NRL season preview: How your team stacks up for 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

No matter who you support, off-season player movements will have your head spinning, as the 2026 NRL season approaches.

Some crazy pre-season results will have some fans reaching for the panic button, but the real test will come 1 March, when the Aussie rugby league comp takes its three-ring circus to Vegas for the regular season launch.

If you’re still trying to figure out where your team stand, here’s a quick (4500 words, phew) guide to the comings and goings over the summer.

Brisbane Broncos

Defending champions

Coach: Michael Maguire (18-9)

Championships (7): 1992, 93, 97, 98, 2000, 06, 25

2025 season: 18-9 (fourth), beat Melbourne Storm 26-22 in grand final

Pre-season: Lost to Hull Kingston Rovers 30-24 in World Club Challenge

Gains: centre Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), halfback Tom Duffy (North Queensland Cowboys), centre Aublix Tawha (Dolphins)

Losses: wing Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins), lock Kobe Hetherington (Manly Sea Eagles), hooker Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield Trinity), second row Fletcher Baker (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Injuries: Second-row Brendan Piakura (knee, Round 3), prop Corey Jensen (concussion, tbc), hooker/half Billy Walters (knee, tbc), fullback Hayze Perham (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Prop Xavier Willison took a big step up last year to carve a prominent role for himself in the Broncos rotation and earn an international call-up from the Kiwis.

With Payne Haas signalling his imminent departure from the club next year, Willison will need to continue his progression to help fill that void in the future.

Key Player: Fullback Reece Walsh is becoming the face of the NRL, with his outrageous exploits on the field, but must still tidy up his act away from the game.

The former Warriors has shown time and again his ability to turn a contest on its head, including last year’s grand final, and will again be on top of any rival team’s scouting report.

Opening game: Penrith Panthers at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: At 5-7 after Round 13, Brisbane were outside the playoff picture and the experiment of transplanting Maguire, who had guided NSW to Origin victory the previous year, into the heart of Queensland seemed to have failed.

Somehow, ‘Madge’ managed to turn the ship around, closing faster than anyone to claim the spoils. With Haas departing and veteran half Adam Reynolds retiring at the end of the season, the window is ajar for one more title run.

Prediction: Brisbane have the talent, but can they continue where they left off? Not quite.

TAB: $5 (favourites)

Canterbury Bulldogs

Coach: Cameron Ciraldo (37-37)

Championships (8): 1938, 42, 80, 84, 85, 88, 95, 2004

2025 season: 16-8 (third), lost to Penrith Panthers 46-26 in semifinals

Pre-season: Lost to North Queensland Cowboys 34-30, beat Newcastle Knights 28-0

Gains: Fullback Kade Dykes (Cronulla Sharks), lock Finau Latu (Wests Tigers), half Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins), prop Leo Thompson (Newcastle Knights), hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles), prop Fletcher Baker (Brisbane Broncos)

Losses: Hooker Reed Mahoney (North Queensland Cowboys), lock Kurtis Morrin (Gold Coast Titans), half Toby Sexton (Catalans), half/fullback Blake Taafe (Castleford Tigers), wing Blake Wilson (Manly Sea Eagles)

Injuries: Halfback Mitchell Woods (hamstring, Round 4), fullback Kade Dykes (knee, Round 7), prop Leo Thompson (calf, Round 10)

Key Kiwi: The Bulldogs career of Leo Thompson is off to a shaky start, with a calf injury sidelining him for 2-3 months.

He can be expected to beef up the Canterbury pack, as they try to find the missing piece that will put them into title contention.

Key player: The midseason arrival of teen five-eighth Lachlan Galvin was expected to lift the Bulldogs to the next level, but may just have eroded some the team’s culture.

Galvin has had an off-season to embed into the club and mend any burnt bridges among his teammates, so this will be the time we see if he is the answer everyone anticipated.

Opening game: St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: With supremo Phil ‘Gus’ Gould pulling strings in the background, you can believe the Bulldogs are doing everything possible – and maybe some things not totally above board – to capture the NRL crown.

They certainly have the performers in key positions and Ciraldo has had time to incorporate Galvin into his programme, after a controversial arrival last season. As always, the pressure will be on the Sydney teams.

Prediction: Playoffs, but will miss the final again.

TAB: $13

North Queensland Cowboys

Coach: Todd Payten (62-1-62)

Championships (1): 2015

2025 season: 9-1-14 (12th)

Pre-season: Beat Canterbury Bulldogs 34-30, beat Penrith Panthers 66-24

Gains: Prop Matt Lodge (Manly Sea Eagles), hooker Reed Mahoney (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: halfback Thomas Duffy (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Emarly Bitungane (London Broncos), hooker Karl Lawton (Hull Kingston Rovers), hooker Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters), Wing Semi Valemei (Castleford)

Injuries: Prop Griffin Neame (shoulder, Round 2), centre Zac Laybutt (suspension, Round 3), second-row Jeremia Nanai (shoulder, Round 6), second-row John Bateman (shoulder, tbc), fullback Tom Chester (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Prop Griffin Neame has re-signed with the Cowboys through the 2029 season, which is a fair indication of how highly they regard him.

He has played 20 or more games in three of the last four seasons and will likely bring up his 100th appearance for the club this season.

Key player: Tongan second-rower Jason Taumalolo is nearing the end of a 10-year contract that seemed a good idea at the time, but he has probably struggled to fulfil that commitment in recent times.

Taumalolo was limited to just 10 games through injury last season and was a shadow of his former self. If he can play anywhere near his ability, the Cowboys are a very different proposition.

Opening game: Newcastle Knights at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: If they can stay healthy, they are a scary proposition, but injuries have plagued the Cowboys.

They have the ability to make a playoff run and four of their first five games to start the season are against teams that finished below them last year – Newcastle, Wests, Gold Coast and St George Illawarra.

Prediction: Just miss the playoffs.

TAB: $34

Dolphins

Coach: Kristian Woolf (13-11)

Championships: None

2025 season: 12-12 (ninth)

Pre-season: Lost to Gold Coast Titans 24-12, beat NZ Warriors 38-34

Gains: Wing Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Morgan Knowles (Widnes), prop Francis Molo, hooker Brad Schneider (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Centre Max Feagai (Gold Coast Titans), prop Peter Hola (Newcastle Knights), prop Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Sean O’Sullivan (Canterbury Bulldogs), Aublix Tawha (Brisbane Broncos)

Injuries: Centre LJ Nonu (knee, Round 4), hooker/second row Max Plath (knee, Round 4), hooker Jeremy Marshall-King (knee, Round 7), centre Jack Bostock (knee, Round 10)

Key Kiwi: Wing Jamayne Isaako finished 50 points clear of the next highest pointscorer in the competition last season and has scored more points than anyone else over the last three years.

There are plenty of tries in this squad, so he will have an excellent chance to retain his scoring crown in 2026.

Key player: At 22, Wellington-born half and captain Isaiya Katoa is being heralded as the next great playmaker in the game, displaying maturity beyond his years.

He will have plenty of weapons around him and his ability to light the fuse will be key to the Dolphins’ playoff chances.

Opening game: South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 8 March

Outlook: At full strength, the Dolphins backline is stacked, but how far the go will probably be determined by the ability of their forwards to win the wrestle.

In broken play, they will be absolutely electric and no team can feel safe against them.

Prediction: They will again be there or thereabouts in the playoff hunt, but are probably one or two big forward signings away from contending.

TAB: $21

St George Illawarra Dragons

Coach: Shane Flanagan (19-29)

Championships (1): 2010

2025 season: 8-16 (15th)

Pre-season: Beat Newcastle Knights 28-18, lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-24

Gains: Halfback Daniel Atkinson (Cronulla Sharks), wing/centre David Fale (Penrith Panthers), prop Josh Kerr (Dolphins),

Losses: Lock Jack de Belin (Parramatta Eels), wing Sione Finau (Canberra Raiders), halfback Lachlan Ilias (Gold Coast Titans), prop David Klemmer (St Helens), prop Francis Molo (Dolphins)

Injuries: Hooker Jacob Liddle (hamstring, Round 2), wing Nathan Lawson (foot, Round 4), second-row Dylan Egan (knee, Round 8), lock Hame Sele (concussion, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Auckland-born wing Christian Tuipulotu has scored 16 tries in 21 appearances for the Dragons, but had a hard time staying on the field last season, when he scored eight in nine games.

In basketball terms, he’s a walking bucket, but needs to string some games together to maximise his impact.

Key player: All fingers pointed at the coach’s son – half Kyle Flanagan – last season as a cause of the Dragons’ struggles, but dad hasn’t really found a replacement for him in the meantime.

All eyes will be back on him again and, if the team begins to flounder, you can bet the Flanagans will feel the heat.

Opening game: Canterbury Bulldogs at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: Have lost two of their best forwards in de Belin and Klemmer, and that won’t help them escape the dungeon.

Prediction: Will battle for the wooden spoon.

TAB: $51

Parramatta Eels

Coach: Jason Ryles (10-14)

Championships (4): 1981, 82, 83, 86

2025 season: 10-14 (11th)

Pre-season: Beat Cronulla Sharks 40-6, beat Sydney Roosters 28-22

Gains: Lock Jack de Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Jonah Pezet (Melbourne Storm), centre Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans)

Losses: Half Dylan Brown (Newcastle Knights), hooker Brendan Hands (Toulouse), half Dean Hawkins (London Broncos)

Key player: Parramatta seem to go as far as half Mitch Moses can take them, but over the past two years, he’s played less than half their games.

Last season, the Eels went 1-5 to open their account, with Moses sidelined by a foot injury. He later missed more time with a foot injury.

Moses kicked a gamewinning field goal against North Queensland in Round 23 and a hattrick of tries against Newcastle Knights in Round 27. Parramatta went 7-6 with him in the line-up and 3-8 without him.

Opening game: Melbourne Storm at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, 5 March

Outlook: Losing Kiwi half Dylan Brown is a major blow, but Jonah Pezet has good pedigree through the Melbourne Storm system.

They have a torrid draw to star their campaign – both last year’s finalists, Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos, on the road.

Prediction: As long as Moses stays healthy, they will push for a playoff spot, but the moment he goes down…

TAB: $21

Newcastle Knights

Coach: Justin Holbrook

Championships (2): 1997, 2001

2025 season: 6-18 (17th/last)

Pre-season: Lost to St George Illawarra Dragons 28-18, lost to Canterbury Bulldogs 28-0

Gains: Half Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels), prop Peter Hola (Dolphins), wing Asu Kepaoa (Penrith Panthers), lock Trey Mooney (Canberra Raiders), prop Pasami Saulo (Canberra Raiders), half Sandon Smith (Sydney Roosters)

Losses: Half Jake Arthur (Hull), hooker Jayden Brailey (Canberra Raiders), half Jack Cogger (Penrith Panthers), second-row Adam Elliott (South Sydney Rabbitohs), prop Brock Greacen (Castleford), half Jackson Hastings (St Helens), second-row Jack Hetherington (Melbourne Storm), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), prop Leo Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Key Kiwi: Five-eighth Dylan Brown spent last season in the Eels doghouse, after announcing his imminent departure for Newcastle.

He showed his worth with his Golden Boot-worthy Kiwis campaign and the Knights will hope he can bring that form, as they try to escape the bottom of the table.

Key player: Fullback Kalyn Ponga pipped Shaun Johnson for Dally M honours in 2023, but has been plagued by injuries since and has a history of concussions.

Not long ago, he was regarded as the NRL’s next big star, but his team need him to stay healthy.

Opening game: North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Outlook: There’s only one way for the Knights and that’s up.

The addition of Brown and Sandon Smith may give them some much-needed stability in the halves.

Prediction: They won’t finish last again.

TAB: $51

Penrith Panthers

Coach: Ivan Cleary (131-2-46)

Championships (6): 1991, 2003, 21, 22, 23, 24

2025 season: 13-1-10 (seventh), lost 16-14 to Brisbane Broncos in preliminary finals

Pre-season: Lost to North Queensland Cowboys 66-24, lost to Wests Tigers 26-12

Gains: Second-row Tom Ale (NZ Warriors), half Jack Cogger (Newcastle Knights), lock Kalani Going (NZ Warriors), hooker Freddy Lussick (NZ Warriors)

Losses: Centre/wing David Fale (St George Illawarra Dragons), second-row Mavrik Geyer (Wests Tigers), fullback Daine Laurie (Canberra Raiders), second-row Zac Lipowicz (Catalans), hooker Brad Schneider (Dolphins), hooker Luke Sommerton (Gold Coast Titans), half Trent Toelau (Melbourne Storm), hooker Soni Luke (North Queensland Cowboys)

Key Kiwi: Prop Moses Leota played all but one game last season and took over the mantle of senior front-rower with the departure of fellow Kiwi James Fisher-Harris for the Warriors.

He’s a player that may benefit from the tweaked rules that allow Kiwis to play State of Origin without losing their international eligibility.

Key player: Half Nathan Cleary is simply the best player in the NRL, when he’s on the field.

He became Penrith’s all-time leading scorer last season, but took some heat from his inability to guide New South Wales to Origin glory for the third time – he was missing from the Blues’ 2024 success.

Cleary has nothing to prove at this stage of his career, but his team’s chance of returning to the grand final rest heavily on him.

Opening game: Brisbane Broncos at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Panthers failed in their quest for a fivepeat last season, stumbling out to a 2-6 start and sitting last on the table after eight rounds, before rallying late to reach the playoffs.

That run probably took the sting out of them, but they have lost none of their core players this year.

Prediction: They will rekindle their dynasty with another visit to the final.

TAB: $6

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Coach: Wayne Bennett (62-39)

Championships (21): 1908, 09, 14, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 67, 68, 70, 71, 2014

2025 season: 9-15 (13th)

Pre-season: Beat St George Illawarra 28-24, beat Manly Sea Eagles 30-6

Gains: Second-row Adam Elliott (Newcastle Knights), prop David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), hooker Bronson Garlick (Melbourne Storm), half Jonah Glover (St George Illawarra Dragons), centre Moala Graham-Taufa (NZ Warriors), wing Ed Kosi (NZ Warriors)

Losses: Half Lewis Dodd (Catalans), hooker Siliva Havili (London Broncos), prop Davvy Moale (Melbourne Storm), wing Mikaele Ravalawa (Castleford)

Injuries: Halfback Jonah Glover (jaw, Round 7), centre Isaiah Tass (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: You have to think this may be the last chance for hooker Brandon Smith to resurrect a career that has gone off the rails in recent seasons.

Injuries and off-field shenanigans have seen ‘Cheese’ exit Melbourne and Sydney Roosters in disgrace, and his tenure at Souths has not begun well, as he faces drug and gambling charges in Queensland.

Key player: Prop David Fifita is another star that shone brightly, but has faded in recent seasons.

Two years ago, he announced he was leaving Gold Coast for Sydney Roosters, then backflipped a week later, but fell out with coach Des Hasler last year and eventually signed with Souths.

Wayne Bennett has a history of calming troubled souls, and he will be tested to the limit by Smith and Fifita.

Opening game: Dolphins at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 8 March

Outlook: Bennett has won more than any other coach in NRL history, but he already has his hands full guiding the enigmatic Lattrell Mitchell and had to manage that without the services of captain Campbell Murray, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in pre-season last year and never returned.

Prediction: Bennett, 76, is the master for a reason, but this will test him beyond his limits. Souths fall short of playoffs.

TAB: $21

Canberra Raiders

Coach: Ricky Stuart (157-1-137)

Championships (3): 1989, 90, 94

2025 season: 19-5 (first), lost to Cronulla Sharks 32-12 in semifinals

Pre-season: Beat Melbourne Storm 32-6, lost to Cronulla Sharks 48-6

Gains: Hooker Jayden Brailey (Newcastle Knights), wing Sione Finau (St George Illawarra Dragons), fullback Laurie Daine (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Fullback Adam Cook (Leigh), half Jamal Fogarty (Manly Sea Eagles), wing/centre Albert Hopoate (Warrington), hooker Danny Levi (Leeds), prop Trey Mooney (Newcastle Knights), centre Manaia Waitere (Melbourne Storm)

Key Kiwi: Prop Joseph Tapine has established himself as one of the best front-rowers in the game and has averaged 24 games a season for the past four years.

Last year, he brought up 200 games for the Raiders and has become Stuart’s righthand man out on the field.

Key player: Half Ethan Strange will take the keys to the ‘Green Machine’ from Jamal Fogarty, after earning best five-eighth at the Dally M Awards last year.

Despite his outstanding season, he was missing through illness, when Canberra bowed out of the playoffs to Cronulla.

Opening game: Manly Sea Eagles at Sydney’s 4 Pines Park, 7 March

Outlook: Ricky Stuart will be absolutely seething at finishing top of the competition table and then missing out on the grand final – that will have eaten him alive all off-season.

They will miss Fogarty, who was the real architect of their success, and it may take some time to find a successor.

Prediction: Playoffs yes, grand final no. They missed a chance last season.

TAB: $15

Sydney Roosters

Coach: Trent Robinson (210-126)

Championships (15): 1911, 12, 13, 213, 35, 36, 37, 40, 45, 74, 75, 2002, 13, 18, 19

2025 season: 13-11 (eighth), lost to Cronulla Sharks 20-10 in elimination finals

Pre-season: Lost to Wests Tigers 42-26, lost to Parramatta Eels 28-22

Gains: Half Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), fullback Cody Ramsey (St George Illawarra Dragons), hooker Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys), centre/wing Tommy Talau (Manly Sea Eagles)

Losses: Hooker Zach Dockar-Clay (Manly Sea Eagles), half Sandon Smith (Newcastle Knights), prop Xavier Va’a (York), half Chad Townsend (retired)

Injuries: Second-row Victor Radley (suspension, Round 7), hooker Reece Robson (thumb, Round 7)

Key Kiwi: Prop Naufahu Whyte has become a mainstay of the Roosters front row, logging 23 games in both the past two seasons, while also establishing himself in the Kiwis squad.

At 23, his best years are still ahead of him and he has re-signed with Sydney for another three years.

Key player: The Roosters have struggled in the halves recently, but recruiting the NRL’s oldest player – Daly Cherry-Evans – may not be the answer.

He was dropped from the Queensland Origin team last year and seemed to be going through the motions, but sparked up towards the end of his time with Manly, kicking a winning field goal against the Warriors in his 352nd and final appearance for the club.

How much more magic is left?

Opening game: NZ Warriors at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Roosters will always be contenders, because they have deep pockets, but they are often sabotaged by injury and indiscipline.

Prediction: If Cherry-Evans and captain James Tedesco, 33, have anything left, they reach the second week of playoffs.

TAB: $7

Manly Sea Eagles

Coach: Anthony Seibold (37-2-35)

Championships (8): 1972, 73, 76, 78, 87, 96, 2008, 11

2025 season: 12-12 (10th)

Pre-season: Beat NZ Warriors 33-18, lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-6

Gains: Hooker Zach Dockar-Clay (Sydney Roosters), half Jamal Fogarty (Canberra Raiders), lock Kobe Hetherington (Brisbane Broncos), wing Blake Wilson (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Losses: Half Jake Arthur (Hull), half Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters), prop Matt Lodge (North Queensland Cowboys), prop Tof Sipley (Warrington), win/centre Tommy Talau (Sydney Roosters), utility Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), prop Josh Aloiai (retired), hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Lachlan Croker (retired), second-row/centre Michael Chee-Kam (retired)

Injuries: Lock Caleb Navale (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: New Plymouth-born hooker Zach Dockar-Clay has been brought in to replace Lachlan Croker in the dummy half rotation, after the veteran declared for medical retirement.

He has logged 36 games for Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters, with two appearances for the Māori All Stars.

Key player: Fullback Tom Trbojevic takes over the Manly captaincy, but has a poor injury record.

Staying healthy will be his biggest challenge, but if he does, ‘Tommy Turbo’ can carry the Sea Eagles deep.

Opening game: Canberra Raiders at Sydney’s 4 Pines Park, 7 March

Outlook: Time to move on from the Daly Cherry-Evans era and Jamal Fogarty will prove an able replacement…

Prediction: But they’ll fall short of post-season again.

TAB: $34

Cronulla Sharks

Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon (66-39)

Championships (1): 2016

2025 season: 15-9 (fifth), lost to Melbourne Storm 22-14 in preliminary finals

Pre-season: Lost to Parramatta Eels 40-6, beat Canberra Raiders 48-6

Losses: Half Daniel Atkinson (St George Illlawarra)

Injuries: Second-row Cam McInnes (knee, Round 10), centre Mawene Hiroti (knee, tbc), fullback Liam Ison (knee, tbc), wing Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has consistently been among the NRL’s top tryscorers over the past four seasons, touching down 73 times during that span.

He will start the campaign under an injury cloud, after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, while on duty with the Kiwis last year.

Key player: Since winning the 2022 Dally M and Provan-Summons medals, half Nicho Hynes has fallen from Origin grace, where selectors never quite figured out how to use him.

He played every game for the Sharks last season, as they went within a game of the grand final.

Opening game: Gold Coast Titans at Sydney’s Ocean Project Stadium, 7 March

Outlook: The Sharks have kept a pretty stable squad, so a repeat of last year’s performance is not beyond belief.

Prediction: Grand final contenders.

TAB: $19

Melbourne Storm

Coach: Craig Bellamy (413-2-178)

Championships (4): 1999, 2012, 17, 20

2025 season: 17-7 (second), lost to Brisbane Broncos 26-22 in grand final

Pre-season: Lost to Canberra Raiders 32-6, lost to Gold Coast Titans 42-12

Gains: Second-row Jack Hetherington (Newcastle Knights), prop Davvy Moala (South Sydney Rabbitohs), prop Josaiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans), half Trent Toelau (Penrith Panthers), centre Manaia Waitere (Canberra Raiders)

Losses: Centre Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), hooker Bronson Garlick (South Sydney Rabbitohs), half Jonah Pezet (Parramatta Eels), prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (retired), fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (retired)

Injuries: Wing Xavier Coates (Achilles tendon, Round 10), second-row Eliesa Katoa (concussion, indefinite)

Key Kiwi: After winning the Dally M Medal in 2024, Jahrome Hughes had to battle a dislocated shoulder and broken arm on his way back to the grand final, but could not quite steer the Storm home over the Broncos.

Little wonder the Aussies are trying to sneak him into an Origin team. Hopefully, he will save some of his geniues for the Kiwis’ World Cup campaign.

Key player: With the Storm leaking talent left, right and centre, the halves partnership between Hughes and Cameron Munster must maximise their time together on the field.

After a history of off-field indiscretions, Munster seems to have turned his fortunes around, succeeding Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland Origin captain.

Opening game: Parramatta Eels at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, 5 March

Outlook: Even through Penrith’s four-year run atop the NRL, Melbourne have somehow maintained their own legacy, despite losing key players every year. This season, they are without key forwards Asofa-Solomona and Katoa, and brilliant fullback Papyenhuyzen.

Prediction: Can’t wait to see how Bellamy gets this lot back to the grand final.

TAB: $7

Gold Coast Titans

Coach: Josh Hannay

Championships: None

2025 season: 6-18 (16th)

Pre-season: Beat Dolphins 24-12, beat Melbourne Storm 42-12

Gains: Centre Max Feagai (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Lachlan Ilias (St George Illawarra Dragons), lock Kurtis Morrin (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Luke Sommerton (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Second-row Jacob Alick (Leigh), prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard (London Broncos), second-row Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Catalans), prop David Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs), centre Brian Kelly (Parramatta Eels), wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira (NZ Warriors), prop Josiah Pahulu (Melbourne Storm), half Tom Weaver (Castleford)

Injuries: Prop Jaimin Jolliffe (knee, 2027), second-row Brock Gray (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: After a breakout 2024 season that saw him called into the Kiwis, pints-sized fullback Keano Kini sat out most of last year with a neck injury that threatened to paralyse him.

He turned out for New Zealand in the Pacific Championship, but his future health will be watched closely. Just where he fits into the Titans line-up alongside AJ Brimson remains to be seen.

Key player: While fellow powerhouse David Fifita finally cut ties with the Titans, captain Timo Fa’asuamaleaui has confirmed his future with the club, re-signing through the 2030 season.

He has proved an inspirational leader for the struggling Titans and his relationship with new coach Josh Hannay will be crucial to turning his club’s fortunes around.

Opening game: Cronulla Sharks at Sydney’s Ocean Protect Stadium, 7 March

Outlook: Fifteen years since their last winning season and five years since their last post-season appearance, two seasons under Des Hasler yielded just 15 wins, so there’s only one way to go.

Prediction: It may take a couple of seasons to turn this mess around.

TAB: $51

NZ Warriors

Coach: Andew Webster (38-1-33)

Championships: none

2025 season: 14-10 (sixth), lost to Penrith Panthers 24-8 in elimination final

Pre-season: Lost to Manly Sea Eagles 33-18, lost to Dolphins 38-34

Gains: Second-row/lock Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), wing Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs), wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Gold Coast Titans), half Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights)

Losses: Prop Bunty Afoa (Wests Tigers), hooker Freddy Lussick (Penrith Panthers), second-row Tom Ale (Penrith Panthers), wing Ed Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), centre Moala Graham-Taufa (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kalani Going (Penrith Panthers)

Injuries: Prop Mitch Barnett (knee, Round 2), halfback Luke Metcalf (knee, Round 7), utility Te Maire Martin (broken leg, Round 10), centre Rocco Berry (shoulder, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Some are calling for understudy Taine Tuaupiki to take over the fullback position, so Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is already under pressure for his spot.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t make the starting line-up somewhere else, if the midfield or halves turn to quicksand again. His courage under fire is indispensable.

Key player: Luke Metcalf was leading Dally M standings, when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Round 17 last year, and he will miss the opening two months this season.

How well the Warriors cover his absence, whether it’s Tanah Boyd or someone else, may determine the course of their 2026 campaign. How quickly he can return to full fitness may well be the spark they need down the regular season stretch.

Opening game: Sydney Roosters at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Warriors got off to a club record 8-2 start last season, sitting second on the table after 11 rounds, but fell away badly, after losing co-captain Barnett and Metcalf to knee injuries.

As it is with any team, health will be crucial, if they are do venture deeper into the playoffs. Not only do they need luck in avoiding further calamity, but Webster must give some thought to preserving those veterans who are prone to wear and tear, like Fisher-Harris, hooker Wayde Egan and second-rower Kurt Capewell.

While Barnett’s impending exit will be a blow for the Warriors next season, hopefully it won’t become a distraction like others have been in recent times.

Predictions: This is their year – of course!

TAB: $23 (outside playoffs)

Wests Tigers

Coach: Benji Marshall (15-33)

Championships (1): 2005

2025 season: 9-15 (13th)

Pre-season: Beat Sydney Roosters 42-26, beat Penrith Panthers 26-12

Gains: Second-row Mavrik Geyer (Penrith Panthers), halfback Jock Madden (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)

Losses: Wing/centre Sol Faataape (Catalans), wing/fullback Josh Staines (Catalans)

Injuries: Lock Kit Laulilii (concussion, Round 2), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (calf, Round 2). Five-eighth Latu Fainu (shoulder, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Coach Benji Marshall has been under pressure ever since he took over the reins of the Tigers from Tim Sheens, who was also under pressure.

The joint-venture club doesn’t seem like a very supportive environment, but somehow Marshall has survived and slowly turned the ship around. Wests should be every Kiwi’s second-favourite club (after the Warriors).

Key player: Half Jarome Luai was named co-captain (alongside Apisai Koroisau) for his Tigers debut and relished the opportunity to break out of the shadow of Nathan Cleary at Penrith.

Unfortunately, his arrival heralded the departure of teen prospect Lachlan Galvin, so this season will show whether the swap was worthwhile.

Opening game: North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney’s Leichhart Oval, 14 March (Round 2)

Outlook: Pre-season means little in the grander scheme of things, but wins over Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers suggest Wests may have turned a corner.

They have a gentle introduction to the new season with a bye, then non-playoff teams North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs, before visiting the Warriors, then two more non-playoff teams, Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights.

Prediction: Well clear of the wooden spoon, but not quite playoffs yet.

TAB: $41

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/27/nrl-season-preview-how-your-team-stacks-up-for-2026/