GET READY FOR ROUND 26 - All You Need to Know Before Kick-off

Boy, what a week it has been in the NRL. So much news and developing stories right across the board. From injuries to signings, comebacks, and even COVID, what isn’t happening in the NRL right now? The BettingTop10 team goes through all the latest news, so you’re ready for kick-off in Round 26!

This is getting juicy! The Sydney Roosters’ shock loss to the Wests Tigers last time out has created a three-way tie for the Minor Premiership. The New Zealand Warriors are currently occupying top spot thanks to their better points differential. 

Then, it’s the Penrith Panthers and Roosters. Looking at the Premiership odds in the NRL betting markets, however, they still have the Panthers on top, with the Roosters and Warriors close behind. At the very least, a top-two finish is important, so one of these teams will miss out.

All three sides are currently grappling with injuries/ suspensions to key players. For the Warriors, Luke Metcalf looks set to miss the rest of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Plus, they lost Dallin Watene-Zelezniak due to a broken collarbone (he still managed to score a try before going off, though!).

Looking at the Panthers now, Jack Cogger is suspended until the finals. He joins both Isaah Yeo and Mitch Kenny on the sidelines, probably until the finals as well. Coach Ivan Cleary also indicated he won’t be resting players due to how close the Minor Premiership is.

It’s all about James Tedesco's fitness for the Roosters. We haven’t seen the Roosters’ captain since Round 25, and it looked like they really needed him last time out in the one-point loss to the Tigers. Could the star be back this week?

And speaking of the Roosters, former Chook Joey Manu, who left in 2024 to play rugby union, is back! But not with the Roosters. Manu is officially a PNG Chief, becoming signing number 007 for the club.

The Canterbury Bulldogs come up against the Panthers this round, and need to win this clash as they are on the outside looking in for finals contention. However, they haven’t had the easiest week in preparation for this game.

Reports are that illness is sweeping through the Bulldogs squad, and that up to 10 players didn’t train on Monday. Yep, that’s right, COVID is back with a vengeance, and apparently it doesn’t want the Bulldogs to play finals!

Out of the 10 players struck down with COVID, the likes of Jacob Preston, Josh Curran and Kurt Mann are some of the key names. Even a full-strength Bulldog would probably find it hard to beat the Panthers, so it’ll be interesting to see who runs onto the field for this game.

I feel like I mention this every week, but could this week finally be the time Latrell Mitchell graces us with his presence? The South Sydney Rabbitohs are clinging onto a top-eight spot (currently in seventh), so they could use all the help they can get.

Coach Wayne Bennett is confident the star will make his long-awaited return, but he will be coming off the bench for this game. We haven’t seen Mitchell since Round 11, and he has only played a handful of games this season, so it’s important to get him into the groove again before finals roll around.

It was the upset of the season: the Tigers, who were paying $9.30 to beat the Roosters last round, ended up winning! That win means it’s now a two-horse race for the wooden spoon (between the Gold Coast Titans and the St. George Illawarra Dragons).

Honestly, it’s probably going to the Dragons, but at least they are ending the season a lot stronger than they started. The team has made a lot of moves in recent weeks to bolster their pack for 2027 as well, so watch this space!

Another team that is off wooden spoon watch are the Brisbane Broncos. That’s probably not much consolation considering the injury news coming out of the squad this week. Firstly, star halfback Adam Reynolds has played his last game.

He doesn’t get his farewell appearance for Brisbane as he is unable to overcome his calf issue. The Broncos play the Storm as the first game of this round, which is a rematch of the 2025 Grand Final. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

On top of the Reynolds news, Reece Walsh's season is over (and he is in doubt for the Rugby League World Cup as well). Walsh has undergone ankle surgery and is looking at about eight weeks on the sidelines. Australia’s first World Cup clash is with New Zealand on October 15.