After 27 weeks of the NRL competition, the cream has risen to the top with eight remaining to fight for the premiership trophy on the first weekend of October.

With plenty of sides showing strengths and vulnerabilities in recent weeks, intriguing questions emerge of who will make the significant moves during the play-offs series?

Here are the five biggest questions heading into Week 1 of the finals.

3. Which stars returning from injury change the premiership race?

Along with Yeo, there are a number of stars returning to their sides for the finals, including Braydon Trindall, Jackson Ford and Francis Manuleleua.

All three have been confirmed to return for this weekend, and does any of their inclusions change who raises the trophy?

Manuleulua has made a rapid recovery from his elbow dislocation sustained in Round 26, with fears spreading immediately post-injury of an extended recovery time.

Following Dylan Lucas' long-term ankle injury, Manulelua has filled the void in the second row and impressed heavily.

The Kiwi rising talent has recorded eight line breaks in his 11 appearances in the top grade, while showing his ability to create points with two tries and six try assists.

It gives the Knights a massive bonus heading into the elimination matches after being cruelled with injuries to key personnel all year.

Meanwhile, Trindall will also make a swift return from what looked like a devastating blow-out.

Trindall dislocated his shoulder in Round 24, but luckily scans revealed no structural damage, meaning a quick return.

NRL Rd 3 – Sharks v Dolphins
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Braydon Trindall of the Sharks runs onto the field to celebrate his 100th NRL game during the round three NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and Dolphins at Ocean Protect Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

The crafty playmaker tops the NRL's try assists for the competition, and continues to bring out the best in his surrounding men, including Nicho Hynes.

With the Sharks having a tough month leading up to the finals, expect them to turn it around with the inclusion of one of the best playmakers in the game.

Across the Tasman, Ford has been quietly rehabbing his pec injury, awaiting a return, with his last match coming in June.

The Gerringong Lion junior was leading the Dally M's at different times of the year before injury struck him down and was showcasing career-best form in the Warriors engine room.

He was touted to make an appearance for the NSW Blues in Game 3 before he was ruled out for 12 weeks, but will return to a stacked Warriors forward pack ready to go.

The Warriors' greatest strength in their strong run this year has been their ability to maintain the foot on the throttle when the interchange come onto the field.

Ford will round out an incredible strike with Vaimauga and Stowers-Smith, with unrelenting pressure from some of the most talented forwards in the game.

Opposing forwards packs will have to work overtime to limit their impact on the match.