Penultimate Round Play-Off Permutations

The penultimate round is coming…

What do we know so far? Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity have all confirmed their places in the 2026 Play-Offs.

Two spots remain - with Leigh Leopards, Hull KR and St Helens still in the fight.

The fixture of the season awaits on Saturday Night - the Rhinos host the Warriors in a League Leaders’ Shield Decider, where the winner of his blockbuster clash will go to the top of the Betfred Super League table with one regular round to go.

Saturday 5 September, AMT Headingley Stadium, 8PM ?

League Leaders' Shield on the line, you WON'T want to miss it ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/XEbMEFisq0

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 28, 2026

Meanwhile, the third-placed Wolves meet fourth-placed Trinity this weekend. Warrington know they have a home Eliminator tie guaranteed at the very least, whilst there is still an outside chance of finishing second.

For Trinity, they’ll be targeting the two points in Round 26 as they look to tighten their grip on fourth spot.

If Trinity win and the Leopards fail to win in Round 26, Wakefield will secure a top four finish for the first time in their history.

And if Wakefield beat Warrington, they will also be helping out the winner of Rhinos versus Warriors later that day, who will in turn secure a home Semi-Final and find themselves 80 minutes from Old Trafford.

If Trinity lose and the Leopards win, however, both sides will be locked in on 34 points each heading into Round 27, where they will face one another in what would become a battle for a home Eliminator!

Leigh currently occupy fifth in the table and will hope to book their place in the Play-Offs this upcoming Friday, as well as keep their top four chances alive.

They will play Saints on home soil - and it is a must win for the Red V too.

If Leigh beat Saints, Adrian Lam’s men will qualify for the Play-Offs, as there won’t be enough points left for Saints to catch the Leopards in the final round.

Although due to Leopards’ hefty points difference at present, it’s unlikely that they will miss out anyway.

Likewise, if Hull KR win in Round 26, they will have effectively secured their place in the Play-Offs due to their superior points difference over St Helens, which makes it almost impossible for Saints to overtake them.

This is even if Saints win this week too, as the Robins currently have a +203 advantage over them.

That said, because things are still technically mathematically feasible, Hull KR’s Play-Off berth cannot be officially confirmed until Round 27.

But; if both the Leopards and Robins are victorious in Round 26 and Saints lose, this would ensure that the Red V would be 100% out of the Play-Off running, meaning they have failed to make the post-season action for the first time in their Super League history.

The other outcome - Saints winning and the Robins losing in Round 26 - would promise a tasty treat in Round 27 with a shoot-out for a Play-Off place on the line...

The Final Charge continues as the penultimate round of the Betfred Super League gets underway on Thursday Night (live on Sky Sports).

All games will be broadcasted live, and fixture information can be found here.

Be a part of Rugby League's biggest night and book your tickets for the Betfred Super League Grand Final here!