NRL finals scores
Eight teams and four weeks. Week 1 has two qualifying finals in which both sides remain alive, plus two sudden-death elimination finals. From week 2, every game is sudden death.
Following the finals without watching
Follow the teams still alive in Six Again and, for eligible matches with lock-screen scores enabled, a final can appear shortly before kick-off and update in place until the siren. It uses a Live Activity on iPhone or a Live Update on Android 16 and later. You can also follow a single final with a tap.
How the NRL finals series works
The eight teams that finish on top after the regular season go into a four-week knockout. Where you finish decides how many games you have to win, and whether you get a second life.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Qualifying finals
The two games for the sides that finish first to fourth. Win and you skip week 2 entirely and go straight into a preliminary final at home; lose and you get a second chance in a semi-final. It's the reward for a good regular season, and it's why the last few rounds of the year are usually about the top four rather than the top eight.
Elimination finals
The two games for fifth to eighth. There is no second chance: the losers are done for the year, and the winners go into a semi-final against a side that has just lost a qualifying final. Making the eight on the last weekend of the regular season is worth a lot - but from fifth it takes three straight sudden-death wins to even reach the grand final.
Semi-finals
Week 2, and both games are sudden death. Each semi pits a side that lost a qualifying final - beaten but still alive - against a side that came through an elimination final with momentum. The winners go on the road to a preliminary final.
Preliminary finals
Week 3 has two sudden-death games and decides the grand-final places. The qualifying-final winners host after a week off, and the winners advance to the decider.
The grand final
One game for the premiership, on the first Sunday in October. Everything about following it is covered on the NRL grand final page.
Key dates for the 2026 finals
The regular season finishes after round 27 on Sunday 6 September 2026, which is when the eight is locked in. The finals then run across four weekends, and the grand final is on Sunday 4 October 2026 at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Individual finals fixtures and kick-off times are confirmed by the NRL week by week, once the previous week's results are known - Six Again updates the draw as they land.
Watching who's still in it
Once the regular season ends, ladder positions set the seeds, week-one matchups and hosting path before the bracket takes over. Until the last siren of round 27, for-and-against can separate fifth from ninth when teams are level on competition points. During the run home you can watch the ladder move mid-round in Six Again as results land, rather than waiting for full time.
Once the finals start, follow the teams still alive - or your own club, if they're still in it - and eligible games can appear on your lock screen when the feature is enabled.
Follow every final on your lock screen
Live scores for every NRL final on your lock screen, from the first elimination final to the grand final. Free to download, and no gambling ads anywhere.
NRL finals FAQ
How do the NRL finals work?
The top eight teams play a four-week series. Week 1 has two qualifying finals (1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd) and two elimination finals (5th v 8th, 6th v 7th). Week 2 is two semi-finals between the qualifying-final losers and the elimination-final winners. Week 3 is two preliminary finals. Week 4 is the grand final.
What's the difference between a qualifying final and an elimination final?
A qualifying final is played by the top four and carries a double chance: win and you go straight to a preliminary final, lose and you drop into a semi-final. An elimination final is played by teams fifth to eighth and is sudden death - lose and your season is over.
What is a preliminary final?
A preliminary final is week 3 of the series, the last hurdle before the grand final. The two qualifying-final winners host the two semi-final winners, and the winners of those games play off for the premiership.
How many games do you have to win to make the grand final?
A top-four side needs two finals wins whether it wins its qualifying final or takes the longer route through a semi-final. A side finishing fifth to eighth needs three straight sudden-death wins.
How can I follow NRL finals scores if I can't watch?
Follow the teams still alive in Six Again and, for eligible matches with lock-screen scores enabled, a final can appear shortly before kick-off as an iPhone Live Activity or Android Live Update. You can also follow any individual final with a tap.
When is the 2026 NRL grand final?
Sunday 4 October 2026 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.