Overview
- Tickets for week-one matches opened to competing club members at 10am on Monday, September 8, to non-competing club members at 4pm, and go on general sale at 10am Tuesday, September 9.
- Week one runs September 12–14: Storm vs Bulldogs at AAMI Park (Fri), Warriors vs Panthers at Go Media Stadium (Sat arvo), Sharks vs Roosters at Sharks Stadium (Sat night), and Raiders vs Broncos at GIO Stadium (Sun).
- The eight-team format in place since 2012 gives the top four a double chance, with Canberra (1), Melbourne (2), Canterbury (3) and Brisbane (4) seeded to the qualifying finals.
- Cronulla, the Warriors, Penrith and the Roosters occupy positions five to eight and face sudden-death elimination from the opening week.
- The finals comprise nine games across a month, culminating in the grand final at Accor Stadium on Sunday, October 5.