2026 Ladder Predictions

[Chimp]

1. Panthers
2. Sharks
3. Roosters
4. Storm
5. Broncos
6. Parra
7. Dogs
8. Dolphins
9. Raiders
10. Tigers
11. Warriors
12. Souths
13. Cows
14. Knights
15. Titans
16. Manly
17. Dragons

I think the league can be broken into 3 groups this year based on the above;

Top 5 - Could finish in any order, but I’ll be very suprised if this isn’t the top 5 teams, they’re head and shoulders above the rest.

Teams 6 to 11 - will be close between these lot, again could be in any order

12-17 - Any of them could end with the spoon.

 

[Valheru]

The above draw & injuries run the Raiders had gets you from 17th to 9th
8th to 1st maybe

not 17th to 1st

The Raiders performances in 2025 were outstanding surprising everyone including their own fans & they have pretty much the same squad for 2026

So if it surprised their own fans then it's reasonable to assume it utterly shocked everyone else ergo predicting them to be in the bottom part of the table wasn't an unreasonable position a year ago?

 

[mozza91]

All I know is the Knights will be undefeated premiers and Manly will get the spoon. The rest is anyone’s guess.

 

[Barney Stubble]

So if it surprised their own fans then it's reasonable to assume it utterly shocked everyone else ergo predicting them to be in the bottom part of the table wasn't an unreasonable position a year ago?

And the same clowns are making the same mistake ....knowing ...how well they went last year ,
that being my point !

 

[Bazal]

Unclear to me as an Eels fan why people are predicting us to improve at all tbh. Plenty of water to go under the bridge before kick off but right now we are a worse squad than last year IMO.

Our 1, 6 and 7 is very good if it can stay fit and if our pointless 12 month rental puts in. But our hooker stocks are dire...Smith is all effort, zero skill and at this stage TDS has promise but seems to be the reverse. Our backline is pretty terrible unless Penisini finds form, in which case him and JAC make it average with Kelly and Russell/Simonson plodding about.

Ryles hasn't really shown anything to suggest he'll be the difference maker either.

Some young players will improve but I reckon that's gonna be what keeps us around the same zone, certainly not top 8 material. What happens with the Lomax situation may change that, although Howarth or powderpuff Uto won't, and there's often random signings at this time of year too but unless something comes off there I don't see it.

 

[beave]

my mob finishing above the bottom 4 is over achieving.

I want that bald fraud coach launched into the sun by NLT origin 2.........

 

[kit66]

1. Broncos
2. Roosters
3. Melb
4. Sharks
5. Panthers
6. Canberra
7. Dolphins
8. Warriors
9. Bulldogs
10. Dragons
11. Tigers
12. Eels
13. Newcastle
14. Manly
15. Rabbits
16. Cowboys
17. Titans

 

[The Predictor]

Unclear to me as an Eels fan why people are predicting us to improve at all tbh. Plenty of water to go under the bridge before kick off but right now we are a worse squad than last year IMO.

Our 1, 6 and 7 is very good if it can stay fit and if our pointless 12 month rental puts in. But our hooker stocks are dire...Smith is all effort, zero skill and at this stage TDS has promise but seems to be the reverse. Our backline is pretty terrible unless Penisini finds form, in which case him and JAC make it average with Kelly and Russell/Simonson plodding about.

Ryles hasn't really shown anything to suggest he'll be the difference maker either.

Some young players will improve but I reckon that's gonna be what keeps us around the same zone, certainly not top 8 material. What happens with the Lomax situation may change that, although Howarth or powderpuff Uto won't, and there's often random signings at this time of year too but unless something comes off there I don't see it.

That’s the spirit 🫤 I can see why you haven’t come back over, always such a ray of sunshine ….enjoy

 

[Bazal]

That’s the spirit 🫤 I can see why you haven’t come back over, always such a ray of sunshine ….enjoy

Do you read that f**ken forum champ?

I'm positively glowing compared to most of the posters on there, still shitting on coaches long gone and and making up playground nicknames for everyone at the club.

To their credit there haven't been any death threats towards players since BA left. So that's an improvement