Warriors and Roosters Win Crucial Matches While Dolphins Chase the Sharks
With only four rounds to go in the official NRL news hub, the top 8 race continues to deliver in 2026.
Warriors Stun Panthers in Dominant Display
Lots of points scored and lots of drama as the Warriors picked off Penrith in a staggering display.
The Warriors are stamping their credentials as genuine threats for the premiership. They piled on the pressure and broke the Panthers defence early with an early try from Erin Clark. Then, once more 11 minutes in by Luke Metcalf, who was a threat all night against the Penrith defence.
The Warriors scored a third try, albeit while Paul Alamoti was sent to the bin in the 23rd minute. But by half time, the score was 18-0 in a dominant display by the Warriors.
It only took three minutes into the second half for the Warriors to grab their fourth try of the evening and take it beyond doubt. While Penrith scored twice in quick succession with 10 minutes to play, the damage was done and the Warriors held on, with Metcalf even scoring another one 4 minutes from time.
A big result for the New Zealand Warriors official home
, who both strengthen their threat for the premiership and put themselves in a great position to take the minor premiership as well. As for Penrith, the road doesn’t get easier as they have the high-flying Roosters coming up in what could be another battle for top spot.
Dragons Upset Sharks to Shake Up Top Four
With matters in the top 4 almost sewn up, the Sharks headed over to face the Dragons in a must-win game for their hopes of nabbing fourth spot. In an incredible turn of events, the Dragons showed up to play and responded to an early try by Sione Katoa of the Sharks by going up the other end and scoring two of their own. With all the momentum from then on, the Dragons refused to let this one slip away from them.
While Cronulla kept battling back and made it 12-10 going into the break, they would only manage the one try after half time as the Dragons put all the pressure on, which eventually led to a sin bin for Addin Fonua-Blake 13 minutes from time. The Dragons put the game to bed with a try only 10 minutes later to score a massive upset win over a top 4 contending side.
It all means, of course, Cronulla cannot drop another game. With the Dolphins and possibly even Newcastle, depending on results, chasing them down, they cannot afford to slip up again.
Dolphins Complete Epic Comeback in Brisbane Derby
The Dolphins, in a massive Brisbane derby of big proportions for them, were looking worrying early as Brisbane, with no more pressure, showed up to play in the first half, scoring 4 tries in 20 minutes to give them a 24-0 lead. The Dolphins managed to hold their nerve though, matching that output by half time. While Brisbane had scored another try to make it a 30-24 Broncos lead, it was still very much game on.
The second half was a completely different story, dominated by the Dolphins and securing a huge win with three tries to none in the second half. It was an impressive display; even though this is clearly not the Brisbane of last year, they are still a very good side. The win will give the Dolphins a lot of confidence heading into these last few rounds to finish strong as they head into their first ever finals campaign.
Roosters Edge Bulldogs in Thrilling Finish
on fire after their crushing defeat of the Cowboys only a week earlier faced a resurgent Bulldogs team aiming for a finals spot. Going off the first half though, the Roosters were ahead, both in terms of play and the scoreboard. Billy Smith had a big game for Sydney as he had two tries to his name. But how things turned around in the second half! The Dogs were brilliant, putting on three tries in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Their penalty goal from earlier cancelled out their missed conversion from the last try they scored, giving them an 18-8 lead.
However, the Roosters were not going to lie down as they woke up and scored two in three minutes from the 66th minute. A couple of conversions later, the Roosters took the lead and remarkably held onto it to win an excellent game, 20-18.
The Roosters stay in contention for the minor premiership, while the Dogs need to win their remaining games to make finals and hope that the Cowboys and Rabbitohs drop points.
Rabbitohs Hold Off Parramatta’s Second-Half Rally
The Rabbitohs had a fascinating game against the Eels, looking virtually unstoppable in the first half, but it looked like the sides had swapped as soon as the second half began. Because of four missed conversions, the Bunnies were up by 28 at the break, which could have been 36 had they scored the conversions. They had also scored three of their six while Brian Kelly was off the field after being binned only 1 minute in.
But it really was a tale of two halves because Parramatta came out firing in the second half, scored 18 points within the first 10 minutes of the half, and by that point, it was only 10 points difference. They threatened to pull off an incredible comeback win. Mitchell Moses was on fire for the Eels, setting things up and kicking the all-important conversions too.
The Rabbitohs steadied from there but it never looked like a sure thing that they would come out with the two points. As the Eels came with wave after wave of attack, the Bunnies stood firm. Even when Parramatta broke through, they went from three tries in 10 minutes to only 1 in the other 30. A testament to Souths though, they defended well and just escaped with the points to get them closer to a finals berth.
But they are no sure finals contenders with the Dogs and Cowboys in the race as well. Parramatta will need to look at that first half as it cost them the game, though they can sneak a couple of wins to end the year.
Knights Outlast Resilient Raiders in High-Stakes Clash
Newcastle continue pushing for their spot in the 8 with a gutsy win over a Canberra side who just would not die. The Knights took the lead early, making it 12-0 eleven minutes in. The Raiders responded with an incredible completion rate and were super consistent, managing to crack the Newcastle defence, and by the halfway mark of the first half, it was 12-all. Kalyn Ponga scored a try up the other end to respond quickly, but once more, the Raiders kept coming, building that first half off that completion rate and rarely making an error.
They came out in the second half as they did in the first and were rewarded for it, taking the lead for the first time in the contest. While the conversion was missed, the Knights’ ill-discipline gave them a chance to kick a penalty goal, which was taken. Following that though, Newcastle did what they have done all season and threatened with linebreaks, which allowed them to shift the ball over to the left side of the field for Gagai to finish off.
It was only 5 minutes later that Canberra gave away a penalty, which Newcastle elected to take a shot at. It was successfully converted and gave the Knights a 2-point lead at 26-24. This all built up to a sin bin for Corey Horsburgh of the Raiders and left them with it all to do. But in the end, Newcastle proved too strong and Dominic Young scored with two minutes to go, giving them a 30-24 lead.
There was some controversy about how long Sandon Smith took for his kick, very obviously time wasting to a massive extent; this of course meant he missed. But a few seconds were left for Canberra to pull off a miracle and they almost did, getting the ball back from kick-off, but Ponga’s heroics on that final play meant Newcastle continue their march into September.
This has ended the Raiders’ finals hopes, as slim as they were, and offers them a chance to play spoiler against the Sharks, while Newcastle play Gold Coast at home and need a win to keep the opponents behind them on the table at bay.
Finals Race Tightens Across the League
With the Cowboys also grabbing a win to respond to last week’s embarrassment with a 30-8 win over the Titans, things are getting tighter in the race for the top 8, especially after Manly dropped their game against the Storm as well, losing 42-20 in a poor effort, so all to play for as we head into the final rounds of the season.
