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NRLThe season, counted
Penrith PanthersNRL club
DolphinsNRL club
Sydney RoostersNRL club
Cronulla SharksNRL club
New Zealand WarriorsNRL club
Newcastle KnightsNRL club

The last six: every game of the NRL finalists' 2026 seasons

Penrith, the Warriors, the Dolphins, the Roosters, Cronulla and Newcastle are the last six in the NRL finals: every game of their season, side by side.

By Adam16 Sept 20262 min readNumbers to Finals Week 1
Figure 1

Every game of the last six's seasons

margin in points · Rounds 1 to 27, then Finals Week 1 · the same scale in every panel

Penrith Panthers18–6 · +336

New Zealand Warriors18–6 · +310

Dolphins17–7 · +156

Sydney Roosters16–8 · +118

Cronulla Sharks14–10 · +149

Newcastle Knights14–10 · +42

won bylost bydashed line = finals begin · panel title = record and points differential
Note: One column per game in the order played; every panel runs from a loss of 70 to a win of 70, so a column is the same height wherever it sits. Byes are not games and leave no gap. Completed games only.Source: Punt's database, read 16 September 2026.
Show the numbers
ClubRoundOpponentScoreMarginVenue
Penrith PanthersRound 1Brisbane Broncos26–0+26Suncorp Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 2Cronulla Sharks26–6+20Carrington Park
Penrith PanthersRound 3Sydney Roosters40–4+36Allianz Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 4Parramatta Eels48–20+28CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 5Melbourne Storm50–10+40CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 6Canterbury Bulldogs16–32−16Accor Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 7Dolphins23–22+1TIO Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 8Newcastle Knights44–12+32McDonald Jones Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 9Manly Sea Eagles18–16+2CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 10Canberra Raiders30–18+12GIO Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 11St George Illawarra Dragons28–6+22Suncorp Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 13New Zealand Warriors20–18+2CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 14Wests Tigers68–0+68CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 16Gold Coast Titans18–19−1Cbus Super Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 17North Queensland Cowboys12–26−14Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 18South Sydney Rabbitohs36–14+22CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 20Brisbane Broncos12–14−2CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 21Parramatta Eels24–18+6CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 22Canberra Raiders42–18+24Glen Willow Oval
Penrith PanthersRound 23New Zealand Warriors12–28−16Go Media Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 24Sydney Roosters6–12−6CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 25Melbourne Storm22–14+8AAMI Park
Penrith PanthersRound 26Canterbury Bulldogs24–10+14CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersRound 27Wests Tigers38–10+28CommBank Stadium
Penrith PanthersFinals Week 1Sydney Roosters19–12+7CommBank Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 1Sydney Roosters42–18+24Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 2Canberra Raiders40–6+34Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 3Newcastle Knights38–12+26McDonald Jones Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 4Wests Tigers14–32−18Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 5Cronulla Sharks22–36−14Ocean Protect Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 6Melbourne Storm38–14+24AAMI Park
New Zealand WarriorsRound 7Gold Coast Titans28–20+8Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 8Dolphins20–18+2Hnry Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 9Parramatta Eels36–14+22CommBank Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 11Brisbane Broncos42–12+30Suncorp Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 12St George Illawarra Dragons30–12+18St George Venues Jubilee Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 13Penrith Panthers18–20−2CommBank Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 15Cronulla Sharks8–10−2Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 16North Queensland Cowboys38–20+18One NZ Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 17Dolphins24–26−2Suncorp Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 19Wests Tigers32–6+26Campbelltown Sports Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 20St George Illawarra Dragons20–12+8Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 21Canterbury Bulldogs6–18−12Accor Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 22Gold Coast Titans42–6+36Cbus Super Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 23Penrith Panthers28–12+16Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 24Brisbane Broncos40–6+34Suncorp Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 25South Sydney Rabbitohs45–26+19Accor Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 26Newcastle Knights46–32+14Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsRound 27Manly Sea Eagles31–30+1Go Media Stadium
New Zealand WarriorsFinals Week 1Dolphins16–26−10Go Media Stadium
DolphinsRound 1South Sydney Rabbitohs30–40−10Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 2Gold Coast Titans18–14+4Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 3Cronulla Sharks38–10+28Ocean Protect Stadium
DolphinsRound 4Brisbane Broncos12–26−14Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 5Manly Sea Eagles18–52−34Kayo Stadium
DolphinsRound 7Penrith Panthers22–23−1TIO Stadium
DolphinsRound 8New Zealand Warriors18–20−2Hnry Stadium
DolphinsRound 9Melbourne Storm28–10+18Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 10Canterbury Bulldogs44–12+32Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 11South Sydney Rabbitohs32–10+22Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 12Canberra Raiders30–22+8GIO Stadium
DolphinsRound 14North Queensland Cowboys40–14+26Queensland Country Bank Stadium
DolphinsRound 15Sydney Roosters48–10+38Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 16Wests Tigers36–22+14Campbelltown Sports Stadium
DolphinsRound 17New Zealand Warriors26–24+2Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 18Newcastle Knights12–13−1McDonald Jones Stadium
DolphinsRound 19Cronulla Sharks0–66−66Kayo Stadium
DolphinsRound 20North Queensland Cowboys36–16+20Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 22St George Illawarra Dragons28–22+6WIN Stadium
DolphinsRound 23Brisbane Broncos40–32+8Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 24Manly Sea Eagles22–0+224 Pines Park
DolphinsRound 25Parramatta Eels34–16+18Suncorp Stadium
DolphinsRound 26Sydney Roosters26–12+14Allianz Stadium
DolphinsRound 27Gold Coast Titans24–20+4Cbus Super Stadium
DolphinsFinals Week 1New Zealand Warriors26–16+10Go Media Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 1New Zealand Warriors18–42−24Go Media Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 2South Sydney Rabbitohs26–18+8Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 3Penrith Panthers4–40−36Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 4Manly Sea Eagles33–16+174 Pines Park
Sydney RoostersRound 6Cronulla Sharks34–22+12Optus Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 7Newcastle Knights38–24+14Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 8St George Illawarra Dragons62–16+46Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 9Brisbane Broncos38–24+14Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 10Gold Coast Titans28–12+16Polytec Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 11North Queensland Cowboys12–18−6Suncorp Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 13Melbourne Storm4–18−14AAMI Park
Sydney RoostersRound 14Canberra Raiders26–0+26GIO Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 15Dolphins10–48−38Suncorp Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 16Cronulla Sharks27–8+19Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 17Brisbane Broncos24–18+6Suncorp Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 19Parramatta Eels28–12+16Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 20Melbourne Storm14–6+8Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 21Newcastle Knights23–22+1McDonald Jones Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 22North Queensland Cowboys82–12+70Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 23Canterbury Bulldogs20–18+2Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 24Penrith Panthers12–6+6CommBank Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 25Wests Tigers24–25−1Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 26Dolphins12–26−14Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersRound 27South Sydney Rabbitohs20–50−30Allianz Stadium
Sydney RoostersFinals Week 1Penrith Panthers12–19−7CommBank Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 1Gold Coast Titans50–10+40Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 2Penrith Panthers6–26−20Carrington Park
Cronulla SharksRound 3Dolphins10–38−28Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 4Canberra Raiders34–22+12GIO Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 5New Zealand Warriors36–22+14Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 6Sydney Roosters22–34−12Optus Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 8North Queensland Cowboys34–46−12Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 9Wests Tigers52–10+42Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 10South Sydney Rabbitohs12–36−24Accor Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 11Canterbury Bulldogs38–16+22Suncorp Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 13Manly Sea Eagles28–22+6Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 14St George Illawarra Dragons34–12+22Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 15New Zealand Warriors10–8+2Go Media Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 16Sydney Roosters8–27−19Allianz Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 18Brisbane Broncos28–16+12Suncorp Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 19Dolphins66–0+66Kayo Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 20Newcastle Knights20–18+2Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 21Manly Sea Eagles48–12+364 Pines Park
Cronulla SharksRound 22South Sydney Rabbitohs32–16+16Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 23St George Illawarra Dragons16–24−8St George Venues Jubilee Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 24Canberra Raiders20–24−4Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 25Gold Coast Titans30–22+8Cbus Super Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 26Parramatta Eels18–38−20CommBank Stadium
Cronulla SharksRound 27Melbourne Storm20–24−4Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla SharksFinals Week 1North Queensland Cowboys26–16+10Allianz Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 1North Queensland Cowboys28–18+10Allegiant Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 2Manly Sea Eagles36–16+204 Pines Park
Newcastle KnightsRound 3New Zealand Warriors12–38−26McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 4Canterbury Bulldogs24–16+8Accor Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 5Canberra Raiders32–12+20McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 6Wests Tigers22–42−20Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 7Sydney Roosters24–38−14Allianz Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 8Penrith Panthers12–44−32McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 9South Sydney Rabbitohs42–38+4McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 10St George Illawarra Dragons44–10+34WIN Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 11Gold Coast Titans36–12+24Suncorp Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 13Parramatta Eels28–22+6McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 14Melbourne Storm30–32−2AAMI Park
Newcastle KnightsRound 16St George Illawarra Dragons22–20+2McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 17Wests Tigers12–6+6McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 18Dolphins13–12+1McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 19South Sydney Rabbitohs24–26−2Accor Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 20Cronulla Sharks18–20−2Ocean Protect Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 21Sydney Roosters22–23−1McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 22Brisbane Broncos30–6+24Suncorp Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 23Canberra Raiders30–24+6GIO Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 24Gold Coast Titans36–26+10McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 25Manly Sea Eagles24–44−20McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle KnightsRound 26New Zealand Warriors32–46−14Go Media Stadium
Newcastle KnightsFinals Week 1South Sydney Rabbitohs20–10+10Allianz Stadium

Why?

Six clubs were left after Finals Week 1: Penrith, the Warriors, the Dolphins, the Roosters, Cronulla and Newcastle. I wanted to put every game of their seasons side by side, to see how each one got there.

Two clubs in front

Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors both went 18–6, with the two best points differentials in the competition. The six, by record:

ClubRecordDifferential
Penrith Panthers18–6+336
New Zealand Warriors18–6+310
Dolphins17–7+156
Sydney Roosters16–8+118
Cronulla Sharks14–10+149
Newcastle Knights14–10+42

Cronulla Sharks and Newcastle Knights both went 14–10, but Cronulla's differential was the fourth best in the league and Newcastle's the eighth best, the lowest of the six still playing.

Every club played 24 games across the 27 rounds; the three byes are not games and are not in any figure here. Here are all 17 clubs, sorted by differential.

Figure 2

Points differential, every club

points for minus points against · Rounds 1 to 27 · the six still playing in bold
Penrith Panthers 18–6+336
New Zealand Warriors 18–6+310
Dolphins 17–7+156
Cronulla Sharks 14–10+149
Sydney Roosters 16–8+118
South Sydney Rabbitohs 14–10+113
Manly Sea Eagles 11–13+99
Newcastle Knights 14–10+42
Melbourne Storm 11–13+18
Canberra Raiders 11–13−45
Canterbury Bulldogs 11–13−60
North Queensland Cowboys 13–11−84
Parramatta Eels 9–15−181
Gold Coast Titans 6–18−186
Brisbane Broncos 8–16−206
Wests Tigers 8–16−254
St George Illawarra Dragons 5–19−325
scored more than concededconceded more than scored
Note: Sorted by differential, not by the ladder: the NRL ladder also counts points for byes, which is not a result.Source: Punt's database, read 16 September 2026.
Show the numbers
ClubWonLostForAgainstDifferentialStill playing
Penrith Panthers186683347+336yes
New Zealand Warriors186728418+310yes
Dolphins177662506+156yes
Cronulla Sharks1410672523+149yes
Sydney Roosters168619501+118yes
South Sydney Rabbitohs1410694581+113no
Manly Sea Eagles1113623524+99no
Newcastle Knights1410633591+42yes
Melbourne Storm1113594576+18no
Canberra Raiders1113581626−45no
Canterbury Bulldogs1113476536−60no
North Queensland Cowboys1311568652−84no
Parramatta Eels915497678−181no
Gold Coast Titans618477663−186no
Brisbane Broncos816471677−206no
Wests Tigers816445699−254no
St George Illawarra Dragons519392717−325no

Big days and bad days

Two of the six never lost by more than 18 points. Penrith's heaviest loss was 16, against Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 6. The Warriors' was 18, against Wests Tigers in Round 4.

Three of the season's biggest scores belong to clubs still playing:

WinnerRoundScoreAgainst
PenrithRound 1468–0Wests Tigers
CronullaRound 1966–0Dolphins
RoostersRound 2282–12North Queensland

The Roosters' win was by 70, and Cronulla's 66 to 0 was also the Dolphins' heaviest loss of the year.

↗Every NRL player's game logEach player at the six clubs, game by game, finals included.Open the NRL players →

A week off for two

The Warriors and the Dolphins came into the finals on six straight wins. The Dolphins then beat the Warriors 26 to 16 in Finals Week 1.

Penrith and the Dolphins won in Finals Week 1 and have no Week 2 game. South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys are out.

Allianz Stadium

Newcastle Knights20

South Sydney Rabbitohs10

Go Media Stadium

Dolphins26

New Zealand Warriors16

Allianz Stadium

Cronulla Sharks26

North Queensland Cowboys16

CommBank Stadium

Penrith Panthers19

Sydney Roosters12

And Week 2?

These numbers were read on 16 September 2026. Finals Week 2 listed the Roosters against Cronulla on 19 September at Allianz Stadium and the Warriors against Newcastle on 20 September, after that, and nothing on this page says how they went. I want to add Week 2 and the rest of the finals next, to see how each of the six seasons ends.

Summary

Best records
18–6Penrith, Warriors+336 v +310the top two differentials
Week off
19–12Penrith v Roosters26–16Dolphins v Warriors
Into the finals
6 in a rowWarriors and Dolphins

The working

Definitions, sources and when the numbers were read
Records
Rounds 1 to 27, 24 games a club. Byes are not games and earn nothing here.
Differential
Points for minus points against over those 24 games. Derived from the final scores.
The last six
Derived from the data, not a ladder: the Finals Week 1 winners with no Week 2 fixture, plus the four clubs listed in Week 2.
Scheduled
Finals Week 2 as listed on the read date: Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks on 19 September, New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights on 20 September.
Read
16 September 2026, from Punt's database. Completed games only.
Not in this article
Who wins Week 2 or the grand final, ladder positions, or anything about prices.
Sources and terms
Every source Punt uses, with its licence, is on Credits. The terms are defined in the Glossary, and the methodology page sets out where every number comes from and the rules it follows.
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