The final positions for the Championship 2026 season are now confirmed after the conclusion of round 26 of the competition, with the play-off match-ups also confirmed.
There is still one game left to be played in the Championship season with the outstanding fixture being London Broncos at home to Swinton Lions, a game that will be played this coming Saturday.
London have already locked up top spot and barring a major upset, league positions will remain unaffected, though a shock win for Swinton would see them move to 16th.
As for the round 26 action, Newcastle avoided a slip-up in their clash with Dewsbury Rams and that means they have secured second, thus a better route in the play-offs. Whilst Thunder were rampant in that game, winning 56-6, the match was all about Paul Sykes as he retires after 28 years in the game.
The round 26 action started on Thursday when Widnes Vikings fielded a team of loanees and academy graduates, so as not to damage their chances for today’s 1895 Cup Final, and put in one of the performances of the season as they pushed Sheffield Eagles all the way, only losing 12-8.
Oldham and Doncaster both recorded comfortable away wins as they secured third and fourth respectively, whilst fellow play-off side Midlands Hurricanes beat North Wales Crusaders 98-0.
A win for Whitehaven over their Cumbrian rivals Workington ensured that they leapfrogged Batley, who lost 18-16 to Salford, with Town now sat in ninth for the play-offs.
Elsewhere outside the top 10, Halifax Panthers lost to Keighley thanks to a drop goal for the Cougars, but attention now turns to those play-offs which start next week.
London and Newcastle have byes in round one by merit of their finish but those behind them are all in action.
Sheffield Eagles will host Batley Bulldogs in a loser goes home game, whilst Midlands will host Whitehaven in the same format. Meanwhile, Oldham will play Widnes and Doncaster host Barrow, with the winners booking their places in qualifying semi-finals, whereas the losers face the victors of the eliminators.
Championship play-off fixtures
Week 1
Oldham v Widnes – Qualifying Semi Final
Doncaster v Barrow – Qualifying Semi Final
Sheffield v Batley – Eliminator
Midlands v Whitehaven – Elimator
Week 2
Qualifying Final 1 – London Broncos v Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
Qualifying Final 2 – Newcastle Thunder v Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
Elimination Final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Lowest Ranked Eliminator Winners
Elimination Final 2 – Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Highest Ranked Eliminator Winners
Week 3
Winners of Qualifying Final 1 & 2 – through to home semi finals
Sudden Death Play Off 1 – Highest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals
Sudden Death Play Off 2 – Lowest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Highest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals
Week 4
Preliminary Final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Lowest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners
Preliminary Final 2 – Lowest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Highest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners
Week 5
Grand Final – Highest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals
Championship Round 26 Results
Sheffield Eagles 12-8 Widnes Vikings
Dewsbury Rams 6-56 Newcastle Thunder
Goole Vikings 14-36 Doncaster RLFC
Batley Bulldogs 16-18 Salford RLFC
Halifax Panthers 18-19 Keighley Cougars
Midlands Hurricanes 98-0 North Wales Crusaders
Rochdale Hornets 14-32 Oldham
Workington 20-29 Whitehaven
