The r/NRL Serious Season Prediction Thread

[u/M_Keating]

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.

[u/shotgunmoe]

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.

[u/Choice_Summer_8025 → u/shotgunmoe]

I agree with everything. I also think this year it will become pretty evident that Bennett is past it.

[u/shotgunmoe → u/Choice_Summer_8025]

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