NRL Finals Bracket 2025: Current Format & Printable PDF
The 2025 NRL Finals are here and fans are ready for four weeks of knockout rugby league. The finals bracket is the easiest way to follow who plays who and how each team can reach the Grand Final in Sydney.
This guide shows the current bracket format, the teams in the race, and a free printable PDF so you can track every result. It keeps things simple so you never miss a moment on the road to October 5.
What is the NRL Finals Bracket?
The NRL Finals bracket is the path that shows how the top eight teams move through the finals series. It starts with qualifying and elimination finals in week one. The top four sides play for a direct spot in week three while the bottom four fight to stay alive.
Winners move forward and losers are either out or get one more chance. The bracket makes it clear who advances each week and who will reach the Grand Final.
NRL Finals 2025 Teams and Seeding
Eight clubs have qualified for the 2025 NRL Finals. Their ladder finish decides their seeding and matchups in week one.
| Seed | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra Raiders | Top four, double chance |
| 2 | Melbourne Storm | Top four, double chance |
| 3 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Top four, double chance |
| 4 | Brisbane Broncos | Top four, double chance |
| 5 | Cronulla Sharks | Elimination path |
| 6 | New Zealand Warriors | Elimination path |
| 7 | Penrith Panthers | Elimination path |
| 8 | Sydney Roosters | Elimination path |
The top four teams have the safety net of a second chance if they lose in week one. The bottom four teams play sudden death from the start.
2025 NRL Finals Bracket Current Scenario
The finals open with four matches in week one. The winners of the qualifying finals go straight to the preliminary finals in week three. The losers of the qualifying finals meet the elimination winners in week two.
Week 1 – Qualifying and Elimination Finals
- Qualifying Final 1: Fri Sep 12, 7:50 pm – Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury Bulldogs
- Elimination Final 1: Sat Sep 13, 4:05 pm – New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers
- Elimination Final 2: Sat Sep 13, 7:50 pm – Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters
- Qualifying Final 2: Sun Sep 14, 4:05 pm – Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos
Week 2 – Semi Finals
- Loser QF1 vs Winner EF1
- Loser QF2 vs Winner EF2
Week 3 – Preliminary Finals
- Winner QF1 vs Winner of Semi Final 2
- Winner QF2 vs Winner of Semi Final 1
Week 4 – Grand Final
The two preliminary winners meet at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Kick off is set for Sunday October 5 at 7:30 pm AEDT.
Download Printable Blank NRL Finals Bracket 2025
Fans can follow the finals easier with a blank bracket. It lets you fill in results each week and track who moves closer to the Grand Final. The PDF version is free to download, fillable and simple to print. Keep it on your desk or wall so you never miss a score.
Download Editable NRL Finals Bracket
How does the NRL Finals Bracket work?
The finals use the top eight format. The top four teams start in qualifying finals. The winners move straight to the preliminary finals in week three. The losers get a second chance in week two. The teams ranked five to eight start in elimination finals. They must win every week to stay alive.
Semi finals in week two match the qualifying losers with the elimination winners. The winners then face the rested top sides in the preliminary finals. The two preliminary winners meet in the Grand Final at Accor Stadium on October 5. If any match is tied after 80 minutes it goes to extra time. If still tied it moves to golden point where the first score wins.
Also Check: NRL Finals 2025 Fixtures
FAQs about the NRL Finals Bracket
Yes the top four teams get a double chance. They can lose in week one and still stay alive through the semi finals.
The finals run over four weeks starting on September 12 and finishing with the Grand Final on October 5.
Yes but it is rare. A team seeded outside the top four must win four sudden death games in a row to lift the trophy.
The NRL uses points differential and other tiebreakers to set the final seedings for the bracket.
Yes after every round the bracket updates to show new matchups for the next week.
Fans can download and print a free blank bracket PDF to track results week by week.