With a round to play in the regular season and no team assured of their final finishing position yet, we take a look at the different possible outcomes for all six NRL Telstra Women's Premiership teams.
While the top three are all guaranteed to play past this weekend, they could still finish in any order, with the remaining three clubs all a mathematical chance of taking the fourth and final playoff spot.
The first week of the NRLW finals series will see first place take on fourth and second play third, meaning final finishing position could be crucial to a club's hopes of making it to the decider in October.
Ciesiolka clicks into gear
The Broncos are best placed to take fourth place, but the Titans remain in control of their own destiny as well, should they be able to pull off a shock victory over the undefeated Roosters.
Even the Eels, who are without a win in 2022, are within reach, although they'll need a bit of luck to go their way in addition to beating the Broncos.
Here's how it shapes up heading into the final round this Sunday at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford...
Roosters
- Current standing: 1st (8 points)
- Points differential: +72
- Best finish: 1st
- Worst finish: 2nd
- Likely: 1st
Verdict: Even if the Roosters lose to the Titans in round five, the Knights would still need to make up the 50 differential points which sit between them and the Tricolours, while the Dragons are even further back and face a 79 differential points deficit. It's very unlikely the Roosters finish the regular season anywhere but in No.1 spot, and given the season they have had, nobody could deny they deserve it.
Kelly streaks away for the match winner
Knights
- Current standing: 2nd (6 points)
- Points differential: +22
- Best finish: 1st
- Worst finish: 3rd
- Likely: 3rd
Verdict: It's been a remarkable turnaround for Newcastle after they finished dead last in season 2021. The Knights face a tough match this week against last year's runners-up the Dragons, and over the last fortnight they've played their two worst games of the season. That could mean they slip to third, but either way it's likely they'll face the Red V again in the opening week of the playoffs.
Dragons
- Current standing: 3rd (6 points)
- Points differential: -7
- Best finish: 1st
- Worst finish: 3rd
- Likely: 2nd
Verdict: After narrowly escaping with a golden point win against the Broncos last week to book their spot in the finals, St George Illawarra can now jump to second position with a victory in round five. They have no realistic chance of catching the Roosters in top spot and can't fall below their current standing in 3rd. If they play at their best, they are a good shot at beating the Knights this weekend, but as mentioned above it's likely the two clubs will end up facing each other first up in the finals anyway.
Albert all too strong
Broncos
- Current standing: 4th (2 points)
- Points differential: -21
- Best finish: 4th
- Worst finish: 6th
- Likely: 4th
Verdict: While they aren't the NRLW force they one were, Brisbane are in the driver's seat to secure a finals spot this weekend. They probably should have beaten the Dragons in the end last weekend, and have shown their class in patches so far in 2022. It's hard to see them losing to the last-placed Eels on Sunday, but they may need to score a few points to be safe as well, with the Titans tied on points with them and just 13 differential points behind them.
Titans
- Current standing: 5th (2 points)
- Points differential: -34
- Best finish: 4th
- Worst finish: 6th
- Likely: 5th
Verdict: A slow start to season 2022 looks likely to cost the Titans a finals spot, and they'll rue what was a winnable match against Newcastle in round two, which could have put them in a great position. In saying that, they are there to strike if Brisbane slip up against the Eels, and are even a chance still if the Broncos win, although they'd need to pull off a huge shock and pile the points on against the Roosters to make up the differential deficit they face.
Hancock is a try scoring machine
Eels
- Current standing: 6th (0 points)
- Points differential: -32
- Best finish: 4th
- Worst finish: 6th
- Likely: 6th
Verdict: It could have all been so different for Parramatta this season, with three of their four losses being by six points or less. Had they managed to pick up a win or two along the way they'd be right in the mix ahead of the final round. Instead they're needing a minor miracle in order to play finals, requiring both a big win over the Broncos and then the Titans to lose.