Penrith Panthers claim 2026 NRL minor premiership

The Penrith Panthers have secured the 2026 NRL minor premiership after defeating the Wests Tigers 38-10 at CommBank Stadium. The victory allowed Penrith to leapfrog the New Zealand Warriors to claim the JJ Giltinan Shield, marking their fourth minor premiership since 2020.

The match saw the return of co-captain Isaah Yeo from a pectoral injury and hooker Mitch Kenny from a broken foot. Thomas Jenkins scored a double, finishing the regular season with 30 tries, tying him with South Sydney’s Alex Johnston as the league's top try-scorer.

With the regular season concluded, the NRL finals series is set to begin. The Week One matchups include an elimination final between the sixth-placed South Sydney Rabbitohs and seventh-placed Newcastle Knights, and a clash between fifth-placed Cronulla Sharks and eighth-placed North Queensland Cowboys. The second-placed Warriors will host third-placed Dolphins in a qualifying final, while minor premiers Penrith will face the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters.

In viewership news, streaming service Kayo reported that the Round 7 match between the Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos was the most-watched NRL match of the 2026 season and the highest-rated NRL match in the platform's history.