We’re into the final round of the 2022 regular season and while five teams have booked their spot in the playoffs, four others are battling for the final three spots in the top eight. 

Teams are also playing for a spot in the top four and a second chance in the playoffs this weekend. 

Find out how this weekend’s matches could impact if and who your team plays in the opening week of the finals. 

1st: Northern Suburbs (65pts, 11 wins, +166) – Eastern Suburbs (H)

Norths can wrap up the minor premiership with a win at home over Easts on Saturday. But as Zak Beer’s side has already secured a top two finish, the coach may be tempted to rest a host of stars this weekend ahead of a bruising finals campaign. 

Regardless, Norths will host a qualifying final at North Sydney Oval next weekend. 

2nd: Sydney University (62pts, 12 wins, +187) – Manly (A)

Sydney Uni have also wrapped up a spot in the top two and may rest players this weekend. There isn’t much separating the teams likely to finish third to sixth so it will be interesting to see the tactics of the top two coaches when teams are released on Thursday. 

3rd: Manly (53pts, 10 wins, +65) – Sydney Uni (H)

Regardless of ladder position, Manly need a win to rediscover the confidence they played with for the first third of the regular season. The Marlins have now lost five of their past six matches. 

If they beat Uni, they’ll play the Students again at Camperdown in the opening week of the playoffs. If they lose, they could finish anywhere from third to fifth and potentially face a knockout final next weekend. 

4th: Warringah (50pts, 10 wins, -30) – West Harbour (A)

The first of three potential banana skin matches this weekend. Warringah can secure a spot in the top four and potentially even leapfrog Manly into third spot with a win over West Harbour. 

But that may be easier said than done against a Pirates’ side that has found form and has nothing to lose in their final match of the season. 

A loss on Saturday could see the Rats drop as low as eighth spot, but they will play finals footy regardless. 

5th: Randwick (49pts, 9 wins, +2) – Southern Districts (H)

Randwick also have the chance to move as high as third spot with a win over Souths this weekend. 

But the Rebels will be desperate to end a disappointing season on a high and cause a little bit of pain for their rivals.

If Randwick lose, they could drop to eighth. 

6th: Eastwood (47pts, 9 wins, +66) – Western Sydney (A)

Eastwood are all but guaranteed a spot in the finals. A win over Western Sydney could see the Woodies jump as high as fourth depending on other results, while a loss will see them likely finish anywhere from sixth to eighth. 

7th: Gordon (47pts, 9 wins, +15) – Hunter (H)

Now it gets a little tricky. If Gordon beat Hunter, they’ll play finals footy and could finish as high as fourth, but most likely somewhere from fifth to eighth. 

If they lose to Hunter by more than 47 points and don’t score four tries, they could finish ninth and miss the playoffs if Easts beat Norths. 

8th: Eastern Suburbs (47pts, 8 wins, +34) – Northern Suburbs (A)

Easts will sneak into the playoffs, despite an underwhelming regular season, if they beat a Norths’ side on Saturday that will likely rest players ahead of the finals. 

If they lose against Norths and don’t pick up a bonus point, they’ll miss the finals if Hunter claim a bonus point win over Gordon. 

Number of wins is prioritised over points difference on the Shute Shield ladder. 

9th: Hunter (42pts, 8 wins, -32) – Gordon (A)

The equation is simple for Hunter. They need to win with a bonus point against Gordon at Chatswood on Saturday. 

Then hope Easts lose to Norths and don’t pick up a bonus point. 

It might be worth Bubba Coleman picking up the phone to Norths’ coach Zak Beer to talk him out of resting players this weekend.  

10th-12th: Western Sydney, West Harbour and Southern Districts

The Two Blues, Pirates and Rebels won’t play finals footy this year but they can still have a big impact of the premiership race. 

After the season we’ve had, an upset by one or all three of these teams this weekend probably wouldn’t shock.