2026 Ladder Predictions

[mozza91]

Roosters don't worry me in the slightest

Yeah I doubt they’ll improve much. DCE has played a year or 2 too long and bee sting head offers sfa in attack. They’ll run 5-8 and not offer anything in the finals as per usual.

 

[simmo1]

1. Broncos
2. Sharks
3. Warriors
4. Tigers
5. Rabbitohs
6. Titans
7. Roosters
8. Knights
9. Panthers
10. Dolphins
11. Cowboys
12. Bulldogs
13. Eels
14. Storm
15. Sea Eagles
16. Dragons
17. Raiders

 

[_snafu_]

1. Storm
2. Broncos
3. Panthers
4. Roosters
5. Sharks
6. Raiders
7. Warriors
8. Dolphins
9. Rabbitohs
10. Bulldogs
11. Sea Eagles
12. Knights
13. Cowboys
14. Eels
15. Dragons
16. Tigers
17. Titans

 

[Rhysa30]

1. Dolphins
2. Roosters
3. Warriors
4. Bulldogs

5. Sharks
6. Broncos
7. Raiders
8. Storm

9. Eels
10. Panthers
11. Rabbitohs
12. Tigers
13. Cowboys

14. Knights
15. Sea Eagles
16. Dragons
17. Titans

GF - Roosters v Dogs
Premiers - Roosters

 

[i0Nic]

1 Panthers
2 Roosters
3 Broncos
4 Storm
5 Dolphins
6 Raiders
7 Sharks
8 Bulldogs

9 Rabbitohs
10 Eels
11 Warriors
12 Dragons
13 Cowboys
14 Knights
15 Titans
16 Tigers
17 Sea Eagles

 

[Chimp]

I have put Dogs up there very tentatively. There is a part of me that is wondering what people are seeing in them, they fell off a cliff in a big way last year, I also wonder if Ciraldo has a bit of an issue with keeping his blokes up for it for an entire year.

Something that largely went under the radar last year, the first half of the year when the dogs were up the top of the ladder, their draw was incredibly favourable (their whole draw was pretty favourable really), but the first 16 rounds were;

Dragons
Titans
Eels (who were rank at this point)
Sharks
Knights
Bye
Rabbits
Broncos
Titans
Raiders
Roosters
Dolphins
Bye
Eels
Rabbits
Bye

They racked up the wins early, as they should have done. Once their byes were done, and they faced the better teams more often, and starting to get to the business end of the year when teams had found their form, the dogs faded away.

I can see them potentially struggling next year.

 

[Chins]

Something that largely went under the radar last year, the first half of the year when the dogs were up the top of the ladder, their draw was incredibly favourable (their whole draw was pretty favourable really), but the first 16 rounds were;

Dragons
Titans
Eels (who were rank at this point)
Sharks
Knights
Bye
Rabbits
Broncos
Titans
Raiders
Roosters
Dolphins
Bye
Eels
Rabbits
Bye

They racked up the wins early, as they should have done. Once their byes were done, and they faced the better teams more often, and starting to get to the business end of the year when teams had found their form, the dogs faded away.

I can see them potentially struggling next year.

Gus needs to go, can turn a club around but ends up getting in the way

 

[Ian Douglas]

Every time I tip the warriors to do well they struggle and let me down so I’ll tip them to at least finish in the bottom half.

im genuinely not excited about their team this season and would put them finishing 13th so watch them make the playoffs in true typical warriors style.

 

[wydtim]

Yeah I doubt they’ll improve much. DCE has played a year or 2 too long and bee sting head offers sfa in attack. They’ll run 5-8 and not offer anything in the finals as per usual.

What’s the actual theory behind that take? Last year was labelled a rebuild and we still made the top eight. We debuted some really good kids that are only getting better — our pack is young, mobile and still developing, and the spine is adding cohesion, not losing it.

 

[hindy111]

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.

On paper maybe. But Moses barely played. D.Brown was a passenger and didnt offer much.
So you have Pezet,Moses and TDS (who got a few mins off bench) added to squad. Its a new spine.

Ionghi,Riley both rookies who will improve. Along with some other young forwards who will also get better Big Sam,KK, Morretti and I reckon Doorey will suprise a few.

 

[James Rick]

Yeah I doubt they’ll improve much. DCE has played a year or 2 too long and bee sting head offers sfa in attack. They’ll run 5-8 and not offer anything in the finals as per usual.

Roosters are very much like the Sharks when it comes to their ability to beat mediocre to poor sides while struggling against the best sides, except they don't cop as much criticism for it.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Roosters are very much like the Sharks when it comes to their ability to beat mediocre to poor sides while struggling against the best sides, except they don't cop as much criticism for it.

Previously yes however they changed their gameplan fairly significantly last season and beat both Penrith and Storm, it was a lot looser though so they then lost to GC and Souths.

 

[Chins]

Previously yes however they changed their gameplan fairly significantly last season and beat both Penrith and Storm, it was a lot looser though so they then lost to GC and Souths.

They aren't a threat

 

[Valheru]

Roosters are very much like the Sharks when it comes to their ability to beat mediocre to poor sides while struggling against the best sides, except they don't cop as much criticism for it.

Well last year we were widely picked to miss the 8 or even finish bottom 4.

Previously yes however they changed their gameplan fairly significantly last season and beat both Penrith and Storm, it was a lot looser though so they then lost to GC and Souths.

We lost to both those teams in the first 5 rounds, it should not be overlooked how compromised the team was the first 6 weeks of the comp. We also lost to warriors, Wests and Parra as well as Dogs and Raiders after leading with 15 to go. That's 7 losses where at least 3-4 will be wins this year in similar circumstances.

They aren't a threat

Yes we know, you have gone out of your way to tell us 3+ times now. We get it.

 

[Chins]

Well last year we were widely picked to miss the 8 or even finish bottom 4.

We lost to both those teams in the first 5 rounds, it should not be overlooked how compromised the team was the first 6 weeks of the comp. We also lost to warriors, Wests and Parra as well as Dogs and Raiders after leading with 15 to go. That's 7 losses where at least 3-4 will be wins this year in similar circumstances.

Yes we know, you have gone out of your way to tell us 3+ times now. We get it.

Was all for you honey

 

[soc123_au]

Well last year we were widely picked to miss the 8 or even finish bottom 4.

We lost to both those teams in the first 5 rounds, it should not be overlooked how compromised the team was the first 6 weeks of the comp. We also lost to warriors, Wests and Parra as well as Dogs and Raiders after leading with 15 to go. That's 7 losses where at least 3-4 will be wins this year in similar circumstances.

Yes we know, you have gone out of your way to tell us 3+ times now. We get it.

Still no gears.

 

[Bazal]

Still no gears.

They need Brandon Smith back for that

 

[Vic Mackey]

We lost to both those teams in the first 5 rounds, it should not be overlooked how compromised the team was the first 6 weeks of the comp. We also lost to warriors, Wests and Parra as well as Dogs and Raiders after leading with 15 to go. That's 7 losses where at least 3-4 will be wins this year in similar circumstances.

TBF every team says this every year. Point to close losses and say they'll be better for them and win them this year. Ive seen both Panthers and Dragons fans reference their Roosters losses as ones theyd win this year.

 

[yobbo84]

I feel like Souths are in a weird situation, where on paper, we look really strong, as long as someone can step up and own that 7 jersey.

BUT

We haven't seen that "strong on paper" team in about 3 years, which is such a long period that I couldn't even really tell you if they're still actually good or not.

 

[James Rick]

Well last year we were widely picked to miss the 8 or even finish bottom 4.

Yes the Roosters rebuild has been quicker than most people anticipated. I even made a thread about the Roosters rebuild and how it's probably been the quickest rebuild seen in recent history.