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The 2025 NRL season proper has reached its conclusion, with just four teams now remaining to battle it out for the premiership. We take a look at each team's 2025 performance and hand out the grades. The Top 8 teams will receive their grades and be added once they complete their seasons.
 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Finish: 3rd Points: 36 Wins: 15 Losses: 9 For: 599 Against: 490 Stand-out performer: Blayke Brailey Grade: B The Sharks really stormed home after an inconsistent start to their season. Once the halves pairing of Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall settled in behind their hard-running, hard-hitting pack the Sharks proved to be very difficult to stop, winning seven of their last eight games with a couple of byes thrown in. Apart from a Round 23 slip-up against the Dragons, you have to go all the way back to Round 17 for their previous loss, to the Storm. They just missed out on a Top 4 spot due to for and against and faced the Roosters first up, who they managed to beat 20-10 at home. Next up they travelled to Canberra, where no one expected them to beat the Raiders. Their comprehensive 32-12 victory had people wondering whether this could be the Sharks' year. Their premiership hopes then ran head first into the Storm, who frustrated them out of the Preliminary Final. It was overall a successful season, but the familiar finish was once again disappointing. 
 Penrith Panthers
Finish: 4th Points: 33 Wins: 13 Losses: 10 Draws: 1 For: 576 Against: 469 Stand-out performer: Blaize Talagi Grade: B+ The Panthers were aiming for a ridiculous fifth straight premiership and started the season so poorly that everyone seemed to agree that the dynasty was over. After beating the Sharks in Las Vegas, they lost six of their next seven games to find themselves in a very unfamiliar position at the bottom the premiership ladder. They then found their winning edge, with young five-eighth Blaize Talagi going from lost newcomer, to Nathan Cleary's perfect offsider. They stumbled a bit on the road to the finals, losing three of their last four games, each against a Top 4 team. They started their finals run in New Zealand where they were too good for the Warriors, winning 24-8. Next up they took on the declining Bulldogs and blew them off the park in the first half before coasting to a 46-26 victory. They looked to be in control against the Broncos in Brisbane, taking a 14-0 lead into the halftime break, but they couldn't add to their score nor could they prevent a Broncos fightback. The 16-14 defeat saw their golden run come to an end. 
 Canberra Raiders
Finish: 5th Points: 44 Wins: 19 Losses: 5 For: 654 Against: 506 Stand-out performer: Ethan Strange Grade: B+ At the start of the year not many people tipped the Raiders to take out the minor premiership. Back in February, no one was even sure which players would comprise Ricky Stuart's spine. Then up stepped Ethan Strange at five-eighth and the Green Machine began to purr. The forwards; Josh Papali'i, Tom Starling, Joseph Tapine, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking and Corey Horsburgh have been the equal of any in the competition. The backs; Kaeo Weekes, Jed Stuart, Matthew Timoko, Sebastian Kris and Xavier Savage have played an exciting, fast paced, at times unstoppable brand of football. And the halves; Strange and Jamal Fogarty have orchestrated it all to perfection. The Raiders went into the finals full of confidence and had the Broncos beaten twice in the first week, before an agonising defeat. They then hosted the Sharks after losing Ethan Strange and couldn't match the enthusiasm of the visitors. It was a cruel end to what was otherwise a very bright season for the Green Machine. 
 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Finish: 6th Points: 38 Wins: 16 Losses: 8 For: 534 Against: 414 Stand-out performer: Stephen Crichton Grade: B- The Bulldogs continued their steady improvement under coach Cameron Ciraldo. Last year they finished sixth before being knocked out in the first week of the finals by the Sea Eagles. This season they were flying high at the top of the ladder when they decided to make a move that would ultimately strengthen their spine in the long term, but cause short term turmoil. The signing of Lachie Galvin not only upset the Tigers, it was a fix for something that didn't appear to need fixing at the Bulldogs. To be fair, as determined and likeable as Toby Sexton was, he really did not have the presence to lead the Bulldogs to a premiership. It appears that Galvin isn't up to the job just yet either, although he did show flashes of the enormous potential he possesses. The Bulldogs biggest problem is that they are still a couple of big forwards short of a premiership pack. They entered the finals with a vital second chance, they were competitive in losing to the Storm, before being completely blown off the park by the Panthers. A full off-season, the introduction of Leo Thompson and the promotion of some of their young front rowers and 2026 looks promising. 
 New Zealand Warriors
Finish: 7th Points: 34 Wins: 14 Losses: 10 For: 517 Against: 496 Stand-out performer: Luke Metcalf Grade: C+ The Warriors were having one of their better years, with fans and pundits alike suggesting this could be the season to break their premiership duck. After 16 rounds they were in fourth position with 10 wins and 4 losses, and then they played and lost to the Broncos, with star halfback Luke Metcalf rupturing his ACL. Including that loss to the Broncos, they have won four games while losing six since the Metcalf injury. So much was expected from them, and although they can hardly be blamed for the loss of Metcalf, their inability to find a successful Plan B was disappointing. They still managed to hold on for sixth position and had the pleasure of hosting the Panthers in an elimination final. They came out and played with the necessary intensity, but that is hard to maintain for 80 minutes against the Panthers, who are the masters of the long game. The big crowd would have been happy that they gave everything they had, but it will still go down as a season full of promise and ultimate disappointment. 
 Sydney Roosters
Finish: 8th Points: 32 Wins: 13 Losses: 11 For: 653 Against: 521 Stand-out performer: James Tedesco Grade: B- The Roosters had a very mixed season, capable of beating anyone on their day and just as likely to lose to anyone the next. The opening seven rounds tell the story of their year, thumped by the Broncos first up they then bounced back to beat the Panthers. In Round 3 they lost to the Warriors, before being thumped by the Titans and losing narrowly to the Rabbitohs. In Round 6 they beat the Broncos before being thumped by the Panthers (good luck tipping any of that). They entered the finals on a streak of good form, winning five of their last six, with captain James Tedesco playing some of his finest football and try-scoring machine Mark Nawaqanitawase doing some freakish things on the wing. Up against the Sharks at Sharks Park in an elimination final was always going to be tough, but they would have been disappointed with their efforts. Captain Tedesco put in one of his worst displays of the year, but he wasn't alone, as the Sharks flustered the Roosters into a night of errors. 
 Dolphins
Finish: 9th Points: 30 Wins: 12 Losses: 12 For: 721 Against: 596 Stand-out performer: Isaiya Katoa Grade: C- The Dolphins avoid a D in Kristian Woolf's debut season as head coach; courtesy of sheer point scoring glory and another brave campaign amid a crippling injury toll. They go no higher than a C- on account of another miss at finals qualification, ongoing struggles away from home and a problem taming teams higher than they are on the ladder. Going toe to toe and even edging out wins over the likes of the Warriors, Panthers and Melbourne will never stand out as the best thing about a Dolphins year while they are regularly conceding 40+ points in defeat. Defensive deficiencies in energy and communication rear their head under pressure; the Dolphins score some miraculous tries while conceding some of the softest seen across the competition this year. They struggle to deal with the momentum created by set restarts, and concede plenty of them through persistent ill-discipline around the ruck. A mid season patch of point scoring devastation was the high marker and the rise of Isiah Katoa has many wondering why Lachlan Galvin gets all the headlines; but the question of depth is still as pertinent now as it was when the Dolphins came into the top grade. 
 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Finish: 10th Points: 30 Wins: 12 Losses: 12 For: 555 Against: 534 Stand-out performer: Toluta'u Koula Grade: C+ The Sea Eagles had a disappointing season, just missing out on a finals berth after losing as many games as they won. Apart from losing Tom Trbojevic for chunks of the season through injury, it seemed as though Daly Cherry-Evans announcing that he would not stay with the club after 2025 had an adverse affect on their morale and subsequently their ability to build any semblance of consistency. They have signed Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty to fill DCE's boots next season and it will be hoped that he can hit the ground running and ignite their exciting backline, including the nigh on impossible to stop Toluta'u Koula, who was their best player. Add to this the seemingly never ending uncertainty over coach Anthony Siebold and its a C+ at best.
 Parramatta Eels
Finish: 11th Points: 26 Wins: 10 Losses: 14 For: 502 Against: 578 Stand-out performer: Mitchell Moses Grade: B- The Eels had some trouble settling in under new coach Jason Ryles as he tried to stamp his playing style on the club. The March signing of Dylan Brown by the the Knights was disruptive, as was the loss of superstar halfback Mitchell Moses to injury at crucial times. The Eels finished strongly with Moses back in the No. 7 jersey, winning five of their last seven games including victories over the Broncos, Roosters and Warriors to move well away from the wooden spoon. Whilst giving Eels fans something positive to look forward to, it also left them wondering what could have been this season had a bit of luck fallen their way. 
 North Queensland Cowboys
Finish: 12th Points: 25 Wins: 9 Losses: 14 For: 538 Against: 684 Stand-out performer: Tom Dearden Grade: D A big miss from the Cowboys and the obvious deficiencies of a side caught in the thick of a generational divide. The Titans probably have a few too many young heads at the moment, whereas the Cowboys have some of the games most exciting prospects sharing the paddock with some of its older heads. Putting it bluntly the youth is raw, the age is slowing down; and it's a big problem. The middle and edges of the field became wide open farm gates this year as Jordan McLean and Jason Taumololo lost a step, Reuben Cotter had a quiet year by his lofty standards, Jeremiah Nanai was patchy and the bench failed to maintain the rage. Vaunted signing John Bateman fell well short of expectations and the starch simply wasn't there. Tom Dearden had a brilliant campaign in Maroon and showed on multiple occasions why he is as highly regarded as he is, but struggled to consistently unlock the Cowboys backline and often appeared to be calling plays others simply weren't prepared for. When it came off it was spectacular, when it didn't it was ugly.
 Wests Tigers
Finish: 13th Points: 24 Wins: 9 Losses: 15 For: 477 Against: 612 Stand-out performer: Terrell May Grade: C+ The Tigers started 2025 with so much hope, with a raft of new signings and Benji Marshall settling into the coaching role. Jarome Luai was the big star signing, and fans saw him potentially leading the Tigers back into the finals for the first time in living memory. The Tigers had revamped their engine room with Terrell May proving to be more than handy throughout the season. On the wing Sunia Turuva added much-needed spark and finishing power, while the mid-season signing of Terrell's brother Taylan to play in the centres was a revelation. Although finals were beyond them, after patches of real inconsistency Tigers fans finished the year more than happy to avoid another wooden spoon, and looking forward to further improvement in 2026.
 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Finish: 14th Points: 24 Wins: 9 Losses: 15 For: 427 Against: 608 Stand-out performer: Jye Gray Grade: D Wayne Bennett returned to coach the Rabbitohs in 2025 and he must have been disappointed with the effort from his players at times during the season. Sure, injuries were a major factor, but their dedication to the cause was missing at times. With star Latrell Mitchell missing large parts of the season through injury, Jye Gray really shone in the fullback role, so much so that he forced Mitchell into the centres at one point, as Bennett searched for a winning combination. They finished the season well with wins over the Titans, Eels and Dragons, but couldn't manage a last round victory over their bitter rivals the Roosters. 
 St George Illawarra Dragons
Finish: 15th Points: 22 Wins: 8 Losses: 16 For: 498 Against: 628 Stand-out performer: Jacob Liddle Grade: D- The Dragons entered the 2025 season hoping that the addition of several veterans to the squad would see them improve on their 11th place finish last year. Whilst Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook and David Klemmer added some welcome leadership, the team actually regressed. They won just three of their first nine games, with victories over the Storm, Titans and Sea Eagles, losing two games by a single point during that run. Lachlan Ilias didn't work out as a halfback option, Lyhkan King-Togia showed some promise whilst being a bit raw and Kyle Flanagan was solid at times, but never really the answer when looking to build a premiership winning spine. Jacob Liddle played most of the year off the bench, behind Damien Cook, but always proved to be dangerous when injected into the game.
 Gold Coast Titans
Finish: 16th Points: 18 Wins: 6 Losses: 18 For: 520 Against: 719 Stand-out performer: AJ Brimson Grade: F The 2025 season started with rays of grand optimism on the Gold Coast, fell apart spectacularly, and was really never going to recover without a drastic change. Des Hasler's fate was sealed in headlines a long way before the Coast limped home with a spoon averting 6th win of the year over the Tigers at home in round 27; a game that typified the year by combining exhilarating attack with insipid defence, waning commitment and shocking defence. Incoming coach Josh Hannay has embraced the magnitude of the challenge before him, and ignored the ridiculous critique surrounding taking on a 'poisoned chalice' for his first NRL post. The Titans are fixable and have the bones of a finals team; the union of Hannay with Origin stalwart Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and their mission to reconstruct the club's attitude will pique the interest ahead of next year. The job begins with a clear out at the long suffering club and the priorities must be halves, with rugby union convert Carter Gordon remaining an experiment at this point, and especially in the wake of Keiran Foran's retirement. A few familiar names might just be following Hasler and seeking fortunes elsewhere before 2026 rolls around.
 Newcastle Knights
Finish: 17th Points: 18 Wins: 6 Losses: 18 For: 338 Against: 638 Stand-out performer: Dane Gagai Grade: F The Knights had a multitude of issues during the season, for which coach Adam O'Brien eventually fell on his own sword. Possibly the biggest was an inability to name a halves pairing that went well enough to hold down their jobs for any length of time. The Knights had about half a dozen options and let them all know in March that Dylan Brown was going to replace one of them next year. Add to this the ongoing injury issues for their number one salary collector Kalyn Ponga, a lack of punch and commitment in the forwards, and it proved to be a very ordinary season for the Knights.
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