A lot can change in rugby league, quickly!

That will be the hope of the bottom few teams in the competition right now.

We've seen quick rises, and quick falls, across the space of a few weeks, or an off-season.

An influx of recruits, a new coach, stars returning from injuries. Sometimes it's even a youngster who catches fire at the right time.

Today we're going to look at the bottom five teams in the NRL and rank the brightness of their futures.

The below rankings take into account success next season and beyond. For instance one club may do better next season yet long-term they don't success as much as another. It's all weighted.

Ultimately this is just for fun and we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Here are the bottom five NRL teams as of Round 21 taken from the current NRL ladder, but for the pursposes of this, ranked in the order of least likely to most likely of a fast recovery.

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5. Wests Tigers

I hold genuine fears for the future of the Wests Tigers.

They've been in the headlines the past three weeks, for all the wrong reasons.

Their star half Jarome Luai is out the door next year and his partner Adam Doueihi looks destined to join him.

Jake Averillo, as talented as hs is, is their only notable recruit for 2027. He looks set to return to the halves next year. That in itself will take time.

They have re-signed Jahream Bula, Terrell May and Sione Fainu. Three huge pieces of the long-term puzzle.

NRL Round 14, 2025: Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers
Benji Marshall in action between the Round 14 clash between the Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers. (Photo: Joshua Davis)

To say the jury is still out on Benji Marshall is an understatement. The pressure on him will not ease unless he delivers finals footy.

I want to preach hope here but unless the Fainu brothers all catch fire, I just can't see it.

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