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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.