NRL Preliminary Final

The preliminary finals decide the Grand Final. The two qualifying final winners host, having gone straight through and had a week off, and each faces a semi final winner that has had to win its way there. Win and you play off for the premiership. Lose and you finish one game short, which is the hardest way to end a season. The rest and the home ground matter here more than in any other week of the year. We tip both games with the reasoning behind each call.

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NRL Preliminary Final Tips

How the 2026 preliminary finals went

The Roosters beat the Dolphins 36-20 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 25 September. Newcastle beat Penrith 22-14 at Accor Stadium on Sunday 27 September, playing the last 44 minutes with 12 men after Phoenix Crossland was sent off. The Dolphins and Penrith are out. The Roosters and Newcastle meet in the Grand Final on Sunday 4 October.

The write ups: Dolphins vs Roosters and Panthers vs Knights. Next: our Roosters vs Knights Grand Final prediction.

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