how does the nrl finals work

The NRL finals system is a four-week playoff involving the top eight teams from the regular season, designed to determine the two teams that compete in the Grand Final for the premiership

How the NRL Finals Work

Week 1: Qualifying and Elimination Finals

• The top eight teams are split into two groups:
  • The top four teams play in two Qualifying Finals:
    • 1st ranked team hosts 4th ranked team
    • 2nd ranked team hosts 3rd ranked team
  • The bottom four (5th to 8th) play in two Elimination Finals:
    • 5th ranked team hosts 8th ranked team
    • 6th ranked team hosts 7th ranked team
• Winners of the Qualifying Finals get a bye in Week 2 and advance directly to the Preliminary Finals in Week 3.
• Losers of the Qualifying Finals get a second chance and play in Week 2 Semi-Finals.
• Winners of the Elimination Finals advance to Week 2 Semi-Finals.
• Losers of the Elimination Finals are immediately eliminated from the finals series

Week 2: Semi-Finals

• The two Semi-Finals feature:
  • Loser of 1st Qualifying Final vs. Winner of 1st Elimination Final
  • Loser of 2nd Qualifying Final vs. Winner of 2nd Elimination Final
• Winners proceed to the Preliminary Finals.
• Losers are eliminated

Week 3: Preliminary Finals

• The winners of the Qualifying Finals from Week 1 host the winners of the Semi-Finals from Week 2:
  • Winner of 1st Qualifying Final hosts winner of 2nd Semi-Final
  • Winner of 2nd Qualifying Final hosts winner of 1st Semi-Final
• Winners advance to the Grand Final

Week 4: Grand Final

• The two Preliminary Final winners face off in the Grand Final, held at Accor Stadium (Stadium Australia).
• The winner of this match is crowned the NRL Premiers for the season

Additional Notes

• The top four teams have a "double chance" — if they lose in Week 1, they still get another opportunity in Week 2.
• Teams ranked 5th to 8th face sudden-death elimination from Week 1.
• The finals format replaced the previous McIntyre system in 2012 to provide a fairer and more transparent path to the Grand Final

This system rewards higher-ranked teams with home games and a second chance if they lose early, while lower-ranked teams must win every game to progress