The Bulldogs’ attack is back on track, while the Broncos missed a huge chance to finish top four and the Raiders are closing in on the minor premiership.
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Read on four our Power Rankings ahead of Round 22!
1. CANBERRA RAIDERS (ladder: 1)
Last week’s rank: (1st no movement)
Analysis: The Raiders have won the most games this season with 16, including the last nine in a row, with their 44-18 win over the Knights meaning they have one hand on the minor premiership with six rounds to play. The only knock on the Raiders is that they have had an easier fixtures list at times, but you can only beat who is in front of you and they have proven themselves the most consistent team in 2025. Whether their young guns can get it done in the pressure-cooker of finals remains to be seen, but they are deserved leaders of the power rankings.
2. PENRITH PANTHERS (ladder: 5)
Last week’s rank: (3rd up one spot)
Analysis: The Panthers were in last place early in the season, but they are well and truly back on track in their title defence after their seventh straight win. The Panthers’ 36-2 win over the Tigers showed how good Penrith can be at full strength after Liam Martin’s return. The Panthers next face the Titans as they push for a top four finish, but even if they fall short, given they have won four straight titles, no one will want to face them come finals time.
3. MELBOURNE STORM (ladder: 3)
Last week’s rank: (2nd down one spot)
Analysis: However, the loss of Jahrome Hughes in their 34-30 win over the Roosters will test their depth and they need their No.7 back to go all the way. The Storm have been unusually inconsistent in 2025, but they remain premiership favourites given their experience and class across the paddock. A clash with their bogey side the Eels this week will be crucial as they aim to cement their top four spot. Provided they can get to the finals in good shape physically, the Storm have the most class players to go all the way, but they would like a top two finish and a home final in week one.
Dogs maul Manly! Move into 2nd place | 02:43
4. CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (ladder: 2)
Last week’s rank: (5th up one spot)
Analysis: The Bulldogs finally found their mojo in attack in a convincing 42-4 win over Manly that cemented their top two spot and kept the pressure on the Raiders for the minor premiership. The Bulldogs are one of the best defensive teams in the NRL and deserve to finish in the top four. But the mid-season signing of Lachlan Galvin and his rise to halfback resulted in some growing pains for the team, but there are signs they are coming out of that a more dangerous attacking side. The Bulldogs face the Tigers next up in a grudge match between Galvin and his old side and a fourth win in a row will put the competition on notice that they can go all the way.
5. BRISBANE BRONCOS (ladder: 6)
Last week’s rank: (4th down one spot)
Analysis: The Broncos missed a golden chance to keep their top four lives with their 22-20 upset loss to the Eels. Michael Maguire finally has his first choice spine available with Ben Hunt returning from injury to join Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in arguably the best spine in the NRL on paper. But the Broncos are experiencing some growing pains and there is an argument they have too many creative players overplaying their hand. The Broncos next face the Rabbitohs which could help their points differential and get their attack clicking, but their big test will be playing the Storm twice in the final month of the regular season, which will show where their title credentials are at.
6. CRONULLA SHARKS (ladder: 7)
Last week’s rank: (7th up one spot)
Analysis: After a mid-season slump the Sharks have now won three straight after their 14-12 victory over the Rabbitohs. It might not have been their best performance, but the Sharks now have their destiny in their own hands. They next face the struggling Cowboys amid a soft draw in the final six weeks and they look to be timing their run well. With Nicho Hynes finding form in the halves and Addin Fonua-Blake leading the charge up front, the Sharks are still a smokey for the title. Craig Fitzgibbon knows what it takes to win and he will have his team ready to give it a shake come September if they can get there.
7. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (ladder: 4)
Last week’s rank: (6th down one spot)
Analysis: The Warriors had their worst game of the season in a 24-16 loss to the Titans, that could place their top four spot in jeopardy. The Warriors are one of only four teams to win 12 games this season and they deserve their top four spot, but the loss of their halfback Luke Metcalf for the season has thrown their title credentials into doubt. Tanah Boyd has been solid but struggled against his old club and there are doubts he is the man to take them where they want to go. The Warriors face a huge test against the in form Dolphins next up, but they have a soft draw in the remaining six weeks, which should see them finish in the top four. However, bigger battles await in the finals and it remains to be seen if they have the class in the halves to match the elite teams come finals time.
Seibold on extent of Olakau’atu injury | 05:51
8. DOLPHINS (ladder: 8)
Last week’s rank: (8th no movement)
Analysis: The Dolphins move into the top eight on the back of their Round 21 bye. Their massive positive points differential of plus 169 means they can beat multiple teams to a maiden finals berth if they can just keep winning starting with a huge clash against the vulnerable Warriors next up. In Isaiya Katoa and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the Dolphins have two of the best attacking weapons in the game and they will be a nightmare opposition to face if they sneak into the finals. Their Round 23 clash with the Roosters could decide which of the two teams miss out on the finals.
9. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (ladder: 10)
Last week’s rank: (10th up one spot)
Analysis: The Roosters pushed the Storm all the way but ultimately fell short 34-30 to slump to their second straight loss. The Roosters are right in the finals mix, but their poor points differential compared to the Dolphins will make it hard for them to crack the top eight. James Tedesco is on track to win the Dally M Medal and Sam Walker is back from injury, so the Roosters have the class to not only make the finals, but do some damage if they get there. But a tough run home that sees them play the Storm twice and the Bulldogs which could mean they have left their run too late. And Souths will be targeting their last round fixture like a grand final after their horror year.
10. MANLY SEA EAGLES (ladder: 9)
Last week’s rank: (9th down one spot)
Analysis: Manly came crashing back to earth after their win over the Storm with a convincing 42-4 loss to the Bulldogs. Compounding the loss was a season ending shoulder injury to Haumole Olakau’atu and a tough run home will make it hard for them to get back in the top eight. Any team with Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic in it will be hard to handle come finals time, but the challenge will be getting there. Manly face the Roosters and Raiders in the next fortnight and unless they win both it could be lights out for their finals hopes.
Ciro rips Xerri after bold Dogs display! | 05:40
11. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (ladder: 11)
Last week’s rank: (13th up two spots)
Analysis: The Cowboys kept their slim finals hopes alive with a 38-32 win over the Dragons. However, Todd Payten’s side have the worst defence in the NRL with a points differential of minus 157, which will make it virtually impossible for them to jump their fellow top eight contenders over the last six weeks. With a tough away clash against the in form Sharks next up things are likely to get worse before they get better amid a tough list of fixtures to finish the season. Payten is under pressure and fighting for his job and Tom Dearden can’t do everything for the side, who just don’t seem like they want to tackle.
12. PARRAMATTA EELS (ladder: 14)
Last week’s rank: (14th up two spots)
Analysis: The Eels upset win over the Broncos left them thinking what might have been if Mitchell Moses didn’t miss most of the season through injury. Moses was at his brilliant best, while Dean Hawkins combined well at five-eighth and Joash Papalii was strong after filling in for star fullback Isaiah Iongi. Jason Ryles deserves plenty of credit for not being afraid to make the tough decisions like dropping Knights bound playmaker Dylan Brown. The Eels face a huge clash against the Storm who beat them in Round 1 56-18 in what will be a good marker for how much they have improved this season and they can certainly win their fair share of games in the finals six weeks with Moses back on deck.
13. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (ladder: 12)
Last week’s rank: (12th down one spot)
Analysis: The Dragons were brave in their 38-32 loss to the Cowboys, but their defence wasn’t up to standard to win in the NRL. The Dragons have been competitive this season, but a mixture of a horror casualty ward and a lack of class players in key positions is likely to see them fade out late in the year. The loss of Jaydn Su’A to a knee injury will further test their dwindling forwards depth and it appears a long season has caught up with them. With a tough list of remaining fixtures starting with the ladder leading Raiders next up, the Dragons are not out of the woods for the wooden spoon. The main issue for the club is their penchant for losing tight games.
‘I actually agreed with the bunker’ | 09:21
14. WESTS TIGERS (ladder: 13)
Last week’s rank: (11th down three spots)
Analysis: The Tigers came crashing back to earth with a thud after their 36-2 loss to the Panthers which showed just how far they have to go as a club. However, the Tigers can still finish the season on a high, albeit without breaking their finals drought. It has been a tumultuous year for the Tigers with two of their best young players in Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva moving on, but they are much improved from the team that won three straight wooden spoons and avoiding the bottom four will be a win this season, given where they have come from. A clash with the Bulldogs before their final bye will be tough, but the Tigers can jag enough wins on the way home to avoid the wooden spoon and push out of the bottom four if they are good enough.
15. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (ladder: 15)
Last week’s rank: (15th no movement)
Analysis: The Knights were right in it with the Raiders at 18-18, before a second half fade-out saw them go down 44-18. Newcastle have now lost their last four straight and face the Panthers after their final bye in Round 22. Kalyn Ponga has committed himself to the club, but won’t play again until 2026, while the club have struggled in the halves for some time. But $13 million recruit Dylan Brown turned down the chance to join the club sooner, despite being dropped by the Eels. Given the players they have out, the Knights are a real chance of winning the spoon and Adam O’Brien is under pressure to keep his job beyond this season.
Ricky questioned on second half momentum | 08:52
16. GOLD COAST TITANS (ladder: 16)
Last week’s rank: (17th up one spot)
Analysis: Des Hasler can breathe a sigh of relief. For a few days, anyway. The Titans secured what was a shock upset victory over the Warriors on their home turf, helping Hasler celebrate his 500th game as an NRL coach in style. How much longer he remains at the helm is still up in the air, however the Gold Coast rose off the bottom of the ladder with their win over New Zealand. The Titans remain the leading candidates to win the wooden spoon and they face a tough run of fixtures. They host the Panthers in Round 22, the Rabbitohs the following week and the Sharks after that. Throw in the mix the Warriors and the Dolphins, and the Gold Coast will need to replicate their Round 21 exploits if they want to come away with more than one victory.
17. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (ladder: 17)
Last week’s rank: (16th down one spot)
Analysis: The Rabbitohs fought valiantly against the Sharks in Round 21, but once again they couldn’t get the job done. Souths’ injury crisis is mountain and Wayne Bennett has been battling without the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Campbell Graham and Cameron Murray. But now South Sydney are sitting at the bottom of the ladder after the Titans secured a shock win over the Warriors. What’s more is the Rabbitohs now face a brutal test against the Broncos before they can get a gauge on exactly how they are tracking with clashes with the Titans and Eels, the teams that sit above them on the ladder alongside the Knights. These clashes will prove crucial in Bennett’s bid to avoid a first wooden spoon in his return to Souths.
