NRL Finals Results 2025: Scores, Qualification, and Records

Few things in Australian sport hit quite like the first weekend of the NRL finals — the season’s work, suddenly win-or-go-home. That tension peaked in 2025 when the Brisbane Broncos finally broke a 19-year grand final drought by toppling the Melbourne Storm 26-22 in a match that had everything.

Teams in finals: 8 ·
2025 Grand Final winner: Brisbane Broncos ·
Storm grand final wins (since 1998): 4 ·
Drought broken (2025): 19 years ·
Team yet to win a title: Gold Coast Titans

Who goes into the finals in NRL?

The NRL finals system is straightforward on paper but ruthless in execution. After a 27-round regular season, the top eight teams on the ladder advance to a four-week playoff series that determines the premier.

The current eight-team format has been used continuously since 2012 (Wikipedia (collaborative sports encyclopedia)). Teams ranked first through fourth earn a “double chance” in week one: lose your qualifying final and you get a second shot in week two. Teams ranked fifth through eighth play elimination finals — win or go home.

How many wins do you need to make the NRL finals?

• There is no fixed win total — the number shifts each season based on competition parity.
• Historically, 12–14 wins is the typical range to secure a top-eight spot.
• In the 2025 season, the 8th-placed team finished with 13 wins (Rugby League Project (comprehensive rugby league statistics database)).

The pattern: Since the competition expanded to 17 teams, the cut-off has crept upward. A 50% win rate (13–14 wins in a 27-round season) is now the realistic benchmark. Anything below 12 wins leaves you dependent on other results.

What are the latest NRL finals results?

The 2025 finals series ran across four weekends in September and October (Wikipedia (collaborative sports encyclopedia)). Here is how each week unfolded:

• Week 1 — Qualifying Finals: Melbourne Storm 26–18 Canterbury Bulldogs (Sep 12) — Storm advance, Bulldogs eliminated (Sporting News Australia (sports journalism outlet)).
• Week 1 — Elimination Finals: Canberra Raiders defeated Brisbane Broncos in a tight elimination clash (Sep 14) (Rugby League Project (comprehensive rugby league statistics database)).
• Preliminary Finals: Cronulla Sharks 32–12 Canberra Raiders (Sep 20) — Sharks storm into the grand final qualifier (Sporting News Australia (sports journalism outlet)).
• Grand Final: Brisbane Broncos 26–22 Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium (Oct 5, 7:30 PM AEDT) — Brisbane ends a 19-year title drought (Sporting News Australia (sports journalism outlet)).

Where can I find NRL finals results for today?

Official live scores and full match details are published on NRL.com (the league’s governing body). The NRL website posts real-time score updates, team lists, and match reports for every finals game.

What were the results of yesterday’s finals games?

For the most recent round of finals, the NRL website and dedicated sports outlets such as Sporting News Australia and The Roar publish overnight recaps. Each finals match is also archived on the Rugby League Project (comprehensive rugby league statistics database), a comprehensive statistical database.

How did the 2022 NRL finals end?

The 2022 finals culminated in a Grand Final between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels. Penrith won convincingly, securing their second title in two years and cementing the Panthers’ reputation as the dominant team of the early 2020s.

Which NRL teams have the most grand final wins?

While the NRL itself has only existed since 1998 (the Super League war restructured the competition), the grand final trophy tells a story of dynasties. Some clubs own the big stage; others are still searching.

Three teams, one pattern: Melbourne owns the numbers, but Brisbane just closed the recency gap.

Storm vs Broncos: who has more grand final wins?

• Melbourne Storm have won 4 grand finals in the NRL era (1999, 2012, 2017, 2020). Two of those came after the club’s 2010 salary cap scandal stripped earlier titles.
• Brisbane Broncos have 3 NRL-era titles (1998, 2000, 2006) plus the 2025 victory — their fourth since the competition’s rebranding, though only three are officially counted in the NRL era proper.

Both clubs sit among the elite, but Melbourne’s consistency in reaching grand finals (9 appearances since 1998) is unmatched.

Which NRL teams have never won a grand final?

• Gold Coast Titans — entered the competition in 2007, yet to reach a grand final.
• New Zealand Warriors — one grand final appearance (2011), lost to Manly.
• Cronulla Sharks — finally broke through with their first title in 2016 after 50 years in the competition.

List of NRL grand final winners in the last decade

• 2016: Cronulla Sharks def. Melbourne Storm
• 2017: Melbourne Storm def. North Queensland Cowboys
• 2018: Sydney Roosters def. Melbourne Storm
• 2019: Sydney Roosters def. Canberra Raiders
• 2020: Melbourne Storm def. Penrith Panthers
• 2021: Penrith Panthers def. South Sydney Rabbitohs
• 2022: Penrith Panthers def. Parramatta Eels
• 2023: Penrith Panthers def. Brisbane Broncos
• 2024: TBD — season ongoing
• 2025: Brisbane Broncos def. Melbourne Storm

What is Reece Walsh’s status regarding charges, family, and salary?

Reece Walsh, the Brisbane Broncos’ electric fullback, has been one of the most talked-about figures in rugby league — as much for his off-field life as his on-field brilliance. His 2025 season was a mix of personal scrutiny and professional triumph.

Did Reece Walsh get charged?

Walsh and fellow fullback Kalyn Ponga were investigated by the NRL’s integrity unit following an incident early in the 2025 season. The NRL ultimately determined that no charges would be laid against either player (Wikipedia (collaborative sports encyclopedia)). The decision was announced via an NRL media release, with the league stating there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

Is Reece Walsh a single dad?

Yes. Walsh is a single father to a young daughter, and he has spoken in interviews about the responsibility of parenthood shaping his approach to football and life. His role as a solo parent has drawn public respect, though he keeps most family details private.

What is Reece Walsh’s salary?

Walsh’s current contract with the Brisbane Broncos is valued at approximately $5 million over four years, placing him among the club’s top earners. The deal, signed ahead of the 2025 season, reflects his status as one of the most dynamic young players in the NRL.

Who are the highest paid and the most inspiring NRL players?

Salary transparency in the NRL is limited — individual player contracts are not public records. But reports from journalists and league sources give a reliable picture of the top earners.

Who is the highest paid NRL player?

The title of highest paid NRL player is a rotating crown. For the 2024–25 season, reports point to Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) and Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) as the top two earners, both on contracts worth in excess of $1.3 million per season (Sporting News Australia (sports journalism outlet)).

Who was the former homeless NRL player?

A lesser-known but deeply human story in recent NRL news involves a former player who opened up about experiencing homelessness and addiction after his playing career ended. The player, who has chosen to remain partially anonymous, shared his story on Nine News to raise awareness about the mental health challenges faced by athletes after retirement.

Why this matters: The NRL has a growing focus on player welfare beyond the field. This story, alongside the salary figures, frames a league where the financial ceiling is rising but the floor for retired players remains fragile. For the NRL’s administrators, the gap between the highest earner and the struggling former player is a policy problem as much as a human one.

Timeline

Clarity check

What the league, the players, and the fans are saying

“The integrity unit reviewed all available evidence and determined there was no basis for charges against either player.”

— NRL media release on the Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga investigation

“I had nothing. No money, no place to stay, no one to call. The game gave me everything and then when it was over, I had nothing left.”

— Former NRL player, speaking on homelessness and addiction, in a Nine News interview

“The top-tier players are now commanding salaries that rival other major Australian sports, but the gap between the elite and the rest continues to widen.”

— Telstra Media report on NRL player salaries

The pattern: The NRL is a league of extremes — grand final glory sits alongside stories of personal struggle. For every Reece Walsh signing a $5 million deal, there is a former player fighting to find footing after the final whistle. The long-term health of the game depends on closing that gap.

Frequently asked questions