NRL round 26 run home: Final predicted ladder and top eight finishing order

With two rounds to go in the NRL regular season there are a host of possibilities for the top four and top eight — and a key battle could decide a number of lader spots. See where every team is set to finish.

NRL run home.

Losing Latrell Mitchell for the final round of the season to a suspension could have a disastrous impact on South Sydney with the top eight hopes of several teams still alive.

The Rabbitohs fullback is facing a one-match suspension for dangerous contact that could rule him out of a critical round 27 clash with Sydney Roosters.

With two rounds to go there’s a number of possibilities for the top four and top eight finals calculations.

Newcastle, on a seven game hot streak, can finish in the top four if games fall their way, while the Rabbitohs, Roosters, Cowboys and Raiders are all fighting to play in September.

We’ve crunched the numbers and found the teams set to buckle, those with an easy draw to finish and the teams who might just sneak into the finals after a wild ride.

1. PANTHERS

Won: 17, Lost: 5, Drawn: 0, Points: 40, Points Differential: 315

They’re in a two-way battle with Brisbane for the minor premiership, but with both games at home against the Eels and Cowboys and a massive points differential benefit, they’re in the box seat to finish first for the third time in four seasons.

2. BRONCOS

Won: 17, Lost: 5, Drawn: 0, Points: 40, Points Differential: 213

Adam Reynolds will miss the Raiders clash on Saturday with a calf strain, but the club is aiming for his return in the final round against the Storm. That game will decide the minor premiership if both the Panthers and Broncos win this week.

Adam Reynolds will return to in the final round. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

3. WARRIORS

Won: 15, Lost: 7, Drawn: 0, Points: 36, Points Differential: 136

It’s been a remarkable season so far for the Warriors, and they’ve now win six straight games for the first time since 2002. Their final home game for the regular season in New Zealand is a big occasion on Friday night, against a Dragons side with nothing to lose.

4. STORM

Won: 14, Lost: 8, Drawn: 0, Points: 34, Points Differential: 137

They were given a big scare from the Dragons in Wollongong, but now need to lock down a top four finish with a win against Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks are nipping at their heels, so it could come down to their clash with Brisbane in the last round to decide how the finals play out.

5. SHARKS

Won: 13, Lost: 9, Drawn: 0, Points: 32, Points Differential: 130

The Sharks have now won three games straight which has eased the pressure on their season, but they’re now fighting for a top four spot against Newcastle at home on Sunday. It’s a tough road trip considering the convincing form the Knights are in.

Cronulla has sealed a top eight berth. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

6. RAIDERS

Won: 13, Lost: 9, Drawn: 0, Points: 32, Points Differential: -108

A clunky win over the Bulldogs has kept the Raiders alive in the finals despite their patchy form of late. They should make the finals now, but they have a chance to make a statement in the last two rounds to show they can do something with their season once there.

7. KNIGHTS

Won: 12, Lost: 9, Drawn: 1, Points: 31, Points Differential: 129

The Knights have won seven straight for the first time in more than 20 years and they’ve made a genuine fortress out of McDonald Jones Stadium in front of passionate home fans. The Sharks is a danger game, but they’re hard to tip against given their red hot form. It’ll be the final home game of the season too and one last big hurrah on Old Boys Day would set them up brilliantly for a run into the finals.

8. RABBITOHS

Won: 12, Lost: 11, Drawn: 0, Points: 28, Points Differential: 73

A 19-point loss to Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday has had a disastrous impact on their finals hopes. The loss itself was costly heading into a bye, but they look set to lose Latrell Mitchell to a one-game suspension for the final round clash with the Roosters. That game will decide who plays finals. A loss for Souths will leave them outside of the top eight and catapult the Roosters into an unlikely finals finish. Vice versa if the result goes the other way.

Souths are set to clinch eighth spot despite Latrell Mitchell’s potential one-game ban. Picture NRL Photos

9. COWBOYS

Won: 11, Lost: 11, Drawn: 0, Points: 28, Points Differential: 12

They put up a fight against Cronulla in the first half but it all fell apart while their season was on the line. They’ve made it almost impossible to make the finals now, needing to beat Penrith in the final round at Penrith when it’s likely they’ll be playing for the minor premiership.

10. ROOSTERS

Won: 11, Lost: 11, Drawn: 0, Points: 28, Points Differential: -62

The Roosters are still fighting. They looked slick in their 34-12 win against Parramatta last week and now face the Tigers at home and South Sydney in the final round, likely without Latrell Mitchell. As if the foundation club rivalry couldn’t get any more intense, everything hinges on winning the round 27 game if the Roosters beat the Tigers this week. It’s simple. The winner plays finals, the loser weeps.

11. EELS

Won: 11, Lost: 12, Drawn: 0, Points: 26, Points Differential: -1

The Roosters put the nail in their coffin on Friday night. With a bye in hand there’s slim mathematical chances things could change if they beat Penrith by a lot this week, but it seems very unlikely.

Originally published as NRL round 26 run home: Final predicted ladder and top eight finishing order