NRL Round 1 Preview | Get Ready for Round 1 2026

Are we witnessing a dynasty in the making for the Broncos?

All teams start on zero Premiership points, but the NRL betting odds suggest something a little different. Obviously, we see the 2025 Premiers, the Broncos, most likely (according to the odds) to win the Premiership in 2026.

The Broncos look to have a fairly stable lineup in 2026. They have the same key players and no notable injuries. It will be interesting to see how Payne Haas' signing with the Rabbitohs impacts the team. But Haas will be sticking around this season, so it’s difficult to see the Broncos anywhere but the top eight.

As always, the Penrith Panthers are a major contender, and what are the chances they absolutely bomb the start as they did in their 2025 campaign? Most sports betting apps have the Panthers as the second favourites for the Premiership.

Panthers fans will be breathing a sigh of relief as star halfback Cleary got his high tackle charge in the pre-season challenge game against the Tigers downgraded to a fine. This means he is clear to play in Round 1.

And who can discount the Melbourne Storm for the Premiership? The Storm were so close last year, going down to the Broncos 22-26 in the Grand Final. They have stability with coach Craig Bellamy remaining at the helm, but this isn’t the case for some of their players.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is certainly the biggest loss as the fullback has “retired” from the game. Xavier Coates is also injured and is set to miss the first couple of months of the 2026 season. Plus, whatever is going on with all that Zac Lomax drama! There are certainly a lot of distractions at the Storm right now.

The Pack: Who’s ready to surprise and make a run?

The likes of the Manly Sea Eagles and Dolphins just missed out on the top eight last season. Are they ready to push into a finals berth in 2026? Manly have lost their prized possession of Daly Cherry-Evans this season, but they do gain Jamal Fogarty from the Canberra Raiders.

For the Dolphins, Thomas Flegler is back from injury, which is a massive boost. Plus, Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo makes the switch to Redcliffe. The Dolphins seem to have found consistency with coach Kristian Woolf, and this could very well be the year that they make the Finals.

I know it was just the pre-season challenge, but I do have my eye on the Wests Tigers as well. Last year, they showed improvement, but that was just the centre with all the new players entering the squad. Now, it’s time for the main course!

Coach Benji Marshall is committed (until 2030!), and whatever was happening in-house with the board seems to have died down. So, let the players (and the coach) just focus on the footy, shall we? Seeing them make it to the top eight wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

Wooden Spoon Watch: Can the Knights and Titans get off the bottom?

The Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans both finished on 18 Premiership points last season. Both teams have new coaches, with Justin Holbrook joining the Knights late in the 2025 season and Josh Hannay joining the Titans for the 2026 season.

For the Knights, it is all eyes on Kaylan Ponga and whether he can stay injury-free. They have also brought on the likes of Dylan Brown and Sandon Smith to the squad. A lot of players, including David Fifita, have left the Titans, so this could be yet another rebuilding year.

The Eels and Rabbitohs also didn’t fare well in 2025, and it’s looking like more of the same in 2026. So much off-field drama for the Eels, including the Lomax scandal that has seemingly dragged out forever, and now the images of Isaiah Iongi appearing to smoke a substance (which is to be investigated by the NRL Integrity Unit).

For the Rabbitohs, 2025 was just injury after injury. I don’t know who keeps stabbing coach Wayne Bennett’s voodoo doll, but the team has been struck with more injuries in 2026. They do pick up David Fifita, but will be without several key players for Round 1. This includes the likes of Brandon Smith, Jamie Humphreys, and Jai Arrow.