NRL Round 22 Results: Highlights & Expert Analysis

Round 22 blew the Cowboys out of the eight. North Queensland were humiliated 82-12 by the Roosters in the biggest scoreline of the season, Newcastle upset Brisbane at Suncorp, and Cronulla made it five straight. Here is every result and the fresh ladder.

Round 22 blew the Cowboys out of the eight. North Queensland were humiliated 82-12 by the Roosters in Townsville — the biggest scoreline of the season — and slipped to ninth on differential, while Newcastle upset Brisbane at Suncorp to climb to sixth and Cronulla made it five straight. Here is every result, the fresh ladder and what it means with the run home on. Manly had the bye.

NRL 2026: Round 22 in Focus

After the shake-up of Round 21 results, Round 22 was the round the top eight hardened. We landed seven of the eight in our Round 22 preview, and our round-by-round predictions and the latest premiership odds tell you where every side sits.

Roosters humiliate the Cowboys in a 70-point rout

Sydney Roosters 82 def. North Queensland Cowboys 12

An astonishing Thursday night in Townsville. The Roosters put 82 points on a Cowboys side that was clinging to eighth, winning by 70 in the biggest scoreline of the season. North Queensland’s for-and-against was destroyed — they now sit ninth on -98 and outside the eight. We tipped the Roosters, but nobody tipped this.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters, check out our full North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters head-to-head record & tips →.

Dolphins come off the bye to see off the Dragons

Dolphins 28 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 22

Closer than the market wanted, but the Dolphins got the job done at WIN Stadium to hold fifth. The Dragons, at 2-17, competed for long stretches — our preview had the Dolphins by 13 or more, so the tip landed but the margin did not.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between St George Illawarra Dragons and Dolphins, check out our full St George Illawarra Dragons vs Dolphins head-to-head record & tips →.

Bulldogs bank a second straight scalp in Melbourne

Canterbury Bulldogs 36 def. Melbourne Storm 22

Back-to-back statements from Canterbury. Having shocked the Warriors a week earlier, the Bulldogs went to AAMI Park and put 36 on the Storm to move into eighth. Melbourne’s season is now genuinely grim at 8-12. This was our call, and it was the confident one.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs, check out our full Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury Bulldogs head-to-head record & tips →.

Warriors bounce back with a Gold Coast demolition

New Zealand Warriors 42 def. Gold Coast Titans 6

Exactly the response required. The Warriors answered their Canterbury loss by putting 42 on the Titans at Cbus to stay third, and their +226 differential keeps them ahead of Cronulla on the same points. Another preview call that landed.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Gold Coast Titans and New Zealand Warriors, check out our full Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors head-to-head record & tips →.

Panthers stroll in Mudgee to stay clear on top

Penrith Panthers 42 def. Canberra Raiders 18

The competition leaders were never troubled at Glen Willow, winning by 24 to move to 15-4. Penrith are two points clear with the best differential in the game at +308. Canberra’s three-game winning run ended abruptly.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Penrith Panthers and Canberra Raiders, check out our full Penrith Panthers vs Canberra Raiders head-to-head record & tips →.

Knights stun the Broncos at Suncorp

Newcastle Knights 30 def. Brisbane Broncos 6

The round’s upset, and the one that beat us. After three straight losses by a combined seven points, Newcastle finally got the rub of the green — and then some, winning by 24 at Suncorp to climb to sixth. Brisbane, whom our preview favoured at home, fall to 6-13 and are all but done.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights, check out our full Brisbane Broncos vs Newcastle Knights head-to-head record & tips →.

Sharks make it five straight in the game of the round

Cronulla Sharks 32 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 16

Our game of the round delivered, and the form side won it. Cronulla beat Souths by 16 at Shark Park for a fifth consecutive victory, holding fourth and a home final in view. South Sydney drop to seventh but stay inside the eight. The preview call landed.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs, check out our full Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs head-to-head record & tips →.

Eels edge the derby in a three-point thriller

Parramatta Eels 16 def. Wests Tigers 13

The closest game of the round. Parramatta got home by three at CommBank Stadium to win the western Sydney derby and extend the Tigers’ misery to a seventh straight defeat. We were on the Eels, though we expected more comfort than this.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels, check out our full Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels head-to-head record & tips →.

NRL ladder after Round 22

#	Team	P	W-L	Diff	Pts
1	Penrith Panthers	19	15-4	+308	36
2	Sydney Roosters	19	14-5	+155	34
3	New Zealand Warriors	19	13-6	+226	32
4	Cronulla Sharks	19	13-6	+177	32
5	Dolphins	19	12-7	+90	30
6	Newcastle Knights	20	12-8	+60	28
7	South Sydney Rabbitohs	19	10-9	+62	26
8	Canterbury Bulldogs	19	10-9	-44	26
9	North Queensland Cowboys	20	11-9	-98	26
10	Manly Sea Eagles	19	9-10	+90	24
11	Canberra Raiders	20	9-11	-59	22
12	Melbourne Storm	20	8-12	-26	20
13	Parramatta Eels	19	7-12	-179	20
14	Gold Coast Titans	19	6-13	-122	18
15	Brisbane Broncos	19	6-13	-156	18
16	Wests Tigers	20	7-13	-211	18
17	St George Illawarra Dragons	19	2-17	-273	10

 

Ladder implications

The Cowboys are out. Three sides sit on 26 points — South Sydney (+62), Canterbury (-44) and North Queensland (-98). The 70-point loss did not just cost two points, it wrecked the differential that separates them. That is the round’s defining consequence.

Penrith are in control. At 15-4 and +308, the minor premiership is theirs to lose.

Warriors and Sharks are locked together. Both 13-6 on 32 points, separated only by differential (+226 to +177). A home final hangs on it.

Newcastle have turned. Three heartbreaking losses, then a 24-point win at Suncorp — the Knights are sixth and playing like a finals side.

Manly slipped without playing. The bye leaves them tenth on 24 points, and they now need results to go their way.

Round 22 talking points

Biggest margin: the Roosters by 70 over the Cowboys — the biggest scoreline of the 2026 season.

Closest game: Parramatta by three over the Wests Tigers.

Form side: Cronulla, now on five straight.

How our tips fared: seven from eight. Only the Broncos let us down — Newcastle won that one by 24.

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FAQ

What was the biggest result of NRL Round 22?

The Sydney Roosters beat North Queensland 82-12 in Townsville, a 70-point margin and the biggest scoreline of the 2026 season.

Who leads the NRL ladder after Round 22?

Penrith, at 15-4 on 36 points with a competition-best differential of +308.

Did the top eight change in Round 22?

Yes. North Queensland dropped to ninth after their 70-point loss wrecked their for-and-against, with Canterbury moving into eighth and Newcastle up to sixth.

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