1st: Easts (69 pts, 14 wins) – Warringah (A), Sydney Uni (H), Gordon (A)

Easts will wrap up the minor premiership if they can beat Warringah at Rat Park this weekend. If they can do that, Ben Batger may be tempted to rest players in the final two rounds, which could have finals implications for some teams chasing the final spot or two in the playoffs. 

Regardless, Easts look set for a top two finish and a home final in the opening week of the finals.

2nd: Warringah (63 pts, 12 wins) – Easts (H), Eastwood (H), Norths (A)

Warringah need just one win from their final three matches to guarantee a spot in the finals and two wins to lock in a spot in the top two. 

A win over Easts this weekend would also give the Rats a sniff of the minor premiership.  

3rd: Hunter (55 pts, 10 wins) – West Harbour (H), Gordon (A), Randwick (A)

Hunter continue to push towards a return to the finals. This weekend’s clash is an important one at home against West Harbour. If they drop that match, they will face two sides playing for their seasons in the final two weeks. 

Two wins from their final three should be enough to finish a top seed ahead of the finals. Hunter are unlikely to host a semi in Newcastle though and may play as a home team in a neutral venue in the first week. 

4th: Eastwood (52 pts, 8 wins) – Manly (H), Warringah (A), Sydney Uni (A)

Eastwood’s farewell to TG Millner this weekend is no longer a farewell with the Woodies granted an extension to play at the John Farnham of Shute Shield venues a little longer. 

It’s an important match against Manly though and the start of a tricky three-week run. Eastwood could finish anywhere from second to eighth based on the next few performances. 

5th: Randwick (50 pts, 8 wins) – Norths (H), Manly (A), Hunter (H)

On the back of an important win over Gordon, Randwick host Norths in another season defining match. 

The Wicks play two of their final three matches at home though, where they’ve lost just once so far this year. 

6th: Northern Suburbs (49 pts, 9 wins) – Randwick (A), Western Sydney (A), Warringah (H)

Another team coming off an important win, Norths travel to Randwick and can give their finals hopes a big boost with victory. 

If they lose, they’ll need to beat the Two Blues and potentially Warringah to extend their run of finals appearances. 

7th: Gordon (47 pts, 8 wins) – Souths (A), Hunter (H), Easts (H)

Gordon face a banana-skin match against Southern Districts this weekend, ahead of tricky clashes against Hunter and Easts. 

The Stags have lost their last three matches against Eastwood, Warringah and Randwick and need to break that run to keep their season alive. 

8th: Sydney Uni (42 pts, 7 wins) – Western Sydney (A), Easts (A), Eastwood (H)

The Students are still alive but face their bogey team, in Western Sydney, this weekend. Uni need to win their final three and hope results go their way. It’s not impossible but perhaps a little unlikely. 

9th: Western Sydney (39 pts, 6 wins) – Sydney Uni (H), Norths (H), Souths (A)

Like the Students, the Two Blues can technically still play finals footy but need everything to go their way. 

Western Sydney could also halt Norths’ season if they can beat the Shoreman at Merrylands next weekend. 

10th: Manly (34pts, 5 wins) – Eastwood (A), Randwick (H), West Harbour (H)

Manly had won five of six matches before falling just short against competition leaders Easts a fortnight ago.

The Marlins won’t play finals footy this year but are a much improved team and could scare some sides in the final weeks. 

11th: West Harbour (14pts, 1 win) – Hunter (A), Souths (H), Manly (A)

West Harbour can make Hunter’s life difficult with an away win this weekend, then finish the year with two games the Pirates probably think they should win. 

12th: Southern Districts (7pts, 1 win) – Gordon (H), West Harbour (A), Western Sydney (H)

Souths can spoil Gordon’s finals plans with an upset this weekend, then can build into 2026 if they perform well against West Harbour and the Two Blues.