The 2026 NRL season is days away from beginning as 16 teams look to dethrone the reigning premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. Kicking off in Las Vegas, the opening round will be played across two weekends, as fans get to watch their teams after a short hiatus.
2026 NRL Season Preview
Brisbane Broncos
Securing their first NRL premiership last year since 2006, the Brisbane Broncos will look to make it back-to-back titles in 2026 and enter the season as clear favourites. They have also not lost any of their stars from last year and have only lost Kobe Hetherington and Tyson Smoothy from their grand final squad.
Best Now 2026 PREMIERSHIP WINNER - BRISBANE BRONCOS @ $5.50Canberra Raiders
After one of their best seasons in recent memory, the Canberra Raiders claimed the minor premiership in 2025, finishing on top of the NRL ladder. However, expect a different result from them this time around. They have not only lost a crucial piece of their spine in Jamal Fogarty, but every other club knows what to expect from them.
Best Now 2026 MISS TOP 8 - CANBERRA RAIDERS @ $2.00Canterbury Bulldogs
Going out in straight-sets during the 2025 NRL Finals, the Bulldogs will look to get back to the winning column and will be eager for another top-four finish. The arrival of Leo Thompson boots their forward pack, while the halves combination of Matt Burton and Lachlan Galvin have more experience under their belt after the latter joined mid-season last year.
Best Now 2026 TOP 4 FINISH - CANTERBURY BULLDOGS @ $3.20Cronulla Sharks
2026 is the last hurrah for the Cronulla Sharks. In the past two seasons, the Sharks have bowed out in the preliminary finals to the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm. Could this season be their year? While the club haven’t signed anyone new, they haven’t lost anyone either and will rely heavily on the halves pairing of Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes.
Best Now 2026 PREMIERSHIP WINNER - CRONULLA SHARKS @ $21.00Gold Coast Titans
Despite finishing near the bottom of the ladder in 2025, the Gold Coast Titans enter a new era under head coach Josh Hannay this season. Recruiting some new players while losing others, the Titans are one of the favourites to improve and showed plenty of promise during the two trial matches in the pre-season.
Best Now 2026 MOST IMPROVED TEAM - GOLD COAST TITANS @ $6.50Manly Sea Eagles
Entering into a new era this season without their longest-serving player, Daly Cherry-Evans, multiple critics and pundits around the rugby league scene believe that the Sea Eagles will end up in last place. While Jamal Fogarty has joined the side on a three-year deal from the Raiders, their squad is made up of inexperienced members and ageing veterans such as Jake Trbojevic who are coming close to the end of their careers.
Best Now 2026 LEAST WINS - MANLY SEA EAGLES @ $11.00Melbourne Storm
Once again, the Melbourne Storm are one of the top threats to claim the NRL premiership alongside the Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers. It’s hard to go past them, making yet another grand final after back-to-back appearances.
Best Now TO MAKE GRAND FINAL 2026 - MELBOURNE STORM @ $3.50Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights finished with the wooden spoon in 2025, and it’s hard to see them rising too far up the ladder despite the coaching appointment of Justin Holbrook and the signing of international playmaker Dylan Brown on a $13 million contract. However, there is still the looming question mark over their forward pack, especially with the loss of Leo Thompson.
Best Now 2026 LEAST WINS - NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS @ $5.00New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors were on track to make the top-four last season before star duo Luke Metcalfe and Mitchell Barnett went down with season-ending ACL injuries. Still making the top eight, the duo’s return could see the Warriors finish as high as the top four in 2026.
Best Now 2026 TOP 4 FINISH - NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS @ $8.00North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys head coach Todd Payten is under immense pressure this season and is fighting for his job. Don’t be surprised if he becomes the latest NRL coach to part ways with his duties as the Cowboys fail to play in the finals series once again.
Best Now 2026 MISS TOP 8 - NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS @ $1.33Parramatta Eels
Two years ago, the Parramatta Eels were fighting it out to not finish on the bottom of the ladder. However, they have since emerged as a totally different outfit since the arrival of Jason Ryes as head coach. If Mitch Moses can stay fit and healthy for the majority of the season, don’t be surprised to see them back in the finals picture.
Best Now 2026 TOP 8 FINISH - PARRAMATTA EELS @ $1.91Penrith Panthers
After missing out on the NRL Grand Final last year for the first time in six years, the Penrith Panthers are eager to get back to their winning ways. Not only have they not lost any superstars like they have continually done in recent seasons but they have recruited Jack Cogger from the Knights and five members of the New Zealand Warriors squad that won the 2025 NSW Cup and State Championship titles.
Best Now 2026 PREMIERSHIP WINNER - PENRITH PANTHERS @ $6.00South Sydney Rabbitohs
After struggling over the course of the past several seasons, the Rabbitohs could finally be on the up in 2026 and have decided to move Latrell Mitchell from fullback to the centres as well as signing back-rower David Fifita. One of the best team’s on paper, the only question is if all their stars can remain fit and healthy.
Best Now 2026 PREMIERSHIP WINNER - SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS @ $21.00St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons had some strong showings last season under Shane Flanagan as coach, but instead of going forward, it is highly likely that they go backwards instead. There are several question marks surrounding their halves as Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson are yet to prove themselves at the highest level.
Best Now DRAGONS EXACT FINISHING POSITION - 17TH @ $5.00Sydney Roosters
In his first full season of rugby league, Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase claimed the prestigious Ken Irvine Award for most tries in the regular season. Now, the cross-code star will look to continue his form this season before jumping codes back to the 15-man game.
Best Now 2026 TOP TRYSCORER - MARK NAWAQANITAWASE @ $7.00The Dolphins
There is no doubting that the Dolphins are one of the favourites to win the 2026 NRL competition. However, away from this market, a close eye should be kept on star international fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Able to run rings around opposing defenders, Tabuai-Fidow has that X-factor that allows him to cross the try-line with ease week in, week out.
Best Now 2026 TOP TRYSCORER - HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW @ $12.00Wests Tigers
It feels like the Wests Tigers haven’t played in an NRL Finals in an eternity. Failing to make it into the top-eight for well over a decade, this year is the club’s best hope to make it to October. The signings of Bunty Afoa and Kai Pearce-Paul add further depth to their forward stocks, while rookie centre Heamasi Makasini is a sight to behold in the back-line.
Best Now TOP 8 FINISH 2025 - WESTS TIGERS @ $3.40