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- What: 2026 National Rugby League Grand Final
- Where: Brisbane, Canberra, Canterbury-Bankstown, South Sydney, Moreton Bay, Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, New Zealand, West Sydney, Penrith, Townsville, South Sydney, St. George, East Sydney, Southwestern Sydney
- Venue: Suncorp Stadium, GIO Stadium, Accor Stadium and Belmore Sports Ground, Ocean Protect Stadium, Kayo Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium, 4 Pines Park, AAMI Park, McDonald Jones Stadium, Go Media Stadium, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, CommBank Stadium, Jubilee Stadium, WIN Stadium, Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, Campbelltown Sports Stadium
- When: Thursday, March 5th-October 15th
The 2026 National Rugby League season opens with a double-header in Sin City. Reigning premiers Brisbane are the team to beat. Their 2025 finals run was stunning, as they came from behind in every match. They trailed Melbourne 22-12 in the grand final before storming home.
All the key stats you need to know for Round 1 of the NRL Telstra Premiership 🔑 pic.twitter.com/igungBYgvP
— NRL (@NRL) March 5, 2026
They’ve kept most of their premiership squad intact. Losing Payne Haas to the Rabbitohs could test squad morale, though. Round 1 pits Brisbane against Penrith in an early blockbuster. Penrith remains dangerous with Nathan Cleary driving the side.
Melbourne has been hit hard by off-season departures. Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jonah Pezet and Nelson Asofa-Solomona have all left. Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant must carry the load.
Several pundits eye the Sydney Roosters to push for the minor premiership. How Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker combine remains the key question.
Cronulla kept a stable squad after their preliminary final run. They are widely rated as genuine grand final contenders. The Dolphins have a stacked backline led by young captain Isaiya Katoa. They may need more forward punch to go the distance.
The middle of the ladder looks extremely tight this year. While Brisbane and Penrith are clear frontrunners, expect Melbourne, the Roosters and Cronulla to challenge come finals time.
Before we look at the latest Rugby betting lines. Check out our odds from the best Rugby betting sites.
2026 National Rugby League Grand Final Odds
| 2026 Grand Final Winner |  |  |  |
| Brisbane Broncos | +425 | +500 | +450 |
| Penrith Panthers | +500 | +550 | +500 |
| Melbourne Storm | +600 | +750 | +600 |
| Sydney Roosters | +650 | +600 | +650 |
| Canterbury Bulldogs | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Canberra Riders | +1400 | +1600 | +1400 |
| Cronulla Sharks | +1600 | +1500 | +1600 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | +1800 | +2200 | +1800 |
| Redcliffe Dolphins | +1800 | +1900 | +2000 |
| Parramatta Eels | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| New Zealand Warriors | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Manly Sea Eagles | +3300 | +4000 | +3300 |
| Wests Tigers | +3300 | +5000 | +3300 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Newcastle Knights | +5000 | +4000 | +5000 |
| St George/Illawarra Dragons | +6000 | +5000 | +6000 |
| Gold Coast Titans | +6000 | +5000 | +6000 |
Brisbane Broncos
Can Brisbane win back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1990s? Oddsmakers have priced Brisbane as the favorite to win the 2026 grand final. The Broncos’ depth and stability were key factors in their grand final win last year.
Their off-season additions of Grant Anderson, Tom Duffy and Aublix Tawha were difficult for any rival to match. Patrick Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh earned Kangaroos jerseys in 2025. Walsh’s impressive finals run will be remembered for a long time.
Rounding out the rest of the club, Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas are both in their final seasons. On the youthful side, Tom Duffy and Cobey Black were emerging talents who should blossom with more opportunity.
Team list Tuesday is back 🤝
Details 📲 https://t.co/2LOuY2SH3Q pic.twitter.com/sJGgFIVUAO
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) March 3, 2026
Every team in the league will want to knock the premiers over. Their World Club Challenge loss to Hull KR showed vulnerability. That said, the Broncos nearly staged another miracle comeback in that match. That resilience is exactly why they’re the favorite heading into the season.
I have my reservations and am going to pass on Brisbane at this price. I think you will be able to get a better price later on in the season.
Penrith Panthers
For the first time in years, Penrith enters a season chasing the title. That hunger could make them a dangerous proposition for every opponent on the schedule.
They have kept their spine intact heading into 2026. Nathan Cleary is arguably the best player in the game right now. Captain Issah Yeo’s influence on the side cannot be understated either. Cleary has declared his combination with Blaize Talagi is ahead of schedule. Both halves enter 2026 with a full pre-season under their belts.
Fully focused 🫡 pic.twitter.com/voHYce0vTf
— Penrith Panthers 🐾 (@PenrithPanthers) February 24, 2026
During their 2021-2024 title run, Penrith lost 23 top-line players to rivals. This year, they haven’t lost any of their big names in the off-season. That squad continuity is a genuine advantage. Brian To’o remains the game’s top winger and Liam Martin a leading forward.
Four tough road games open the season, starting at Brisbane in Round 1. How the Panthers handle early travel will shape their campaign. Penrith looks like great value at +500 to win the grand final. I’m making this wager.
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Sydney Roosters
The Roosters are a popular pre-season pick to win it all. The Roosters are chasing their first premiership in seven years. Why have the Roosters captured the hype?
The headline signing is Daly Cherry-Evans from Manly. He has scored winning Golden Point field goals seven times in his career. The last time the Roosters made a similar move, it resulted in back-to-back titles. Sam Walker will return for a full season after missing the majority of 2025.
What you've all been waiting for 🐓 🚨 pic.twitter.com/2SyES3hBFh
— Sydney Roosters 🐓 (@sydneyroosters) February 17, 2026
James Tedesco, fresh off winning the 2025 Daily M Medal by a record 22 votes, returns to the squad. Reece Robson fills a genuine need at hooker, but will miss the early rounds. The Roosters had the worst defensive record among the 2025 finals teams. They have the talent, but can they fix the defense?
While I understand the Roosters’ potential, I’m not a fan of this price. Similar to the Broncos, I believe you will get a better number later on in the season, so I’m passing on this.
Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla enters 2026 as one of the NRL’s most stable outfits. This season looms as their best chance to claim a breakthrough title. The Sharks have lost in the preliminary final in each of the last two years. They have appeared in eight of the last nine finals campaigns.
Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall are building a strong halves combination. Hooker Blayke Brailey enters 2026 off a sensational finish to last season. Addin Fonua-Blake anchors a powerful forward pack. Captain Cam McInnes is due back around May from a knee injury. However, Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo won’t return until the second half of the year.
Already without star winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to start the year, the Sharks could be without another gun for round one, as Sione Katoa hobbled off the field in a dominant pre-season trial win over the Raiders 👀
FULL STORY 👉 https://t.co/UhdubLPoac pic.twitter.com/LSwDIcJCoZ
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) February 21, 2026
Those absences will test their depth early. But this squad’s cohesion and consistency make them a genuine threat. If ever there was a year for Cronulla, this is it. I’d bet on them at +1600 to finally win it.
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