NRL Round 25 Live Ladder: Finals Picture Explodes with Drama as Raiders, Rabbitohs, and Warriors Shift the Balance

The 2025 NRL season has reached its most chaotic and electrifying stage, with Round 25 delivering shocks, upsets, and pivotal wins that have blown the premiership race wide open. With just two rounds remaining before finals, the competition has become a battlefield of desperation, resilience, and last-ditch efforts as clubs scramble to secure their positions on the live ladder.

Raiders Seize Glory and Rewrite History

The Canberra Raiders provided the most dramatic twist of the weekend, pulling off what many are already calling one of the greatest golden point victories in NRL history. In a tense showdown with the defending premiers Penrith Panthers, the Raiders triumphed 20-16, keeping their minor premiership dreams alive.

This was not just another win—it was history in the making. Canberra now stands just one victory away from claiming their first minor premiership in 35 years, a feat that would crown their season as one of the greatest in modern club history. The golden point thriller symbolized their grit, composure under pressure, and the relentless drive that has kept them near the top of the ladder throughout 2025.

For Penrith, however, the loss was devastating. Their hopes of finishing inside the top four have suffered a massive dent. Once the benchmark of dominance, the Panthers are now fighting tooth and nail just to maintain a double-chance opportunity come finals.

Rabbitohs Rise from the Ashes

While Canberra was celebrating, the South Sydney Rabbitohs were writing their own story of redemption. In perhaps their best performance of the season, the Bunnies humiliated the Dragons 40-0, a result that not only rescued them from wooden spoon contention but also slammed the door shut on St. George Illawarra’s finals aspirations.

It was the kind of response Souths fans had been craving—a complete performance in attack and defense, executed with energy, flair, and pride. The win finally allows the Rabbitohs to breathe, knowing they’ve avoided the dreaded last-place finish, though finals remain a dream for next season.

Storm Steady at the Top

Melbourne Storm, masters of consistency, proved yet again why they are perennial contenders. Their hard-fought 20-14 win over the Bulldogs has all but secured them a top-two finish thanks to their superior points differential. Even if they drop a game in the final rounds, their cushion is likely enough to ensure a home final and a golden path through September.

For Canterbury, however, the loss complicates their campaign. Still in the mix for a top-four finish, the Bulldogs’ fate now rests on upcoming crunch clashes against Penrith and Cronulla. Victory in at least one of those games is mandatory if they want to lock down a double chance. Their resilience has been admirable all year, but pressure games in the closing weeks will define their season.

Warriors Surge Back into Contention

Few stories are as inspiring as the resurgence of the New Zealand Warriors. After weeks of inconsistency, they reignited their finals charge with a confident 32-18 victory over the Titans. That result not only propelled them back into the top four but also reaffirmed their identity as a side capable of challenging the heavyweights.

For the Titans, the loss was another painful step toward the wooden spoon. Their defensive woes, coupled with a lack of finishing polish, have left them anchored at the bottom, facing the inevitability of claiming the unwanted title.

Manly Boost Hopes as Roosters Falter

The Sea Eagles kept their finals dream alive in extraordinary fashion with a dominant 58-30 demolition of the Dolphins. It was a high-scoring spectacle, but Manly’s relentless attacking waves left no doubt about their determination to stay in the hunt. The win provides them with momentum at the most crucial point of the season.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Roosters suffered a costly 30-10 defeat to Parramatta. Not only did it dent their ladder position, but it has also raised serious questions about their ability to hold onto a top-eight berth. With Sam Walker sidelined, the Roosters must now face Melbourne in Round 26—arguably the toughest assignment possible. If they lose two of their last three matches, they risk slipping out of the finals altogether.

Parramatta Avoid Wooden Spoon, Eye Spoiler Role

For the Eels, their strong performance against the Roosters was more than just a win—it secured their safety from the wooden spoon. With nothing to lose in the final rounds, Parramatta could play spoiler to teams above them, shaping the finals race in unexpected ways. Their fans can now breathe easier knowing a disastrous season finish has been avoided.

Broncos Fighting for a Top-Four Miracle

The Brisbane Broncos remain mathematically alive in the race for a top-four finish. Sitting on the edge of the pack, their clash with the Knights looms as a do-or-die battle. Victory against Newcastle would not only boost their ladder position but also inject belief into a team still searching for consistency. However, their fate doesn’t lie solely in their hands—they’ll need rivals to falter.

For Newcastle, the danger is different. The Knights sit 16th and are firmly in wooden spoon contention. Every game from here is a survival test, but given their poor points differential, even a win might not be enough to lift them from danger.

Tigers and Cowboys Playing for Pride

For the Wests Tigers, finals football is now out of reach. Their poor points differential has effectively ended any mathematical chance of sneaking into the eight. Similarly, the Cowboys are left to play for pride, aiming to finish their campaign with dignity rather than glory. Their looming clash with the Broncos carries more weight for Brisbane’s destiny than their own.

The Road Ahead

The final rounds of the regular season promise drama on all fronts. Key clashes such as Bulldogs vs Panthers, Storm vs Roosters, and Dragons vs Panthers will determine whether teams secure finals berths, top-four security, or stumble into disappointment.

• Bulldogs vs Panthers: A battle that could make or break Canterbury’s top-four hopes and decide whether Penrith clings onto a double chance.
• Storm vs Roosters: Melbourne look to maintain momentum while the Roosters face elimination pressure.
• Broncos vs Knights: A must-win for Brisbane to keep their miracle alive, while Newcastle fights to dodge the spoon.
• Dolphins vs Titans/Raiders: Could confirm the Titans’ wooden spoon fate while shaping Canberra’s historic minor premiership run.

Wooden Spoon Race

At the bottom of the ladder, the race to avoid last place is just as fierce as the battle for the top. The Titans remain frontrunners for the spoon, with the Knights still lurking in danger. The Rabbitohs and Eels have done enough to escape, but for Gold Coast and Newcastle, the final two rounds are a test of survival.

A Season of Unpredictability

If one theme has defined 2025, it’s unpredictability. From Manly’s late surge, to Canberra’s golden-point heroics, to the Rabbitohs’ redemption and the Roosters’ sudden struggles, the ladder is constantly shifting. Every game matters, and every mistake could prove fatal.

With two rounds left, the live ladder remains a kaleidoscope of possibilities. The Raiders dream of history, the Panthers fight to salvage pride, Melbourne continue their march, and the Titans face humiliation. The stage is set for one of the most dramatic finals series in NRL history.