NRL
The business end of the 2026 NRL season is looming on the horizon the finals series set to begin on Friday 11 September.
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Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra are all likely to miss the Top 8 while the Knights, Cowboys and Rabbitohs have surged back into contention after disappointing 2025 campaigns.
The Panthers, Roosters, Sharks and Warriors are all eyeing the Top 4 — and the NRL premiership trophy — while the Dolphins are set for their first-ever finals campaign.
The Sporting News provides all the latest details heading into the 2026 NRL finals series.
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NRL Finals Series 2026: How does the finals format work?
The current NRL finals system has been in place since 2012.
After 27 rounds are completed in the home and away season, the top eight teams qualify for the finals which take place over four consecutive weekends.
The top four teams earn the right for multiple shots at making it through to the grand final, while the bottom four teams within the eight face sudden death matches every week.
Week 1 (4 matches)
The minor premiers host the fourth-placed side in the first qualifying final, before 2nd and 3rd square off in the other qualifying final.
The winners of each of these fixtures earn a week off and advance straight through to preliminary finals in week 3 on home soil, while the losers are forced to go the long way around via the semi finals in Week 2.
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Meanwhile, in the Week 1 matches the 5th-placed team gets home advantage against the 8th-placed team in the first of two elimination finals.
The 6th and 7th-placed sides square off in the other sudden death match for the chance to advance through to the semis.
The two teams that lose their respective elimination finals are done for the year, while the two winners move on to Week 2 where they face the losing clubs from the qualifying finals.
Week 2 (2 matches)
In the two semi finals, the loser of each match is eliminated while the winner progresses through to the preliminary finals to join the winners of the qualifying finals from Week 1.
Week 3 (2 matches)
The preliminary final winners advance to the grand final decider where they have a shot at being crowned NRL premiers for 2026.
How many games are there in the 2026 NRL Final Series?
The NRL season reaches its climax across a month-long elimination tournament that comprises nine games in total.
There are two qualifying finals, two elimination finals, two semi-finals, two preliminary finals and a grand final.
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NRL Finals Series Schedule 2025
Finals Week 1
| Qualifying Final 1: (1st) vs. (4th) |
| Elimination Final 1: (5th) vs. (8th) |
| Elimination Final 2: (6th) vs. (7th) |
| Qualifying Final 2: (2nd) vs. (3rd) |
Semi Finals
| Semi Final 1: Tbc |
| Semi Final 2: Tbc |
Preliminary Finals
| Preliminary Final 1: Tbc |
| Preliminary Final 2: Tbc |
Grand Final
| Teams Tbc, Sunday 4 October, 7:30pm kickoff |
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