NRL Results 2026: Finals Scores, Round 27 and Every Warriors Result

NRL results for 2026: finals scores as they happen, how Round 27 decided the ladder, season stats and every Warriors result from Round 1 to Round 27.

Blog Rugby League & NRL

by Declan Ashworth

1 week ago 441

The 2026 NRL regular season finished on Sunday 6 September, and the finals kicked off five days later. This page keeps a running record of the finals scoreboard, recaps how the 27-round regular season played out in numbers, and lists every New Zealand Warriors game from the opening round to their finals exit — the questions Kiwi readers ask us about most.

For the full table and how the standings were separated, see our NRL ladder 2026 page, and for every knockout date and New Zealand kick-off time, the NRL finals 2026 guide has the schedule.

Key points

The regular season ended on Sunday 6 September 2026; the Warriors were knocked out of the finals on 20 September.
Penrith won the minor premiership on 42 points (+336); the Warriors finished second, also on 42 points (+310).
The Warriors scored 728 points — more than any other side — and won 18 of their 24 games.
Alex Johnston and Thomas Jenkins shared the try lead on 30 each; Jamayne Isaako topped the points with 298.
The 2026 grand final is set for Sunday 4 October at Accor Stadium, Sydney.

NRL finals results 2026

We update this table after each finals match; all scores shown are final. The Warriors’ campaign ended in the second week of the finals after a qualifying-final loss to the Dolphins and a semi-final defeat to Newcastle. Times below are New Zealand dates.

Match	Teams	Date (NZ)	Result
Elimination final	Rabbitohs v Knights	Fri 11 Sep	Knights 20–10
Qualifying final	Warriors v Dolphins	Sat 12 Sep	Dolphins 26–16
Elimination final	Sharks v Cowboys	Sat 12 Sep	Sharks 26–16
Qualifying final	Panthers v Roosters	Sun 13 Sep	Panthers 19–12
Semi-final	Roosters v Sharks	Sat 19 Sep	Roosters 46–10
Semi-final	Warriors v Knights	Sun 20 Sep	Knights 12–10
Preliminary final	Dolphins v Roosters	Fri 25 Sep	—
Preliminary final	Panthers v Knights	Sun 27 Sep	—
Grand final	To be confirmed	Sun 4 Oct	—

Preliminary finals: the Dolphins host the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium and Penrith host the Knights at Accor Stadium. The grand final is set for Sunday 4 October at Accor Stadium, Sydney. Semi-final and preliminary-final pairings follow the NRL’s fixed top-eight system.

How the regular season finished

Round 27 decided first place. Penrith beat Wests Tigers 38–10 to finish on 42 points with a points differential of +336, while the Warriors needed a late field goal to edge Manly 31–30 in Auckland and finished level on 42 points but with +310. That win also stretched the Warriors’ unbeaten run to six games going into the finals.

2026 NRL in numbers

Figure	What it was
728	Points scored by the Warriors — the most of any team
30	Tries each for Alex Johnston and Thomas Jenkins, the joint top try-scorers
298	Points for Jamayne Isaako, the leading point-scorer
52–4	Storm over Eels in Round 1 — the biggest home win
45,719	Crowd at the Las Vegas season opener (Knights v Cowboys)

The season had opened in Las Vegas, where Newcastle and North Queensland drew 45,719 to Allegiant Stadium in Round 1. Alex Johnston passed Ken Irvine’s long-standing career try record of 212 in Round 2, and St George Illawarra, with five wins, collected the wooden spoon for the first time in the club’s history.

Warriors results 2026: every round

The Warriors won 18 of their 24 matches. They never lost three in a row — their worst runs were back-to-back defeats in Rounds 4–5 and single losses in Rounds 13 and 15 either side of a bye — and they closed the regular season with six straight wins.

Round	Date	Match	Result	Venue
1	6 Mar	Warriors 42–18 Roosters	Won	Auckland
2	13 Mar	Warriors 40–6 Raiders	Won	Auckland
3	21 Mar	Knights 12–38 Warriors	Won	Newcastle
4	27 Mar	Warriors 14–32 Wests Tigers	Lost	Auckland
5	5 Apr	Sharks 36–22 Warriors	Lost	Cronulla
6	11 Apr	Storm 14–38 Warriors	Won	Melbourne
7	18 Apr	Warriors 28–20 Titans	Won	Auckland
8	25 Apr	Warriors 20–18 Dolphins	Won	Wellington
9	2 May	Eels 14–36 Warriors	Won	Sydney
10	—	Bye	—	—
11	17 May	Warriors 42–12 Broncos	Won	Brisbane
12	23 May	Dragons 12–30 Warriors	Won	Sydney
13	31 May	Panthers 20–18 Warriors	Lost	Sydney
14	—	Bye	—	—
15	13 Jun	Warriors 8–10 Sharks	Lost	Auckland
16	21 Jun	Warriors 38–20 Cowboys	Won	Christchurch
17	27 Jun	Dolphins 26–24 Warriors	Lost	Brisbane
18	—	Bye	—	—
19	10 Jul	Wests Tigers 6–32 Warriors	Won	Sydney
20	18 Jul	Warriors 20–12 Dragons	Won	Auckland
21	25 Jul	Bulldogs 18–6 Warriors	Lost	Sydney
22	1 Aug	Titans 6–42 Warriors	Won	Gold Coast
23	7 Aug	Warriors 28–12 Panthers	Won	Auckland
24	15 Aug	Broncos 6–40 Warriors	Won	Brisbane
25	22 Aug	Rabbitohs 26–45 Warriors	Won	Sydney
26	30 Aug	Warriors 46–32 Knights	Won	Auckland
27	5 Sep	Warriors 31–30 Sea Eagles	Won	Auckland

Warriors 2026 regular-season results. Rounds 10, 14 and 18 were byes.

What the Warriors’ results tell you

Half of the six losses were by two points: 18–20 to Penrith, 8–10 to Cronulla and 24–26 to the Dolphins. The heavier defeats came early — 14–32 at home to Wests Tigers and 22–36 in Cronulla — plus a 6–18 loss to Canterbury in Round 21. From Round 6 onwards they lost only four more times, and they beat Penrith 28–12 in Auckland the only time the top two met on New Zealand soil.

The venues were spread wide. Home games were played in Auckland, Wellington — the Anzac Day meeting with the Dolphins drew 34,812 — and Christchurch, with an average home crowd just under 25,600.

Form counted for little once the finals arrived. The Warriors had beaten Newcastle twice in the regular season, 38–12 in Round 3 and 46–32 in Round 26, but the Knights edged the semi-final in front of 48,511 at Eden Park to end New Zealand’s season. The qualifying-final loss to the Dolphins had already pushed them into that sudden-death week.

Reading results as a punter

Results are the raw material for every NRL market, but a scoreline on its own can mislead. A few habits help, and our NRL betting tips guide goes further:

Look at margins, not just wins. Narrow wins are less repeatable than big ones, which is why points differential is a better guide than the win-loss column.
Check who played. A result posted without a key half or hooker is weak evidence for the next game; our NRL team lists guide explains when line-ups are confirmed.
Remember the line. In handicap markets what matters is the margin against the line, not the raw result; the betting lines guide shows how line bets settle.

Responsible gambling and legal note

This page is general sports information for readers aged 18 and over. It is not betting, financial or legal advice, and it does not encourage anyone to gamble. Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator legally allowed to offer online racing and sports betting to people in New Zealand.

If gambling is causing harm for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006. The Problem Gambling Foundation also offers free counselling.

Reference sources

Frequently asked questions

How did the Warriors go in the 2026 NRL finals?

They finished second in the regular season but went out in straight sets — a 26–16 qualifying-final loss to the Dolphins on 12 September, then a 12–10 semi-final defeat to Newcastle at Eden Park on 20 September.

Who won the last round of the 2026 NRL regular season?

Penrith beat Wests Tigers 38–10 to claim the minor premiership, while the Warriors beat Manly 31–30 with a late field goal to finish second on the same points.