Two preliminary finals stand between the remaining contenders and a place on grand final day, and the tipping title race is just as fierce. With Matt Attard holding a slim one-point lead over Brendan Wood, every prediction carries extra weight as the season reaches its climax.
Prelim Final Fixtures & Expert Predictions
All times AEST
| Match | Kick-Off | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphins vs Roosters | Friday 7:50pm | Suncorp Stadium |
| Panthers vs Knights | Sunday 4:00pm | Accor Stadium |
Read Full Previews
- Dolphins vs Roosters → dolphins-vs-roosters-preliminary-final-preview-2026
- Panthers vs Knights → panthers-vs-knights-preliminary-final-preview-2026
| Game / Writer | Matt Pritchard | Andrew Pelechaty | Brendan Wood | Jem Nash | Lachlan Jeffery | Mathew Williams | Matt Attard | Nathan Smith | Shannon Meyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 115 | 114 | 126 | 120 | 115 | 110 | 127 | 122 | 114 |
| Dolphins vs Roosters | Roosters by 7 | Dolphins by 6 | Dolphins by 4 | Dolphins by 4 | Dolphins by 12 | Dolphins by 6 | Roosters by 8 | Dolphins by 2 | Dolphins by 8 |
| Panthers vs Knights | Panthers by 12 | Panthers by 10 | Panthers by 4 | Panthers by 6 | Panthers by 24 | Panthers by 14 | Panthers by 18 | Panthers by 12 | Panthers by 12 |
| Round Score | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 |
Preliminary Finals Consensus Tips
| Match | Panel Pick |
|---|---|
| Dolphins vs Roosters | Dolphins (7-2) |
| Panthers vs Knights | Panthers (9-0) |
Preliminary Finals Preview
The panel is overwhelmingly backing the Panthers to end Newcastle’s Cinderella run, with all nine tipsters selecting Penrith to progress to the grand final. Confidence ranges from Jem Nash’s cautious Panthers by 6 to Lachlan Jeffery’s commanding Panthers by 24.
The Dolphins-Roosters preliminary final is far more divided. Seven of the nine panellists are backing the Dolphins to reach the club’s first grand final, while only Matt Pritchard and competition leader Matt Attard are siding with the Roosters.
