. While Josh Papalii will be a big loss, the Raiders’ young squad has the potential to be a premiership contender, but they need to find consistency.
12th – Canterbury-Bankstown (11W, 13L)
Expectation vs Reality: After two straight finals appearances under Cameron Ciraldo, the Bulldogs regressed in 2027, with constant questions about their ideal halves pairing (eventually settling on Stephen Crichton and Lachlan Galvin).
Turning Point: The adjustment to the Six Again rule impacted Canterbury’s defensive style, with eight losses from their first 13 games.
Standouts: Galvin won the Dr. George Peponis Medal as Player of the Year and made the most of his dangerous right edge combination with Jacob Preston. Galvin has shown what he can do now the off-field noise has decreased and he can focus on playing footy.
Outlook for 2027: Finals will be the minimum requirement for Canterbury in 2027. Can they settle on a successful halves combination?
13th – Parramatta (9W, 15L)
Expectation vs Reality: Another disappointing season, but they showed resilience nearly every week despite a horrific injury toll.
Turning Point: A 52-4 loss to Melbourne in Round 1 set the tone for their season. While they beat Brisbane and St George Illawarra in the next two games, they won only seven games after that.
Standouts: With Jonah Pezet only playing seven games, Ronald Volkman stepped up (switching between five-eighth and halfback), playing 19 games and re-signing with the Eels until 2028. Jack Williams backed up his 2025 Ken Thornett Medal with 24 games and a career-high 952 tackles (92.34% tackle efficiency).
Outlook for 2027: Parramatta will need to be a finals contender in 2027, or Jason Ryles may be the next coach under pressure. Can Jarome Luai make a difference?
14th – Brisbane (8W, 16L)
Expectation vs Reality: The Broncos had the worst premiership defence in 20 years, not only missing the finals, but looking like possible wooden spooners in the final few rounds. It wasn’t just the poor on-field results (including two wins from 14 at Suncorp Stadium), but also the off-field headlines that followed them for most of the season.
Turning Point: You could argue the World Club Challenge loss to Hull KR set the tone, followed by the drama over Payne Haas signing with Souths. Brisbane were 5-3 after the Anzac weekend, then lost eight straight to plummet to the bottom four.
Standouts: Haas showed he was still committed in his final season at Brisbane, playing 17 games, making 597 tackles (97.23% efficiency), and running for 2,657 metres (an average of 156).
Outlook for 2027: Losing Haas and Adam Reynolds will hurt Brisbane and the pressure will increase on Michael Maguire if the Broncos start slowly. It could be another tough season.
15th – Wests Tigers (8W, 16L)
Expectation vs Reality: Wests missed finals for the 15th straight season, fading away after a positive start, and distracted by more off-field drama.
Turning Point: They were in the top four after Round 8, but won only three more games after that, including eight straight losses from Round 16 to Round 24.
Standouts: Terrell May was one the Tigers’ most consistent performers, playing 23 games and making 918 tackles (97.97% tackle efficiency).
Outlook for 2027: While they’re unlikely to break their finals drought next year, will there be more focus on footy or the almost inevitable off-field issues?
16th – Gold Coast (6W, 18L)
Expectation vs Reality: Another poor season for the Titans, though they showed glimpses of what they could become under Josh Hannay.
Turning Point: Five straight losses between Round 7 and Round 12 put them in the bottom four, and they finished the season with six straight losses.
Standouts: Keano Kini had some brilliant moments, including the match-winning try against Brisbane. Zane Harrison showed he could be the Titans’ future halfback, playing 11 games and kicking the match-winning one-point field goal against Penrith (while wearing the popular Gold Coast Chargers heritage jersey). Jayden Campbell scored 178 points from 22 games (12 tries, 65 goals) and was one of the Titans’ most consistent players.
Outlook for 2027: While they have the talent, the Titans’ rebuild will take a while. They’ll be lucky to leave the bottom four in 2027.
17th – St George Illawarra (5W, 19L, Wooden Spoon)
Expectation vs Reality: The Dragons earnt the joint-venture club’s first wooden spoon this season, though they showed promising signs under new coach Dean Young.
Turning Point: St George Illawarra hit rock bottom on Anzac Day. After Shane Flanagan was sacked following seven straight losses, Young’s first game as interim coach resulted in a 62-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters. They stayed in last place for the rest of the season.
Standouts: The Couchmans (Toby and Ryan) and Hamish Stewart were outstanding, combining for 2,721 tackles this season (Stewart 996, Toby Couchman 872, Ryan Couchman 853).
Outlook for 2027: With Young secured as head coach and some big signings arriving (including Scott Drinkwater, Keaon Koloamatangi, Luke Metcalf, Kodi Nikorima, Phillip Sami, and Connor Watson), the Dragons could be one of the most improved sides in 2027.
Wrap-Up: Lessons from the Bottom Nine
- Biggest Fall: The top four from 2025 (Canberra, Melbourne, Canterbury-Bankstown, Brisbane) all missed the 2026 finals.
- Overachievers: Manly Warringah.
- Future Hope: St George Illawarra.
- Stuck in Decline: Wests Tigers and Gold Coast.
The bottom nine of 2026 delivered drama, disappointment, and resilience. Some teams are ready to rise, while others must face tough questions heading into 2027.
