Can you believe that there’s just one weekend of football left in the 2025 NRL regular season?
Seven teams are assured of a spot in the finals while the Roosters, Dolphins and Sea Eagles (need a miracle) are fighting for eighth.
Even though several clubs will begin Mad Monday in just a few days time, there are still burning questions that each team faces heading into Round 27.
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Read on for every team’s burning question!
Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm, Thursday 7:50pm
Broncos burning question:Will the Broncos be able to cover the absence of Shibasaki?
With Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki stood down from the clash against the Storm due to disciplinary reasons, it means regular winger Deine Mariner will now move into the centres. According to NRL 360 hosts Braith Anasta and Gorden Tallis, it may not be a seamless transition for Mariner. “For the punter at home, the difference between defending in the centres to a winger is significant, it’s huge,” Anasta said this week. “You’ve got to make more decisions. You’re getting more thrown at you in defence in that position. A lot of wingers that do move into the centre struggle in defence because it is so different.” Tallis agreed with Anasta. “Well, defensively, he’s a winger so he’s going to get asked a lot of questions,” Tallis said of Mariner. “(Storm coach) Craig Bellamy would probably be licking his lips, just the way that they’re going to attack. I think (the Broncos) do lose a bit.”
Storm’s burning question: Can the Storm bounce back from last week’s horror second half?
Last week’s 40-10 loss to the Roosters was a jarring one from the perspective of Melbourne fans, especially on the eve of the finals. Most would have expected that in Craig Bellamy’s 600th game, the Storm would turn it on. They did initially, leading 10-0 at the half before conceding a point a minute after the break. It’s the type of performance seldom seen by a Bellamy-led side but a Storm legend isn’t too concerned. “I know they conceded 40 points in the second half but I’m going to say this, I’m not too worried. Yes, there’s moments in defence of poor decisions and lack of effort but go look at their first 40, it was brilliant,” Cooper Cronk said. The Storm rested a handful of key players, especially in the backline, and those omissions proved costly as the Roosters’ backs ran roughshod. In Cronk’s eyes, his former coach made a sacrifice for his milestone game but one that will probably benefit the Storm in the finals series. “Go look at the players he rested. It was selfless of him to rest them in game 600,” Cronk said. “He’s got a plan. He knows if he sticks to the plan they’re aiming for the grand final and I daresay this week against the Broncos, they will play their best football. I feel like Craig Bellamy took a hit for their team to set up what they wanted for September.”
DCE shuts down questions around future | 01:00
Manly Sea Eagles v New Zealand Warriors, Friday 6pm
Sea Eagles’ burning question:What can we expect from Joey Walsh?
Gun young half Joey Walsh will come off the bench in his debut NRL game. Walsh is only 19 years of age and has a rugby background. Walsh captained the Australian under 18s rugby union team back in 2023. He was also a Roosters league junior. The youngster, who is at the start of his career, will get the chance to play in the halves alongside a veteran who is nearing the end of his career, 36-year-old Daly Cherry-Evans. DCE will play his final game for the Sea Eagles. Manly coach Anthony Seibold said he was keen for Walsh to play with Cherry-Evans before the end of the season. “We will give him the back-end of the game,” Seibold told The Daily Telegraph. “It will give him an opportunity to play with ‘Chez’ in the halves.”
Warriors’ burning question:Are they to be given any chance in the finals?
You have to feel for the Warriors. They were travelling sweetly until a pair of stars in Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf suffered season-ending injuries. Now, Andrew Webster’s men look tired and seem like they’re limping to the finish line. They haven’t recorded a win over a top eight team in three months when beating Cronulla 40-10. Recent form suggests they can’t win the premiership and if you were a top eight team and had to pick your week 1 opponent, the Warriors would be the popular choice. This is still a team with ability all over the park, but it’s clear they are lacking genuine top end talent with Barnett and Metcalf out.
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs, Friday 8pm
Our bumper preview of the Roosters v Rabbitohs blockbuster will drop on Friday morning!
Walker opens up on Smith’s mindset | 00:58
St. George-Illawarra Dragons v Penrith Panthers, Saturday 3pm
Dragons’ burning question:Can they shirk off talk of player unrest?
Rumblings have emerged players at the Dragons aren’t happy with Shane Flanagan’s coaching this season. So with one game left of what has been a dire campaign, can the Red V finish on a high? “I’m sure we’re all hearing all the same rumblings about some players not being happy with him,” veteran reporter Andrew Webster said on NRL360. “I think he’s under pressure going into next year.” The reports come only weeks after Flanagan was handed a two-year contract extension, with his stay at the Dragons now set to come to an end after the 2028 season. As it stands, the Dragons sit in 15th place on the ladder and have won only eight games, despite making a number of high-profile signings. A win will help smooth over some tension in the Dragons camp, but another loss will only compound what has been a disappointing. Flanagan’s job in the off-season will then be to get his squad back on side before the 2026 season, which proves to be a pivotal one for the Dragons with a host of players coming off-contract. Damien Cook, Jaydn Su’A, Luciano Leilua, Emre Guler, Hamish Stewart and Tyrell Sloan all are free to negotiate with rivals come November 1, and a positive finish to the season could help with their retention.
Panthers’ burning question: Should they rest more players?
Ivan Cleary copped criticism for resting 16 of his starting 17 in Round 26, but both Matty Johns and Cooper Cronk believe he should do it again this week – if results go their way. The Panthers named a near full-strength side to face the Dragons, with only Liam Martin and Brian To’o given a second week of rest. For Cronk, he believes Penrith should consider once again sitting players depending on how their finals rivals fare and who they want to face in the first week. “They are trying to do something no one else has even got close to for a long time, their players are cooked,” Cronk said. “What I would do… they play on Saturday afternoon. Broncos play Thursday night, Warriors and Roosters play Friday night. They are basically going to know what their scenario is by the time they play on Saturday. I’d just wait and see.” Should Cleary want to rest his stars, the likes of Daine Laurie, Brad Schneider, Luron Patea, Mavrik Geyer and Riley Price have been named on the extended bench and could slot into the run on side.
Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers, Saturday 5:30pm
Titans’ burning question: How will Carter Gordon fare?
Three rugby union converts hit the NRL this season, but now the Titans’ own Wallabies gun gets his chance to shine. Roosters star Mark Nawaqanitawase has enjoyed a wildly successful first season in rugby league, while Nathan Lawson and Moses Leo featured for the Dragons and Storm respectively in parts. Outside of Nawaqanitawase, Gordon was the highest-profile rugby convert and made a handful of Queensland Cup appearances to close out the 2024 season. His 2025 campaign has been hampered by a spinal injury, but it’s taken only three games for Ipswich this year for Gordon to get a chance in first grade. The 24-year-old was a five-eighth in the 15-man code and has played in the halves in Queensland Cup, but can equally ply his trade in the outside backs and has been picked at centre. It will be a big test for Gordon, with centre being arguably one of the toughest defensive positions in the game, but Des Hasler had the confidence in his star recruit and threw him into the deep end. Hasler’s move could also be seen as a last throw of the dice, with his tenure as Titans coach set to come to an end regardless of his team’s result against the Tigers in Round 27. Should Gordon hit the ground running, Josh Hannay could have a genuine weapon on his hands in 2026.
Tigers’ burning question: How good will Heamasi Makasini be?
Tigers fans have been waiting for this one. Makasini, 18, has been handed his NRL debut, replacing Jeral Skelton on the wing. The teenage prodigy, who last-year signed a three-year deal deal worth $1 million, has long been touted as a genuine NRL star, and the Tigers were reportedly planning to hand him his first grade debut sooner than Round 27. However, Makasini had a desire to finish his school competition season with Newington College and would have debuted at only 17 had the Tigers had their way. The young gun has consistently been in the headlines and was the subject of a cross-code war for his signature, with the NRL, Rugby Australia and even overseas franchises bidding for the prodigious talent according to Code Sports. In between his commitments with Newington, Makasini has featured in NSW Cup and most recently played for Wests Magpies in a 40-18 loss to the Bulldogs, scoring a try in the centres. Makasini is just the latest in a long line of teenage prodigies who have hit the NRL, and Tigers will be desperate for this talented youngster to shine bright in his debut before he potentially becomes a regular first grade fixture under Benji Marshall in 2026.
Canterbury Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks, Saturday 7:35pm
Bulldogs’ burning question: Should they have rested players?
Barring an absolute miracle where the Storm would need to get thumped by the Broncos, and then the Bulldogs would need to thrash the Sharks and make up a 90-point gap on differential, the Bulldogs won’t finish anywhere other than third at the end of the regular season, given they have a buffer of four competition points on the fourth placed Broncos. So it begs the question, why didn’t coach Cameron Ciraldo decide to rest his stars? The only player who is out of their squad who took on the Panthers is winger Jacob Kiraz, but that’s due to an ankle injury. All players who are fit have been picked for this game. Perhaps Ciraldo has concerns over his team’s indifferent form in recent times, and wants to see his big guns deliver a solid victory before the finals. In their last five games, the Bulldogs have suffered three losses – to the Tigers, Roosters and Storm. Their only wins have come against the Warriors and a seriously under strength Panthers side. “Cam Ciraldo, can he afford to give them a rest this week?” Matty Johns asked Cooper Cronk on Matty and Cronk. “No,” Cronk bluntly responded. Ciraldo will be hoping and praying that his team come through this game unscathed on the injury front.
Sharks’ burning question:Will they be ready to fire in the finals against class opposition?
The Sharks will earn a second chance in the finals series if they finish in the top four. For that to happen, they’ll need to defeat the Bulldogs and hope the Storm beat the Broncos in the final round. They have ended the regular season in a flurry, having won six of their past seven games. However, the standard of opposition hasn’t been great. Only one of those wins (Roosters) have been against teams currently in the top eight. What’s more is that Cronulla has only won two games against top eight opponents this season, from nine attempts. Even in a 40-16 win over the lowly Knights last Sunday, they left a lot to be desired according to Cooper Cronk. “They were disappointing yesterday. I thought they’d come and dominate off a bye but they were too sideways,” Cronk said. This weekend is the perfect chance for Cronulla to show the rest of the league they have to be taken seriously this finals series as they take on the 3rd-placed Bulldogs. With both teams set to field full strength teams, it’ll be a finals-like atmosphere on Saturday night and a great tune up for both sides before the post-season begins. If the Sharks fail to impress, an early finals exit is likely.
Dolphins v Canberra Raiders, Sunday 2pm
Dolphins’ burning question:Has this year been a pass mark for the Dolphins?
Look, there’s still a chance Kristian Woolf’s men make the finals and perhaps even win a game or two in the post-season, but even if the Roosters win as expected on Friday night and end the Dolphins’ top eight hopes, the 2025 season has to be considered a pass mark for the NRL’s newest club. Yes, the expectations heading into the season were the highest they’ve ever been since entering the comp in 2023, despite legendary coach Wayne Bennett heading to Souths. Woolf has proved he is the right man for the job, helping navigate the Dolphins out of an ugly 0-4 start to be in the thick of the finals hunt despite a horror casualty ward. The season-ending injuries to first choice players stacked up and the Dolphins faltered over the final six weeks of the season. With their stars back on deck next season and another pre-season under the belt of halfback Isaiya Katoa, the Dolphins will be a force to be reckoned with next year.
Raiders’ burning question:Is Ricky Stuart making the right call resting 10 players in the final round?
If any team has earned the right to rest players in the final round, it’s the Raiders. Given how competitive the NRL is, it’s a mighty impressive feat to have wrapped up a minor premiership with a round in hand. Canberra have done that and they now sit pretty at the top. There shouldn’t be any question marks over their credentials either as they’ve won seven of eight games against top eight opponents this year. It’s been a stunning ascent up the ladder for the Green Machine, one many didn’t see coming. Even their proud as punch, sometimes one-eyed coach didn’t envisage finishing first at the end of the regular season. For this weekend’s game against the Dolphins, coach Ricky Stuart has rested Ethan Strange, Kaeo Weekes, Hudson Young, Jamal Fogarty, Joe Tapine, Josh Papalii, Simi Sasagi, Tom Starling, Zac Hosking and Jed Stuart. Coupled with the three byes the team has had since Round 15, Canberra will begin the finals assault as arguably the freshest outfit out of the eight remaining teams.
Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights, Sunday 4pm
Eels’ burning question:Can the Eels win a premiership with their current spine?
It might be a touch too early to answer that question, but there’s no doubt Parramatta are in terrific shape. They’ve been one of the form teams of the competition over the past six weeks, winning games against the Roosters and Broncos and four of their last six. Fullback Isaiah Iongi has been nothing short of outstanding this year and has arguably been the free agent pick up of the season. “He is an emerging superstar. It’s obvious,” Fox League’s Matty Johns said. Halfback Mitch Moses is in the top five of the game’s best players so no need to say too much on that. Five-eighth is an intriguing position for the Eels. Both Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins showed signs they can be relied upon to partner Moses going forward. On pure upside though, Papalii has a clear edge. At the start of the season, hooker was a real question mark for Parramatta, but young gun Ryley Smith has made every post a winner in his rookie season while the Eels signed another exciting talent in Tallyn Da Silva. That will prove to be a willing battle in the off-season for the Eels’ No. 9 jersey.
‘Not worth it!’ Peters passes on Knights | 02:59
Knights’ burning question: Who will be Newcastle’s next coach?
With the season gone this season, let’s turn to next. Obviously, the biggest question facing the Knights is who will coach their side from 2026. Club legend Matty Johns called it a ‘huge job’ as well as stating what the Knights brass needs to ask from every candidate they interview, believing pathways needs to be a key role of whoever is in charge next. “In my opinion, a head coach in the NRL has to have their fingers on the pathways because you have to have presence and you have to be able to educate the players and to be able to attract players,” Johns said. “If you want to sign a young player, a kid right out of school, if you really want him to come to your club, then you send the head coach.” Johns also dropped a couple of left-field names the club could consider. As it stands, it appears Justin Holbrook is the favourite followed by Knights assistant Blake Green. Holbrook was sacked mid-2023 from the Titans despite having the club near the bottom of the eight. That decision has proven to be a horror call, as since then, the Gold Coast have lost 42 of 58 games.
Bye: North Queensland Cowboys
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