Multiple outlets report that several NRL premiership favourites are struggling early in the 2026 season, with clubs facing a mix of setbacks including injuries, disruptions from “set restarts,” and other factors. The articles describe a pattern in which four teams that were widely viewed as title contenders have “fallen off a cliff,” meaning their form has dropped sharply and they are now focused on keeping their 2026 campaigns alive.
Across the coverage, the factors cited include injuries to key players and match-to-match instability linked to the game’s set restart rules, which can affect attacking momentum and game plans. The articles also reference team management and performance issues, using language such as “hubris” to suggest that at least some clubs underestimated the impact of early-season problems.
While the reports broadly align that most title-fancied sides are under pressure, they also suggest that only one club is showing signs of improvement and is “climbing back up” relative to the others. The common thread is that the early 2026 landscape has changed quickly for multiple heavyweight contenders.
