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NRL Round 27 ladder and finals scenarios live: What each game means, every team’s finishing position

Follow the last run to the finals live this weekend. 👇

Published by
Scott Pryde

The final weekend of the NRL season is underway, and the race for the final spots in the top eight is on.

Zero Tackle will update this article throughout the course of the weekend with updates after each game on the final ladder, the status of each team and who is playing in the finals.

To check how things stood before Round 27 and what your team needed to do, as well as how every game could impact the ladder, click here.

Below is the status of each game and what it means for the final ladder. Scroll to the end of the article for the live ladder, and every team's best and worst case finishing position.

2023-08-31T09:50:00Z
Suncorp Stadium
BRI
22
FT
32
MEL
Crowd: 43,271

Melbourne's victory in the opening game of Round 27 means the Broncos have failed to win the minor premiership after the Penrith Panthers picked up a win on Saturday. Instead, the Broncos finish second and will play a home qualifying final.

Melbourne, through their win and a New Zealand Warriors lost, have finished in third spot, setting up another clash between these two sides next week.

2023-09-01T08:00:00Z
4 Pines Park
MAN
54
FT
12
WST
Crowd: 16,503

A mammoth win for the Sea Eagles on Friday evening means the Tigers are resigned to their second straight wooden spoon.

The Sea Eagles were locked into 12th spot prior to the weekend getting underway and finish what has been a disappointing season there on the back of two straight wins.

2023-09-01T10:00:00Z
Accor Stadium
SOU
12
FT
26
SYD
Crowd: 35,263

The South Sydney Rabbitohs' season is over after they fell short on Friday against the Roosters. The loser of this game was always going to be eliminated regardless of other results.

The Roosters, on the back of their win, and a loss for the Cowboys on Saturday, are into the finals.

2023-09-02T05:00:00Z
Suncorp Stadium
DOL
34
FT
10
NZW
Crowd: 35,438

Saturday's first game saw an understrength Warriors side beaten by the Dolphins. It means the Warriors are fourth, and will now be tasked with playing the Penrith Panthers next weekend.

The Dolphins, on the other hand, will escape the bottom four if the Titans either lose, or win by less than 19 points tomorrow over the Bulldogs.

2023-09-02T07:30:00Z
BlueBet Stadium
PEN
44
FT
12
NQL
Crowd: 21,525

With the Storm knocking the Broncos over on Thursday, a full strength Penrith side knocked over the Cowboys on Saturday to ensure they would win the minor premiership and host the New Zealand Warriors next weekend.

The Cowboys, on the other hand, fell short in their task to pick up a win and make the finals, and will instead miss the top eight.

2023-09-02T09:35:00Z
Netstrata Jubilee
STI
12
FT
32
NEW
Crowd: 10,137

While there wasn't a great deal riding on Saturday evening's clash at Kogarah, the Knights' win means they have locked up fifth spot on the NRL table.

The Knights will now either play the Sydney Roosters if the Sharks beat the Raiders on Sunday, or the Sharks if Cronulla lose to Canberra.

2023-09-03T04:00:00Z
Cbus Super Stadium
GLD
34
FT
30
CAN
Crowd: 14,942

This is the second game in Round 27 without anything at all riding on it. The Titans only need to match the Dolphins (which has become a lot tougher after the Dolphins beat the Warriors comprehensively on Saturday) to avoid a trip into the bottom four, while the Bulldogs can't move from 15th spot on the table.

2023-09-03T06:05:00Z
PointsBet Stadium
CRO
24
FT
6
CBR
Crowd: 12,750

Both of these sides are now locked into the finals after other results this weekend.

The winner of this game hosts the other elimination final alongside the Knights, so there is plenty on the line in the final game of the season.

If Cronulla lose, they will travel to Canberra next week. If the Raiders lose, they finish eighth and play the Knights.

After the Panthers and Cowboys clash, the ladder reads:

PWLPTS+/-
1MEL2419544243
2PEN2417740186
3SYD2416838275
4CRO2416838222
5NQL241593689
6CAN2414103496
7MAN24131033113
8NEW24121230-40

Every team's best and worst case finishing position

Penrith Panthers

Confirmed finish: 1st

Brisbane Broncos

Confirmed finish: 2nd

Melbourne Storm

Confirmed finish: 3rd

New Zealand Warriors

Confirmed finish: 4th

Newcastle Knights

Confirmed finish: 5th

Cronulla Sharks

Best case finish: 6th
Worst case finish: 7th

Sydney Roosters

Best case finish: 7th
Worst case finish: 8th

Canberra Raiders

Best case finish: 6th
Worst case finish: 8th

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Confirmed finish: 9th

Parramatta Eels

Confirmed finish: 10th

North Queensland Cowboys

Confirmed finish: 11th

Manly Sea Eagles

Confirmed finish: 12th

The Dolphins

Best case finish: 13th
Worst case finish: 14th

Gold Coast Titans

Best case finish: 13th
Worst case finish: 14th

Canterbury Bulldogs

Confirmed finish: 15th

St George Illawarra Dragons

Confirmed finish: 16th

Wests Tigers

Confirmed finish: 17th

As it stands after the Panthers and Cowboys game, the Week 1 finals fixtures will be:

Qualifying final 1: Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors at BlueBet Stadium
Qualifying final 2: Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium
Elimination final 1: Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium
Elimination final 2: Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters at PointsBet Stadium

Published by
Scott Pryde