W D Nicolson

2026 NRL Season Predictions: Top 8 and Premiers - NOT The Footy Show

2026-02-28T22:14:00.001+11:00

2026 NRL Season Predictions

By Warrick Nicolson. Published February 28, 2026.

NOT The Footy Show let you, and ourselves, down in 2025 no shows at all and on behalf of Robb Cox, I apologise. Are we finished? Never say never, but the stars just didn't align in 2025 to allow us to give it our best shot at producing shows.

I did manage to get out a full set of written predictions, and finished with 6 of 8 teams who played Finals correct, but gee I got some wrong.

The Warriors put egg on my face by finishing 5th after I had them with Wooden Spoon, and conversely my faith in Manly (picked to be 3rd and finishing 10th), the Gold Coast (picked to be 10th but finished 16th) and Newcastle (picked to be 9th and getting the Spoon) was misplaced. Whilst I had Redcliffe getting the 8th spot ahead of Easts in 10th, they practically swapped places finishing 9th and and 8th respectively.

I also had Melbourne v Manly in the decider, but at least I picked Melbourne (who ended up runner's up) to win the thing... Brisbane who I had in 4th was actually right on the money for placing, but I didn't think they'd get near a Premiership.

And boy was I wrong.

To 2026... and the dart throws continue.

Here they are, Warrick Nicolson's 2026 NRL Predictions.

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!

Thanks for reading and good luck to your team in 2026.

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2025 NRL Season Predictions - Top 8 and Premiers - from NOT The Footy Show

2025-03-02T10:25:00.001+11:00

2025 NRL Season Predictions

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Published March 2, 2025.

NOT The Footy Show might be back in early March for a 2025 NRL Season preview (after Vegas games) but given our last Podcast was in July 2024... you may need to settle for another written set of NRL predictions.

When Robb Cox provides his 1-17 finishing positions for the upcoming NRL Season they will be added, but you do get Warrick Nicolson's below.

We said this last March but at this time of year, you build the predicted season ladder based on 60% last year's form, plus 40% gut feel to get the 1-17 Ladder - it's truly just guesswork.

Warrick Nicolson's 2025 NRL Predictions

True Contenders

1. Melbourne Storm - MP

2. Penrith Panthers

Should Play Finals

3. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

4. Brisbane Broncos

5. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Not Confident They Will

6. Canberra Raiders

7. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

8. Redcliffe Dolphins

Missing the Cut

9. Newcastle Knights

10. Sydney Roosters

11. Gold Coast Titans

Next Rung Of Mediocrity

12. Parramatta Eels

13. North Queensland Cowboys

14. Wests Tigers

15. St George-Illawarra Dragons

2025 Spoon Bowl

16. South Sydney Rabbitohs

17. New Zealand Warriors

2025 Regular Season Awards:

Dally M: Tom Trbojevic

Tryscorer: William Warbrick, and whichever Manly winger plays the most games.

Pointscorer: Reuben Garrick

State of Origin - NSW 2-1... again 🥳

2025 NRL Grand Final: Melbourne v Manly

2025 PREMIERS: Melbourne

Clive Churchill Medal: Jahrome Hughes

I think the Storm have the most game breakers in the one side now Luai has moved to the Tigers from Penrith. Manly are my Cinderella team who put Penrith's quest for 5 in a row to the sword in the Prelim.

Thanks for reading and good luck to your team in 2025.

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We are aiming to be back for at least a few shows in 2025 - so please subscribe so you are ready.

Enjoy great moments from the Winfield Cup Era (1982-95)

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NOT The Footy Show Episode 296: NSW conquer the QLD myth

2024-07-18T17:34:00.003+10:00

NOT The Footy Show - Episode 296

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Published July 18, 2023

Join Robb Cox and Warrick Nicolson for Episode 296 of NOT The Footy Show as they bathe in the glory of a well-earned, and quite brilliant, 2024 State of Origin Series victory by New South Wales.

Our first Podcast in four months was brought on by the Blues finding a way to comeback from 0-1 down in the Series after losing 38-10 at home... first they destroyed Billiam Slater's unbeatable QLDers 38-18 at the MCG in Game 2, and then won an outstanding game of Origin footy 14-4 at Lang Park in the decider.

Angus Crichton took out the Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the Series, but he was just one of a host of Blues who simply stuck it to QLD this year.

Thanks for listening everyone - please allow us to enjoy this one.

🔘 Download the mp3 version

🔘 Stream the New Podcast

🔘 Watch Episode 296 on YouTube

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