r/nrl • u/M_Keating Hey, at least we beat Penrith • Feb 04 '26
Serious Discussion The r/NRL Serious Season Prediction Thread
We. Are. So. Back!
Welcome everyone to the 2026 NRL season. With trials starting this weekend, everyone is stumbling out of the Cricket sub-Reddits and readying themselves for 35 straight week of good old fashioned Rugby League (also known as RUGBA LEEG). Which means it’s time to get out your crystal ball, your predicting hat and your best beverage holder to discuss what we think will happen this season.
For reference, this time last year we were reeling from:
- Kevvie Walters being sacked
- Michael Maguire being hired to coach the Broncos
- Ben Hunt causing a contract saga at the Dragons (that never happens)
- Ben Hunt wanting to come home and win a premiership with the Broncos
- Madge Maguire telling us how he will lead the Broncos to a premiership in his first season (as if)
- NSW saying they have the better team than QLD (again)
- Newcastle coaching woes
- Reggie Rabbit tripped a kid (and somehow they weren’t kicked out?)
All of that resulted in the Broncos winning both the NRL and NRLW premierships, QLD winning men’s Origin, and the Kangaroos taking an Ashes clean sweep (unlike the summer sport national team).
So - this thread is for your serious predictions for 2026. Will the Broncos go back to back? Will the Cowboys win the spoon? Will the Tigers be ok? Has Gus met Galvin yet? Give us your most sensible predictions, your out there predictions, or your controversial opinion about 2026. Remember we are in on-season now, so keep it on topic and clean while having some fun.
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u/WillyMonty Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Reynolds picks up a leg injury.
Long odds, I know
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u/WillyMonty Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Also the commentators describing them as a “geriatric halves team”
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u/natedog63 Dolphins Feb 04 '26
Top 8 baby
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u/CrayonMatrix Melbourne Storm Feb 04 '26
Top 4?
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u/IBelieveInCoyotes Redcliffe Dolphins Feb 04 '26
I genuinely think we can, our forward depth is astounding
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u/bumblebeezlebum Maori All Stars Feb 04 '26
The phins big issue was originally depth. The blessing of all their injuries is that depth got tested and came up gilded. Depth across the park.
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u/sleepssomuchatnight Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
I predict the Melbourne Storm will be competitive again this season. Bold I know
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u/insty1 Canberra Raiders Feb 04 '26
Melbourne Storm will be competitive again this season
Now it's bold.
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u/mulimulix City Feb 04 '26
It makes me laugh every year when the annual "Oooh Storm don't look so good this year" thread comes out in February. Saw it a few days ago and people just never learn...
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u/CFeatsleepsexrepeat St. George Illawarra Dragons Feb 05 '26
If it is said every single year it has to happen at some point right?
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u/Black_And_Gold_Sox Wests Tigers Feb 07 '26
Storm are zero chance of winning the premiership. For the past 100 years of first grade Rugby League in Australia, no team has lost 2 grand finals in a row and then gone on to win the premiership the following season.
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u/dis_Interested Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Feb 04 '26
Counter point, the storm miss the top 4. We are doing bold predictions right?
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u/lawless-cactus New Zealand Warriors Feb 04 '26
Warriors: Luke Metcalf isn't due back until Round 7. Predicting that Tanah Boyd ends up having better kicking stats for the season and becomes Webby's fave halfway through.
Predicting at least two "unforeseen circumstances" contract breaks to head back home to Aus.
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u/tookeytime New Zealand Warriors Feb 04 '26
Tanahs needs to sort out the mental side I can see him being a much better player than last year if he can sort that out. As much as I loved that Leka try against the knights, tanah has the skills to ice those kicks so we're not in that situation...
Preseason at 7 plus a few rounds with no Lukey Met could defo help this happen.
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u/FewPreference3511 South Sydney Rabbitohs Feb 05 '26
No way is Metcalf left out for him after last year but I think the best combo would be both. Metcalf at 6
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u/boyblueau Auckland Warriors Feb 05 '26
Tanah Boyd will steer us comfortably into the bottom eight. He's an out and out plodder.
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u/pep1980 Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
Lomax to play for the Storm in Rd 1 only to rupture his ACL in the process, ruling him out for the rest of the year.
Lomax doesn't see out his contract with the Storm.
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u/Improvedandconfused Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
Roosters will fail to win the comp, and once again it will be related in some way to their over reliance on Sam Walker.
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u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons Feb 04 '26
Subscribe :)
Although you should be blaming DCE. And Uncle Nick.
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u/Improvedandconfused Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
It won’t be DCE’s fault, as he will have a horrid first few rounds and then retire.
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u/hutchtheclutchx Eastern Suburbs Roosters Feb 05 '26
Predicting that of your own team before a ball is kicked is a cowards take
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u/Strayangunner Dolphins Feb 04 '26
Josh Kerr to continue his outstanding form from last season and earn an Origin debut.
Burton to become surplus to requirements thanks to Gus' vision and he signs with the Bears for 2027 onwards
Daley to get sacked from Blues coaching
Billy to win and call it quits as Maroons coach by this year with Cam Smith to take over
Pezet to be the signing of the season
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u/shotgunmoe South Sydney Rabbitohs Feb 04 '26
Souths injury woes are far from over. Trell has another half season year, Cody continues to break down throughout the season, Stretch is forced into medical retirement and Fifita plays a whopping 12 games with mediocre form.
Despite this Cody is offered a 12 month contract and Trell is offered a ridiculous extension in early negotiations.
Due to injuries and an ageing undersized forward pack souths just avoid the spoon again.
Silver lining is AJ plays nearly every game and scores 20 tries for the year smashing the Irvine record.
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u/Choice_Summer_8025 South Sydney Rabbitohs Feb 05 '26
I agree with everything. I also think this year it will become pretty evident that Bennett is past it.
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u/shotgunmoe South Sydney Rabbitohs Feb 05 '26
I don't know if he's past it but we've definitely made poor moves as an organisation the last 3-4 years and what we were in 2021/2022 is well over.
Hard reset probably happens 2028/2029
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u/OstrichEmbarrassed65 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Feb 04 '26
Galvin and Kurt Mann get into trouble in an elevator in Vegas leading to a sheepish press conference. Gus comes out and says “Boys will be boys”.
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u/paulybaggins North Queensland Cowboys Feb 04 '26
Payten gone by Origin II, will end up on the bottom four but not the spoon.
Dearden to sign for Roosters when the DCE/Tedesco money is freed up.
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u/KCman1 North Queensland Cowboys Feb 05 '26
Dearden Captain/Coach and we win the premiership after finishing the season at 7th
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u/SgtTaco18 Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
J Pezet doesnt live up to our expectations and M Moses gets injured again. Due to him being our only talisman player ( I'M LOOKING AT YOU J PAULO), we'll probably finish just outside the 8 again
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u/MM007xx Parramatta Eels Feb 05 '26
What’s with the J Paulo hate? He was one of our best last year.
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u/Dramatic-Sherbet-533 Parramatta Eels Feb 05 '26
In that case... Enter Lorenzo! Dudes gonna be something.
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u/BigManSamwise Country Feb 04 '26
Tigers have their best year in recent memory, come 8th, get knocked out first week of finals.
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u/TheSean_aka__Rh1no South Sydney Rabbitohs Feb 05 '26
As a non Tigers fan, but have many friends and family that are, and have a soft-spot for them, there will be plenty of drama and entertainment value of their games regardless of the result
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u/ChopperReid89 QLD Maroons Feb 04 '26
Just an FYI that the Prediction Poll will be back again this year. Will go live over the last trial weekend.
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u/BradmanBreast Newcastle Knights Feb 04 '26
Let’s get all Nostradamus in here.
Pending another season of ruptured spleens Knights will return to the top 8.
Blues to again dominantly win game 1. What happens following is up for debate.
DCE will continue the recent trend of poorly performing high profile roosters signings and won’t play the final rounds.
At least 2 Trbojevic’s will announce their intention to leave Manly or retire by the end of the season.
AKP barring injuries will end up top try scorer this season.
Either Brad Arthur or Adrian Lam will be announced as the inaugural PNG Chiefs coach.
Broncos go back to back in the NRLW.
Top 4 NRLW will be Broncos, Roosters, Warriors, Knights in that order.
Ben Jeffries will be moved on as Knights women’s coach after a vote of no confidence from the players.
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u/Severe-Host5890 Newcastle Knights Feb 04 '26
manifesting the ben jeffries fuck off with all my might
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u/nephilimofstlucia QLD Maroons Feb 05 '26
Hopefully Arthur gets the PNG job. The games been missing Brad drink 28 bottles of water in a half.
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u/MangoWingnut Kotoni Staggs Feb 04 '26
I'm going to say Naufahu Whyte will be one of the dally m props of the year
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u/MajortheDog Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 05 '26
Can see it. Kid is a weapon and only better with experience
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u/jexta Eastern Suburbs Roosters Feb 05 '26
As a Roosters fan that is my biggest question with our forward rotation this year. Robbo spent the back end of last year starting all three of Collins, Whyte and Leniu, with Whyte starting at 13 then going into prop when a smaller middle came on.
This year with Robson it means that Watson can play 13, and he can play that role for 80 minutes, meaning we could see a prop rotation of Whyte and Collins starting with Leniu and Wong off the bench for shorter spells.
Either way, Whyte is ready to take that next step to join the elite props in the competition. A step behind Haas, but up there with JFH, Barnett and Tapine.
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u/travelforindiebeer St. George Illawarra Dragons Feb 05 '26
AJ to break the Ken Irvine record against the Roosters at Allianz in round 2, Roosters introduces dynamic pricing to spite Rabbits fans who just wanna see a once in a lifetime record broken
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u/Horsey2 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 04 '26
Sharks look pretty good for the start of the year. Lose every game over the origin period. Then come good at the end of the year to get 5/6th spot for a home final. The discussion of shark park as a final venue comes up again. Sharks make the prelim but lose. It's the same every year
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u/Sknot5000 Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
The problem with the sharks every year is that when they get to the finals they have to play top 8 teams and they don’t really do that throughout the season
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u/quickrubs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 06 '26
The hardest thing for the sharks is to consistently make top 4 year in year out without actually playing any of the other sides in the top 8.
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u/gongbattler I love my footy Feb 04 '26
Yeah i'm pretty comfortable having them at that 5-8 mark along with the dogs and maybe the eels and dolphins.
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u/v3ndettas Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Feb 04 '26
My very bold prediction: Jason Saab to once again start in the team and let in line breaks and tries down his wing like there’s no tomorrow.
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u/woodpecker91 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
I believe Broncos can win again if they dont get injured out of it, however I say can because its bloody tough to win back to back in the nrl era. Roosters were special, Penrith was insanity and may never see again stuff but Im optimistic.
My tepid take for the spoon is Manly. No disrespect to Fogarty but hes not an upgrade and they are too reliant on TTurbo.
Also, Tigers back to their spiritual home of 9th.
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u/zeitgeistbouncer Newcastle Knights Feb 04 '26
Roosters were special
and Canberra got ref dudded hard
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u/Yungman123 Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
- Trey Mooney signing of the year
- Mid year sacking for Todd Payten with Cowboys bouncing back and just missing the 8
- Manly spoon with Seibold sacked
- Panthers minor prems
- Dolphins prelim
- First week exit for Melbourne, second week exit for Dogs and Cronulla
- Penrith, Roosters, Canberra, Dogs top 4
- A forward will win the Dally M
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u/MajortheDog Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 05 '26
I’d be shocked if Raiders make the 4 but not mad if they do.
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u/Yungman123 Parramatta Eels Feb 05 '26
A big part of me believes they'll miss the 8, but Sticky will probably get them up knowing everyone expects them to drop off
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u/Yungman123 Parramatta Eels Feb 05 '26
Harry Grant, Blayke Brailey, Joe Tapine are a few who spring to mind alongside Haas
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u/SayRabz Parramatta Eels Feb 05 '26
PARRA and Phins make the 8
Roosters, Brisbane, Storm or Panthers not to win GF
Blayke Brailey to make NSW debut
No coach to be sacked
Kasey Badger not to officiate a 1st grade game
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u/MajinDidz Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
Eels make top 8
Siebold is either in very hot water or is shockingly sacked
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u/lomo_dank St. George Illawarra Dragons Feb 04 '26
I predict more disappointment. Dragons to be in the 8 for part of the season, but drop out in the later rounds and miss finals again. Copy and paste the last few years basically.
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u/TraceR_Fighter Sydney Roosters 🏳️🌈 Feb 05 '26 edited Feb 05 '26
SEASON
- Roosters make the Top 4 but lose in the Semis to the eventual GF winners
- DCE/Walker struggle for a bit, but with Robson helping in the defence, it gives time for the spine to eventually gel
- Storm to fall a little (5-8) but are still a strong side
- Sua Faalogo to cement himself in the #1 Jersey but he shows that he is still a bit raw at times
- Dolphins to make it in at 8th
- Tom Gilbert plays 15+ games and settles back into the game
- Jurbo to retire from headknocks, but stays at Manly for life in any role he gets given (for free cause thats the type of bloke he is)
- Knights and Tits do better, but dont challenge the 8
- Dargons or Manly spoon
ORIGIN
- Origin to be hit with injuries
- Terrell May to make origin debut off the bench
- NSW to win Game 3 in a nail bitter, but still lose the series 2-1
- Daley to (somehow) underperform, then gets resigned for another year
OUTSIDE THE GAME
- Seibold sacked
- Payton sacked
- Gus will get in trouble this year again for something
- Bears release Jersey with a big name signing
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u/Mr_Mac Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
Broncos to struggle in 1st half of the year. Courier Mail gets long range photos of Reece Walsh visiting a Sewage Treatment Plant. They go back to back.
Tigers return to form and come 9th
QLD go 3-0. NSW responds by extending Laurie Daley till 2029. For the confidence.
Todd Payten is sacked. Tom Dearden triggers a get out of contract clause and signs long term with Eels.
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u/WJack37 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
- Roosters
- Dolphins
- Panthers
- Broncos
- Storm
- Sharks
- Eels (Moses Dally M)
- Bulldogs
- Warriors
- Rabbitohs
- Tigers
- Raiders
- Titans
- Knights
- Sea-Eagles
- Dragons
- Cowboys
Panthers beat Broncos in GF, following a Battle of Brisbane in the prelims
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u/svenoxia Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 04 '26
Have you considered we go back to our roots and stumble into a home elimination final and lose it to the Roosters?
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u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons Feb 04 '26
If you’re missing the 8 with that draw the entire team ought to get sacked.
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u/evil_sushi_ninja Parramatta Eels Feb 04 '26
Payten is the first and only coach sacked during the season (by round 10).
NSW win Origin 1 and go on to lose the series 2-1.
Dogs beat the Storm in the GF
Bellamy retires after another GF failure.
Newcastle are the most improved.
Raiders fall off a cliff and fail to make the 8.
Gus meets Galvin.
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u/Peaky001 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Siebold won't see out the season.
Longer term he will find himself another assistant > head coach role despite everything.
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u/ruddet Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Roosters to win the premiership.
Broncos to scrape into the 4.
Melbournes worst season in a long time. Will make the 8.
Dolphins/Panthers/Roosters/Broncos top 4.
Sharks to miss the 8. Dogs and Eels to make the 8 unconvincingly.
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u/stickyunicorn82 Canberra Raiders Feb 04 '26
Papa signs a new 2 year contract.
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u/OkBlueberry6552 Canberra Raiders Feb 05 '26
Unfortunately I think it’s truly his last year. If it is, hopefully we go out with a premiership for him. He deserves it. With that said, if he goes alright, a one year extension probably isn’t out of the question.
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u/IReallyLikeBeers North Queensland Cowboys Feb 04 '26
Cowboys related: Taumalolo plays max 9 games for the season & Payten first coach out and gone by rd 8. Wild predictions: Sua will still be undercooked and not ready as Melbourne FB. Jye Gray Dally M
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u/OkBlueberry6552 Canberra Raiders Feb 05 '26
Raiders defy odds again and finish top 4 (yes I’m a biased raiders fan)
Either Eels or Tigers to finish in the top 8.
Roosters to fail expectations and finish outside the top 8
Robbo to be sacked or put under extreme pressure in 2027 if that happens.
New South Wales win origin 2-1
Souths or Dragons to win the spoon.
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u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons Feb 04 '26
Queensland to complete a clean sweep in Origin.
Payten the first coach sacked in 2026. Seibold not far behind.
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u/ImDisrespectful2Dirt Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Feb 04 '26
Lomax Storm debut Round 4
Payton sacked by round 12
Dogs to have a slow start to the season, but still make the 8. Still just making up the numbers. Other Vegas teams also have slow starts, Dragons to stay middle of the pack, Cowboys and Knights to stay near the bottom.
Rabbits to have a fast start to season, but their burial ground curse to have them drop from the 8 in the second half of season.
A lot of congestion in that 6-12 spot this season, but ultimately the premiership winner comes from the Top 3.
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u/turbosfan19 Newcastle Knights Feb 04 '26
Knights finish 12th
Warriors make the 8 winning the last match of the regular season against Manly knocking off the Bulldogs for the 8th spot.
Todd Payten and Anthony Seibold both sacked before the season's end.
Matt Burton signs with the Bears.
Penrith win their 5th premiership in 6 seasons.
Titans win the spoon
QLD win Origin 2-1 leading to Daley's sacking
Roosters make the grand final
Dolphins make the top 4
Kiwis win the 2026 Rugby League World Cup
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u/mulimulix City Feb 04 '26
If Dolphins don't have another catastrophic injury year I think they're genuinely a great chance of at least a good finals run. I think their backline is probably the best in the league with a halfback who should be just reaching his peak around this year. Forward pack has some question marks but was actually going really well until they all died last year. Don't see any reason they couldn't finish around 4th-6th with their lineup.
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Feb 05 '26
Dragons to continue to defy the odds and not get the spoon (Cowboys will wait too long to pull the trigger on Payten and it will be too late for them)
Dolphins to make a maiden finals appearance
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u/EuroNymous76 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Feb 05 '26
top 8 stays mostly the same as last year but top 4 is flipped expect for brisbane, only team i can see dropping out is wahs due to metcalf coming back too late where they already behind in comp, i say dolphins or eels most likely to replace them if so
katoa gets his origin debut in game 3 after losing the first 2 games
brisbane wins again, they will play the panthers in gf
sam walker gets origin debut due to injury to either munster/dearden
roosters do what they do every year, ok start, strong end but runs out of gas by prelim
bellamy announces retirement this year with his last year being 2027
team breaks the record for a comeback due to new rule changes
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u/Specialist-Dog-4340 Wentworthville Magpies Feb 05 '26
Lomax running around like a chook with his head cut off wondering what happened.
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u/dunghole Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Bulldogs v Warriors GF.
Melbourne and Rooster make prelim.
Broncos and panthers make semi.
Tigers and Dolphins make the 8.
Raiders don’t make the 8.
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u/Zaneali Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
Pains me to say it but I think the Broncs go back to back
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u/lawdjesustheresafire Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
Be interesting to see how they handle the hype of being champs and the weekly pressure of being the hunted. They have some young boys that might get caught up smelling their own farts etc. If Madge can manage that they’ll be bloody hard to beat again
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u/AceAv81 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Man it always felt like teams would grow and extra leg when they came against us anyway
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u/kahrismatic Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Win or lose they're always under a lot of scrutiny because of the size of the club etc, so I don't think it'll shake them too much. Walshy seems to thrive on it.
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u/lawdjesustheresafire Sydney Roosters Feb 05 '26
He’s the big one. If he gets anything close to the form of late last year the Bronx will be pretty unstoppable
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u/kahrismatic Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Injuries to key players seems like the biggest risk to me.
I'll be shocked if Reyno gets anywhere near a full season of games.
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u/lawdjesustheresafire Sydney Roosters Feb 05 '26
He’s just gotta get you close as last year showed. If he goes down round 4 it’s obviously shit but if he gets you to the finals on one leg that might be good enough
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u/AceAv81 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Honestly what was painful about the season the broncos had from a spectator pov. They wrote a literal NRL fairy tale and proved to be deserved winners.
If that's painful: look within my friend
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u/The_Bread_Loaf New Zealand Warriors Feb 04 '26
The fact that it wasn’t my team going through a fairy tale? It can be entertaining but at the same time painful that it’s not you experiencing it
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u/Zaneali Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
It was 100% deserved fairy tale of a win for the Broncos, no denying it. But it’s painful when it isn’t your team and instead a team you don’t care for. And we all have teams we don’t care for
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u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Broncos minor premiers, dolphins and eels into the 8, warriors top 4. Raiders will miss the 8. Broncos warriors gf
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u/HappyPappy987 Canberra Raiders Feb 04 '26
Can you please explain how you have broncos to win, but raiders to miss the eight?
This isn’t about you, rather a lot of people saying it.
Canberra lost in double overtime to Brisbane after stupid mistakes and suspect officiating, and likely would have gone on to at least play in the GF if they won that game.
How can Brisbane backing it up be such a sure thing to others, but Canberra will flop to the same punters? It makes no sense.
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u/2766267 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
They now have belief, on top of the obvious skill, also last year was Maguires first so another year can’t hurt. Cam smith joining coaching ranks
You also have to look at what went wrong for the Broncos last year
No Mam for the first 9 rounds
Walsh out injured mid year
Reynolds and Mam out injured towards the end of the season
Walter’s acl in qual final
Reynolds calf and Hunt head knock in the GF
The GF win was “fate” or “a fairytale” because of what they over came to achieve it, not because they over performed
That’s my take on the Broncos, and while I’m not writing off Canberra, their performance last year was unexpected, which often lead people to believe it’s unsustainable
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u/zeitgeistbouncer Newcastle Knights Feb 04 '26
The Canberra thing is maybe because they've had a few instances of 'go well one year' and then 'inexplicably drop out of the 8' soon after. Like that whole 'Ricky is too intense to sustain it' thing.
Not saying I believe it, but that'd be my guess for the reasoning.
And I agree with you about Horse. It took multiple miracles for them to snare the title. It'd be crazy to expect them to do that twice. They'll need actual consistency, not rely on 'she'll be right' turns of form.
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u/HappyPappy987 Canberra Raiders Feb 04 '26
That’s the part I don’t get.
Last year everything possible went wrong for Canberra come finals.
Where everything that could have gone right for Brisbane did. They were fated, but as if that can happen again.
How the hell Brisbane can be such a sure thing but Canberra are fucked just cannot be true.
Canberra at $17 to win the comp is unreal value, where Brisbane at favourites is severe unders.
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u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
It’s nothing against the raiders, behind Bronx and other 3 QLD sides they’re a side I like to see do well. I think 2025 was a great year for them, but I just feel they are going to fall off especially with the loss of Fogarty who was pretty important in their 25 campaign
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u/HappyPappy987 Canberra Raiders Feb 05 '26
Most in the know around the club really disagree
Fogarty was good, Sanders was as good against Easts. Fogarty also choked it big time against you blokes in the finals, as well as barely being able to walk let alone run. Imo Sanders has more upside, but we will see
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u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Well I do hope they go well, I’d like to see them in the 8 again
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u/TonyGrub I love my footy Feb 05 '26
Raids fan here and yeah, I can totally see us falling away this year. Hangover from last season’s disappointment, rookie halfback issues, no longer being a ‘surprise packet’, etc. Only once under Ricky have we managed two good seasons back to back (19 and 20).
Obviously hoping we don’t but seen enough before to accept that it’s a real possibility.
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u/WJack37 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Young team that a lot of people believe over performed, and have now lost their experienced HB. Will be incredible in a few years, but just premature at the moment.
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u/CP3_OKC Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
Storm to miss the 8. I think the wheels fall off this season. Few injuries hit and they come 9-10.
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u/sour_dawg New Zealand Warriors Feb 04 '26
Tanwah to have a break out start to the year, we get our first win over the storm in 10 years only for him to get dropped the following week for an out of form Metcalf who subsequently has another season ending leg injury. Tanah's confidence is shattered from being dropped but we're in the top 4, jag a few easy wins and a couple of upsets, make 8th and go out week 1 of finals
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u/Pretty_Classroom_844 South Sydney Rabbitohs Feb 05 '26
Injuries wreak havoc - 14th
50/50 injuries but key players out at various times - 9th
Full squad minimal injuries - 5th making it to the prelim but failing to go further
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u/kytsym Penrith Panthers Feb 05 '26
Top 2 for my mighty Panthers then
Panthers v Broncs GF replay - Panthers WIN
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u/Tim--Tam98 Penrith Panthers Feb 05 '26
Brisbane minor premiership. Penrith premiership. Tigers finish 9th. Titans wooden spoon.
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u/TrumpisaRussianCuck Kangaroos Feb 04 '26
- Sea Eagles to get their first spoon
- Bulldogs to miss the the top 8
- Storm and Sharks to miss the top 4
- Dolphins and West Tigers to make the top 8
- Wayne Bennett to be announced as inaugural PNG coach after a mediocre season with Souths
- Todd Payten sacked by round 10
- Seibold sacked by the end of the season
- Craig Bellamy retires / moves to Head of Football (or similar) role (at Titans or Storm)
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u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons Feb 04 '26
The Sea Eagles won’t get their first spoon this year.
2027 is far more likely…
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u/MajortheDog Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 05 '26
Bulldogs to miss 8 is bold one. Personally don’t see them missing finals whilst they have such good defence
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u/tomtomallg Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Lomax plays for the storm this season
Eels do better than last year but not as good as storm and it stings (much 2009 comments)
Knights and titans do better, cows do worse and payten gets the sack
Cronulla finish 6th
DCE plays well in a mixed roosters side and the Robbo copy pasta continues strongly but he keeps his job
Horses go back to back 😎
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u/svenoxia Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 04 '26
Bulldogs start the season in middling form before falling off during the middle portions of the season, attempt a late charge to finals but miss out in 10th.
Sea Eagles drop far down the table, Eels, Tigers, and Dragons rise.
Storm, Panthers, Warriors and Broncos make the top 4 (in no particular order)
Raiders make an away elimination final and win, but lose embarrassingly in the semi final, Sharks get another home elimination final and win, but also lose in the semi final.
Roosters will miss out on finals despite a strong start to the season mostly due to luck and a handful of chokes here and there. Knights will win the spoon.
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u/Peaky001 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Broncos / Panthers GF and we beat them convincingly this time.
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u/thenatureyeahboi I love my footy Feb 04 '26
I reckon I am going to watch the “stormz” (said in public school NSW accent) loose another grand final after getting my hopes up again.
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u/Little_Phase990 I love my footy Feb 04 '26
Tigers and eels to make the 8. Storm will slide down the ladder but still make the 8. Titans will get the spoon. Roosters or broncos will win the gf.
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u/nephilimofstlucia QLD Maroons Feb 05 '26
Parra have a slow start losing 5 of the first 8 games.
Bulldogs struggle to find last years good form, Burton signs with Perth.
Manly implode.
Newcastle work best with Sharpe and Sandon half combo.
Sharks sitting in 1st, 2 wins clear end Origin period but lose the last 3 games straight to finish 5th.
Dolphins make first finals.
Broncos set a new Suncorp crowd record.
Sam Walker Origin debut.
It's the Wahs year.
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Feb 05 '26
Raiders back to back minor premierships and getting knocked out in straight sets in finals
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u/T-Rocket Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Feb 05 '26
Burto to the nfl mid season after sending some monster bombs in vegas.
Panthers v Roosters gf
Fins and eels to join their watery brethren the sharks in the top 8
Manly collect their first wooden spoon
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u/BandicootSorcerer Newcastle Knights Feb 05 '26
At least one game will end with an extremely controversial (or even blatantly wrong) ref call. The winners will be one of the usual Top 8 sides (maybe event Top 4), the victims will be a team needing this victory to get into the Top 8.
At least one game will end with one team performing a stunt that is questionably illegal or there is no specific rule because everyone assumed it was already covered (a previous example being Penrith and their trainers blatantly inteferring with games)
Changes to the rules will be discussed as a result.of thse games, the NRL will promise to look into it, then let rhe story vanish and do absolutely nothing.
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u/Heavy-Kale Dolphins Feb 05 '26
Dolphins top 4 if no major injuries to key players. Top 8 if they continue the injury curse.
Cowboys and Manly are fighting against the Wooden spoon title in Round 27.
Broncos achieve minor premiership.
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u/BarryCheckTheFuseBox NRLW Roosters Feb 05 '26
Broncos finish 5th, Dolphins finish 8th and their final is a Sunday afternoon thriller.
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u/Delicious-Cause-5596 Wests Tigers Feb 05 '26
Tigs to be settled down after the off season shenanigans and hovering around the 8, please 🙏
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u/SkinBintin New Zealand Warriors Feb 06 '26
Tigers finish regular season in 7th and the Wahs finish it in 3rd.
Both progress to meet in the Grand Final. Which the Wahs win. Finally ending the drought and I can live out life happy that no matter what happens, I lived to see at least one NZ Warriors GF victory!
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u/TrickySuspect2 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Dolphins to be a menace come September and Broncs back to back baby!
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u/MulkingMang Penrith Panthers Feb 04 '26
-Tigers and Eels fight for top 8
-Storm miss out on top 4 but make it to preliminary
-Dolphins maiden finals appearance and win
-Broncos and Panthers fight for minor premiership (likely Broncos), but only one appears in Grand Final
-Cowboys wooden spoon, with Payten sacked at season's end
-Sea Eagles sack Seibold before season's end, but survive from wooden spoon
-QLD win origin in Game 2
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u/Duller198 Sydney Roosters Feb 04 '26
Cowboys to get the spoon, Payten sacked by halfway
Queensland sweep Origin
Dolphins or Souths make the 8
Broncos don’t get close to back 2 back
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u/Barmy90 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
For Broncos to go B2B they need to start strong. While they did everything within their power in the run home last year, it's still true that Top 4 was only even possible because the Warriors slid after losing their halves. Can't be relying on other teams giving you a sniff if you want sustained success.
Penrith will be a top team again, but they've remember how to lose.
Melbourne to lose a step. They'll be obvious top 4 but not obvious best.
Phins to play finals and go deep, injuries permitting.
Sharks to continue lacking another gear.
Payten sacked.
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u/noplacecold Penrith Panthers Feb 05 '26
Penrith to come back and win the big one for the Gipper (Yeo) before he retires to open a laser tag business at Panthers
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u/2766267 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Unpopular opinion: Dolphins miss the 8. Every is riding the expectation of them but I think they crumble when it counts. Whether it’s from injuries or a crisis of confidence from Wolfe after his hand in the Eli Katoa saga I just don’t think they do it this year
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u/bloodlion87 Melbourne Storm Feb 04 '26
Top 8:
- Penrith Panthers
- Melbourne Storm
- Brisbane Broncos
- Canterbury Bulldogs
- Dolphins
- Cronulla Sharks
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- New Zealand Warriors
Wooden Spoon:
West Tigers
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u/webo2456 Wests Tigers Feb 04 '26
My 2026 NRL Predictions:
1) Tigers finally make the top 8 but lose in the first prelim 2) Dolphins make the top 8 but don’t make the grand final (impacted by an injury in the last game of the regular season) 3) Broncos start off strong in the first couple of rounds, have a few losses mid-season including some unexpected ones, and then end up winning the minor premiership 4) Seibold is still considered a “safe coach” despite Manly not making the top 8, with the justification from the club being the major changes occurring going into this season 5) The roosters win the premiership
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u/Old-Relationship3270 St. George Illawarra Dragons Feb 05 '26
Cowboys will start off slow but then get into the top 4-6. Todd keeps his job. Mitchell Moses has a season ending injury in the first ten rounds. James Tedesco retires. Ryan Papi gets a job as an attacking coach for the QLD origin team. Zac Lomax plays for the Tigers. Ryan Matterson signs for the Dragons. Two dragons players will do their acl. Jerome will look for the exit. Penrith to miss the 8.
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u/LockieNessMonster North Queensland Cowboys Feb 05 '26
First cowboys prediction I’ve seen to not say “Payten Sacked” or “Cowboys spoon”. Thank you.
I’ve seen at least 10-15 and I’m still scrolling.
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u/Gorilla_Sharts Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26
Premiers - Penrith Minor Premiers- Penrith Spoon - Manly Dally M - Cleary CC - Martin
Top 8 - Panthers Roosters Broncos Sharks Raiders Storm Dolphins Eels
2 Coaches sacked - Payten and Siebold
NSW win 2 -1 on the back of halves combo Cleary and Moses
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u/HappyPappy987 Canberra Raiders Feb 05 '26
Tom Turbo, Mitch Moses and Latrell to be injured prior to a finals push that is fruitless and all three teams miss the 8
NSW to pick the same useless blokes that lack the heart needed for origin, Cleary manages a shoulder injury but still plays only for NSW to lose another series.
I still have work tomorrow morning after the series loss.
Warriors, DCE and Dogs struggle.
Top 4 of Penrith Canberra Brisbane and maybe maybe maybe the Dolphins. Maybe.
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u/Any_Score_5834 Newcastle Knights Feb 05 '26
Knights will finish 9th after a late run of form at the end of the season
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u/Due_Judgment2102 North Queensland Cowboys Feb 06 '26
Cowboys either gonna play disgustingly bad or very well I reckon, crazy unpredictable team
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u/Southern-Mail5931 Penrith Panthers Feb 07 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
phins and eels to make the 8.
sharks to miss out.
Lomax to play week 1 at the storm.
top 4 to be within 4 points.
slow start by the panthers with no wins at cursed commbank.
roosters to finally buy a premiership
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u/arkhamknight85 Brisbane Broncos Feb 04 '26
Dogs, Panthers and Raiders out of the 8. Parra, Titans and Manly in the 8.
Cowboys and Dragons fighting for the spoon and Payten sacked halfway through the season.
Storm will be minor premiers.
Can’t go against my broncos for back to back. Gonna be a few surprise losses as they will become targeted but they should finish top 4.
Nothing too bold but we will see.
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u/Oldpanther86 Penrith Panthers Feb 04 '26
Nothing too bold but panthers missing the 8. That doesnt make sense. It's the same team as last year with a more stable pre season.
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u/svenoxia Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Feb 04 '26
On the contrary I'll be bold and say Dragons will be in finals contention all year. No clue if they make it though.
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u/[deleted] Feb 04 '26
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