Reece Walsh’s stunning form has the Broncos surging to a top four finish, while James Tedesco has the Roosters on track for a finals tilt and the Storm have some soul searching to do after a record rout.
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Read on for our Power Rankings ahead of Round 27!
1. CANBERRA RAIDERS (ladder: 1)
Last week’s rank: 2nd, up one spot
Last 5: 4-1
Analysis: The Raiders locked up the minor premiership with a 24-10 win over the Tigers with a game to spare to go to the top of the Power Rankings. The knock on the Raiders is they haven’t beat the elite teams consistently, but the Panthers win two weeks ago will go a long way to silencing the doubters. However, bigger battles await Ricky Stuart’s side, after they take on the Dolphins in the final round. Ricky Stuart is likely to rest a number of players ahead of the finals series to freshen them up after a long season. However, two weeks off before a blockbuster final with the Broncos, Sharks or Warriors is not always a good thing. Canberra have been the most consistent team all year, but their draw has been favourable at times and given they are a young side, they are yet to prove themselves in the pressure-cooker of finals footy. However, as Ricky Stuart said, there is effectively no pressure on his team because they were never expected to be where they are and their young side is well poised to make a run at what would be a stunning title.
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Ronaldo lights up the Shire with hatty! | 01:19
2. MELBOURNE STORM (ladder: 2)
Last week’s rank: 1st, down one spot
Last 5: 4-1
Analysis: The Storm put in their worst performance in recent memory in a 40-10 loss to the Roosters, after leading 10-0 at half-time to drop off the top of our Power Rankings. However, Harry Grant was suspended and Craig Bellamy rested a number of stars, while Jahrome Hughes is not due back until their final round, so it won’t be panic stations for the Storm by any means. Unfortunately, Melbourne will be without skipper Harry Grant until the finals due to a suspension for a shoulder charge. A final round clash with the Broncos, who are desperate to seal a top four finish will be a huge challenge for the Storm, but they have a great record against Brisbane. With Hughes to return ahead of the finals, the Storm are the favourites to avenge their 2024 Grand Final heartbreak, but they will have plenty of competition in a wide open title race.
3. BRISBANE BRONCOS (ladder: 4)
Last week’s rank: 3rd
Last 5: 4-1
Analysis: The Broncos made it hard for themselves but got home 38-30 over the Cowboys for their fourth win from their last five starts to break into the top four. Reece Walsh continued his red hot form albeit with another few errors that he will have to cut down come finals time if the Broncos are to make a deep run. Ben Hunt and Billy Walters again filled in for injured duo Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds with aplomb and with Payne Haas leading from the front, the Broncos are a genuine title threat. A clash with the Storm in the final round will show how far this Broncos team has come and they need to win to assure a top four finish and a second chance in the finals. But the Storm are coming off a big loss and Craig Bellamy is likely to want a bounce back performance heading into finals, so the Broncos will have their work cut out for them.
4. CRONULLA SHARKS (ladder: 5)
Last week’s rank: 5th, up one spot
Last 5: 4-1
Analysis: The Sharks had a slow start before dominating the Knights 40-16 to jump to fifth on the ladder and keep their top four hopes alive. Nicho Hynes has been in a purple patch of form to lead the Sharks to six wins from their last seven games and Addin Fonua-Blake has been a pillar in the front row. However, the win was soured by a an injury to Braydon Trindall and they will be without skipper Cameron McInnes due to a knee injury, in a massive loss for Cronulla moving forward. The Sharks face a huge final round clash with the Bulldogs, which can see them surge into the top four if the Broncos falter against the Storm.
5. CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (ladder: 3)
Last week’s rank: 6th, up one spot
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Bulldogs may have come up against a Panthers side missing 16 first line players, but they still got the job done in a 28-4 win. Despite improvements against the Storm, the Bulldogs’ clunky form begs the question, has Cameron Ciraldo erred by changing his spine so late in the season. Lachlan Galvin and Bailey Hayward are the future of the club, but Toby Sexton and Reed Mahoney did the work to get the Bulldogs to the top of the ladder early in the season and there is an argument they deserve to start and actually make the team better. The Bulldogs face the in form Sharks in their final regular season game and need a complete performance to show they are the real deal for a premiership push.
O’Brien plays down chat about future | 07:42
6. PENRITH PANTHERS (ladder: 7)
Last week’s rank: 4th, down two spots
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Panthers have now lost three in a row after their 28-4 defeat to the Bulldogs, but they were never expected to win after resting 16 first graders. The only knock on the Panthers’ resurgence that saw them win nine straight before their three straight losses was that they didn’t beat many of the elite teams in their winning streak and while they came close they couldn’t get the job done against Melbourne and Canberra. Still, given what they have achieved in the last five years it won’t be panic stations, although they have now slipped out of the top four, which could prove costly come finals time. The Panthers finish their regular season against the Dragons and will want to win to carry some form and confidence into September. But they will have to win four games in a row in the finals to clinch a historic five-peat and become the first team to win a title from outside the top four.
7. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (ladder: 8)
Last week’s rank: 8th, up one spot
Last 5: 4-1
Analysis: The Roosters bounced back from their shock loss to the Eels to stun the Storm 40-10 and put themselves in the box seat for a finals berth. Melbourne were down on troops, but the 40-0 Roosters blitz in the second half will give them plenty of confidence, after snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Storm. Trent Robinson’s side now faces the Rabbitohs, who will treat it like a grand final if they can knock their arch rivals out of the top eight, with the Dolphins breathing down their necks. James Tedesco is in the form of his career and the favourite to win the Dally M Medal, while Sam Walker returns from concussion against Souths in a timely boost. The Roosters need to keep winning to make the finals, but they will be a massive dark horse to go all the way if they can get there.
8. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (ladder: 6)
Last week’s rank: 7th, down one spot
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Warriors went down 26-22 to the Eels in another upset to knock them out of the top four and continue a worrying form slump to finish the regular season. Andrew Webster’s side have now lost four of their last six games and the loss of halfback Luke Metcalf is proving difficult to cover. The Warriors next face a desperate Sea Eagles team on their home turf, which will decide their top four fate and they can still make it if the Broncos and Sharks falter. But even if the Warriors can squeak into the top four, it remains to be seen if they have the players in key positions to be a force come finals time.
9. DOLPHINS (ladder: 9)
Last week’s rank: 12th, up three spots
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Dolphins snapped their losing streak with a 36-30 victory over the Titans to keep their finals hopes alive. It wasn’t convincing, but if the Rabbitohs can beat the Roosters and the Dolphins can improve their points differential in a win over the Raiders, they will seal a maiden finals berth. Helping them will be reports Ricky Stuart will rest a number of stars after locking up the minor premiership. Given their injury woes, it is no surprise the Dolphins are starting to fade after a long season that has seen half of their starters rubbed out throughout the year. The Dolphins need to address their horror defence, which has seen them concede over 180 points in their last four games, if they want to squeak into the finals and cause some upsets if they get there.
Woolf content to finish season strong | 06:16
10. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (ladder: 13)
Last week’s rank: 10th, no movement
Last 5: 3-2
Analysis: The Rabbitohs had the bye in Round 26 after their best performance of the season to thrash the Dragons 40-0 in a record rout. Their third win on the trot and the bye means they won’t finish with the wooden spoon, but they can go as high as 11th if they beat the Roosters, which would be a massive achievement given their injury woes in 2025. Jye Gray has been in red hot form and Latrell Mitchell is set to return for their final round clash against his old club. Wayne Bennett’s men face arch rivals the Roosters in what looms as their Grand Final, which could knock the Chooks out of the finals if the Dolphins beat the Raiders by a big enough margin.
11. PARRAMATTA EELS (ladder: 12)
Last week’s rank: 13th, up two spots
Last 5: 3-2
Analysis: The Eels backed up their boilover against the Roosters with another 26-22 upset of the Warriors in New Zealand to knock them out of the top four. Jason Ryles’ side is arguably in better form than a couple of finals bound teams at the moment and while they can’t make September, they are finishing with a wet sail and helping decide the final ladder. Mitchell Moses is in career best form and the Eels’ young brigade led by fullback Isaiah Iongi are just riding off the back of their leader to prove Ryles’ rebuild is on track. The Eels finish their season with a clash with the struggling Knights, which could decide the wooden spoon and help them finish 11th heading into 2026.
Titans looking to send Des out a winner | 03:26
12. MANLY SEA EAGLES (ladder: 10)
Last week’s rank: 14th, up two spots
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Sea Eagles won their second game on the trot with a 40-24 victory over the Dragons to keep their slim finals hopes alive. However, their four game losing streak prior to that and poor points differential looks to have cost them a finals berth. Manly are starting to play the exciting brand of footy they produced early in the season, which saw them win three of their first four games, but it looks like being too little too late. Manly face the Warriors in their final game of the regular season and have the added motivation of trying to send skipper Daly Cherry-Evans out on a good note in his final game at Brookvale in a Sea Eagles jersey before he joins the Roosters. But Anthony Seibold’s side look like falling a win or two short of a finals berth.
13. WESTS TIGERS (ladder: 11)
Last week’s rank: 11th, down two spots
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Tigers were brave, but went down 24-10 to a Raiders side that locked up the minor premiership in front of a packed home crowd. The loss was the Tigers’ second on the trot after they were beaten by the Cowboys to end their slim finals hopes. However, with three wins from their last six starts, the Tigers are in good form and could finish as high as 11th, which would be a massive effort for the club given where they have come from. Jarome Luai is finding his groove and the Tigers will back themselves to finish on a high against the Titans in their final game, which could decide the wooden spoon.
Broncos not happy despite QLD derby win | 03:54
14. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (ladder: 14)
Last week’s rank: 9th, down five spots
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Cowboys threw everything at the Broncos in their final game of the season, but their defence again proved costly in a 38-30 defeat. The Cowboys have the bye in Round 27 and can start planning for next season amid reports of a player and support staff clean-out this off-season. Todd Payten is set to survive the axe, but the pressure will be on to turn around the team’s fortunes next season and get them back competing for the top eight or his job will be on the line. In skipper Tom Dearden the Cowboys have a player to build around, but they need to address their atrocious defence to be a legitimate contender next season.
15. ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (ladder: 15)
Last week’s rank: 15th, no movement
Last 5: 2-3
Analysis: The Dragons had their chances but went down 40-24 to the Sea Eagles for their third straight loss and seventh from their last nine games. Shane Flanagan’s side have been brave this season, but their injury woes have caught up with them over the course of a long season. Clint Gutherson has been a revelation for the club, but there are still doubts the Dragons have the class in key positions to be a legitimate top eight contender and they are still lacking some elite forwards to match the top teams in the NRL consistently. The Dragons will be looking to finish the season on a high against the Panthers in Round 27, but it won’t be easy if Penrith recall their stars ahead of the finals and there is a lot of work to do for Flanagan this off-season.
Madge spray rockets Bronx to top 4 | 01:58
16. GOLD COAST TITANS (ladder: 17)
Last week’s rank: 17th, up one spot
Last 5: 0-5
Analysis: The Titans pushed the Dolphins all the way, but ultimately went down 36-30 for their fifth straight loss. However, their superior points differential could see them avoid the wooden spoon if they can beat the Tigers at home in their final game and the Knights lose to the Eels as expected. The Titans are playing better than the Knights, which sees them jump off the bottom of the Power Rankings, but they need to win to avoid last place on the ladder this weekend. The club will want to send Des Hasler and Kieran Foran out winners, before a massive off-season under new coach Josh Hannay.
17. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (ladder: 16)
Last week’s rank: 16th, down one spot
Last 5: 0-5
Analysis: The Knights started strongly but ultimately went down to the Sharks 40-16 for their eighth straight loss. If the knights can’t beat the Eels in their final game and the Titans beat the Tigers, they will win the wooden spoon, which would be a massive blow for a proud club that has been on the up in recent seasons. Adam O’Brien has fallen on his sword and the Knights are on the lookout for a new coach for 2026 after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Skipper Kalyn Ponga has pledged to see out his Knights deal which expires in 2027, while Dylan Brown joins the club next season, but there is a feeling their two giant contracts will make it hard for the new coach to build a competitive roster. Even if they avoid the spoon there is a huge amount of work to do to turn the Knights around.
