Every possible NRL Finals outcome before Round 25 kicks off

It’s the home stretch, the final game that decides your ultimate NRL Finals fate. Though we already know seven of this year’s eight combatants, every spot between second and eighth is still up for grabs! So with 80 minutes of the regular season to go, what does your team need to go their way? CRONULLA Best finish: 2nd The Sharks have got second place all but locked up – but they can still blow it if they get complacent. It’s a simple equation, beat the Knights and they get the home final they’ve been fighting for. It should be noted that even if they lose, the Cowboys will still need to win to overthrow them. [caption id="attachment_116275" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Cameron McInnes of the Sharks makes a break during the round four NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights at PointsBet Stadium on April 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)[/caption] Worst finish: 3rd They trail the Cowboys by just under 60 for-and-against points, which means that if they lose and the Cowboys win, they’ll finish third regardless and face the Cowboys in Townsville in Week 1. NORTH QUEENSLAND Best finish: 2nd Just winning against the Panthers won’t be enough now – the Cowboys also need the Sharks to lose to Newcastle to return to the place they held for most of the year. Other option: 3rd If the Cowboys lose but Parramatta win, a far superior for-and-against margin will keep North Queensland ahead of the Eels and set up a trip to Cronulla. [caption id="attachment_117773" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Reuben Cotter of the Cowboys looks on during the round 10 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, on May 15, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)[/caption] Worst finish: 4th A loss for the Cowboys leaves them open to a further slide, with an inferior points differential meaning that if the Cowboys lose and Melbourne secure victory over Parramatta, the Cowboys will finish fourth and face the Panthers in consecutive weeks. MELBOURNE Best finish: 3rd If the Storm can beat Parramatta they’ll have secured a spot in the top four – but if Penrith can beat the Cowboys, Melbourne could end up in third place at the end of the round and face a trip to PointsBet instead of BlueBet in the first week of the finals. Other option: 4th If the Storm win but the Cowboys also win, the Storm will remain where they are. [caption id="attachment_122017" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Tui Kamikamica of the Storm is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during the round 23 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, on August 19, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Other option: 5th If the Storm lose to Parramatta. Worst finish: 6th It’s hugely unlikely but remotely possible – if the Eels put together one of the attacking showcases they’re capable of and pile on Melbourne and the Roosters do the same to the Rabbitohs (we’re talking 30-point margins), the Tri-colours could end up leaping the Storm. PARRAMATTA Best finish: 4th It’s a straightforward equation – if the Eels beat the Storm on Thursday, they’ll secure fourth place and a second shot at glory. Other option: 5th The other highly-unlikely scenario for the upcoming games. If the Eels lose to Melbourne, the only way they’ll stay in fifth place is if the Roosters and Rabbitohs play out a draw. [caption id="attachment_21049" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 03: Junior Paulo of the Eels runs the ball during the round one NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos at Pirtek Stadium on March 3, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] Worst finish: 6th The Eels have the second-worst points differential in the top eight, which means that if they lose to Melbourne, they’ll also be overtaken by the winner of the Roosters v Rabbitohs game. SYDNEY ROOSTERS Best finish: 5th If the Roosters can overcome South Sydney and Melbourne can beat Parramatta, a superior for-and-against will take the Tri-colours over the Eels and into fifth place. Other option: 6th If the Roosters beat South Sydney and Parramatta manage to overthrow Melbourne, the Storm’s far superior points differential will likely leave the Roosters in sixth – barring some absolute blowouts on the scoreboard. [caption id="attachment_49402" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 06: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of the Roosters celebrates winning the 2019 NRL Grand Final match between the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)[/caption] Worst finish: 7th If the Roosters lose to the Rabbitohs, they’ll only fall one spot, but will suddenly become the away team in an Elimination game against the Eels or South Sydney. SOUTH SYDNEY Best finish: 5th Just like the Roosters, if South Sydney can score a win over their oldest rivals and Melbourne can beat the Eels, South Sydney will finish in fifth place. [caption id="attachment_85092" align="alignnone" width="696"] TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 15: Keaon Koloamatangi of the Rabbitohs is tackled during the round 14 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at QCB Stadium on August 15, 2020 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)[/caption] Other option: 6th If the Bunnies can beat the tri-colours but Parramatta end up victorious on Thursday, they’ll get to host the Roosters just a week after their last meeting. Worst finish: 7th South Sydney are already as low as they can go. If they lose to the Roosters, it won't affect their standing. CANBERRA Best finish: 8th It’s a simple equation, win and you’re in. If the Raiders and Broncos BOTH lose, Canberra are still in pole position pending a disastrous collapse. Worst finish: 9th If they lose, and Brisbane win, the Raiders’ year – and remarkable late-season run – ends in disappointment. [caption id="attachment_117775" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Raiders celebrate a Brad Schneider try during the round 10 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium, on May 15, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)[/caption] BRISBANE Best finish: 8th If the Raiders lose, a terrible for-and-against compounded by two terrible losses means the Broncos still need to win to make the finals. Worst finish: 9th If Brisbane lose, it’s all over. But even if they win, they still need Canberra to slip up to secure the finals spot they seemed to have locked up just a few weeks ago. [caption id="attachment_117777" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 13: Adam Reynolds of the Broncos runs with the ball during the round 10 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, on May 13, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption]