NRL Round 26: Final 8 Locked in as Eels Hammer Sharks and Warriors Stay Top

Edward Briggs

The Warriors retained top spot on the ladder, South Sydney secured a long-awaited finals berth, while the Sharks’ top-four hopes were extinguished. At the other end of the table, Brisbane suffered another heavy defeat, while Manly and Parramatta produced emphatic wins.

Melbourne Storm 46 – 20 Brisbane Broncos

The Broncos’ miserable 2026 season sunk to another low at Suncorp Stadium as Melbourne ran away with a 46-20 victory, while also providing the first real look at the NRL’s new kickoff rules.

Stefano Utoikamanu opened the scoring after 14 minutes, charging through some weak Brisbane defence before Kotoni Staggs hit back after the Broncos forced a Storm error. Melbourne, however, continued to find holes in the home side’s defence, with Sualauvi Faalogo, Tyran Wishart and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown all crossing.

Ezra Mam briefly gave Brisbane hope with a 70-metre interception, but Wishart’s second try on the half-time siren left the Storm 28-8 ahead.

The Broncos did take advantage when Moses Leo was sin-binned, with Ben Hunt and Staggs combining to send Mam through, before Hunt finally crossed for his first try in 28 matches. But Melbourne regained control once back to a full complement, with Faalogo and Tuimalatu-Brown both adding tries before Mam scored a consolation effort.

Faalogo completed his hat-trick late, giving Melbourne a sixth consecutive win over Brisbane by 40 or more points. The new kickoff rules, meanwhile, proved more a tactical curiosity than a revolution, with Melbourne using them effectively while down a man to halt Brisbane’s momentum.

Manly Sea Eagles 44 – 10 St George Illawarra Dragons

Manly turned Brookvale Oval into a procession, dismantling St George Illawarra 44-10 after dominating possession and repeatedly punishing the Dragons’ errors.

Lehi Hopoate opened the scoring after a clever pass from Clayton Faulalo, before Jamal Fogarty’s kicking game became a major weapon. Two near-identical attacking kicks found Jason Saab, who crossed twice.

The Sea Eagles continued to exploit the Dragons’ left edge, with Reuben Garrick scoring in what was his farewell to Brookvale Oval. Tom Trbojevic then powered through Moses Suli before the hosts added two more tries early in the second half through Josh Feledy and Faulalo.

Haumole Olakau’atu took Manly beyond 40 before St George finally found some life through Loko Pasifiki-Tonga and Savelio, but the contest had long since been decided. Hopoate added his second late as Manly finished with nine tries.

The Dragons did have a brief moment of celebration when Connor Muhleisen appeared to score on his return from an ACL injury, only for the Bunker to rule Ryan Couchman offside.

Penrith Panthers 24 – 10 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Penrith produced the kind of performance that can be particularly valuable heading into September: controlled, disciplined and defensively relentless.

Nathan Cleary was central to the Panthers’ 24-10 victory, linking with Dylan Edwards for Liam Martin’s opening try before repeatedly testing Connor Tracey with his kicking game.

The Bulldogs hit back through Matt Burton after Lachlan Galvin provided the ball, but Cleary’s penalty goal gave Penrith an 8-4 half-time lead.

Martin then pounced on another dropped Cleary bomb to score his second, before Cleary added two more penalty goals. Jacob Preston briefly gave Canterbury hope, but Penrith responded almost immediately, with Cleary switching the ball back to the left before Casey McLean sliced through the Bulldogs’ goal-line defence.

The Bulldogs never stopped competing, but Penrith’s ball control and defensive pressure ultimately proved too much.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 42 – 22 Gold Coast Titans

South Sydney are back in the finals for the first time in four years after an emotional 42-22 victory over the Titans on the Gold Coast.

Jai Arrow led the Rabbitohs out for his 99th appearance for the club, and Souths immediately gave him plenty to celebrate. Cameron Murray crossed inside three minutes before helping set up Keaon Koloamatangi and Euan Aitken.

Former Titan David Fifita then powered over against his old club before Murray added his second, giving South Sydney a commanding lead.

Gold Coast eventually responded through Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, while Oliver Pascoe and Siale Faeamani brought the Titans back to within 12 points early in the second half.

That was as close as they would get. Latrell Mitchell, returning from his first game since Magic Round, helped create the opportunity for Tallis Duncan to score, before Duncan crossed again late. Alex Johnston then put the finishing touches on a result which secured South Sydney’s finals place.

The Rabbitohs will now have the chance to push for a home elimination final when they face the Roosters next week.

Dolphins 26 – 12 Sydney Roosters

The Dolphins secured a top-four finish while simultaneously ending the Roosters’ hopes of winning the minor premiership with a 26-12 victory at Allianz Stadium.

Sydney started strongly, with James Tedesco combining with Robert Toia for an early try, but the Dolphins gradually wrestled control away from the home side.

Herbie Farnworth won an aerial contest with Tedesco to open the Dolphins’ account before Selwyn Cobbo crossed twice after the visitors had a try overturned by the Bunker. Max Plath then added another on the stroke of half-time to give the Dolphins a 20-6 lead.

Jeremy Marshall-King extended that advantage early in the second half, but the Roosters were handed an opportunity when Tom Flegler and Morgan Knowles were both sin-binned.

Salesi Foketi took advantage, and Sydney threatened to make the most of their numerical advantage. But a bizarre mistake from Hugo Savala, who lost the ball after linking with Tommy Talau, summed up the Roosters’ night.

They could not find another breakthrough, with the Dolphins holding on comfortably enough to secure their top-four position.

North Queensland Cowboys 24 – 10 Wests Tigers

There was little to admire from either side in Townsville as the Cowboys and Tigers combined for a messy contest featuring 16 penalties, 14 scrums and six set restarts.

North Queensland struck first through Tom Chester, but Jeral Skelton quickly answered for the Tigers after Jarome Luai’s grubber.

Scott Drinkwater added a penalty before the Tigers eventually turned an extraordinary period of pressure into points, with Junior Tupou finishing a move involving Samuela Fainu and Luai to give Wests a 10-8 half-time lead.

The Cowboys eventually found their attacking rhythm after the break. Heilum Luki charged onto a Tom Dearden pass before Jaxon Purdue scored after a Drinkwater kick bounced off the upright and into his hands.

Chester’s second try in the final minute completed the 24-10 victory.

The Cowboys have now secured their place in the finals, although this was hardly the performance to suggest they will be a major threat once they get there.

New Zealand Warriors 46 – 32 Newcastle Knights

The Warriors climbed back to first on the ladder after surviving a wild 46-32 contest against Newcastle in front of 23,976 fans at Go Media Stadium.

The Knights looked in complete control early, racing to a 14-0 lead through Fletcher Hunt, Francis Manuleleua and Jermaine McEwen. Their advantage was helped by Jacob Saifiti’s sending-off for a dangerous tackle on Luke Laulilii.

But Newcastle’s numerical advantage disappeared from the scoreboard as the Warriors fought back. Jacob Laban, Wayde Egan and Erin Clark all crossed to level the game before Demetric Vaimauga put the home side ahead.

Hunt’s second try gave Newcastle a 22-20 lead at half-time, but the Warriors took control after the break through Ali Leiataua and Adam Pompey.

Greg Marzhew then produced one of the afternoon’s strangest tries, kicking ahead and watching the ball rebound off Taine Tuaupiki’s head before regathering it. He crossed again minutes later to bring Newcastle within two.

The Warriors steadied through Alofiana Khan Pereira before Laban put the result beyond doubt with his second try late in the game.

It was chaotic, spiteful and almost entirely devoid of defence, but the result was all that mattered for the Warriors, who moved to the top of the live ladder.

Parramatta Eels 38 – 18 Cronulla Sharks

Parramatta delivered one of their best performances of the season to crush Cronulla 38-18 and, in the process, end the Sharks’ hopes of a top-four finish.

The Eels were dominant from the outset. Apa Twidle opened the scoring after Kitione Kautoga’s early break, before Brian Kelly set up Viliami Penisini for the second. A penalty goal from Mitchell Moses made it 14-0.

Even when Junior Paulo was sent to the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle, Parramatta remained in control. Sione Katoa eventually got Cronulla on the board, but Paulo returned to the field and immediately helped create a try for Moses.

Ronald Volkman then sliced through poor Sharks defence as Parramatta raced to a 26-6 advantage, with Nicho Hynes’ penalty making it 26-8 at half-time.

Cronulla briefly threatened a remarkable comeback after Blayke Brailey scored a bizarre try and Katoa crossed for his second, cutting the margin to eight.

But the Sharks’ hopes disappeared when Briton Hazelton was sin-binned. Paulo responded with a spectacular flick pass to put Tallyn Da Silva over, and Da Silva then scored again in the final minute from dummy-half.