NRL Ladder Predictor: Way-too-early predictions for 2026 season

It’s far too early to predict anything about the 2026 NRL season — but what if we take a shot? PAMELA WHALEY casts her ladder predictions for next season, including a bold call for the wooden spoon.

Where will your NRL team finish in the 2026 season?

Of course, it’s too early.

It’s ridiculous to try and predict anything about the 2026 season with much accuracy just yet.

The rugby league gods could have all manner of curveballs in store for us.

But what if we take a shot?

The pre-season is nothing without wild predictions, and Pamela Whaley has taken a swing at the NRL ladder, from 1-17, considering all the factors that might influence the premiership contenders and the also rans for 2026.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments and make your own predictions in our interactive below.

1st – PANTHERS

If there’s one player you can count on in the NRL, it’s Nathan Cleary. The Panthers had a punishing start to the season in this year but with his guidance, they managed to drag themselves to the preliminary finals and within a shot of a fifth premiership. They have another tough start to the year in 2026, but it’s the safest bet in the world to say they’ll be great again. If their star halfback remains fit, there’s barely a team that can match them.

2nd – BRONCOS

It all depends on Payne Haas. If he decides to stay in the NRL, the Broncos are in for another wonderful season at the top, and should be pushing for a second title come September. But if he’s tempted out of the game, lured to the rebel R360 competition by enough cash to make your head spin, the Broncos could plummet. The likes of Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Adam Reynolds all rely on his work up front.

3rd – STORM

Death, taxes and Melbourne finishing in the top four. They’ve only missed out once in the past decade, and after back-to-back grand finals it would take a brave man to dismiss them again in 2026. The loss of star back rower Eli Katoa for the season after the departures of Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona is huge but there’s something special about this club and no matter what’s thrown at them, there is no genius like Craig Bellamy and they’ll find a way to keep rolling on. Sua Fa’alogo should finally get his chance in the No.1 jersey with all pre-season to prepare. There’s every chance he could be the next big thing to come out of Melbourne.

4th – BULLDOGS

If the Bulldogs can capitalise on a big start to the season again in 2026, they can ride those coat tails all the way to week two of the finals, at least. Again. They get off to a great start in Las Vegas against St George Illawarra, and then have a bye before travelling to Canberra in round 3. They tripped up midway through 2025 with changes to their spine, but if they can settle those positions over the pre-season the stability can take them all the way. Leo Thompson joins the club on a four-year deal worth about $3.3 million and his muscle in the middle will keep the pack fresher for longer and help provide the halves with a stronger platform to attack from.

5th – WARRIORS

Once Luke Metcalf gets back on the paddock there’s no way to write off the Warriors in 2026. Metcalf recently said his ACL recovery couldn’t be better, and he’s aiming for a return to the field in the early rounds of the season. All of this is music to the ears of Warriors fans. They stunned the competition last season and with Metcalf back they look the goods again heading into next year, adding tryscoring star Alofiana Khan-Pereira to the wing. They also play three of their first four games in Auckland, which will give them a great start especially if Metcalf doesn’t return within the first month. Overall they play 14 games against last year’s bottom nine sides.

6th – RAIDERS

Losing experienced halfback Jamal Fogarty to Manly is a big blow for the Raiders, but they showed this year how much damage a ragtag group of kids can do in the NRL. For entertainment’s sake, let’s hope for more of the same in 2026. Ethan Strange has become one of the genuine stars of the competition, and with Joe Tapine leading from the front, there’s so much to like about what Ricky Stuart is building down south.

7th – ROOSTERS

Bookies have the Roosters among the favourites for next year’s title, but it’s going to take more than the addition of Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson to elevate them up the ladder. Injuries were a major hurdle for Trent Robinson’s men last year and it’s not yet known how DCE, Sam Walker and Hugo Savala will all work together in the halves. There is undeniable quality in the squad, especially with the addition of Robson and if James Tedesco has another blinder of a season, but they might still be a step away from title contenders.

8th – SHARKS

There’s been such minimal change in the squad over the past few years under Craig Fitzgibbon, and it’s verging on do or die now for a premiership after back-to-back preliminary finals losses. They need to take that next step to a grand final, but it’s hard to see where they’ll find that extra spark in 2026 after throwing so much at it over the past few years. This year’s draw helps. There’s nowhere near as much travelling, and they have 14 games against bottom nine teams.

9th – DOLPHINS

Heading into their fourth season the Dolphins can push for their first finals appearance in 2026. Last season they benefited from a great draw at the start of the year before it all unravelled and injuries took hold. But another year with Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and now Selwyn Cobbo on board, the Dolphins could be scary good with strike all over the park.

10th – EELS

No Lomax, no finals. The Eels are well below the salary cap with the exit of Dylan Brown and now Lomax for 2026, two of their most elite players. If Mitch Moses stays fit they should have a better season than 2025, but he won’t have the same aerial target on the right edge, which takes out a lethal attacking option. His halves partnership with Jonah Pezet will be an interesting one, too. Pezet has just a year to make a difference at Parramatta before he joins Brisbane, so the pressure is on immediately, but the classy young playmaker looks up to the challenge and will form a good combination with Moses. With cash to splash they could be looking good for 2027, but a top-eight finish while competing so far below the salary cap is a tough ask if they don’t manage to nab a big name between now and then.

11th – COWBOYS

If their recent pattern is anything to go by, Todd Payten’s men are due to make finals in 2026 after finishing 12th this year. But the reality is their results are all over the shop and after losing Reece Robson to the Roosters it’s hard to back them for bigger and better things next season. If Reed Mahoney settles in quickly he could keep the points rolling, but defence was their biggest issue in 2025 and only hard work can change that.

12th – TIGERS

They’ve built an exciting squad over the past few years but they still haven’t achieved the bare minimum goal of making finals for the first time since 2011. That pressure will follow them every season until they do. Jarome Luai’s impact was huge last season, as was Terrell May, who was among the most consistent forwards in the game. But talk is cheap. They haven’t done enough yet to show they can win more games than they lose.

13th – RABBITOHS

They had the season from hell in 2025, so any improvement is a huge plus for Wayne Bennett’s men next season. For a start, if Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Cam Murray can spend more time on the field than off it, there’ll be a big improvement. As a trio they’re experienced enough to hit the ground running, but their season hinges on it after being handed one of the roughest draws. They face 12 games against top eight sides, and seven against top four teams in 2026. If ever there was a time for David Fifita to return to his best, it’s now.

14th – KNIGHTS

Dylan Brown’s Pacific Championships run was unreal. The Kiwis five-eighth was the best player in the competition, made even more impressive after the lack of football he played in 2025. He arrives in Newcastle as the man with the keys to the attack, taking pressure off Kalyn Ponga and working alongside some great young talent in Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith from the Roosters. With new coach Justin Holbrook at the head of the operation, we could be looking at an entirely new-look Knights side, but there’s simply too many unknowns to back them to make finals.

15th – SEA EAGLES

What is Manly without Daly Cherry-Evans? No one knows, but it’ll be interesting to find out. Jamal Fogarty starts the season with huge pressure on his back and big shoes to fill in the No.7 jersey, while the question marks over Tom Trbojevic’s future beyond 2027, where he plays and how his body holds up will continue to be a talking point. Lehi Hopoate and Tolutau Koula are superstars, but none of it matters when their forward pack is severely lacking depth. It’s hard to back them to get near the top eight.

16th – TITANS

New coach Josh Hannay has his work cut out for him before a ball has been kicked with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui already flagging he’s interested to see what else is out there. David Fifita and Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Kieran Foran have also left, forcing turnover in the squad. It’s unfortunate for Titans fans, who could be looking at another rough old season on the Gold Coast. Hannay is a widely respected coach, but he’ll need to work miracles fast if he’s to turn around their fortunes quickly. They haven’t made finals since 2021.

17th – DRAGONS

They’ve added Josh Kerr and Daniel Atkinson, but it might not be enough to spark major change at the Dragons this season, especially when the halves were such a point of contention in 2026. It ramps up the early pressure on Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan, who will need to fire quickly. They start the season in Las Vegas against the Bulldogs and then return home to face Melbourne in Wollongong. And while a great run home keeps them in Sydney for the last month of the competition, the season could be gone by then.

Originally published as NRL Ladder Predictor: Way-too-early predictions for 2026 season