The Penrith Panthers are back on top after eight straight wins, while the Broncos are peaking at the right time ahead of an acid test against the Storm and the jury is out on the Bulldogs.
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Read on four our Power Rankings ahead of Round 23!
1. PENRITH PANTHERS (ladder: 5)
Last week’s rank: (2nd, up one spot)
Analysis: The Panthers were in last place early in the season, but they are well and truly back on track in their title defence after their eighth straight win, that has them back on top of the Power Rankings. The Panthers’ 30-26 win over the Titans was anything but convincing after they nearly blew a 24-0 lead, but Nathan Cleary helped get them out of jail with a little help from the Panthers trainer. Penrith next face the Knights, who ironically were the last team to beat them 10 rounds ago, as they push for a top four finish. But even if they fall short, given they have won four straight titles, no one will want to face them come finals time.
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2. CANBERRA RAIDERS (ladder: 1)
Last week’s rank: (1st, down one spot)
Analysis: The Raiders missed out on a 10th straight victory after an upset 18-12 loss to the Dragons ended their winning streak and knocked them off the top of the Power Rankings. However, it is hardly panic stations for Ricky Stuart, whose team are still favourites for the minor premiership. The knock on the Raiders is that they have had an easier fixtures list at times, but you can only beat who is in front of you and they have proven themselves the most consistent team in 2025. Whether their young guns can get it done in the pressure-cooker of finals remains to be seen, but they are deserved leaders of the competition and can get back in the winner’s circle in a home clash with the Sea Eagles next up.
3. MELBOURNE STORM (ladder: 2)
Last week’s rank: (3rd, no movement)
Analysis: The Storm were not at their best in a 16-10 win over the Eels, but as they so often do they got the job done to move back to second on the ladder. However, the loss of Jahrome Hughes until the finals will prove costly especially against the top teams like the Broncos, who they face in Round 23 and they need their No.7 back to go all the way. The Storm have been unusually inconsistent in 2025, but they remain premiership favourites given their experience and class across the paddock. A clash with the Broncos this week will be crucial as they aim to cement their top two spot. Provided they can get to the finals in good shape physically, the Storm have the most class players to go all the way, but they would like a top two finish and a home final in week one.
Dogs livid with Tigers ‘derogatory’ cele | 00:43
4. BRISBANE BRONCOS (ladder: 6)
Last week’s rank: (5th, up one spot)
Analysis: The Broncos bounced back from their loss to the Eels to thrash the injury-hit Rabbitohs 60-14 to improve their points differential and keep their top four hopes alive. Michael Maguire finally has his first choice spine available with Ben Hunt back to join Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in arguably the best spine in the NRL on paper. But the Broncos need to show they can click against the top teams and not just the cellar dwellers and the loss of Xavier Willison to a broken arm could prove crucial. The Broncos’ acid test will be playing the Storm twice in the final month of the regular season, which will show where their title credentials are at.
5. CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (ladder: 3)
Last week’s rank: (4th, down one spot)
Analysis: The Bulldogs missed a golden chance to regain top spot on the ladder after a shock 28-14 loss to the Tigers, with their struggles in wet weather football again exposed. The Bulldogs are one of the best defensive teams in the NRL and deserve to finish in the top four. But the mid-season signing of Lachlan Galvin and his rise to halfback has resulted in some growing pains for the team, but there are signs they are coming out of that a more dangerous attacking side. However, the loss of Connor Tracey is a big blow to their title charge. The Bulldogs face the Warriors next up in a match that will prove crucial in the top four race.
6. CRONULLA SHARKS (ladder: 7)
Last week’s rank: (6th, no movement)
Analysis: After a mid-season slump the Sharks have now won four straight after their 32-12 victory over the Cowboys. The opposition were awful, but the Sharks now have their destiny in their own hands. They next face their arch rivals the Dragons amid a soft draw in the final five weeks of the regular season and they look to be timing their run well. With Nicho Hynes finding form in the halves and Addin Fonua-Blake leading the charge up front, the Sharks are still a smokey for the title. Craig Fitzgibbon knows what it takes to win and he will have his team ready to give it a shake come September once they get there.
7. DOLPHINS (ladder: 8)
Last week’s rank: (8th, up one spot)
Analysis: The Dolphins cemented their spot in the top eight with a crucial last ditch 20-18 win over the Warriors that could see them make their finals bow. Their massive positive points differential of plus 171 means they can beat multiple teams to a maiden finals berth if they can just keep winning starting with a huge clash against the Roosters next up that could decide which of the two teams makes the top eight. In Isaiya Katoa and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the Dolphins have two of the best attacking weapons in the game and they will be a nightmare opposition to face if they sneak into the finals.
“He knew what he was doing!” | 01:23
8. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (ladder: 4)
Last week’s rank: (7th, down one spot)
Analysis: The Warriors have lost two on the trot after they blew a late lead against a 12-man Dolphins in a 20-18 loss that puts their top four spot in jeopardy. The Warriors are one of only four teams to win 12 games this season and they deserve their top four spot, but the loss of their halfback Luke Metcalf for the season has thrown their title credentials into doubt. Tanah Boyd has been solid but struggled in their losses to the Dolphins and Titans. The Warriors face a huge test against the Bulldogs next up, but they have a soft draw in the remaining five weeks, which should see them finish in the top four. However, bigger battles await in the finals and it remains to be seen if they have the class in the halves to match the elite teams come finals time.
9. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (ladder: 9)
Last week’s rank: (9th, no movement)
Analysis: The Roosters snapped a two game losing streak with their 20-4 win over the Sea Eagles to keep them in the hunt for the top eight. The Roosters are right in the finals mix, but their poor points differential compared to the Dolphins will make it hard for them to crack the top eight. Their next game against the Dolphins could decide both club’s finals hopes. James Tedesco is on track to win the Dally M Medal and Sam Walker is back from injury, so the Roosters have the class to not only make the finals, but do some damage if they get there. But a tough run home sees them play the Storm twice and the Bulldogs, which could mean they have left their run too late. And Souths will be targeting their last round fixture like a grand final after their horror year.
Doueihi masterclass as Tigers down Dogs | 02:30
10. MANLY SEA EAGLES (ladder: 10)
Last week’s rank: (10th, down one spot)
Analysis: Manly have now lost two on the trot after their 20-4 loss to the Roosters and now face an uphill battle to play finals. Manly have lost their best forward Haumole Olakau’atu to a season-ending injury and a tough run home will make it hard for them to get back in the top eight. Any team with Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic in it will be hard to handle come finals time, but the challenge will be getting there. Manly face the Raiders and the resurgent Tigers in the next fortnight and unless they win both it could be lights out for their finals hopes.
11. WESTS TIGERS (ladder: 12)
Last week’s rank: (14th, up three spots)
Analysis: The Tigers have now won three of their last five games after an upset 28-14 win over the Bulldogs to all but guarantee they won’t get a fourth straight wooden spoon. The Tigers can finish the season on a high, albeit without breaking their finals drought. It has been a tumultuous year for the club with two of their best young players in Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva moving on, but they are much improved from the team that won three straight wooden spoons and avoiding the bottom four will be a win this season, given where they have come from. The Tigers have the bye this week, which could see them climb to 11th on the ladder if the Dragons lose, which would be massive given where they finished the last three seasons.
Warriors and Knights win at magic round | 01:27
12. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (ladder: 11)
Last week’s rank: (13th, up one spot)
Analysis: The Dragons snapped the Raiders’ nine game winning streak with a 18-12 win and broke a string of close losses in a row in the process. The Dragons have been competitive this season, but a mixture of a horror casualty ward and a lack of class players in key positions has hurt them, but they are hanging tough. The loss of Jaydn Su’A to a knee injury has further tested their dwindling forwards depth and it appears a long season could catch up with them. With a tough list of remaining fixtures starting with the Sharks and Warriors in the next fortnight, the Dragons will do well to avoid the bottom five.
13. PARRAMATTA EELS (ladder: 15)
Last week’s rank: (12th, up one spot)
Analysis: The Eels backed up their upset win over the Broncos with a close 16-10 loss to the Storm. Melbourne thrashed the Eels 56-18 in Round 1, which shows how far they have come under Jason Ryles this season. The club would be thinking what might have been if Mitchell Moses didn’t miss most of the season through injury. Moses is in career best form, while Dean Hawkins and Joash Papalii have been strong in the absence of star fullback Isaiah Iongi. Ryles deserves plenty of credit for not being afraid to make the tough decisions like dropping Knights bound playmaker Dylan Brown. The Eels face the struggling Cowboys next and can cause a few upsets in the last five rounds to break out of the bottom four.
Sharks make light work of Cowboys | 01:45
14. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (ladder: 13)
Last week’s rank: (11th, down three spots)
Analysis: The Cowboys were woeful in their 32-12 loss to the Sharks and unless they turn things around soon, they are not out of the woods for the wooden spoon. Todd Payten’s side have the worst defence in the NRL with a points differential of minus 177, but their draw means they will just do enough to stay off the bottom of the ladder. With a tough away clash against the in form Eels next up, things could get worse before they get better amid a tough list of fixtures to finish the season. Payten is under pressure and fighting for his job and Tom Dearden can’t do everything for the side, who just don’t seem like they want to tackle.
15. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (ladder: 14)
Last week’s rank: (15th, no movement)
Analysis: The Knights had the bye last round after their 44-18 loss to the Raiders, but they are not out of the woods in the tight race to the spoon. Newcastle have now lost their last four straight and face the Panthers on an eight game winning streak next up. Ironically, the Knights were the last team to beat the Panthers, but a lot has changed since then. Kalyn Ponga has committed himself to the club, but won’t play again until 2026, while the club have struggled in the halves for some time. But $13 million recruit Dylan Brown turned down the chance to join the club sooner, despite being dropped by the Eels. Given the players they have out, the Knights are a real chance of winning the spoon and Adam O’Brien is under pressure to keep his job beyond this season.
Luai and Galvin hug it out | 00:31
16. GOLD COAST TITANS (ladder: 16)
Last week’s rank: (16th, no movement)
Analysis: The Titans are finally showing signs of life after they backed up their win over the Warriors with a narrow 26-30 loss to the Panthers that was full of controversy. However, the Titans trailed 24-0, before nearly coming back to snatch it and still have too many deficiencies in their defence. The Titans remain one of the leading candidates to win the wooden spoon and they face a tough run of fixtures. Their next clash against the Rabbitohs could decide the spoon race.
17. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (ladder: 17)
Last week’s rank: (17th, no movement)
Analysis: The Rabbitohs were brave in the first half before imploding 60-14 to the Broncos to anchor themselves to the bottom of the ladder with the worst points differential in the NRL. Souths’ injury crisis is getting worse each week, with 13 first graders unavailable last week and the club couldn’t even field an 18th man. Wayne Bennett’s side has been battling without the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Campbell Graham and Cameron Murray. The Rabbitohs now face the Titans, Eels and the Dragons in three weeks that will define their season. These clashes will prove crucial in Bennett’s bid to avoid a first wooden spoon in his career in his first season since returning to Souths.
