We have something new for the 2025 NRL season. With last season's final table acting as a starting order, each week we will move teams up, down or nowhere at all, depending on their performances on the weekend.
We were almost back to a full NRL round this weekend, but games were still heavily influenced by Origin omissions and players backing up. At both ends of the board we have logjams as teams have nowhere to go, with the top half teams winning and the bottom half teams losing, perhaps things are starting to sort themselves out.
The results won't match the 2025 NRL competition ladder, but will give an alternative indication of how well each team is travelling.
Last year's finishing order: 1. Storm, 2. Panthers, 3. Roosters, 4. Sharks, 5. Cowboys, 6. Bulldogs, 7. Sea Eagles, 8. Knights, 9. Raiders, 10. Dolphins, 11. Dragons, 12. Broncos, 13. Warriors, 14. Titans, 15. Eels, 16. Rabbitohs, 17. Tigers
1.
Raiders - steady - bye
2.
Storm - steady
Melbourne journeyed to the Hunter missing half of their champion spine and expecting a tough encounter with the Knights. They conceded two first half tries, before Eliesa Katoa crossed just before halftime. After the break it was all Storm, with Trent Loiero, Kane Bradley and Katoa all crossing for doubles. The healthy win helping to keep the Storm in second place on the NRL ladder ahead of the Bulldogs thanks to a much healthier for and against column.
3.
Broncos - steady
Brisbane wandered down the road to face the Titans to wrap up Round 19 on the Gold Coast. As expected they met a ferocious Titans side determined to make them earn their competition points. Thirty three minutes into the first half the scores were locked at 2-2, with the visitors having the better of the scoring opportunities. The Broncos looked rattled at times by the rapid Titans defence, but managed to score the first try through an Adam Reynolds face ball finding Ben Talty five metres out and full of running. Minutes later Kotoni Staggs picked up a loose ball and was dragged down 20 metres out. The ball was spun to the left where Reece Walsh put Jack Gosiewski over for a 14-2 halftime lead. Despite two Jojo Fifita tries in the second half the Brocnos were never really in trouble, scoring two of their own for a hard-fought, if comfortable, victory.
4.
Panthers - steady
The Panthers turned up to their temporary home ground to be the away team against the Eels. The early exchanges were intense as both teams punched and counter-punched. The Eels scored first after 14 minutes, before the Panthers answered with an impressive Thomas Jenkins try. The Eels extended their lead to 10-6 before a try after the halftime siren saw the Panthers jog off to the break with a 12-10 lead. Into the second half Izack Tago carved through the middle of the Eels defence to score a powerful individual try, before Paul Alamoti finished a sweeping passing movement near halfway to run away to the corner. Nathan Cleary, who started the game on the bench, then fooled everyone to score the match sealer with 8 minutes remaining, before Lindsay Smith rubbed further salt into the wounds.
5.
Bulldogs - ladder up 1
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo continued with his smoke and mirror shenanigans before kick-off, dropping Lachlan Galvin from the squad after already resting Origin players Stephen Crichton and Kurt Mann. And not surprisingly, early on, they played like a hastily cobbled together rabble. Conceding the first try after 15 minutes, they continued to struggle with the ball. With just over three minutes remaining in the half, Matt Burton dribbled a kick through the line which bounced up perfectly into the arms of Jacob Preston for a try. Minutes later the Bulldogs spread the ball to the left where Enari Tuala put Jethro Rinakama over for a try on debut. Leading 12-8 at the break, the Bulldogs' scrambling defence held solid through the second half, while their attack failed to add another point.
6.
Warriors - ladder up 1
The Warriors hosted the Tigers on Sunday evening and welcomed them to New Zealand with a gift of a try in the opening minutes. Tanah Boyd slotted into the halfback role vacated by Luke Metcalf's season-ending ACL and looked the goods as the home team worked their way back into the game. Leading 16-8 at halftime the Warriors started the second half powerfully, with Roger Tuivasa Sheck scoring after nine minutes. But the Tigers were in for the fight, scoring next and ensuring a battle to the death. The Warriors would have been disappointed that they were unable to put the Tigers away until a spilt bomb with just over six minutes remaining gave Chanel Harris-Tevita his double, before back-row phenom Leka Halasima finished off the scoring.
7.
Roosters - ladder up 2
The Roosters headed to Kogarah to take on the Dragons, keen to remain in the Top 8. They started early with Daniel Tupou scoring the first try of the match after just two minutes. They exchanged tries early with Tupou picking up a double before the Dragons skipped away to an 18-12 lead. The Roosters weren't finished, with Robert Toia soaring to score from a bomb, allowing the scores to be levelled at 18 following the conversion. On the cusp of halftime Sam Walker snapped a field goal to take a 19-18 lead into the break. Into the second half the Roosters struck first with a clever blind side raid and Walker pass putting Billy Smith over untouched. The Dragons crossed again, before a Victor Radley try wrapped up the vital competition points.
8.
Sea Eagles - steady - bye
9.
Dolphins - ladder down 4
The Dolphins made the long swim to Cronulla to take on the Sharks, after deciding to give their most lethal weapon, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, a post-Origin rest. They were already without injured five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, and they looked largely unthreatening in the early exchanges. They went to the break down 6-0, which the Sharks extended to 14-0 into the second half. With 13 minutes remaining Jake Averillo gave them a bit of hope with a break and a kick off the outside of his boot for Max Feagai to swoop on before crashing over. The conversion brought them within 8 points. Herbie Farnworth then set up a try for himself to bring the Phins right back into it, but they ran out of puff as the Sharks scored two more tries to wrap it up.
10.
Sharks - ladder up 1
Cronulla hosted the Dolphins, who arrived without The Hammer. The Sharks had the better of the early exchanges and Nicho Hynes opened the scoring after 7 minutes. The Sharks managed to bomb a couple of opportunities, to jog off for oranges leading 6-0. Into the second half they kicked a penalty goal before the game slipped into exchanges of sloppy play from both side. The Sharks managed to cross again with 24 minutes remaining. Leading 14-0 the Sharks conceded two converted tries, before Hynes crossed again to wrap it up and Sione Katoa put a cherry on top of the victory as the clock wound down.
11.
Tigers - snake down 1
Wests Tigers hopped the ditch to take on the Top 4 Warriors, with their own season teetering on the edge of an abyss. They started well, skirting the Warriors defence for Jeral Skelton to score in the corner before the hosts had even touched the ball. Their own loose defence allowed the Warriors to score the next two tries, before Adam Doueihi powered over from short range. Another Warriors try before the break saw the Tigers trudge off trailing 16-8. In the second half the Warriors skipped away before Doueihi kept the Tigers in it with his second try. Mistakes and the Warriors' improving defence meant the Tigers could not regain the lead and two more tries to the hosts put the result beyond doubt.
12.
Dragons - snake down 1
The Dragons hosted the Roosters looking for revenge after their Anzac Day humiliation. With both teams looking loose defensively, tries were exchanged through the first half, with only a Sam Walker field goal seeing the Roosters up 19-18 at the break. Some ordinary goal-line defence by the Dragons saw the Roosters score first in the second half. With 15 minutes remaining Jadyn Su'A ran onto a flat pass and through a flimsy Sam Walker tackle to score, but the Dragons were unable to regain the lead and a Victor Radley try wrapped it up for the Roosters.
13.
Eels - steady
Parramatta hosted the Panthers in a fast-paced exciting clash in front of a healthy crowd. The Eels worked a sharp, short pass combination down the blind side to open the scoring through Kitione Kaubtoga. A lapse in defensive application right on halftime saw the Panthers go to the break leading 12-10. Into the second half, try as they might, the Eels were unable to breach the Panthers' defence. As they tired from the effort, their defence fell away and the Panthers were able to cross for four more tries, making the final score an unfair indication of what was another hard-fought western derby.
14.
Cowboys - steady
The Cowboys hosted the Bulldogs on Saturday night and looked the better of the two teams in the early exchanges with centre Zac Laybutt scoring first after 15 minutes. Against the run of play the Bulldogs scored two tries before the break to take a 12-8 lead. Despite the Cowboys' best efforts, led by an inspiring Tom Dearden backing up after winning the State of Origin, the Cowboys were unable to breach the desperate Bulldogs defence. A scoreless second half leaving the Cowboys struggling to stay in Top 8 discussions.
15.
Knights - steady
Newcastle hosted Melbourne and started well with two unconverted Dominic Young tries, giving them an 8-2 lead. They managed to hold the visitors try-less until just before halftime, to go to the break 8-6 up to rapturous applause from the Newcastle crowd. Unfortunately, after the break it was all Storm, scoring five tries to run away with the game. Fletcher Hunt scored a 70th minute consolation try for the Knights in what was a disappointing second 40 minutes.
16.
Rabbitohs - steady - bye
17.
Titans - steady
The Gold Coast hosted the Broncos desperate to put in a good showing despite their bottom of the ladder status. The early exchanges were willing and the speed and enthusiasm of the Titans defence put the Broncos off their game. Multiple errors from both teams prevented any tries until the Broncos broke the drought just before halftime. Into the second half, both teams sharpened up a bit, but despite a double to Jojo Fifita, the Titans were unable to ever really threaten the visitors.