10 St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs
The Penrith Panthers defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 24-10, significantly impacting the Bulldogs' chances of reaching the NRL finals. Other teams are now positioned to secure the final spots in the top eight as the regular season concludes.
Why it matters
This result is a pivotal moment in the 2026 NRL season, determining the playoff trajectory for multiple competing clubs.
There were a number of spot fires between the Bulldogs and Panthers. ( Getty Images: Matt King )
Link copied Share Share article Canterbury's NRL finals hopes are hanging by a thread after a 24-10 loss to Penrith, who moved within reach of a top-two finish at Western Sydney Stadium.
Second-rower Liam Martin bagged a double as the Panthers moved back to the top of the ladder on Friday night.
A shaky start to the year has left the Bulldogs playing catch-up on the top eight for most of 2026, and they could be officially out of the finals picture by Saturday night.
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