The votes are in from the Rugby League Zone writer panel — and the message is loud and clear: 2026 is shaping up as a heavyweight clash between the Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers, with the Brisbane Broncos lurking as the big local hope.
Our panel’s predictions echo a rivalry that last boiled over in a Grand Final back on October 5, 2003, when the Panthers stunned the heavily favoured Roosters 18-6 at Telstra (now Accor) Stadium. That night is still remembered for Luke Priddis’s masterful performance (earning him the Clive Churchill Medal) and, of course, “that tackle” — Scott Sattler’s desperate, game-saving effort on Todd Byrne that preserved the lead and sealed Penrith’s breakthrough premiership. Fast-forward 23 years, and our writers see a potential rematch brewing but with a result in reverse – the Sydney Roosters winning the title.
After tallying every prediction, here’s what our crew sees coming:
- Premiers: Roosters lead the way, just edging the Broncos and Panthers. One wild-card Bulldogs call from Matt Pritchard keeps things spicy.
- Runners Up: Panthers dominate — the clear consensus silver-medal pick.
- Minor Premiers: Panthers and Roosters split the honours (both on 4 votes), showing belief in their regular-season firepower.
- Top 8 Ladder Consensus: Panthers top the top 8 favourites, followed closely by Roosters — both appear in every single Top 8 list. Storm, Sharks, Bulldogs, Broncos and Raiders round out a very tight top tier.
- Wooden Spoon: Dragons are the heavy favourites, with Titans next. Bottom end looks grim for St George Illawarra.
- Origin: Blues hold a 7–5 edge — NSW backers slightly outnumber the Maroons crew.
- Dally M POTY: Nathan Cleary, Isaiya Katoa, James Tedesco and now Mitch Moses all in the mix.
The panel sees a season where the Roosters’ new-look spine and Panthers’ relentless system could define September, while Broncos fans have plenty of reason to dream — high ladder finishes and title contention feature heavily.
Full predictions table below. Who do you have winning it all in 2026? Drop your ladder, premiers pick or bold call below — let’s see if you can out-predict the panel!
| Writer | Premiers | Runners Up | Minor Premiers | Top 8 (in order) | Wooden Spoon | Origin Series | Dally M POTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Pritchard | Bulldogs | Sharks | Sharks | 1. Sharks 2. Roosters 3. Panthers 4. Bulldogs 5. Storm 6. Broncos 7. Eels 8. Cowboys | Dragons | Maroons | Isaiya Katoa |
| Matt Attard | Roosters | Panthers | Roosters | 1. Roosters 2. Panthers 3. Bulldogs 4. Raiders 5. Sharks 6. Storm 7. Eels 8. Dolphins | Knights | Blues | James Tedesco |
| Lachlan Jeffery | Roosters | Panthers | Panthers | 1. Panthers 2. Roosters 3. Sharks 4. Eels 5. Broncos 6. Storm 7. Warriors 8. Dolphins | Cowboys | Maroons | Nathan Cleary |
| Ryan Kuzio | Broncos | Roosters | Roosters | 1. Roosters 2. Broncos 3. Panthers 4. Storm 5. Bulldogs 6. Raiders 7. Dolphins 8. Sharks | Titans | Blues | Reece Walsh |
| Shannon Meyer | Panthers | Raiders | Panthers | 1. Raiders 2. Panthers 3. Roosters 4. Dolphins 5. Storm 6. Eels 7. Bulldogs 8. Warriors | Dragons | Maroons | Isaiya Katoa |
| Jem Nash | Roosters | Panthers | Panthers | 1. Panthers 2. Broncos 3. Roosters 4. Storm 5. Raiders 6. Bulldogs 7. Sharks 8. Rabbitohs | Dragons | Blues | Mitch Moses |
| Andrew Pelechaty | Broncos | Panthers | Broncos | 1. Broncos 2. Panthers 3. Bulldogs 4. Sharks 5. Storm 6. Roosters 7. Raiders 8. Dolphins | Dragons | Maroons | Adam Reynolds |
| Chris Petrie | Storm | Roosters | Storm | 1. Storm 2. Panthers 3. Roosters 4. Broncos 5. Bulldogs 6. Sharks 7. Raiders | Titans | Blues | Ethan Strange |
| Deb Sherwood | Sharks | Raiders | Sharks | 1. Sharks 2. Raiders 3. Storm 4. Roosters 5. Panthers 6. Tigers 7. Warriors 8. Dragons | Titans | Blues | Kaeo Weekes |
| Nathan Smith | Roosters | Panthers | Broncos | 1. Broncos 2. Roosters 3. Panthers 4. Storm 5. Bulldogs 6. Raiders 7. Eels 8. Sharks | Dragons | Blues | Mitch Moses |
| Mathew Williams | Panthers | Sharks | Panthers | 1. Panthers 2. Broncos 3. Sharks 4. Bulldogs 5. Storm 6. Warriors 7. Roosters 8. Dolphins | Sea Eagles | Blues | Nathan Cleary |
| Brendan Wood | Broncos | Roosters | Roosters | 1. Roosters 2. Broncos 3. Bulldogs 4. Panthers 5. Sharks 6. Raiders 7. Storm 8. Dolphins | Dragons | Maroons | James Tedesco |
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