The Storm and Sharks' showdown for the NRL minor premiership came to a head at AAMI Park. After withstanding Cronulla's best efforts, Melbourne ended up blowing their opponents out of the water and clinching the J.J. Giltinan Shield. As a result of Cronulla's loss, the Raiders huge win over the Wests Tigers – on a day where Leichhardt Oval said goodbye to Robbie Farah – saw the green machine jump the Sharks into second place on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder. Newcastle's dire 2016 season came to a close in controversial circumstances when the Dragons beat them at the death, in a game where the Captain's Challenge was trialled. The Eels ended their season on the best note possible in New Zealand while the Broncos, Cowboys and Panthers headed into Week One of the finals with a win under their belts.
Round 26 Results:
Broncos 24 defeated Roosters 14
Rabbitohs 28 defeated Bulldogs 10
Dragons 28 defeated Knights 26
Cowboys 32 defeated Titans 16
Storm 26 defeated Sharks 6
Raiders 52 defeated Wests Tigers 10
Eels 40 defeated Warriors 18
Panthers 36 defeated Sea Eagles 6
Top five stories:
1. 2016 Telstra Premiership Finals Series Week One schedule by NRL
2. Farah released by Wests Tigers by Wests Tigers Media
3. Mead resigned to leaving Titans by Tony Webeck
4. Mitchell vows to be better after Maccas splurge by Tony Webeck
5. Captains Challenge trial by NRL
Top three videos:
2. Wests Tigers v Raiders highlights
3. Cowboys v Titans highlights
NRL Telstra Premiership ladder after Round 26:
Club | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | +/- | Points |
1. Storm | 24 | 19 | 0 | 5 | +261 | 42 |
2. Raiders | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | +232 | 39 |
3. Sharks | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | +176 | 39 |
4. Cowboys | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | +229 | 34 |
5. Broncos | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | +120 | 34 |
6. Panthers | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | +100 | 32 |
7. Bulldogs | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | +58 | 32 |
8. Titans | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | +11 | 27 |
9. Tigers | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | -108 | 26 |
10. Warriors | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | -88 | 24 |
11. Dragons | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | -197 | 24 |
12. Rabbitohs | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | -76 | 22 |
13. Manly | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | -109 | 20 |
14. Eels | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | -26 | 18* |
15. Roosters | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | -133 | 16 |
16. Knights | 24 | 1 | 1 | 22 | -495 | 7 |
* Parramatta stripped of 12 competition points following salary cap investigation
