Good luck, NRL rivals. The Warriors can now stay in NZ until grand final week

August 24, 2026 — 5:00am

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The ladder implications emerged immediately, and took the gloss off what was otherwise a gloriously meaningless, last-minute Warriors field goal as they downed South Sydney on Saturday night.

(And if you’re not wallowing in kicking a one-pointer for no reason at all, then you’re not rugby leagueing correctly).

Luke Hanson’s 79th-minute nudge made for a 45-26, 19-point Warriors win over the Rabbitohs, and pushed them one points-differential point above the Panthers on the ladder with two weeks to play in the regular season.

Such are the stakes in the top-eight race, where Canterbury and Manly (allegedly) are still a chance of making it, and Souths and North Queensland are still a chance of not.

But the top four is where premierships are won. In 2026, New Zealand will be where they are lost too.

And by Sunday evening, when the Roosters’ eight-game winning streak ended against a Tigers outfit that had lost eight on the trot, Hanson’s field goal had the Warriors sitting pretty in first place, while Jock Madden’s one-pointer had dropped the Tricolours from first to third on the ladder.

Despite the inexplicable loss to the Tigers, the Roosters remain a class above in the title race, alongside the Warriors and Panthers.

Provided results go as expected during the next fortnight (cue upsets, injuries, divine........

© The Age