With finals footy just around the corner, only three rounds remain to determine which clubs will be battling it out deep into September.
Since the introduction of the 27-round NRL season, teams have needed at-least 30-points to secure their spot in the playoffs.
While the Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs have firmly cemented themselves in the upper-half of the top-four, several positions are still wide open.
For others, their championship dreams have come to an end in 2025, leaving only pride to play for in the final rounds.
The Sporting News breaks down which NRL clubs have been ruled out of the finals picture in 2025.
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Wests Tigers - 11th (24 points)
The Wests Tigers' finals dreams ended after a 34-28 loss to the Cowboys, conceding three late tries despite leading by 12 points.
The defeat means the Tigers are mathematically eliminated, extending their drought to 15 years and continuing one of the NRL's longest finals absences.
Benji Marshall's side showed improvement compared to 2024, but inconsistency and late-game collapses again proved their downfall in crucial moments this season.
Their offseason had raised expectations with Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva and Terrell May arriving, yet the squad remains a work in progress under Marshall's new direction.
Parramatta Eels - 12th (24 points)
The Eels spent 2025 in transition, embarking on a full-scale rebuild under rookie head coach Jason Ryles.
A brutal 56-18 opening-round loss to the Storm at AAMI Park gave fans reason to fear a long season, but across the year the side showed glimpses of growth that hint at a brighter long-term future during Ryles' campaign.
Their fortunes hinged largely on the presence of Mitchell Moses. With their star halfback sidelined for 11 games, Parramatta only managed three wins, underlining his influence on the squad.
On the positive side, young talents such as Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith and Kitione Kautoga enjoyed breakout seasons, offering hope for the years ahead.
Ultimately, though, a Round 24 defeat to a struggling Rabbitohs outfit at Allianz Stadium sealed the Eels' fate, officially ending their faint finals aspirations.
South Sydney Rabbitohs - 13th (24 points)
The Rabbitohs have endured a nightmare season, plagued by one of the most devastating injury tolls in recent memory.
The warning signs appeared before round one when skipper Cam Murray was ruled out with a ruptured achilles, setting the tone for the months ahead.
By round 22, Wayne Bennett's side was so depleted they couldn't even field an 18th man in Brisbane, where a 60-14 thrashing at the hands of the Broncos officially ended their finals hopes.
North Queensland Cowboys - 14th (23 points)
The Cowboys 2025 campaign has fallen significantly below the expectations and ambitions that they would've set for themselves in the preseason.
Their defensive issues have consistently undermined their ability to compete with the best teams week-in and week-out.
While the club has a host of representative players and promising young stars, Todd Payten hasn't been able to get them all on the same page.
The final dagger to the heart was their round 23 defeat to Parramatta, where a 79th minute try from Jake Clifford was disallowed due to an obstruction.
That try would have secured the victory and kept their season alive as they were only trailing by one-point.
That disallowed try perfectly encapsulated the Cowboys' year - moments of promise undone in heartbreaking fashion.
St. George Illawarra Dragons - 15th (22 points)
The Dragons entered 2025 with the hopes of ending their seven-year finals drought under Shane Flanagan.
Instead, their season was defined by inconsistency and selection questions, particularly around their halves pairing.
Despite boasting a core of representative-calibre players, their attack too often lacked fluency, and their defence regularly faltered under pressure against stronger opposition.
Their fate was sealed in Round 25, when an injury-riddled Rabbitohs side handed them a 40-0 beating at Accor Stadium.
Ultimately, the Dragons' campaign will be remembered as the year they blooded seven youngsters who will be central to their rebuild.
Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Nathan Lawson, Nick Tsougranis, Hayden Buchanan and Jacob Halangahu all got the nod this year, giving fans some hope to cling to heading into 2026.
Newcastle Knights - 16th (18 points)
The Knights well-documented struggles in attack severely limited their chances of competing for a top-eight spot this season.
Kalyn Ponga's recent recommitment to the club should bring some hope for the Newcastle faithful, but even with their superstar fullback, their performances have been inconsistent.
A 48-12 drubbing at the hands of an in-form Penrith outfit was the final nail in the coffin for the red and blue.
Now eliminated from finals contention, the Knights face a pivotal offseason, with questions mounting about the club's leadership and direction under coach Adam O'Brien.
Gold Coast Titans - 17th (16 points)
Head coach Des Hasler's tenure at the Titans has been a challenging one, with a difficult two-seasons marked by on-field struggles and mounting pressure.
The frustration reached a boiling point after their defeat to the Tigers at Leichhardt, where Hasler launched into the players in a furious post-game spray.
The team's fortunes showed little sign of improvement, as just two weeks later they staged an impressive comeback from 24-points down against the Panthers.
Despite their valiant effort, they ultimately fell short in a controversial golden-point finish against a strong Penrith outfit.
The heartbreaking defeat effectively ended the Titans' hopes of making the finals, leaving Hasler and the club scratching their heads.