2026 Crystal Ball: Which club will take the biggest leap?

Hope springs eternal ahead of the start of a new NRL season, no matter how bad 2025 might have been for your side. 

The NRL.com experts are here to deliver their take on which NRL Telstra Premiership club will make the biggest leap up the ladder this coming season. 

Which club will take the biggest leap in 2026?

Brad Walter: The Rabbitohs had a horror season in 2025, with captain Cameron Murray ruled out before a ball had been kicked, star backs Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham limited to 11 matches apiece and a number of other players missing chunks of the season. In addition, Souths started the season seemingly unsure about their halfback as returning coach Wayne Bennett had little faith in English recruit Lewis Dodd - a player he didn't sign - who appeared to lose confidence and form before his arrival from St Helens. In a bleak season, rookie halfback Jamie Humphreys emerged as a shining light and fullback Jye Gray also stood tall to virtually ensure themselves of first shot in the key spine positions. Kiwis hooker Brandon Smith played just six matches in 2025 after his mid-season switch from the Roosters, while former Queensland strike secondrower David Fifita will bolster an attack which was the second worst in the NRL last season. With all of their stars back on deck, the Rabbitohs boast one of the deepest rosters in the NRL, while Bennett is the most experienced and successful coach in premiership history, so it is hard to imagine Souths not returning to finals contention after finishing 14th in 2025.

Cameron Mee: There were some dark days early in Jason Ryles' tenure at the Eels but the green shoots started to emerge as the season progressed. Parramatta won four of their last five to finish 11th and should take another big step forward in 2026. Expect the Eels to be well and truly in the finals hunt at the business end of the season. While they have lost Dylan Brown, Joash Papalii impressed in the No.6 jersey in the final weeks of the 2025 season. Isaiah Iongi was a revelation at fullback, while Ryley Smith continued to grow at hooker. There is plenty of hope, but the Eels' 2026 chances ultimately rest on the health of Mitchell Moses. The halfback was restricted to just 13 games last year and Parramatta will be in the finals hunt if he can crack 20 appearances for the first time since the grand final season of 2022. 

Colleen Edwards: There is potential for major improvement for a number of teams, including the Titans who will field a new-look coaching staff and a stock of promising rookies. However, while numerically it may only be one place higher on the ladder, after three seasons of close but no cigar, the Dolphins are well-placed to make the top eight for the first time. After finishing 13th in their debut season in 2023, the Dolphins climbed to 10th in 2024 and ninth last season after battling a crippling injury toll. With the slated return of forwards Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Daniel Saifiti and Max Plath, as well as 2024 NRL Rookie of the Year Jack Bostock from injury, plus the inclusion of Selwyn Cobbo and England international Morgan Knowles, there is cause for much optimism at Kayo Stadium.

Martin Lenehan: New coach, new high-profile owners, new dawn. That's the scenario for the Titans in 2026 as Josh Hannay takes the reins and Matthew Johns and Gorden Tallis take a stake in a club that has promised much but delivered just four finals appearances in its 18-year existence. "We're investing into the Titans because we believe in the club's potential and believe that the business acumen and professionalism of the Frizelle family will soon see that potential realised," Johns said when the new consortium was unveiled. If Jayden Campbell, Keano Kini, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Beau Fermor hit their straps and new signings Lachlan Ilias, Luke Sommerton and Kurt Morrin offer a point of difference, that potential can be translated into a significant leap from 16th spot to the edge of the top eight.