By Adam Sheldon

With just three rounds remaining in the 2025 Hospital Cup regular season, the race for a top-four finish is entering its final sprint.

Easts, Wests and Brothers have maintained their spots in the top three and are locked in for finals, but the minor premiership is far from settled. Meanwhile below, the fight for fourth remains intense.

Bond currently holds the spot, but Souths, GPS, UQ and even Norths are still mathematically alive.

Here’s how the run home is shaping up for each team.

1st – Easts (56pts, +120) Brothers (A), Sunnybank (H), GPS (A)

Still on top of the ladder and gunning for the minor premiership, but the Tigers’ path isn’t straightforward. After a tough loss to UQ in Round 14, the Tigers rebounded against Souths. The real test lies this week – an away trip to Brothers. Easts are only three points in front of Brothers, and the mammoth clash looms as a potential decider for the minor premiership. Simon Craig’s side then host Sunnybank before finishing with a potentially tricky away clash against GPS, who could still be in the finals hunt. If Easts can win at least two of three, a top-two finish and a home semi should be secured.

2nd – Wests (55pts, +258) GPS (A), Norths (H), BYE

The Bulldogs are flying. They last lost way back at the start of May to Brothers, and since then, have won nine in a row. Elwee Prinsloo’s side boast the best for-and-against in the comp, and at the moment, are the side to beat. With just two games left against GPS and Norths, which they should win, Wests could take home the minor premiership if Easts or Brothers capitulate in their remaining games. 

3rd – Brothers (53pts, +142) Easts (H), UQ (A), Souths (H)

A season-defining run-in for Brothers. They play three dangerous sides, starting with the aforementioned blockbuster clash against Easts. Their other fixtures, against UQ and Souths are also tricky ones on paper, with both of those sides gunning to make the finals. If they sweep all three, the minor premiership is theirs. Drop one or two, and they could slip to third.

4th – Bond (37pts, -8) Sunnybank (A), GPS (H), Norths (A)

The Bull Sharks are peaking at the right time and now control their finals destiny. With three very winnable games to come, Mick Heenan’s men are favourites to hold onto fourth. The competition’s dark horse. 

5th – Souths (35pts, -18) UQ (H), BYE, Brothers (A)

A tough run home. Souths must beat UQ this weekend – not just to keep pace with Bond but to keep others at bay. With only two games left, and one of those against Brothers away, they’ll need to win both to have a chance of sneaking into the top four. After the Magpies started the season strongly, it’s looking like a tough end to what could have been a top season.

6th – GPS (31pts, -86) Wests (H), Bond (A), Easts (H)

It’s a brutal finish for GPS, with games against three top-four sides. Their form has improved, but head coach Sio Kite knows they’ll probably need to win all three to make the finals, and even that might not be enough without bonus points. A big ask.

7th – Norths (31pts, -96) BYE, Wests (A), Bond (H)

The bye this week doesn’t help Norths’ finals hopes. That leaves them with two matches – both against top-four teams. Even if they win both, they’ll need results elsewhere to fall their way. A missed opportunity against GPS in Round 15 may prove costly. Realistically, Norths aren’t making finals in 2025.

8th – UQ (30pts, -112) Souths (A), Brothers (H), Sunnybank (A)

Uni have been hard to read all season – but that upset win over Easts proves they’re still a threat. Elton Berrange’s men must beat Souths this weekend to stay in the race, then back it up against Brothers. If they win all three with bonus points, a finals miracle is possible.

9th – Sunnybank (22pts, -200) Bond (H), Easts (A), UQ (H)

Finals are off the table, but Sunnybank can still shape the top four. With games against Bond, Easts and UQ, they’ll have a big say in who makes it and who misses out.