The four finalists are settled before the last round, but Willagee’s final bye has created one remaining ladder equation for the Roosters.
There will be no last-round battle for survival in the 2026 NRLWA Women’s Premiership. Ellenbrook, Joondalup, Willagee and Fremantle are all guaranteed to play finals, while Kalamunda cannot climb from fifth.
The remaining question is whether Fremantle can overtake Willagee and finish third.
The current ladder shows the Bears and Roosters level on 16 competition points. However, Willagee have the Round 15 bye, worth two points, and will finish the regular season on 18.
Fremantle can also reach 18 by defeating second-placed Joondalup—but a victory alone may not be sufficient.
The final-round position
| Team | Current points | Round 15 | Maximum | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellenbrook Rabbitohs | 26 | at Kalamunda | 28 | +276 |
| Joondalup Giants | 20 | v Fremantle | 22 | +120 |
| Willagee Bears | 16 | Bye | 18 | +112 |
| Fremantle Roosters | 16 | at Joondalup | 18 | +78 |
| Kalamunda Bulldogs | 6 | v Ellenbrook | 8 | −586 |
Ellenbrook are confirmed minor premiers. Even if the Rabbitohs lose and Joondalup win, the Giants can reach only 22 points.
Joondalup are equally secure in second, while Kalamunda cannot reach Fremantle’s current total.
The only available ladder movement is between third and fourth.
Fremantle’s equation
Once Willagee’s bye is credited, the Bears will have:
- 18 competition points
- A plus-112 differential
- 290 points scored
- Six victories
If Fremantle beat Joondalup, the Roosters will also finish on 18 points. Their differential will increase from plus-78 by the size of their winning margin.
Therefore:
Fremantle need to defeat Joondalup by at least 35 points to finish third.
A 35-point victory would lift the Roosters to plus-113, one point ahead of Willagee.
A win by 33 or fewer leaves Fremantle fourth.
The exact 34-point scenario
A 34-point Fremantle victory would leave both teams on 18 points and plus-112 differential.
The next tiebreaker is points scored. Willagee have scored 290, while Fremantle start the match on 238.
Consequently, a 34-point victory works only if the Roosters score at least 52 points—for example, 52–18.
That would leave both teams with 290 points scored and six wins. Fremantle would then move ahead on the final alphabetical tiebreak.
In practical terms, 35 points is the clean target.
The intriguing head-to-head history
Fremantle and Joondalup have split their two meetings this season.
The Giants won the first 18–14, before the Roosters produced a remarkable reversal and won the return match 38–4.
That second result carries particular significance: it was a 34-point Fremantle victory, exactly the margin required to draw level with Willagee’s differential.
Repeating 38–4 would not quite be enough, however. Although the differentials would be tied, Willagee would remain ahead on points scored. Fremantle would need the same 34-point margin while scoring at least 52.
Form points toward another compelling contest
Joondalup enter Round 15 having won four of their past five matches:
- Beat Kalamunda 54–4
- Lost to Fremantle 38–4
- Beat Ellenbrook 18–12
- Beat Willagee 40–8
- Beat Kalamunda 62–0
The Giants have scored 130 points across their past three games while conceding only 20. Their victory over Ellenbrook was the minor premiers’ only defeat of the season.
Fremantle’s form has been less consistent but includes two highly relevant results:
- Lost to Willagee 26–4
- Beat Joondalup 38–4
- Beat Kalamunda 62–0
- Lost to Ellenbrook 28–8
- Beat Willagee 20–8
The Round 14 victory over Willagee kept the third-place race mathematically alive. It also showed that Fremantle can defeat a finals opponent under pressure.
Across the full season, Joondalup average 26 points scored and 15.1 conceded. Fremantle average 21.6 scored and 14.5 conceded.
A simple blend of those attacking and defensive averages projects a close contest of approximately Joondalup 20, Fremantle 18—a long way short of the margin the Roosters require.
Ellenbrook’s dominant campaign
While the battle for third provides the final-round equation, Ellenbrook have already secured top spot through an extraordinary defensive season.
The Rabbitohs have conceded only 58 points in 11 matches—an average of 5.3 per game—and carry a plus-276 differential.
Their 10–1 record includes five wins from five home matches. Their only defeat was the 18–12 loss to Joondalup.
Kalamunda, meanwhile, remain winless and have been outscored 620–34. Even an upset in the final round cannot move the Bulldogs from fifth.
Women’s final-round verdict
The Top Four cannot change:
- Ellenbrook Rabbitohs
- Joondalup Giants
- Willagee Bears or Fremantle Roosters
- Fremantle Roosters or Willagee Bears
The equation is simple:
- Fremantle win by 35 or more: Roosters finish third.
- Fremantle win by 34: They must score at least 52 points.
- Fremantle win by 33 or fewer: Willagee finish third.
- Fremantle draw or lose: Willagee finish third.
- Kalamunda v Ellenbrook: No effect on the composition or order of the Top Four.
The finalists are known. The last remaining question is whether Fremantle can reproduce—and slightly improve upon—their most emphatic performance against Joondalup.