Four teams remain, set to battle it out in two preliminary finals, before two of them advance to the decider. Who will go on to claim the 2026 NRL premiership?
Will it be the Panthers for a fifth time in six seasons? Will the ever-successful Roosters crown their consistency with a title? Can the exciting Dolphins go all the way in their very first finals appearance? Or will the Knights complete the ultimate fairytale, turning a wooden spoon into a Provan-Summons Trophy?
Here's a reason why each team left in the hunt can -- and cannot -- win the 2026 premiership.
Dolphins
Can: No team can match the attacking prowess of the Dolphins. From No. 1 to No. 7 they have some of the league's most exciting players in each position. Try if you can to pick a weakness in that backline. Jack Bostock and Herbie Farnworth in the centres, Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa in the halves, sublime finishers in Selwyn Cobbo and Jamayne Isaako on the wings, and perhaps the most exciting player of all, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback. When the opposition defence starts to tire, the Dolphins are capable or tearing them apart completely.
Can't: The Dolphins continue to give away head starts to opponents. Their defence can be their greatest weakness, particularly early in games, particularly up the middle of the field. While they have a gold standard set of backs, they have a blue collar forward pack. In the opening exchanges with the big forward battles underway, they often find themselves on the back foot and conceding points. Once they get through that initial onslaught they can click into gear and take advantage of their attacking edge. In the big games ahead, they might not be able to recover as readily.
Newcastle Knights
Can: Who is going to deny the Knights this fairytale? Their greatest asset this season has been their self-belief. Despite losing star recruit Dylan Brown, the Knights have found a way to continue being an attacking weapon from long range, causing all kinds of trouble when they spread the ball to the edges where their centres and back-rowers have proven to be just about unstoppable. Personifying that confidence is fullback Kalyn Ponga, who really hasn't completely dominated an opposition yet, but looms as one of the keys in the closing weeks of the finals.
Can't: The big games are decided in the engine rooms. Although the Knights have managed to compete well enough up the middle so far, they face a formidable task in matching the Panthers pack first up. The secret to their success against the Warriors and Rabbitohs packs has been the work rate of their back-rowers. Tyson Frizell has been carrying the middle on his veteran shoulders, with Cody Hopwood doing his best, while their powerful wingers have helped out with the early charges. As good as they have been, and they have been written off previously for this very reason, I'm not convinced they can go all the way with that pack, even with the return of Dylan Lucas.
Penrith Panthers
Can: The Panthers have played in five of the last six Grand Finals, winning four of them. To say they have big-game experience is a complete understatement. There have been some major roster changes over the years, with many star players leaving, and missing the big dance last year means there are some who will be playing in their first decider, but the core of the Panthers line-up and coach Ivan Cleary have been there and done this all before. When the pressure is on, either this week or next, the Panthers have the on-field leadership in Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo to steady the ship and guide Penrith to another title.
Can't: Of the six recent Panthers' Grand Final teams, you could easily argue that this one is not the strongest. Similar to recent Storm teams, Penrith have built success around a core group of superstar players, while squeezing every drop of talent out of the rest of the roster. It is the other players that can crack under pressure. Young five-eighth Blaize Talagi has found himself in and out of the team for defensive weaknesses, while centres Luke Garner and Casey McLean are capable of misreads in defence. With their success so far this season, finding a reason why they can't win the premiership is definitely an exercise in grasping at straws.
Sydney Roosters
Can: Captain James Tedesco is the man to step up and lead the Roosters to another title. The veteran fullback has been a little bit quiet since returning from injury, but everyone knows that he is capable of playing a decisive role in the biggest of games. With the uncertainty of Sam Walker's fitness at halfback, Tedesco will need to provide the added spark in attack for the Roosters. Always lurking around the ruck, he has formed a lethal combination with Roosters rake Reece Robson and the pair know just how and when to take advantage of the dominant Roosters forward pack.
Can't: It has been seven years since the Roosters last appeared in and won a Grand Final. Despite having some of the best teams in the competition on paper, they have always managed to find a way to fall short. It is that lingering doubt that will be their biggest hurdle. They acquired veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans in the hope that he might do what Cooper Cronk did in giving the Roosters the last bit of confidence they need to go all the way. Can Cherry-Evans be as influential as Cronk in the big games ahead?