2026 NRL Round 26 Predictions

Last year’s grand final opponents are playing for pride only on Thursday night, but both are coming off spirited performances.  

FORM: After losing 12 of their previous 13, the Broncos produced a remarkable 34-30 comeback win over a desperate Canberra side at GIO Stadium last Friday.  

The Storm have lost four of their last five but followed up a 42-20 thrashing of Manly in Perth with a 22-14 home loss to heavyweight Penrith last week.  

INS AND OUTS: The Broncos are unchanged, with Michael Maguire controversially denying Adam Reynolds an NRL farewell.  

Jahrome Hughes returns for the Storm, with Tyran Wishart moving to centre as Jack Howarth sits out the rest of the year. Marion Seve comes onto the interchange.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Hayze Perham has impressed whenever given the opportunity to deputise for Reece Walsh, while Sua Faalogo will be eager to finish a breakout year in style.  

HISTORY: After winning just one of their previous 18 against the Storm, the Broncos have won the teams’ last three encounters – including an 18-14 result in Round 3 to snap a decade-long drought in Melbourne.   

KEY STAT: The Storm boast a 32-13 record at Suncorp Stadium but have won only one of their last five at the venue.  

VERDICT: The Broncos’ brave fightback in Canberra really came out of nowhere, but can they back it up to snap an eye-watering eight-match losing streak at Suncorp Stadium? The bubbling controversy over Reynolds’ non-selection doesn’t help. 

While it’s not reflected by a 9-13 record, the Storm have rarely been overwhelmed during this difficult campaign and haven’t lost to bad teams. With their ‘big three’ back on deck, they are an appealing favourite here. 

Prediction: Back the Storm to Cover the Line (-2.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: STORM WIN / OVER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / SUA FAALOGO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / DEINE MARINER ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAHROME HUGHES ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $29.33 

Clinging to the slimmest of 2026 NRL finals hopes, Manly will nevertheless be alive in the race when it kicks off against last-placed St George Illawarra on Friday.  

FORM: The Sea Eagles snapped a six-match losing streak with a 44-24 upset in Newcastle last Saturday, with Josh Feledy scoring three of their eight tries from the bench.  

The spoon-bound Dragons followed up their first back-to-back wins – getting up against Cronulla and Wests Tigers – with a flat 44-14 loss to the Bulldogs in Round 25, trailing 24-0 at halftime.  

INS AND OUTS: Tolu Koula is out for the season, which brings Feledy into the centres for Manly with debutant Onitoni Large joining the interchange.  

Damien Cook starts at hooker for the Dragons with Jacob Liddle (calf) out, while Connor Muhleisen comes onto the bench.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Sea Eagles’ No.6 novice Clayton Faulalo and Dragons tyro Lyhkan King-Tongia are staking their claims for 2027.  

HISTORY: The clubs have split their last 10 clashes, but Manly have won the last two – including a 28-18 result in Wollongong in Round 6.  

KEY STAT: The Saints have scored more than 24 points just once this season.  

VERDICT: The Sea Eagles in all likelihood have pulled out of their skid far too late, but last week’s turnaround in Newcastle has nevertheless given them plenty to play for ahead of this clash. Faulalo impressed at five-eighth, as did centre fill-in Feledy.  

Despite some very spirited efforts over the past month or two, last week’s showing against the Bulldogs hinted at a team eager to get to Mad Monday and another finals hopeful should be able to take advantage at home.  

Prediction: Back the Sea Eagles to Score Over 28.5 Points @ $1.90 

SGM: SEA EAGLES WIN / OVER 48.5 TOTAL POINTS / JASON SAAB TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / JOSH FELEDY ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HAMISH STEWART ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $49.42 

The Bulldogs won’t mathematically be out the finals equation with a loss here, but this blockbuster against the Panthers has a must-win feel about.  

FORM: After losing five of their previous eight, the Panthers made hard work of a 22-14 win over the out-of-contention Storm – leading 22-0 before having three players sin-binned. Brian To’o bagged a hat-trick in the tense victory.  

The Bulldogs bounced back from consecutive losses to the Roosters (20-18) and Rabbitohs (20-18) with a 44-14 cruise against the Dragons, with Matt Burton grabbing a double.  

INS AND OUTS: Jack Cole comes in at five-eighth for Penrith with Jack Cogger suspended, while Blaize Talagi and Jaxen Edgar come onto the bench.  

The Bulldogs get Enari Tuala back on the wing. Jack Underhill replaces the injured Kurt Mann on the bench. It remains to be seen whether the club’s COVID crisis forces any changes.  

KEY MATCH-UP: NSW squad teammates Casey McLean and Matt Burton are set for a titanic centre battle.   

HISTORY: The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 against the Bulldogs, but the Bulldogs carved out a stunning 32-16 win in Round 6 this year – the Panthers’ only loss in the first 14 rounds.  

KEY STAT: The Bulldogs have held the Panthers to 16 points or less in four of their last five meetings.  

VERDICT: The Panthers are still searching for some elusive momentum and rhythm as the finals draw near. They’ve only scored more than 24 points twice in their past nine games. A finals-intensity clash with a desperate Bulldogs side laced with ex-Panthers may shake them out of this malaise.  

The Bulldogs’ preparations have been disrupted by a COVID outbreak, but they will be confident after the last meeting between the clubs and a tough, tense low-scorer is on the cards here.  

Prediction: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (+8.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / UNDER 40.5 TOTAL POINTS / BRIAN TO’O ANYTIME TRYSCORER / STEPHEN CRICHTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $31.41 

Souths can clinch their place in the finals – and potentially move up to sixth on the NRL Ladder – with a road win over the second-last Titans.  

FORM: The Titans are on a four-match losing streak but have at least shown some fight over the past fortnight against finals-bound Newcastle (36-26) and Cronulla (30-22).  

The Rabbitohs followed up consecutive wins over Parramatta (28-24) and Canterbury (22-6) with a 45-26 loss to the in-form Warriors, though they did impressively claw back from 32-8 down to trail by only six with less than 15 minutes left.  

INS AND OUTS: Josh Patston replaces the injured Beau Fermor in the Titans’ back-row. Latrell Mtichell’s return for Souths comes on an interchange that also sees Jamie Humphreys and Adam Elliott come back from injury.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Keaon Koloamatagi will look to set the tone up front.  

HISTORY: The Rabbitohs are on a 10-match winning streak against the Titans. They won the sole 2025 encounter 20-18 at Cbus Super Stadium.  

KEY STAT: Souths have scored 30-plus points in six of their last seven against Gold Coast.  

VERDICT: The timing of this road trip couldn’t be better for the Rabbitohs, in a match-up and at a venue that has been very fruitful for them. Though spine instability continues to hound them, Souths possess an abundance of strike and can take a fair bit out of their loss to the Warriors.  

The Titans have looked a poorer team since rookie No.7 Zane Harrison’s injury a month ago and, despite spirited showings in the past two weeks, are unlikely to prove too much of a hurdle for a Rabbitohs side that needs these two points.  

Prediction: Back the Rabbitohs to Score Over 31.5 Points @ $1.87 

SGM: RABBITOHS WIN / BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 20+ POINTS / JOJO FIFITA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JACK WIGHTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $14.09 

A vital clash for both teams with the winner still a chance of a top-two finish and the loser potentially in danger of dropping out of the top four.  

FORM: The Roosters’ blistering eight-match winning streak came to an end in the unlikeliest of circumstances, pipped 25-24 by the embattled Tigers. Realistically they were fortunate to force a grandstand finish in a dismal performance.  

The Dolphins have quietly pieced together a five-game winning run through a soft section of the draw, easing past Parramatta 34-16 last Friday with Herbie Farnworth and Jamayne Isaako both picking up doubles.  

INS AND OUTS: James Tedesco has again been named to return for his first game since Round 22. Nat Butcher starts at lock for Victor Radley (head knock) and Taylor Losalu comes onto the bench. The Dolphins are unchanged. 

KEY MATCH-UP: Elite wingers Mark Nawaqanitawase and Selwyn Cobbo duelled at Origin level and are both in brilliant club form.  

HISTORY: The Roosters hold a 4-2 lead in this rivalry, but the Dolphins powered to a 48-10 win at Suncorp Stadium in Round 15 with both sides missing a host of Origin players.  

KEY STAT: The clubs’ last four encounters all produced totals of 58 points or more.  

VERDICT: A massive game for both clubs and the make-up of the Top 8. The Roosters had their pants pulled down in costly fashion by the Tigers, which should prompt Tedesco’s belated return.  

The Dolphins have a nice roll on, but they haven’t faced anyone of note since their 66-0 loss to Cronulla seven weeks ago. Winning on the road hasn’t been an issue for the Dolphins and they will be fired up to assert there are more than three teams capable of winning this premiership.   

The overlooks the best option in this one, though, with a strong trend of high scorers between the teams and lashings of attacking strike on both sides.  

Prediction: Back Over 47.5 Total Points @ $1.90 

SGM: DOLPHINS +4.5 / OVER 8.5 TOTAL TRIES / JAMAYNE ISAAKO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HERBIE FARNWORTH ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAMES TEDESCO ANYTIME TRYSCORER /ROBERT TOIA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $48.67 

The Cowboys sit in eighth spot but a slip-up over the last two rounds could prove fatal – and the Tigers now have a taste for upsetting teams’ September plans.  

FORM: The Cowboys went into last week’s bye off a disappointing 32-30 loss to also-ran Parramatta, while they are only four weeks removed from a record-shattering 82-12 defeat to the Roosters.  

The Tigers ended an eight-match losing streak with a stunning 25-24 victory over the top-ranked Roosters, despite heading into the match as a $10 outsider.  

INS AND OUTS: The Cowboys are boosted by the return of Origin stars Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai. Jaxon Purdue goes to centre and Zac Laybutt to the wing. Alex Seyfarth starts at lock for the Tigers with Alex Twal out. Sunia Turuva is back on the bench.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Dearden’s return is huge for the Cowboys as he lines up opposite Jock Madden, last week’s match-winner for the Tigers. 

HISTORY: The Cowboys have won five of their last six against the Tigers, but they were subjected to a 44-16 thrashing at Leichhardt Oval in Round 2.  

KEY STAT: The teams’ last four clashes in Townsville all produced 53 points or more.  

VERDICT: The Cowboys remain as inscrutable as ever, going into their Round 25 bye stuck in a win-loss pattern. As well as being vital to qualifying for the Top 8, this is their first opportunity to atone in front of their home fans for the 70-point defeat to the Roosters.  

The energy and intent – not to mention keeping their cool as the Roosters came home with a wet sail – was admirable from the Tigers, but they have won just once outside Sydney this year. Nevertheless, there should be stacks of points on offer at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.  

Prediction: Back Over 52.5 Total Points @ $1.90 

SGM: COWBOYS WIN / TIGERS +12.5 / JAHREAM BULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAKE CLIFFORD ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $20.82 

The Warriors have surged into top spot and are warm favourites to consolidate that position at home against a Knights side coming off a jarring defeat.   

FORM: The Warriors have won four straight, overcoming a second-half glitch and injury setbacks to beat Souths 45-26 in Sydney last week.  

The Knights’ three-game winning run came to an end via a baffling 44-24 home loss to down-on-form Manly, getting outscored four tries to one in the second half.   

INS AND OUTS: Mid-season recruit Luke Laulilii replaces injury Warriors wing star Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, while Ali Leiataua and Te Maire Martin return at the expense of Adam Pompey and Luke Hanson.   

Dane Gagai returns from injury, so Fletcher Hunt goes to the wing to replace the suspended Dom Young. Francis Manuleleua returns in time to come in for the suspended Tyson Frizell and Harrison Graham is at hooker with Phoenix Crossland out injured.   

KEY MATCH-UP: Ali Leiataua and Bradman Best will have their hands full with one another on Sunday afternoon.  

HISTORY: The Warriors have won five of their last six against the Knights, including a 38-12 beatdown in Newcastle in Round 3.   

KEY STAT: The Knights have not won in New Zealand since 2019. Adam Pompey has scored nine tries in 11 games against the Knights.  

VERDICT: The Warriors appear to be timing their run perfectly, hitting top gear – despite continuing injury blows – while other contenders stumble. They are relentless on both sides of the ball and don’t rely on one or two players dominating consistently.  

The Knights are in danger of letting a home elimination final slip, but this daunting trip to Auckland minus Young and Crossland (on top of an already well-patroned casualty ward) is among the most difficult places to turn around last week’s horrid home defeat.   

Prediction: Back the Warriors to Win by 13+ @ $2.02 

SGM: KNIGHTS UNDER 18.5 POINTS / LEKA HALASIMA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JACOB LABAN ANYTIME TRYSCORER / BRADMAN BEST ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $44.69 

Cronulla is striving to keep its top-four hopes afloat via a win over a Parramatta side that is meandering its way to the end of the season.  

FORM: The Sharks responded to consecutive losses to the Dragons and Raiders – and the loss of star five-eighth Braydon Trindall – with a hard-earned 30-22 win on the Gold Coast after trailing by eight at halftime.  

The Eels suffered their biggest loss since mid-May last Friday, going down 34-16 to the Dolphins.  

INS AND OUTS: Parramatta’s bench includes debutant Ryda Talagi and the returning Dylan Walker and Bailey Simonsson. Cronulla’s only change sees Braden Uele come onto the six-man bench for Sam Stonestreet.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Mitch Moses and Nicho Hynes unsurprisingly hold the key to their respective teams’ fortunes.   

HISTORY: The Sharks have won nine of the teams’ last 13 encounters, including a 28-18 results in their most recent clash – at Magic Round last year.  

KEY STAT: The Eels have won four of their last six at CommBank Stadium. The Sharks have lost their last two in Sydney.  

VERDICT: The Sharks aren’t quite out of their mini-slump – they weren’t overly convincing in coming from behind against the Titans, while Trindall is a massive loss – but a top-four finish is very much within their reach still, provided Nicho Hynes continues to stand up.  

All of the Eels’ wins this season have come against teams currently sitting eighth or lower. The Sharks’ engine-room power and strike out wide should extend that underwhelming record. 

Prediction: Back the Sharks to Cover the Line (-6.5) @ $1.96 

SGM: SHARKS WIN / UNDER 52.5 TOTAL POINTS / BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 10+ POINTS / BRITON NIKORA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / NICHO HYNES ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $36.98