The NRL finals work as a four-week playoff series involving the top eight teams from the regular season, with a combination of qualifying finals, elimination finals, semi-finals, preliminary finals, and the Grand Final. Here is how it works:
- Finals Week 1:
- Two Qualifying Finals: 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd place teams. Winners go straight to the Preliminary Finals (Week 3).
- Two Elimination Finals: 5th vs 8th and 6th vs 7th place teams. Losers are eliminated, winners advance to Week 2.
- The losers of the Qualifying Finals get a second chance in Week 2.
- Finals Week 2:
- Two Semi-Finals: Winners of Elimination Finals face the losers of the Qualifying Finals. Losers are eliminated, winners progress to Preliminary Finals.
- Finals Week 3:
- Two Preliminary Finals: Winners from Week 1 Qualifying Finals play winners from Week 2 Semi-Finals. Losers are eliminated, winners advance to Grand Final.
- Finals Week 4:
- Grand Final: Winners of Preliminary Finals play for the NRL premiership.
This system rewards higher-ranked teams with a second chance and potentially a bye week, while lower-ranked teams face elimination at every stage.
