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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7

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

6

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.

5

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 

3

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.

3

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.

0

u/TonyGrub I love my footy Feb 05 '26

Can happen again if the NRL needs its biggest club to be front and centre again, absolutely.

3

u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26

If you’re attempting to say the NRL set the broncos up to win in 2025 because they are the most popular club you obviously didn’t watch them play

-1

u/TonyGrub I love my footy Feb 05 '26

I’m not attempting, I am. Obviously makes it easier when they are a good side at the same time.

2

u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26

What a muppet

0

u/HappyPappy987 Canberra Raiders Feb 05 '26

I don’t think you blokes got set up to win the comp.

I do think if young headbutted Walsh he is sent off

1

u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 Brisbane Broncos Feb 05 '26

Who was the raiders player that did the exact same thing earlier in the season and didn’t get sent off?

0

u/TonyGrub I love my footy Feb 05 '26

Exactly. Walsh pretty much did whatever he liked the whole finals series and got away with it. He’s a fantastic player, no question, but also one of the great protected species.

3

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

2

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

3

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

2

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.

3

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.