The 2026 NRL regular season is almost in the books.
Round 27 brings us the final eight games before the NRL Finals, with the top eight now locked in but plenty still to be decided before September arrives.
The biggest battle is at the very top of the ladder, with the Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors fighting for the minor premiership. Meanwhile, the Cronulla Sharks will be desperate to rediscover their best form as they chase a potential top-four finish and home final.
There will also be some incredibly emotional moments throughout the round.
South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow will play his 100th game for the club in his final appearance before retirement following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease. The occasion will come against the Sydney Roosters; one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in rugby league.
Meanwhile, Josh Papali’i will play the final game of his remarkable career, bringing an end to a 16-year career in which he became the most-capped player in Canberra Raiders history.
With the finals just around the corner, here are our NRL Round 27 tips and predictions.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos
There are no finals implications here, with both the Canterbury Bulldogs and Brisbane Broncos officially eliminated from the 2026 finals race.
That makes this one about pride, bragging rights and finishing the season on a positive note.
Neither side has had the season they would have hoped for, and both will be keen to give their supporters something to celebrate before the long off-season begins.
The Broncos have shown some dangerous attacking football throughout the year, while the Bulldogs have struggled to find the consistency required to challenge the competition's best.
With nothing to lose, expect an entertaining game with both teams willing to throw the ball around.
We're giving Brisbane the edge.
Tip: Brisbane Broncos
Prediction: Broncos 26-18 Bulldogs
The Queensland derby between the Gold Coast Titans and Dolphins is an interesting one, particularly with the Dolphins already assured of their finals position.
The Dolphins have enjoyed an excellent 2026 campaign and will be heading into their second NRL finals series with plenty of confidence.
For the Titans, this is their final opportunity to finish the season with a win against their Queensland rivals.
There is always plenty of feeling in a local derby, and the Titans will be determined to make life difficult. However, the Dolphins have more class across the park and should have enough attacking firepower to get the job done.
Tip: Dolphins
Prediction: Dolphins 30-16 Titans
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters
This is undeniably the most emotional game of Round 27.
The Rabbitohs and Roosters rivalry is one of the oldest in the NRL, and this year's meeting will provide the perfect setting for one of rugby league's most respected players to reach an extraordinary milestone.
Jai Arrow will play his 100th game for South Sydney.
Arrow was forced to retire from the NRL earlier this year after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The NRL subsequently approved a special arrangement allowing him to return for the final two games of the regular season and reach the 100-game milestone he was just two appearances away from achieving.
After his special appearance against the Titans in Round 26, Arrow's final game will come against the Roosters making the occasion even more fitting given the historic rivalry between the two clubs.
This isn't simply another NRL game. It will be a celebration of Arrow's career and contribution to South Sydney, Queensland and rugby league.
The Roosters will still want to head into the finals with momentum, but we're tipping the Rabbitohs to produce a performance worthy of the occasion.
Tip: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prediction: Rabbitohs 24-20 Roosters
New Zealand Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles
This could be the most important game of the weekend when it comes to the NRL minor premiership.
The Warriors are locked into the finals and remain in contention for the JJ Giltinan Shield, while Manly's season is already over.
The Warriors and Panthers are separated at the top of the ladder, and the equation heading into Round 27 is simple:
Whichever team wins their final game by the larger margin will finish the regular season as minor premiers.
That means the Warriors can't simply settle for a victory. Every point could count.
Manly have nothing to lose and would love nothing more than to spoil the Warriors' celebrations, but New Zealand should be highly motivated from the opening whistle.
Expect the Warriors to attack relentlessly and keep their foot on the accelerator for the full 80 minutes.
Tip: New Zealand Warriors
Prediction: Warriors 34-16 Sea Eagles
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders
The Cowboys and Raiders meet in Townsville, but this game will be remembered for one man above all others.
Josh Papali’i will play his final NRL game.
Papali’i finishes his career as the Canberra Raiders' most-capped player, having amassed 340 games for the club since making his debut as a teenager. He has been one of the defining forwards of the Raiders' modern era and a cornerstone of the club for more than a decade.
His final appearance comes in Queensland, his home state, providing another fitting chapter to an extraordinary career.
The Raiders will be desperate to send their veteran forward out on a winning note, but the Cowboys have home-ground advantage and will want to build some confidence of their own.
It would be fitting to see Papali’i have a big final game, but we're tipping North Queensland to spoil the farewell party.
Tip: North Queensland Cowboys
Prediction: Cowboys 28-24 Raiders
Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm
This is one of the most intriguing games of Round 27 because the two teams arrive with very different motivations.
The Melbourne Storm are out of the finals race, ending one of the competition's great streaks of consistency.
For Cronulla, however, September football is guaranteed but their position within the top eight is still important.
The Sharks are chasing a top-four finish and the chance to host a home final, but they need to rediscover their form quickly. Their heavy loss to Parramatta last weekend was a major missed opportunity, leaving them needing a win against Melbourne and some help elsewhere to move into the top four.
That makes this a genuine pressure game for Cronulla.
The Storm have nothing to lose, while the Sharks have an enormous incentive to put together an 80-minute performance and head into the finals with some confidence.
If Cronulla can find their best football, they should be too strong.
Tip: Cronulla Sharks
Prediction: Sharks 28-20 Storm
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels
The Dragons and Eels meet in a game without any finals implications, giving both sides one final opportunity to finish their seasons on a high.
Parramatta will take confidence from their huge victory over Cronulla last week, while the Dragons will be determined to give their home supporters something to celebrate.
With both teams capable of producing attacking football, this could be one of the more entertaining games of the round.
We're giving the Dragons the slight advantage at home.
Tip: St George Illawarra Dragons
Prediction: Dragons 28-22 Eels
Penrith Panthers vs Wests Tigers
The final game of the regular season could decide who finishes the year as NRL minor premiers.
The Panthers currently sit at the top end of the ladder, with the Warriors in front on for and against by a singular point. Both teams have already secured their places in the finals, but the minor premiership remains up for grabs.
The equation is simple:
The Panthers need to win by a larger margin than the Warriors do against Manly to finish first.
That could make the final stages of both games particularly interesting, with fans likely to keep one eye on the other result.
Penrith will also have to balance the desire to win the minor premiership with the need to protect their players before the finals. Several finals-bound teams are expected to weigh up resting key players in the final round.
Even so, the Panthers should have far too much class for the Tigers.
We're expecting a comfortable Penrith victory and potentially one large enough to secure the minor premiership.
Tip: Penrith Panthers
Prediction: Panthers 38-12 Wests Tigers
Final Thoughts: Bring on the NRL Finals
Round 27 is about more than just getting our NRL tips right.
It's the final chance for the competition's top teams to fine-tune their game before September, the last opportunity for the Sharks to build momentum and potentially secure a home final, and the final chapter for two of rugby league's most respected players.
Jai Arrow's 100th Rabbitohs game will be one of the emotional highlights of the round, with the milestone coming against the Roosters in one of rugby league's oldest rivalries.
Josh Papali’i's final game will mark the end of a remarkable Raiders career, with the club's most-capped player calling time on his career after 340 games.
And at the top of the ladder, Penrith and New Zealand will be fighting for every single point.
The top eight is locked in.
The finals are almost here.
But before September begins, there is still plenty of time to gear up with all the latest officially licensed NRL supporter gear from Jerseys Megastore, for all things footy!
Bring on Round 27. Bring on the finals.
