NRL finals season shifts focus to dominant clubs

As the NRL finals season approaches, the focus of rugby league fans shifts toward the premiership race and the teams they most desire to see lose. Following a 2025 grand final between the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, the current season lacks a traditional target for neutral fan resentment.

While teams like Parramatta and the Dragons are currently viewed with pity rather than hatred, the recent concentration of success within a few clubs has shifted the narrative. The Penrith Panthers, having secured four consecutive titles despite salary cap pressures, and the Sydney Roosters have become the primary targets for neutral fans hoping to see their dominance broken.