True Contenders
1. Melbourne Storm - Minor Premiers
2. Canberra Raiders
3. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
4. Brisbane Broncos
5. Penrith Panthers
Should Play Finals
6. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
7. Sydney Roosters
8. Redcliffe Dolphins
Missing the Cut
9. New Zealand Warriors
10. Parramatta Eels
Next Rung Of Mediocrity
11. South Sydney Rabbitohs
12. North Queensland Cowboys
13. Wests Tigers
14. St George-Illawarra Dragons
2026 Spoon Bowl
15. Gold Coast Titans
16. Newcastle Knights
17. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
2026 Regular Season Awards:
Dally M: Nathan Cleary - I think Penrith aren't all powerful like in they have been, but he wills them home in enough games to outpoll Cameron Munster and Reece Walsh.
Top Tryscorer: Sua Fa'alogo - he is going to be a monster if he stays fit and might crack 20 tries. Mark Nawaqanitawase and Herbie Farnworth also have 18+ tries in them, but gee it looks open.
Top Pointscorer: Stephen Crichton or Nick Meaney... Origin might slow Crichton down a touch, but the Dogs and Storm will score a lot of points. Jamayne Isaako could run away with it if Redcliffe have to score 34 points a game to win again this year.
State of Origin: NSW 2-1... let's believe.
2026 NRL Grand Final: Canberra v Canterbury
2026 PREMIERS: Canberra
Clive Churchill Medal: Ethan Strange
Why Canberra? Fair question.
Those who listened to the Podcast over the years know I don't pick my team to finish highly often, so to think we might actually win the comp is as much a vote of confidence in young Ethan Sanders improving the team's ability to be naturally creative over the Jamal Fogarty kick happy mantra, as well as the fact the rest of the contenders don't feel as scary as in year's past. Ricky Stuart still had his team play very entertaining footy, but when push came to shove the kick-reliant footy and what we all knew to be a suspect right edge defensive - saw the Raiders out in straight sets. They have every base covered if Sanders is as good as I think he can be, and Ethan Strange is going to be a bigger factor out of the Fogarty control shadow. Their pack is as good as anyone in the comp too. They are my Premiership pick.
I've got Melbourne as Minor Premiers out of respect for not playing poorly in regular seasons, not because I think they are so far ahead of the rest when it comes to September. Penrith, Cronulla, Brisbane and even Easts could all finish Top 4 - the comp is wide open amongst the Top 7 (maybe 8 if I include Redcliffe) and that's why I think it ends with a repeat of the '94 GF with Canberra v Canterbury. I expect the Bulldogs to be as good as anyone in 2026 to they reward Gus Gould with a trip to another GF.
So Canberra adding a well-overdue 4th title is my prediction for 2026. Call it a gut feel, call it bias... but fingers and toes all crossed in advance!
