September has arrived, and the start of finals footy is here, as eight teams are left fighting for the premiership.
With every side making the cut, we take a look at the weaknesses that could bring their 2026 campaign to an end.
Sydney Roosters: Sam Walker's injury
The Round 26 clash against the Redcliffe Dolphins brought a significant loss in addition to the Roosters losing their top 2 spot.
The Chooks star halfback, Sam Walker, sustained a high-grade syndesmosis injury. As the seven is ruled out for the foreseeable future, the club has to find a way to keep their premiership dreams alive.
The Roosters have now been forced to change their spine to accommodate Walker's injury, and with finals footy here, this may very well be the end of the Sydney Roosters' premiership campaign.
Daly Cherry-Evans will be launched into the dominant half in the Roosters' combination, with the club moving Hugo Savala from the centres into halfback. Savala has proven to be valuable to the Sydney side in the centres; however, can the halves pairing handle the pressure?
Sam Walker has been able to provide creativity and control through the spine; now ruled out for at least the opening weeks of the finals, the rest of the Roosters spine need to take on that responsibility. The Roosters have been dominant and can tear teams apart, but with an injury at this time of the season to such a star, their premiership looks unlikely.
On the Sharks, Bella, I believe their biggest weakness is their coach.
Ever since he arrived in Cronulla he has been loath to make best use of the players he has in his squad.
He consistently picks the same old faces, regardless of the quality of newer squad members.
Hence he ran into a brick wall a month out when injuries meant he has had to play old guys out of form or bring in new guys with zero experience is first grade.
Add to that his poor handling of the bench. He used only 3 interchange players in last weeks loss to the Storm. He has selected SIX forwards on the bench for the first week of the finals. No backs, and this with Trindall being rushed back in after his shoulder dislocation.
I genuinely believe that a better coach would have had the same squad as genuine contenders this season.