NRL 2023 Round 25 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

With three weeks to go in the NRL home and away season, there are still up to 12 teams vying for finals spots, while further up the ladder third and fourth place are far from locked away. That makes for a huge weekend of games, kicking off with a big clash between the Cowboys and Sharks up north on Thursday night. The Warriors then take on the Sea Eagles and the Roosters go head to head with the Eels on a big Friday night, before a huge clash between the Rabbitohs and the Knights on Sunday will have a major impact on the make up of the top eight at the round’s conclusion. We’ve previewed each and every game set to take place over Round 25 of the NRL below.

It’s a big couple of weeks coming up for both of these teams, and how Thursday night’s game plays out will play a significant role in determining how the season pans out for each of them – and for many teams around them. The Cowboys enjoyed a couple of free points last week courtesy of the bye and jumped past the Eels in the process, though they still remain just outside of the eight with just three weeks left in the season, albeit only just. They’re only a game behind the Sharks, who are in fifth, and a win for the Cowboys in this game would likely see these two sides move alongside one another in the top eight. The Sharks, meanwhile, are just a game outside of the top four and with three winnable games to come could easily work their way inside it, but equally a loss this weekend would put their finals hopes in jeopardy. The Cowboys over the past couple of months have looked every bit a finals side, but they left themselves a lot to do courtesy of a poor first half of the year and dropped a couple of games in a row prior to their bye. The Sharks, meanwhile, have been consistent from the start of the year and appear to have found some solid form over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately for Cronulla, however, North Queensland has been a haven for the Cowboys all year, even when they weren’t at their best. They’re 8-3 there so far this year, and with their season on the line can record a pivotal win in a tight game.

Predicted Squads

North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Murray Taulagi 4. Peta Hiku 5. Kyle Feldt 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Coen Hess 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville
15. Griffin Neame 16. Heilum Luki 17. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Cronulla Sharks: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cam McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jesse Colquhoun 17. Matt Moylan

These two teams endured vastly different last weekends. For the Warriors, a win against the Tigers kept them two games clear inside the top four, almost certainly ensuring that they’ll get a double chance this year – barring a disaster over the last three weeks of the home and away season. In contrast, the Sea Eagles, after a bright start, were overrun by the Panthers to all but end their finals hopes. Still just a game and a half out of the eight and with the Bulldogs and Tigers to come over the past three weeks they will remain eager to give themselves a chance by winning all three of their final games, but their poor points difference means that even if they do it’s unlikely they’ll sneak inside the eight. What’s more, they have to head to Auckland and overcome a very good Warriors team to even give themselves a chance. The Warriors have, surprisingly, done more of their damage on the road than at home, but they’re a really good team wherever they play and should certainly be able to get the job done on their home turf this Friday night.

Predicted Squads

New Zealand Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitch Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran

Manly Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipolotu 6. Jake Arthur 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Sean Keppie 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Kelma Tuilagi  17. Karl Lawton

After seemingly putting themselves into an excellent position to attack the top eight a few weeks ago, the Eels have fallen off a cliff, and last weekend’s loss saw their freefall continue. They were no match for the Broncos, who demolished them from pillar to post en route to a 54-10 victory. The Eels now find themselves a game outside the top eight, and pivotally lost a whole lot in terms of their points difference in a season in which that will likely decide who plays finals. The Roosters, meanwhile, after a year which has on the whole been a disaster, drew themselves level with the Eels in terms of their record with a second consecutive win, this one over the Dolphins. Each of them is an outside chance of playing finals, though wins may very well be needed in every remaining game, particularly for the Roosters given their woeful points difference. For all their trials this year though, they have started playing much better footy over recent weeks – unsurprisingly with a few names returning. With the Eels really struggling at the minute, the Roosters can head to Parramatta and get the job done to keep their season alive.

Predicted Squads

Parramatta Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Dylan Brown  8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J'maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Brendan Hands

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Nat Butcher 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith  15. Egan Butcher 16. Terrell May 17. Fletcher Baker

• Prior to their most recent game when they lost to the Broncos, the Cowboys hadn’t lost at home since the beginning of April for a streak of six wins in a row.
• Though the Dolphins have a lot of outs, the Tigers have won just three games all season.
• The Rabbitohs have won eight of their 11 games on the road this season.

Multi of the Week

A rare game this weekend which doesn’t bear a great deal of significance, Saturday afternoon will see the last placed Tigers take on the 14th placed Dolphins. Since May, these two teams have won a solitary a game apiece – that was the Dolphins five games ago by two points against the Titans. The Tigers haven’t won since they smashed a struggling Cowboys back in May, though they have been very competitive over the last month, with three of their defeats coming by single figure margins and the other by 14 points against the Rabbitohs. The Dolphins, too, have typically been very competitive and were it not for a number of close losses could still be somewhat in the finals mix. This isn’t a game which really means anything and won’t likely be the most entertaining viewing in a weekend full of important games, but with little on the line the consistent Dolphins can edge the Tigers for their ninth win of their debut season, despite the fact that they’re going to have a few key outs.

Predicted Squads

Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To'a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou6. Daine Laurie 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Api Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’I 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Alex Twal 17. Shawn Blore

The Dolphins: 1. Kodi Nikorima 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan  8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harrison Graham 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Josh Kerr 13. Jarrod Wallace 14. Herman Ese'ese 15. Anthony Milford 16. Mason Teague 17. Poasa Faamausili

With the Titans officially out of the running for the finals it appears likely that motivation may be on the downturn, with a 36-6 drubbing at the hands of the Sharks indicative of as much. But they’ll want to be avoid putting in a similar performance this week, because if they do they’ll be on the wrong end of an even bigger loss. The Panthers started slowly last week, conceding two early tries to the Sea Eagles, but if anything that game only ended up further demonstrating how much better than the chasing pack they are – particularly defensively. They subsequently dug their heels in and didn’t allow Manly to score again, ultimately ending up with a comfortable 24-12 win – their 16th of the season. Top two for them is assured, though the Broncos can still snatch first off them. Realistically that probably doesn’t bother the Panthers – whoever they play in Penrith in the first week of the finals will be a significant underdog – but they’ll still be keen to work towards some of their best form as the season hits its most important point. They’ll do what they need to do to get the job done in this one, and should be able to record a relatively comfortable, low-scoring win.

Predicted Squads

Gold Coast Titans: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Erin Clark 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Isaac Liu 16. Klese Haas 17. Keano Kini

Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Matthew Eisenhuth  17. Zac Hosking

A relatively disappointing slate of Saturday games continues on Saturday night when the 16th placed Dragons take on the fourth placed Storm. The Dragons, at least, have remained relatively competitive even without much to play for, and of their last five games, their 12-point loss to the Rabbitohs last weekend was the biggest. But it’s hard to see them realistically challenging the Storm, who put in one of their best performances of the season last weekend and will be buoyed by the prospect of superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen potentially returning just prior to the finals. If he’s anywhere near his best he’ll make them a much more dangerous team, and if they can hold onto a spot in the top four then they’ll be potentially Penrith’s most significant opposition for this year’s flag. They can’t just show up and expect to win this and the Dragons will no doubt make them work for it, but the Storm should be far too good and can pick up their 14th win of the season to maintain at least a one game lead inside the top four.

Predicted Squads

St. George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan  2. Mat Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Michael Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Toby Couchman 17. Zane Musgrove 

Melbourne Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Xavier Coates 3. Marion Seve 4. Reimis Smith 5. Young Tonumaipea 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes  8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eli Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Sunday kicks off with a massive game between the two teams currently occupying seventh and eighth on the ladder, with the loser quite possibly set to tumble out of the top eight and the winner solidifying their hold on a spot in the finals. The Rabbitohs have long been one of the Premiership favourites even though their form hasn’t always suggested much, while the Knights have been far from that and a few short weeks ago looked set to finish in the bottom four. But a surprising six-game winning streak, which continued last weekend with a dominant 42-6 win over the Bulldogs, has seen them catapult into the top eight and establish themselves as one of the in-form teams in the league. They’ve been particularly impressive at home, where they’re 7-3 this season, and will be hoping to capitalise on that advantage this weekend. But while the Rabbitohs haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire and were far from convincing in their win over the Dragons last weekend, they are touted as one of the best chances to beat the Panthers – despite the fact that they’re still not assured of a finals spot – for a reason. They’ve also been terrific on the road this year, where they’re 8-3. The Knights can go with them in this one, but the Rabbitohs should be able to pull away in the second half to record a pivotal victory on the eve of the finals.

Predicted Squads

Newcastle Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington  17. Mat Croker

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Jai Arrow 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Tallis Duncan 15. Shaq Mitchell 16. Siliva Havili 17. Davvy Moale

The Raiders expected slide from the edge of the top four appears to have officially begun. The incredible run of tight victories which saw them put themselves in with a top four chance, impressive though it was, undoubtedly masked the fact that this is a mid-tier team, and as much has been revealed over recent weeks. After dropping a couple in a row they just edged out the bottom of the table Tigers, and last week they were absolutely demolished by a rampaging Melbourne Storm to the tune of 48-2. They’re now just a game clear inside the top eight, and with a points difference which is inferior to all but the bottom three teams they’ll need to won’t be finishing ahead of anyone on that metric. As a result, a couple more wins are needed, and this is the best chance they’ll get for the remainder of the season to record one. The Bulldogs were pumped by the Knights by 36 points last week, and though they threw in a tight win over the Dolphins a fortnight ago, they have for the most part been relatively uncompetitive over the last few weeks. The occasional strong performance – such as that which saw them beat the Rabbitohs a little over a month ago – has been thrown in, and the Raiders will certainly be hoping they’re not on the receiving end of one of them. But even so, with their season on the line, Canberra simply has to be able to knock off the Bulldogs at home.

Predicted Squads

Canberra Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Ethan Strange 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joe Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Adrian Trevilyan 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota

Canterbury Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior  11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jackson Topine 13. Luke Thompson 14. Karl Oloapu 15. Liam Knight 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Corey Waddell

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