A 27-round season means there is no official halfway point of the 2026 NRL season, but 14 rounds completed seems as good a time as any to call it officially the downhill run.
As the State of Origin period rolls on, and the ladder becomes a distorted mess (just look at the teams who are yet to have a bye), the run to the finals still has plenty of wiggle room, but some times have shone against pre-season expectations, and others have flopped.
When we checked in after seven weeks in our quarter season report, two coaches had already been sacked.
That carnage has come to an end, and with every team now having at least one win, the idea of a team going winsless is over.
Plenty has changed through the middle of the ladder over the last seven weeks, but it's still the Penrith Panthers proving they are the NRL's dominant force.
Here is every team's grade, best players and ladder predictions as we hit half of the 2026 NRL season played.
Sydney Roosters
Grade: A
Current record: 8 wins, 4 losses, 2 byes, + 73 F/A, 20 points
Run home: Dolphins (a), Sharks (h), Broncos (a), Bye, Eels (h), Storm (h), Knights (a), Cowboys (a), Bulldogs (h), Panthers (a), Wests Tigers (h), Dolphins (h), Rabbitohs (a)
The Roosters are flying. There has been some inconsistency, but when they put it together, there are few teams who can excite the competition like they can.
It's not hard to understand why either, with names like Sam Walker and James Tedesco, both in very strong form, driving their attack.
Reece Robson's inclusion after his early-season injury has also been fantastic for the tri-colours, who are announcing themselves as genuine premiership contenders.
With a forward pack up for the challenge as well, the Roosters only issue in contending with the big guns is going to come at the defensive end where they have had some lapses so far this year.
They should be pushing for a home qualifying final though.
Best player: James Tedesco
Zero Tackle MVP leader: James Tedesco - equal 4th, 117 votes
Prediction: 2nd
