8th: 25 points, Brisbane (Queensland).
The only team with a negative points difference in the top ten. But for a fortuitous draw they wouldn't have made it. To emphasise how they weren't up to getting even this far can be seen in how they were dumped out of the first round of the finals 58-0 by Paramatta.
7th: 26 points, Cronulla (Sydney).
They had an up and down season and made hard work of making the playoffs. The regular season win - loss record was 12 to 12. They ended their season one round into the finals series when beaten 28-16 by Manly. That made in 12 - 13.
6th: 30 points, Manly (Sydney).
A good year for the club from Sydney's North Shore. They even negotiated themselves to the second round of the playoffs but it ended here with a 34-26 loss to South Sydney. They looked to have the game in the bag but were pipped at the post.
5th: 30 points, Paramatta (Sydney).
This team achieved a better placing than I expected and made the finals. After hammering Brisbane in the first week, it was their turn to be on the receiving end. The Melbourne Storm took the game 32-0 and the Eels were well and truly smoked.
4th: 34 points, Souths (Sydney).
The club went well in 2019, even leading the competition for two weeks mid-season. Then having got one game from the grand final, there were high hopes that the big game beckoned but in a tight contest, they didn't do enough and lost 16-10 to a gritty Canberra.
3rd: 42 points, Melbourne (Victoria).
They led the league for most of the season and odds on favourite to make the grand final but one game short they fell to the Sydney Roosters 14-6. The most consistent team but on the day not good enough. That's sport.
2nd: 32 points, Canberra (ACT).
They overachieved in finishing the regular season 4th but they weren't finished there. They also got to the grand final for the first time in 25 years. A well balanced side aided by four high performing English imports, they just kept on delivering. In the final, they just fell short 8-14 in a gritty encounter. The coach showed composure in the press conference, which did him credit.
1st: 36 points, Sydney Roosters (Sydney).
Second in the league, they were expected to get to the grand final and duly delivered. They were also favoured to overcome Canberra in that as well. As it turned out a couple of decisions went their way.
An on field water carrier possibly saved them conceding a try and then led to their scoring one. An outrageous error by the officials went their way late in the match which took pressure off them and they went away to score yet again. It was a shame the result was tarnished that way because those events were nothing to do with the Roosters. However, the Roosters coach could have shown some sympathy for Canberra during the press conference.
All said the Roosters had a fine season and took their second consecutive grand final as a result.
| Rk | Team | Pts | W | L | Diff | |
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 42 | 20 | 4 | 331 | |
| 2 | Sydney Roosters | 36 | 17 | 7 | 264 | |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 34 | 16 | 8 | 104 | |
| 4 | Canberra Raiders | 32 | 15 | 9 | 150 | |
| 5 | Paramatta Eels | 30 | 14 | 10 | 60 | |
| 6 | Manly Sea Eagles | 30 | 14 | 10 | 50 | |
| 7 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 26 | 12 | 12 | 50 | |
| 8 | Brisbane Broncos | 25 | 11 | 12 | -57 |
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