2025 NRL Ladder After Round 12: Raiders, Bulldogs Top

Round 12 of the 2025 NRL season exposed an unusually tight title race — three teams locked at the summit with Canberra Raiders holding first place on for-and-against. The ladder tells a real story: parity at the top, chaos in the middle, and a warning sign from Penrith sitting 17th.

Season Status: Regular season ongoing · Early Leaders: Canberra Raiders, Canterbury Bulldogs, NZ Warriors · Rounds Played: Up to Round 12 · Official Source: Footy Forecaster

The 2025 NRL season saw unusual mid-season parity, with just for-and-against separating the leading teams.

At the Round 12 midpoint, two teams were locked at nine wins each, with the Warriors close behind on eight — a concentration of early-season strength that the NRL rarely sees mid-season. The Footy Forecaster data shows Raiders leading on for-and-against, with the Bulldogs close behind.

Who is likely to be in the NRL Grand Final 2025?

Current top 4 teams

The 2025 season ultimately confirmed the Raiders as minor premiers with 19 wins from 24 matches (Sporting News). Melbourne Storm finished in the top four with 17 wins, while Canterbury Bulldogs secured the third position with 16 wins from 24 games. The final standings reflected the early-season ladder pressure: Canberra, Melbourne, and the Bulldogs consistently delivered strong performances throughout the year.

Ladder progression insights

The double chance in the finals — earned by finishing in the top four — proved decisive. Brisbane Broncos clinched their spot by defeating Melbourne Storm in the final round of the regular season (Sporting News). Cronulla Sharks, New Zealand Warriors, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters filled the remaining top eight positions, rounding out a competitive finals field.

For those tracking the path to the Grand Final, the data from the Sporting News confirms that the minor premiership carried real value — Raiders entered the finals with momentum and home-ground advantage through the opening rounds.

Who is going to win the Grand Final in 2025?

Favorites based on ladder position

Historical patterns in the NRL show that teams finishing top four typically dominate Grand Final contention. In 2025, Canberra’s strong regular season (19 wins) positioned them as clear frontrunners heading into the finals series (Sporting News). Melbourne Storm, with 17 wins, represented the most consistent challenger throughout the year. The Bulldogs’ 16 wins placed them third in the pecking order, but their mid-season form showed they could upset either of the top two.

Historical grand final trends

Sports analysts tracking NRL outcomes note that minor premiership winners convert at a high rate. Analysis from Sporting News indicates that teams with the double chance (top four finish) historically navigate the finals bracket more successfully, avoiding elimination in week one.

For readers wondering who takes the trophy, the ladder at season’s end provides the strongest predictor available. The 2025 data shows Raiders held the advantage throughout, but Storm’s resilience — particularly their ability to compete close to the top despite fewer matches played at certain points — suggests they remained dangerous opponents.

Who is the highest paid NRL player?

Top earners list

The NRL’s highest-paid player figures have been widely reported in player salary discussions. According to reports from Sporting News and other sports outlets, a Newcastle Knights player holds a contract valued at $13 million over its term. This represents one of the most lucrative deals in the league’s history.

Contract details

Nathan Cleary, representing the Panthers, has commanded significant salary figures in recent years. The Penrith halfback’s earnings have placed him among the highest-paid players in the NRL, though the specific figures vary by reporting source. Fans frequently ask about Cleary’s annual salary as a benchmark for comparing top-tier contracts.

What the salary data reveals: top-tier teams (Raiders, Storm, Bulldogs) don’t necessarily have the highest-paid rosters overall. The Raiders’ minor premiership in 2025 came through collective performance rather than superstar salaries alone. This suggests roster depth and team culture may outweigh individual wage bills when it comes to ladder positioning.

What is the most loved team in the NRL?

Fan popularity reports

Fan sentiment rankings have been tracked by various outlets, including Brandirectory analyses of team brands across the NRL. According to these metrics, certain clubs consistently rank highest in fan engagement and brand recognition, though the specific 2025 data varies by polling source.

Brand rankings

Brandirectory insights suggest the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos maintain strong brand value despite their different market sizes. The Raiders, as a smaller-market club, punch above their weight in fan loyalty relative to their commercial footprint.

What is the least liked NRL team?

Fan hate rankings

Reverse-sentiment data from League Unlimited and similar outlets tracks which teams generate the most negative attention. These rankings tend to correlate with team success (historically dominant clubs often attract “hate” as a proxy for rivalry intensity) as well as specific controversies or playing styles deemed unsportsmanlike.

Club perceptions

In 2025, teams mid-table or in the lower reaches of the ladder rarely attract significant anti-fan sentiment — it’s the top contenders who inspire strong reactions. The Raiders’ rise to minor premiership likely increased their “least liked” ranking among fans of rival clubs competing for the same finals positions.

What this means: “least liked” status in the NRL often reflects competitive rivalry rather than genuine dislike. Teams like Melbourne Storm, who’ve sustained success over multiple seasons, consistently appear in these rankings.

What experts are saying

Analysis from Sporting News (sports outlet, NRL coverage) indicates that the 2025 season showed unusual parity at the top — three teams tied at nine wins is rare mid-season form.

Data from Footy Forecaster (NRL statistics platform, tracking match data) confirms that for-and-against differences separated the tied teams, with Raiders holding the narrowest of advantages.

The NRL.com official record shows Round 12 results as the most recent verified data point for mid-season ladder assessment.

Summary

The 2025 NRL ladder tells a story of early-season parity giving way to clear frontrunners by season’s end. Canberra Raiders’ minor premiership with 19 wins from 24 matches, confirmed by Sporting News, reflects genuine dominance rather than luck. Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs kept pace throughout, forming a top three that separated from the pack. For fans tracking their team’s trajectory, the Round 12 snapshot proved an accurate early indicator of final standings. The implication is clear: in the NRL, consistent performance across all 24 rounds matters more than any single result, and teams like Penrith (who dropped to 17th at Round 12) serve as cautionary tales about what happens when depth fails.

Related reading: NRL Ladder

Raiders top the ladder after Round 12 with Bulldogs and Warriors close, projecting toward the final 2025 NRL ladder minor premiership.

Frequently asked questions