Some had excuses, others crippled by injury and many were downright dreadful. The nine teams which missed the 2025 finals have six months to get their act together for 2026. While a few have promise, others are going nowhere.

Let’s face the facts. At $1.3m per season, Kalyn Ponga doesn’t deliver. His form is too streaky and he’s injured all the time. Add Dylan Brown on the same coin and they’ve got problems. Massive ones. They have way overpaid for Brown as he is not the player they think he is. Adam O’Brien did the right thing by his sanity in negotiating a way out. They were, and will remain, awful. There’s talk they will look at Michael Cheika as coach. They may as well. All they can lose is the spoon.

2026 prediction: Wooden spoon.

Were never in it from the get-go. Des Hasler didn’t work out for them and the roster is out of shape with several fullbacks and highly-paid middle forwards. David Fifita, at more than $1m a year, looked at times like he wasn’t even trying, which is a disgrace. Who does he think he is? Josh Hannay takes over as coach for 2026. He looks the goods and there is talent in the squad. Let’s hope he can fix whatever it is that holds that perennially holds the club back, for the sake of the good people who own and run the club.

2026 prediction: Will definitely move up the ladder.

Coach Adam O’Brien is gone, Kalyn Ponga has under-delivered and now they........

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