The 2026 NRL finals series begins with four blockbuster Week 1 clashes, including qualifying finals between the Panthers and Roosters, and the Warriors and Dolphins. Our expert tipping panel has delivered its predictions for every finals match, with strong backing for Penrith, New Zealand, Cronulla and South Sydney to advance. Check out the full NRL Finals Week 1 tips, predictions, consensus picks and expert analysis as the road to the Grand Final officially gets underway.
Week 1 Finals Fixtures & Expert Predictions
All times AEST
| Match | Kick-Off | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbitohs vs Knights (Elimination Final) | Friday 7:50pm | Allianz Stadium |
| Warriors vs Dolphins (Qualifying Final) | Saturday 4:05pm | Go Media Stadium |
| Sharks vs Cowboys (Elimination Final) | Saturday 7:50pm | Allianz Stadium |
| Panthers vs Roosters (Qualifying Final) | Sunday 4:05pm | CommBank Stadium |
Read Full Previews
- Rabbitohs vs Knights → rabbitohs-vs-knights-week-1-finals-preview-2026
- Warriors vs Dolphins → warriors-vs-dolphins-week-1-finals-preview-2026
- Sharks vs Cowboys → sharks-vs-cowboys-week-1-finals-preview-2026
- Panthers vs Roosters → panthers-vs-roosters-week-1-finals-preview-2026
Finals Week 1 Tips
| Game / Writer | Matt Pritchard | Andrew Pelechaty | Brendan Wood | Jem Nash | Lachlan Jeffery | Mathew Williams | Matt Attard | Nathan Smith | Shannon Meyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 111/185 | 111/185 | 121/185 | 118/185 | 113/185 | 108/185 | 124/185 | 119/185 | 110/185 |
| Rabbitohs vs Knights | Knights by 10 | Rabbitohs by 4 | Rabbitohs by 10 | Rabbitohs by 6 | Rabbitohs by 12 | Rabbitohs by 8 | Rabbitohs by 8 | Rabbitohs by 14 | Rabbitohs by 8 |
| Warriors vs Dolphins | Warriors by 16 | Warriors by 6 | Dolphins by 2 | Warriors by 2 | Warriors by 2 | Warriors by 10 | Warriors by 12 | Warriors by 4 | Warriors by 2 |
| Sharks vs Cowboys | Cowboys by 1 | Sharks by 12 | Sharks by 6 | Sharks by 4 | Sharks by 8 | Sharks by 14 | Sharks by 1 | Sharks by 10 | Sharks by 12 |
| Panthers vs Roosters | Panthers by 12 | Panthers by 2 | Panthers by 4 | Panthers by 8 | Panthers by 24 | Panthers by 12 | Panthers by 8 | Panthers by 8 | Panthers by 16 |
| Round Score | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 | -/4 |
| Updated Overall Score | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Finals Week 1 Consensus Tips
| Match | Panel Pick |
|---|---|
| Rabbitohs vs Knights | Rabbitohs (8-1) |
| Warriors vs Dolphins | Warriors (8-1) |
| Sharks vs Cowboys | Sharks (8-1) |
| Panthers vs Roosters | Panthers (9-0) |
Finals Week 1 Preview
The finals have arrived and the panel is showing remarkable confidence in the higher-seeded teams.
The strongest consensus comes in the qualifying final between Penrith and the Roosters, with all nine tipsters backing the minor premiers to progress directly to a preliminary final. Confidence levels vary from Andrew Pelechaty’s cautious Panthers by 2 to Lachlan Jeffery’s emphatic Panthers by 24.
Three of the four matches have attracted an 8-1 split. Matt Pritchard is the lone voice backing Newcastle to upset South Sydney, Brendan Wood is tipping the Dolphins to knock off the Warriors in Auckland, and Matt Pritchard again goes against the grain by selecting North Queensland over Cronulla.
