Rugby league fans, the wait is nearly over. After one of the most tightly contested seasons in years, the Top 8 has been locked in and the race for the Telstra Premiership is about to enter its most intense stage.
The 2026 NRL Finals Series is expected to begin on the weekend of 11–13 September, with four weeks of sudden-death football leading to the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, 4 October 2026 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Round 27 still has to be played, so the final ladder order — and with it the Week 1 matchups, venues and kick-off times — won’t be confirmed until the regular season wraps up. But one thing is already certain: eight teams head into September with a genuine shot at premiership glory, and every game from here matters.
With big screens, cold drinks and a proper footy atmosphere, the Prince of Wales Hotel Ipswich is the place to catch the biggest moments of the NRL Finals.
2026 NRL Finals Schedule
All times below are AEST — Queensland time — and are subject to confirmation by the NRL after Round 27.
Finals Week 1
The opening weekend features two Qualifying Finals between the Top 4 and two Elimination Finals for the teams finishing fifth through eighth.
| Game | Expected Date/Time (AEST) | Match | Venue |
| Qualifying Final 1 | Fri. 11 September, 7:50pm | 1st vs 4th | TBC |
| Elimination Final 1 | Sat. 12 September, 4:05pm | 6th vs 7th | TBC |
| Elimination Final 2 | Sat. 12 September, 7:50pm | 5th vs 8th | TBC |
| Qualifying Final 2 | Sun. 13 September, 4:05pm | 2nd vs 3rd | TBC |
These are the standard finals timeslots. The NRL allocates specific matches to specific days once the ladder is final, so the order above may change.
Finals Week 2 — Semi-Finals
The teams that lose their Qualifying Finals get a second chance. The Elimination Final winners keep their sudden-death campaigns alive.
| Game | Expected Date/Time (AEST) | Match | Venue |
| Semi-Final 1 | Sat. 19 September, 7:50pm | TBC | TBC |
| Semi-Final 2 | Sun. 20 September, 4:05pm | TBC | TBC |
Preliminary Finals
Only four teams remain.
| Game | Expected Date/Time (AEST) | Match | Venue |
| Preliminary Final 1 | Fri. 25 September, 7:50pm | TBC | TBC |
| Preliminary Final 2 | Sun. 27 September, 4:05pm | TBC | TBC |
The winners book their places in the biggest game of the Australian rugby league calendar.
NRL Grand Final 2026
| Date/Time | Match | Venue |
| Sun. 4 October, 6:30pm AEST (7:30pm AEDT in Sydney) | Winner PF1 vs Winner PF2 | Accor Stadium, Sydney |
A note on the time: daylight saving starts in New South Wales on Grand Final day, so Sydney will be an hour ahead of us. Kick-off is 7:30pm down there, which is 6:30pm here in Queensland. Every final before that is AEST in both states.
Who Has Made the 2026 NRL Finals?
The Top 8 is locked in, though the order is still up for grabs in Round 27. Here’s how the ladder sits heading into the final weekend:
- New Zealand Warriors
- Penrith Panthers
- Dolphins
- Sydney Roosters
- Cronulla Sharks
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Newcastle Knights
- North Queensland Cowboys
The Warriors, Panthers, Dolphins and Roosters have secured the Top 4 and the valuable double chance. Positions five through eight remain in play.
Warriors vs Panthers: Who Takes the Minor Premiership?
The fight for the JJ Giltinan Shield is going right down to the final round.
The Warriors and Panthers are level on 40 competition points, with the Warriors holding top spot by a single point of differential — the narrowest possible margin.
The Warriors are chasing only their second minor premiership, having previously finished first in 2002. The Panthers are after their fourth in seven seasons, and their first since 2023.
Both clubs face teams outside the Top 8 in Round 27, which means the shield could come down to who wins by more. The Warriors play first, so they’ll be looking to post a margin big enough to hold off Penrith.
Every point counts.
A Historic Finals Campaign for the Dolphins
Whatever happens from here, 2026 has already gone down as a landmark season for the Dolphins.
The Queensland club has secured its first-ever NRL Finals appearance, and it has done so inside the Top 4 — after finishing 13th, 10th and 9th in its first three seasons.
They’ve also arrived in form. A brutal 66-0 loss to Cronulla mid-season looked like it might derail them. Instead they finished the year strongly, capped by a statement 26-12 win over the Roosters in Round 26.
Now they have a double chance and a real opportunity to turn a historic first finals appearance into something much bigger.
Can the Roosters Bounce Back?
The Roosters are another side entering September with plenty to prove.
An eight-game winning streak carried the Tricolours to the top of the ladder before back-to-back losses — an upset against the Wests Tigers, then that defeat to the Dolphins — ended their minor premiership hopes.
Injuries have added another layer. Halfback Sam Walker is out of the finals after scans confirmed a high-grade syndesmosis injury requiring surgery, the second time in three years his season has ended early. Veteran Daly Cherry-Evans will take over the No.7 jersey, with Hugo Savala shifting into the halves alongside him.
There’s experience there. Whether it’s enough to rediscover the form of that eight-game run is the question.
From Wooden Spoon to Finals: The Knights
One of the stories of the season sits at seventh.
Newcastle finished last in 2025. In 2026 they’ve qualified for the finals, with a Round 27 bye guaranteeing the two points that locked their spot in.
It’s the kind of turnaround that reminds you why nobody writes anyone off in this competition.
The Sharks, Rabbitohs and Cowboys Are Ready
Outside the Top 4, the final weekend still matters enormously.
Cronulla, South Sydney and North Queensland have all secured their places, but their finishing positions determine the road ahead — and there’s a real difference between fifth and eighth, particularly when it comes to a home final.
For all four teams outside the Top 4, there is no margin for error.
Lose in Week 1 and the season is over.
Why Week 1 Is So Important
The beauty of the NRL finals system is the safety net it gives the Top 4.
The two Qualifying Final winners move straight through to the Preliminary Finals with a week off. The losers aren’t finished — they drop into a Semi-Final in Week 2.
For the teams finishing fifth through eighth, there’s no such luxury. Their first finals match is sudden death: fifth plays eighth, sixth plays seventh, and the losers go home.
That makes the opening weekend one of the most important rounds of the entire season.
The Road to the 2026 Grand Final
Eight teams become six. The Semi-Finals cut the field to four. The Preliminary Finals decide the two sides that walk out at Accor Stadium on Sunday, 4 October.
Only one finishes the season as the 2026 NRL Premiers.
Watch the NRL Finals at Prince of Wales Hotel Ipswich
From the first tackle of Week 1 to the final siren of the Grand Final, the NRL Finals are made for watching with mates.
At the Prince of Wales Hotel Ipswich, settle in with a cold drink and soak up the finals atmosphere as the competition builds towards its biggest games.
- Live and loud — every big moment on the screens
- Cold drinks and game-day specials — settle in with your mates
- All the finals drama — from the opening weekend through to Grand Final glory
Whether you’re backing the Warriors, Panthers, Dolphins, Roosters or one of the other four contenders, September is going to deliver.
Lock It In
- NRL Finals Week 1: from Friday, 11 September 2026
- Semi-Finals: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026
- Preliminary Finals: Friday 25 and Sunday 27 September 2026
- NRL Grand Final: Sunday, 4 October 2026, 6:30pm AEST
- Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
All finals dates and times are subject to NRL confirmation once Round 27 is complete.
Grab your mates, settle in at the Prince of Wales Hotel Ipswich, and get ready for four weeks of finals football.
The finals are coming — and every game counts.
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