The 2026 Hostplus Cup season has been defined by parity, with only two points separating third and eleventh position after 19 rounds.
As the finals draw closer, take a look at each of the 11 remaining squad's chances of lifting the Hostplus Cup on the 26th of September.
THE CONTENDERS
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
After a decade of serving as a feeder club with the Melbourne Storm, many were apprehensive of the Falcons' chances without the use of Storm-contracted players in 2026.
However, the Falcons have proven more than capable of performing without any NRL-contracted players, sitting as outright competition leaders after 19 rounds.
The new-look halves pairing of Tom Casey and Joshua Lynn has been a revelation for the Sunshine Coast, with the duo combining for 26 try assists and 12 tries in their 16 appearances this season.
In the middle, Brock Parker and Kaleb Sutton have filled the shoes of Lazarus Vaalepu handily, while Harrison McIndoe, Josh Billing and William Lewis have proved damaging on the edge.
The Falcons have a true shot at silverware this year, but they’ll be wary of another late-season burnout, as the Sunshine Coast won eight of their last ten matches last season before bowing out in the first week of finals.
If the Falcons can keep focus into September, and if Thomas Casey and their winger duo of Zion Johnson and Flynn Camilleri can maintain their prolific attack, they’ll be the team to beat come this finals series.
Key players to watch: Thomas Casey, Flynn Camilleri & Harrison McIndoe.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
The most successful club in Hostplus Cup history are living up to expectations, finding form at the perfect time ahead of September.
The talismanic Trai Fuller has once again been a driver of the Dolphins’ success, proving untouchable during his outings for Redcliffe.
Fellow NRL Dolphin Brian Pouniu has also been dominant, consistently being one of the best on ground despite his young age.
Pouniu forms one half of a stellar edge duo alongside new signing Sam Elliott, who has made a strong case for being the best forward in the Hostplus Cup this season.
The Dolphins’ forward pack benefits from a two-headed hooking partnership between Brent Woolf and Jordan Plath, who both keep markers honest in attack and provide ample opportunity for half-breaks with their creativity out of the ruck.
The Dolphins have conceded the fewest points of any team this season and also have the most favourable points differential in the competition.
With a run home which sees them play three of the bottom-placed sides on the ladder, the Dolphins will look to enter September full of confidence.
Key players to watch: Trai Fuller, Joshua James and Sam Elliott.
BURLEIGH BEARS
The reigning champions have shown no signs of a premiership hangover in 2026 and are well poised to rebook their ticket to the big dance.
The Bears’ roster has been buoyed by the allocation of Delouise Hoeter from the Broncos, who has filled in for last year’s inspirational captain Sami Sauiluma.
Hoeter forms one half of a great centre duo alongside Lee Turner Rau who joined the Bears from the Tweed Seagulls and has proved himself a worthy signing, scoring four tries and providing three try assists in his 14 games played this year.
However, any analysis of the Bears is remiss if it doesn’t mention their premiership-winning halves partnership of Guy Hamilton and Josh Rogers.
Hamilton in particular has had one of his best seasons to date, providing a staggering 24 try assists in 16 games, leading all players this season.
Young guns Jett Bryce, Phillip Coates and Tupou Francis provide a youthful edge to balance the experience in this side, and they’ll be itching to get their first experience of finals footy this year.
Key players to watch: Guy Hamilton, Josh Rogers and Jett Bryce.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
The chook pen is clucking in Wynnum as the Seagulls seemed to have turned a corner, notching back-to-back-to-back 50-point performances.
Boosted by the recent acquisition of former NRL five-eighth Talatau Amone, the experienced half has unlocked a new dimension for the Seagulls’ attack and hasn’t lost a game since debuting in Round 16.
Wynnum got off to a slow start to begin the year, winning only one of their first five games, but they’ve since won seven of their last ten matches to find themselves in third position on the ladder.
Arguably the deepest roster in the Hostplus Cup has been boosted by the return of last year’s Seagull of the season Ben Farr, who will be eager to mount a premiership charge.
Farr will play alongside Garry Tuilekutu, Alex Lobb and Antonio Verhoeven in the backline, all of whom have had brilliant individual seasons.
Wynnum haven’t lifted the Hostplus Cup since 2012, but this season may finally end a 14-year premiership drought.
Key players to watch: Talatau Amone, Cameron Bukowski, Joshua Coric.
THE WILDCARDS
BRISBANE TIGERS
Despite losing head coach Jim Lenihan halfway through the season, the Brisbane Tigers have managed to keep their focus on field, finding themselves well placed in the top eight ahead of September.
Impressively, the Tigers have managed to string together consistent footy despite two of their star players, Tahj Wood and Zac Miles, missing considerable game time.
Fill-in fullback Samuela Vakadula hasn’t missed a beat while young halfback Zach Lamont has done well in occupying the lion’s share of playmaking duties.
Despite the positives, the Tigers’ attack remains the weakest of any team currently in the top eight, averaging only 21 points a game.
If the Tigers are to make a deep run this season, they’ll be needing more spark in attack and will likely need Zac Miles and Tahj Wood at full strength to do so.
Key players to watch: Zacariah Miles, Tahj Wood & Oskar Bryant.
IPSWICH JETS
The Ipswich Jets are perhaps the most unpredictable team in the Hostplus Cup, but the talent they possess is undeniable.
The Jets find themselves in a more favourable position than they were in this time last year and will be a truly formidable opponent in September if they can find consistency.
So far this year they’ve been fortunate to receive plenty of gametime from Titans-contracted players such as Lachlan Ilias, Jaylan De Groot, Tony Francis and Luke Sommerton.
However, no team this season has used more players than the Ipswich Jets, and the inconsistent 1-17s have proved a difficult hurdle to overcome.
That being said, players such as Dantoray Lui and Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui have proven to be stellar new signings and provide good continuity for the Jets each weekend.
Fortunate enough to receive a bye following the Hostplus Cup’s bye round, the Jets will have plenty of rest and plenty of motivation entering the home straight of this season.
Key players to watch: Tony Francis, David Bryenton & Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui.
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CAPRAS
The Central Queensland Capras have emerged as the biggest improvers of the 2026 season.
With three matches left to play, the Capras have already bettered last year’s win total by four and are currently sitting in fourth position after ending their 2025 campaign in 13th place.
The ascension of young middles like Lewis Symonds and John Fineanganofo has given the Capras plenty of drive through the middle and has built momentum for their halves and explosive outside backs to play off.
However, the key to the Capras’ attack this year has been their dominant back rowers, Nixon Putt and Tane Kiriona.
Putt has proved a star for the Capras since arriving at the club in 2021, and the Kumul has once more lived up to expectations this season, currently averaging the most offloads and the fourth most average run metres of any player this season.
Having won five of their last six games, the Capras have found form at the right time of the season and will be no pushover come September.
Key players to watch: Tane Kiriona, Trey Brown and John Fineanganofo.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Townsville Blackhawks.
After an opening nine-week stretch which saw six defeats, the Blackhawks have gone on to lose just one of their next eight games to now sit in eighth position with the third best points differential in the competition.
Alongside the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, the Blackhawks are the form team in the Hostplus Cup.
In their last five games, they've defeated the league-leading Sunshine Coast Falcons and the reigning premiers, while averaging 30 points a game.
The Blackhawks’ hot streak of form coincides with star recruit Creedence Toia’s permanent move to fullback, as the former Burleigh Bear has provided six try assists and has scored eight tries since he first donned the number one jumper back in Round 12.
Townsville currently boasts the highest completion and possession rate in the competition and has proved more than capable of suffocating the opposition with strong ball carries and an effective kicking game.
After bowing out of the finals in successive losses last season, Townsville looks more eager than ever to avenge last year’s disappointing finals campaign.
THE OUTSIDERS
MACKAY CUTTERS
The waters have been choppy for Mackay ever since finding themselves on top of the ladder at the end of Round Six.
The Cutters have been unable to string together consecutive victories since Round Two, leaving fans and opponents guessing which team will turn up each weekend.
In their last five games the Cutters have conceded 50 points in one game, scored 40 points in another game, conceded back-to-back defeats and have comfortably defeated the red-hot Redcliffe Dolphins.
Despite the inconsistencies, Mackay remain flooded with talent throughout their 1-17, especially with the return of Liam Sutton into the halves.
Sutton joins a strong contingent of Cowboys alongside Mason Barber, Mason Kira, Xavier Kerrisk and James Walsh, all of whom have consistently lined up for the Cutters when healthy.
The next fortnight will likely define the season for Mackay, as they prepare to play the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Townsville Blackhawks in two pivotal back-to-back games.
Key players to watch: Mason Barber, Raydan Burns and Mitch Fogarty.
NORTHERN PRIDE
It has already been a historic season for the Northern Pride regardless of what happens come September, having drawn a record-breaking five matches this year.
The Pride have had no issues keeping games close this season, boasting the narrowest average losing margin of any team in the competition, but they’ve been unable to execute in the clutch, having made zero of their seven field goal attempts in their five drawn matches.
The accuracy woes extend to conversions, having the fourth lowest conversion percentage in the competition.
Despite all of this, the Pride remain a strong chance of playing finals footy and consistently put themselves in winning positions.
They have the equal-best completion rate, third most tackle breaks and the fourth most tries scored this season, while conceding the fourth least points of any team in the competition.
Hooker Tyler Moriarty has proved to be a revelation since signing from the Sydney Roosters and new Cowboys recruit Ronald Philitoga has arguably been the best winger in the Hostplus Cup this year.
But it’s another former Rooster in Ethan King who has had the biggest impact on the Pride, becoming their standout star in 2026.
The enigmatic fullback provides an incredibly impactful punch with ball-in-hand, averaging just shy of 200 metres a game.
Of his nine appearances for the Pride, his team has lost just one match.
Conversely, without King, the Pride have managed just the single victory.
The Pride know how to stay in the fight, but if they’re to play finals footy, they’ll need to rise to the moment when push comes to shove.
Key players to watch: Ethan King, Tyler Moriarty and Ronald Philitoga.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Despite sitting in tenth position, the Souths Logan Magpies have scored the second most points of any team this season.
This stat becomes even more impressive when considering they’ve used six different halves combinations this year, as well as using the second most players of any side this season.
Similar to the Pride, the Magpies have been able to stay in the battle during games, having the second lowest losing margin and the lowest winning margin of any team.
Their defence remains a clear weak point, though in the last five games they’ve been able to reduce their average points conceded to a mere 18.8 points a game, compared to the 27.1 average points conceded in their 12 prior games.
The equation is then simple for Souths Logan, maintain their newfound defensive consistency and continue their prolific attack.
Key players to watch: Thomas Duffy, Callum Eggerling and Rory Ferguson.
GRAND FINAL TICKETS LINK
Tickets are on sale for the Queensland Rugby League Grand Final day, access them to secure your seat on the 26th of September.
