The Roosters have surged up our latest Power Rankings on the back of a dominant victory over the dangerous Dolphins while Penrith keep top spot after another outstanding performance.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >
Read on for our Power Rankings ahead of Round 24!
1. PENRITH PANTHERS (ladder: 4)
Last week’s rank: 1st, no movement
Analysis: The premiers’ extraordinary revival continues. The 48-12 victory over the Knights on Friday night was their ninth on the trot. With the Warriors losing to the Bulldogs on Saturday night, the Panthers have remarkably now moved into the top four, after they were last after 12 rounds. They’re five points behind third-placed Canterbury. With only four rounds remaining, it’s probably unrealistic to think they could finish any higher than fourth, so their focus should be on maintaining their position. They’ll take on the Storm in a blockbuster on Thursday night at CommBank Stadium, which could be a grand final preview. The Panthers topped our Power Rankings last week, and having thrashed Newcastle by 36 points, there’s no reason to move them down.
2. CANBERRA RAIDERS (ladder: 1)
Last week’s rank: 2nd, no movement
Analysis: They weren’t convincing in the first half but this team’s class shone through in the second forty, outscoring Manly 18-6 after the break to race away for a 28-12 win. Well placed with a bye this weekend and if the second-placed Storm lose to the Panthers and the third-placed Bulldogs hiccup against the Roosters, which are both well in the realm of possibility, Canberra will essentially secure their second ever minor premiership.
3. MELBOURNE STORM (ladder: 2)
Last week’s rank: 3rd, no movement
Analysis: The real Storm stood up on Thursday night. There have been some question marks over Melbourne’s defence at times this season, but they shut the doubters up with a trademark stout defensive showing in the win over the Broncos, holding their opposition to just two points. Next up, a mouth-watering clash with Penrith awaits and a loss in the grand final rematch would all but end their minor premiership hopes.
4. CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (ladder: 3)
Last week’s rank: 5th, up one spot
Analysis: The Bulldogs were back to their best against the Warriors, and silenced any criticism of their ability to perform in wet conditions, having suffered losses to the Broncos, Dolphins and Tigers in the rain earlier in the season. The 32-14 victory was huge in the context of their ladder position, which is third. It gives the Bulldogs a six-point buffer on the fifth-placed Warriors, and they maintain a five-point advantage over the fourth-placed Panthers. It’s now highly unlikely they will finish any lower than third. But they face a tricky test against the Roosters on Friday night at Allianz Stadium, given the Tricolours put 64 on the Dolphins on Saturday night.
5. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (ladder: 9)
Last week’s rank: 9th, up four spots
Analysis: The Roosters destroyed the Dolphins 64-12 in an 11-try demolition, to follow up their victory over Manly in Round 22. The Roosters’ backs had a night out, with Mark Nawaqanitawase bagging a hat-trick, and Daniel Tupou and James Tedesco both scoring doubles. The huge 52-point win over the Dolphins was crucial, both in terms of competition points and differential. The Roosters are now sitting in ninth position on 26 competition points, but they’re only outside the eight on for and against. They’ll next take on the Bulldogs in a blockbuster at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, and a win is crucial for their top eight hopes.
MORE NRL NEWS
TALKING POINTS: ‘Huge risk’ Broncos’ move; ‘ridiculous’ Dogs act as hoax exposed
TEAM TIPS: Madge’s solution to halves crisis; Ciraldo reveal after Dogs axing
CRAWLS: Karma bites cocky Broncos; how Roosters could hatch DCE exit plot
Roosters prepared for vital Dogs clash | 02:00
6. BRISBANE BRONCOS (ladder: 6)
Last week’s rank: 4th, down two spots
Analysis: The Broncos had a nightmare visit to Melbourne on Thursday night. They suffered a 22-2 defeat to the Storm, and it came at a huge cost, losing Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo all to hamstring injuries. Reynolds will be sidelined for four weeks, while Mam and Cobbo, whose injuries are more severe, will miss six or more weeks. Providing the Broncos with a silver lining is that they will next take on the Dolphins on Saturday evening. With the Dolphins coming off a humiliating defeat to the Roosters, and seemingly down on confidence, it presents the Broncos with a very winnable game, even with all their injuries.
7. CRONULLA SHARKS (ladder: 7)
Last week’s rank: 6th, down one spot
Analysis: The Sharks’ 22-14 defeat to the Dragons was a tough pill to swallow, on two fronts. Not only did Cronulla lose to their arch rivals in a game they were favourites to win, but the loss is also a blow to their top eight hopes. The Sharks are in seventh spot at the moment, but the Dolphins (8th) and Roosters (9th) are only one win behind them. Cronulla will next host the Titans on Saturday afternoon, and it’s a game they simply can’t afford to lose.
8. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (ladder: 5)
Last week’s rank: 8th, no movement
Analysis: The Warriors copped a 32-14 hiding at the hands of the Bulldogs on Saturday night. It was their third straight loss, an alarming slide that has now seen them slip out of the top four. To be fair to the Warriors, Canterbury are the best defensive team in the competition, but it will be a concern that their attack only produced two tries, one that came from a kick and the other from an intercept. Their game against the Dragons in Auckland on Friday night is a must-win one.
9. DOLPHINS (ladder: 8)
Last week’s rank: 7th, down two spots
Analysis: Suffered an embarrassing 64-12 loss to the Roosters on Saturday night, conceding a staggering 11 tries. Their horror performance seemed to come out of nowhere, having won their previous two games. They’ll be hoping that massive defeat was just a glitch. The Dolphins will take on a seriously understrength Broncos side this Saturday evening, presenting them with an opportunity to bounce back and consolidate their spot in the top eight.
10. ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (ladder: 11)
Last week’s rank: 12th, up two spots
Analysis: May be a controversial one to put them above Manly, but in all seriousness, we think teams would rather face the Sea Eagles at the moment than the Dragons. Shane Flanagan has got his team firing over the past fortnight, where they’ve defeated top eight sides the Sharks and the Raiders. In fact, beside the Raiders and Broncos, no team has won more games against top eight sides in 2025 than the Red V. Moreover, the Dragons are the only team in the comp to beat the Raiders since May 10 (three months!).
‘Question marks’ over Jurbo’s future | 01:35
11. MANLY SEA EAGLES (ladder: 10)
Last week’s rank: 10th, down one spot
Analysis: Their 28-12 loss to the Raiders was their third straight defeat, with Manly’s finals hopes quickly slipping away. They’ve dropped below the Dragons on these rankings in part because St. George were able to beat the Raiders a fortnight ago. The Sea Eagles sit in 10th spot at the moment on 24 competition points, which is two behind the Dolphins (8th) and Roosters (9th) who are on 26 points. But Manly (-10) have a heavily inferior differential to both those teams (Dolphins +119, Roosters +72). It means a win over the Tigers at Allianz Stadium on Sunday is essential. It’s not a stretch to say their season is all but gone if they lose to the Tigers.
12. WESTS TIGERS (ladder: 12)
Last week’s rank: 11th, down one spot
Analysis: The Tigers resume this weekend fresh off a bye and with the chance to end the Sea Eagles’ finals hopes when the two teams meet on Sunday. The Tigers themselves aren’t out of contention yet, but they’ll need to win all four games and hope some other results fall their way to be any chance of earning an unlikely top eight spot. Even with all the controversy, you’d have to say it’s been a good year for the Tigers, who have already won two more games than last season’s wooden spoon campaign.
13. PARRAMATTA EELS (ladder: 13)
Last week’s rank: 13th, no movement
Analysis: Eeked out a close albeit controversial win over the Cowboys last week, continuing their decent run of form since Mitch Moses returned to the line up. This year will be the third straight season they miss out on the finals, but coach Jason Ryles has to be happy with the progress his side have made and will be hoping his team can finish strongly and play spoiler. They will be heavily favoured this weekend as a clash with the Rabbitohs awaits, their chance to win their third game from their last four.
14. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (ladder: 14)
Last week’s rank: 14th, no movement
Analysis: They’ve been so disappointing this season. The Cowboys have had injuries to some key players but even still, there’s just no way a team this talented team should be so low on the ladder. There were some positive signs against the Eels when fighting back from ten points down, but ultimately, fell short again. The Cowboys are only three points above the last-placed Titans, but the fact they have a Round 27 bye means they are probably safe from collecting the wooden spoon although it’s not an impossibility. Todd Payten has three games to save his season, but reports suggest that his days are already numbered. If they lose to the struggling Knights at home, he could be gone even sooner.
Hess suspended for the remainder of 2025 | 00:37
15. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (ladder: 15)
Last week’s rank: 15th, no movement
Analysis: The Knights hardly fired a shot in a nasty 48-12 loss to the Panthers. The reigning premiers are on fire at present, and Newcastle were no match for a side surging up the ladder. Newcastle welcomed Bradman Best back into their backline but are still missing key players Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Hunt and Dylan Lucas. Adam O’Brien’s outfit sit equal with the Rabbitohs two points clear of the Titans, with both Newcastle and the Gold Coast having enjoyed all three byes so far. The Knights, however, have arguably the toughest run home of the spoon contenders and face the Cowboys, Broncos, Sharks and then the Eels to round out their season. Should O’Brien’s outfit struggle to secure a win to close out the season, they face the prospect of being leapfrogged by two teams who are desperate to avoid the spoon
16. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (ladder: 16)
Last week’s rank: 17th, up one spot
Analysis: A huge win for the Rabbitohs in Round 23 gave Wayne Bennett’s side breathing space in the race to avoid the wooden spoon. After beating the Titans in a tight affair, they now have two wins on their rivals with a bye in hand. South Sydney’s injury crisis also eased with Latrell Mitchell returning in a huge boost, while Brandon Smith also rejoined the side off the pine after an MCL injury lay-off. Bennett is now a strong chance of avoiding the first wooden spoon of his impressive coaching career and further troops will return this season and only boost the Rabbitohs’ chances of making a late season surge. Souths will be desperate to notch up another win against the Eels in Round 24 before they face the resurgent Dragons and the Roosters to finish their season.
17. GOLD COAST TITANS (ladder: 17)
Last week’s rank: 16th, down one spot
Analysis: The Titans have slumped to the bottom of this week’s power rankings after suffering a loss to the Rabbitohs. That defeat serves as a big blow in the race to avoid the wooden spoon, with South Sydney now holding a two-win buffer on the struggling Gold Coast side with their bye in hand, despite the difference only being two points. The Knights also sit only two points ahead of the Gold Coast. Their latest loss was a disappointing result, considering the positive signs Des Hasler’s side showed in their previous two outings. A win against the Warriors looked like a turning of the tides before the Gold Coast took the Panthers to golden point and arguably were hampered by the controversial moment with Penrith trainer Corey Bocking. Hasler’s side now are the frontrunners to win the wooden spoon but could still notch up a few victories in their upcoming clashes with the Sharks, Warriors, Dolphins and Tigers
Discussion about this post