# NRL finals race developments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nrl-finals-race-developments
> Updated: 2026-08-29T00:15:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The NRL regular season concludes with teams competing for finals positions. On August 21, the Canterbury Bulldogs defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 44-14, keeping their finals aspirations alive despite facing COVID-19 cases and player injuries. This victory placed the ninth-placed Bulldogs two points behind South Sydney and North Queensland with two matches remaining.

By August 29, the North Queensland Cowboys secured their spot in the NRL finals following a 24-10 victory over the Wests Tigers. The win ensured the Cowboys remained four points ahead of ninth-placed Manly with one round left in the season.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-29: North Queensland Cowboys secure NRL finals spot with win over Wests Tigers

The North Queensland Cowboys secured their NRL finals berth with a 24-10 comeback victory against the Wests Tigers, fueled by a second-half surge and a brace of tries from Tom Chester.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nrl-team-lists-feature-key-player-returns-for-roosters-and-rabbitohs

### 2026-08-21: Canterbury Bulldogs keep finals hopes alive with win over Dragons

The Canterbury Bulldogs defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 44-14, keeping their NRL finals hopes alive despite COVID-19 outbreaks and injuries within the squad.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canterbury-bulldogs-keep-finals-hopes-alive-with-win-over-dragons

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Cite as: NRL finals race developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nrl-finals-race-developments