Penrith's golden premiership run was finally ended in 2025 as Brisbane toppled them in a preliminary final before ending their 19-year title drought with a win over Melbourne in the grand final.
The Broncos will become the hunted next season, with the Storm seeking redemption after two successive defeats in the decider. However, the Panthers are certain to be back in the mix.
At the opposite end of the scale, Justin Holbrook has his work cut out for him after taking over Newcastle.
And Josh Hannay will also start near the bottom with Gold Coast as the rookie coach attempts to drag the Titans out of the doldrums following a poor period under their former coach Des Hasler.
The Sporting News provides the latest premiership betting odds for the 2026 NRL season.
MORE: See how the bookies' predictions for the 2025 NRL season panned out
Where will your NRL club finish in 2026?
Penrith rode roughshod over the rest of the competition for four straight years, before they were beaten by the Broncos, who then went on with the job in the GF.
Michael Maguire's have been installed as equal favourites for the 2026 premiership, with the bookies predicting a possible grand final rematch with the Storm being in the offing.
The Panthers have been priced just slightly behind the two leading contenders, while the Sydney Roosters sit a little further behind Ivan Cleary's side.
Canterbury shot out of the blocks in 2025 and claimed top spot on the ladder before experiencing a disappoiting end to their campaign. The Bulldogs are positioned in sixth place in the bookies' reckoning.
Canberra were famously priced as the least likely club to win the premiership last season, but proved the doubters wrong and then some as they romped to the minor premiership.
After bowing out of the finals in straight sets, the Raiders have been priced at $14 to litle the trophy in 2026.
There is some good value to be found in the middle-placed teams, with Cronulla and the Dolphins available at between $19-$20.
Manly were ranked as the fifth favourites in 2025 but flattered to deceive as they missed out on the top-eight. The bookies have reacted to this failure by dropping them down to being heavy outsiders.
The Sea Eagles are joined at $41 by the Wests Tigers, while the Gold Coast and St George Illawarra are expected to be way off the pace once again in 2026.
Newcastle, who picked up the wooden spoon last season, are priced at $61 for the premiership for the second year in a row, only this time that sees them ranked as the least likely team to claim silverware in 2026.
NRL premiership odds, betting favourites for 2026
Odds per bookmaker Sportsbet, as of 10 October, 2025.
| Team | Odds |
| Brisbane Broncos | $5.50 |
| Melbourne Storm | $5.50 |
| Penrith Panthers | $6.00 |
| Sydney Roosters | $8.00 |
| Canterbury Bulldogs | $12.00 |
| Canberra Raiders | $14.00 |
| Cronulla Sharks | $19.00 |
| Dolphins | $20.00 |
| New Zealand Warriors | $23.00 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | $26.00 |
| Parramatta Eels | $26.00 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | $26.00 |
| Manly Sea Eagles | $41.00 |
| Wests Tigers | $41.00 |
| Gold Coast Titans | $56.00 |
| St George Illawarra Dragons | $56.00 |
| Newcastle Knights | $61.00 |
When does the 2026 NRL season start?
The 2026 NRL season will kick off on Sunday, March 1 (AEDT) with a double-header in Las Vegas.
The Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons will meet at Allegiant Stadium, while the Newcastle Knights and North Queensland Cowboys will also lock horns.