NRL Round 13 unfolds in the wake of the State of Origin series opener with seven vital match-ups.
The weekend kicks off courtesy of a fascinating ‘Battle of the Beaches’ grudge match, while Wests Tigers need to get back on track against a Canterbury side desperate to maintain momentum on Saturday, and it’s a top-of-table showdown at CommBank to wrap up the round on Sunday.
Shouldering an unfamiliar Origin load and a marquee injury, Cronulla faces a crucial juncture when it hosts on-fire Manly on Friday.
FORM: The 5-5 Sharks have been hot and cold, responded to a dismal 36-12 loss to Souths in Round 10 with a 38-16 Magic Round cruise at the expense of the Bulldogs.
Manly is 7-1 under caretaker coach Kieran Foran, grafting out a 12-10 home win over the Titans on a wet Saturday night at 4 Pines Park in Round 12.
INS AND OUTS: Nicho Hynes is out with a calf injury, so Niwhai Puru will debut for Cronulla in the No.7. Origin trio Blayke Brailey, Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora have been named to back up.
Manly have named Blues duo Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula, while Lehi Hopoate returns from suspension on the wing.
KEY MATCH-UP: Braydon Trindall’s importance to Cronulla ramps up with Hynes out and being partnered with a debutant, while Luke Brooks is one of many Manly players enjoying a new lease of life under Kieran Foran.
HISTORY: The Sharks have won six of their last seven against the Sea Eagles, including wins in Perth (24-18) and at Manly (30-14) in 2025.
KEY STAT: Manly has won four of its last five – and 10 of its last 13 – at Cronulla.
VERDICT: Cronulla appears to have reverted to the flat-track bully persona that has stopped this team from taking the next step to title contender – beating up on injury-hit or down-on-form opponents, while struggling against anyone with any momentum.
Meanwhile, Manly has been nothing short of sensational under Foran – yet to concede more than 18 points in eight games with the novice in charge in a complete abnormality to NRL trends. The Sea Eagles’ depth is being tested but they keep getting the job done in gritty, often brilliant fashion.
Without Hynes and an unfamiliar Origin toll, the Sharks are hard to get behind in a pick ’em.
SGM: SEA EAGLES BY 1-12 / SHARKS UNDER 23.5 TOTAL POINTS / KL IRO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / CLAYTON FAULALO ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $33.57
The Knights have a head of steam up again, which spells danger for an Eels side that has lost their two most experienced players to injury.
FORM: The Knights are on a three-match winning streak, racking up 122 points on their way to wins over Souths, St George Illawarra and Gold Coast.
The Eels sunk to a 4-7 record via a 34-8 loss to the Storm in Magic Round, having upset the Cowboys in golden point in Townsville a week earlier.
INS AND OUTS: Newcastle have named Origin pair Kalyn Ponga and Jacob Saifiti in an unchanged side.
Parramatta welcome back Isaiah Iongi at fullback, with Joash Papalii moving to the halves due to Mitch Moses’ injury. Junior Paulo has been ruled out for eight weeks, which sees new captain Jack Williams move to prop.
KEY MATCH-UP: A pair of players more accustomed to the Parramatta No.6 jersey – $1.3 million man Dylan Brown and surprise packet Ronald Volkman – will steer their respective sides around from halfback.
HISTORY: The Eels have won eight of their last nine against the Knights, including one-sided matches away (28-6) and at home (66-10) in 2025.
KEY STAT: Knights wingers Greg Marzhew and Dom Young have scored 14 tries each in 2026. Marzhew has nine tries in his last three games, while Young has crossed five times in his last two.
VERDICT: This shapes as a free hit for the Knights – assuming Ponga comes out the other side of Origin – with the freewheeling attack coming up against the NRL’s most porous defence.
There’s a big concern over the inexperience in the Eels’ spine – with the most experienced of the quartet from a run-on appearances perspective, Isaiah Iongi (26), playing his first NRL game of the year – and their already struggling pack without Paulo.
SGM: KNIGHTS OVER 34.5 TOTAL POINTS / DYLAN BROWN ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TREY MOONEY ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $19.40
The Tigers are in freefall but get some troops back as they take on a Bulldogs side aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 2.
FORM: The Tigers’ bright 5-2 start has given way to three straight losses to Cronulla, Melbourne and Manly in which they were outscored by a combined 142 points to 44.
The Bulldogs arrested a five-match losing streak with a 30-20 comeback win over an Origin-depleted Storm side at Accor Stadium last Friday.
INS AND OUTS: Wests Tigers get a huge boost with Jahream Bula, Api Koroisau, Alex Twal and Heamasi Makasini returning, though Taylan May is a big loss and Patrick Herbert is suspended. Sunia Turuva reverts to centre, while Faalentino Tavana replaces Luke Laulilii on the wing.
Jacbo Kiraz remains at fullback for Canterbury, while Jacob Preston’s broken arm sees Jaeman Salmon move to the second-row and Harry Hayes come in at lock. NSW centre Stephen Crichton is on the extended bench.
KEY MATCH-UP: After being overlooked for a late NSW bench call-up in favour of Matt Burton, Tigers linchpin Jarome Luai will surely be taking this No.6 match-up more personally than usual.
HISTORY: The Tigers boast a 5-4 advantage against the Bulldogs since 2020, snapping a three-match losing streak with a 28-14 victory at CommBank Stadium in their only 2025 encounter.
KEY STAT: The Tigers are 12-19 overall at CommBank Stadium, winning their last two at the venue. The Bulldogs are a dismal 6-18 there and have won only one of their last seven.
VERDICT: Koroisau and Bula are huge ins for the Tigers, but the elephant in the room is they have not looked like the same team without Adam Doueihi.
And while the signs were positive for the Bulldogs last week, they were playing a weakened opponent who appeared hellbent on getting them back in the winner’s circle. Nevertheless, they are the more attractive option with a start and more momentum.
SGM: BULLDOGS WIN / OVER 48.5 TOTAL POINTS / JACOB KIRAZ ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KAI PEARCE-PAUL ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $25.07
Origin attrition could have a major impact on Saturday as Melbourne attempt to regain some recent momentum and Sydney Roosters attempt to put a flat Magic Round performance behind them.
FORM: After emerging from a seven-match losing streak with consecutive wins over the Tigers (44-16) and Eels (34-8), the Storm were run down 30-20 by the Bulldogs with their Origin stars absent.
The Roosters’ six-match winning run came to an end in Magic Round, flattered by an 18-12 scoreline in losing to the Cowboys.
INS AND OUTS: Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Trent Loiero will all start if they pull through Origin OK. Shawn Blore (concussion) drops out with Alec Macdonald coming into Melbourne’s starting pack.
Origin stars James Tedesco, Victor Radley, Reece Robson, Rob Toia, Lindsay Collins and Sam Walker have all been named to back up for the Roosters, while Billy Smith returns from a lengthy layoff on the wing with Daniel Tupou injured.
KEY MATCH-UP: Rival Origin hookers Harry Grant and Reece Robson are scheduled to face off twice in the space of four days.
HISTORY: The Roosters have won only two of their last 14 against the Storm, but 2025’s two late-season clashes were split: the Storm won 34-30 in Sydney, while the Roosters romped to a 40-10 victory in Melbourne.
KEY STAT: Jahrome Hughes has lost just once in his last 12 clashes with the Roosters, scoring nine tries during that streak. James Tedesco’s four-pointer in the Roosters’ Round 26 win last season snapped a 11-game try drought against the Storm.
VERDICT: The Roosters could chalk their Magic Round performance up to a blip, but despite their long winning streak and third-place standing they are yet to produce anything resembling an 80-minute performance.
The Storm can put can last week’s loss minus their big guns behind them, but they had the benefit of getting back to winning ways against Tigers and Eels sides on the slide. The Roosters can find a win at AAMI Park despite otherwise having a torrid time in this rivalry and look the better bet here.
The over holds considerable appeal too with eight of the Storm’s 12 and four of the Roosters’ last six games producing 50-plus points.
SGM: ROOSTERS WIN / JACK HOWARTH ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SIUA WONG ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $23.99
Brisbane gets an ideal opportunity to recalibrate with a couple of big engine-room ins and a bedraggled 0-11 St George Illawarra coming to town.
FORM: The Broncos are on a three-game slide, conceding 112 points in the process and crashing 42-12 to the red-hot Warriors in Magic Round.
The Dragons have shown a bit more fight in losing to the NRL’s top two teams – Penrith (28-6) and the Warriors (30-12) – in the past fortnight.
INS AND OUTS: Payne Haas and Brendan Piakura are big ins for Brisbane, while Origin players Kotoni Staggs, Ezra Mam, Gehamat Shibasaki and Pat Carrigan have been named to back up. Jack Gosiewski and Grant Anderson have been named to return from injury on the six-man bench.
St George Illawarra get centre Moses Suli and hooker Jacob Siddle back, but Hayden Buchanan, Jaydn Su’A and Christian Tuipolotu join the injured list. Mat Feagai comes onto the wing.
KEY MATCH-UP: Struggling veteran Valentine Holmes could be in for a torrid afternoon up against NSW centre Kotoni Staggs.
HISTORY: The Dragons have won eight of their last 10 against the Broncos, including a stirring 30-26 victory at Suncorp Stadium midway through 2025.
KEY STAT: Eight of the last nine Broncos-Dragons clashes have produced 49-plus points, with both teams scoring 24-plus in five of those.
VERDICT: There have been some disturbing signs during the Broncos’ recent slide, predominantly around defence and discipline – which, for a team as good as this one, comes down to attitude.
They’ve also been battered by injury and suspension, so this is the best line-up they have fielded in a couple of months.
The Dragons are trying but they just don’t have it. Their first win of 2026 still looks a mile off.
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The Raiders are slipping further behind the Top 8 as they approach this critical home assignment agains the flying Cowboys, who have dominated this rivalry in recent years.
FORM: The 4-7 Raiders’ Magic Round bye bisected a gallant 30-18 loss to the Panthers and a disappointing 30-22 defeat to an Origin-impact Dolphins side – both at GIO Stadium.
The Cowboys have won eight of their last 10 games, showing some real steel to put away the Roosters (18-12) in Magic Round and the Rabbitohs (30-18) at home since losing linchpin Tom Dearden to injury.
INS AND OUTS: Canberra will get NSW duo Ethan Strange and Hudson Young back if they come through Wednesday night unscathed. Seb Kris returns, while Daine Laurie is the surprise pick at lock with Jayden Brailey ruled out.
Queensland forward Reuben Cotter and winger Murray Taulagi (concussion) return for the Cowboys.
KEY MATCH-UP: Different styles of player, but rival fullbacks Kaeo Weekes and Scott Drinkwater are among the NRL’s foremost game-breakers.
HISTORY: The Cowboys are on a seven-match winning streak against the Raiders, including a 30-20 win in Townsville in Round 4 last year – their only 2025 clash.
KEY STAT: The Raiders have won just one of five games at GIO Stadium in 2026. The Cowboys are chasing five consecutive wins away from Townsville.
VERDICT: Crunch time is getting close for the Raiders, whose inability to make home-ground advantage count is as confusing as it is concerning. Conceding less than 22 points just twice (and winning only one of those games) appears a key area where the 2025 minor premiers have fallen away.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have seemingly added elusive defensive steel to their potent attack, conceding 18 points or less on five occasions – and suffocating the Roosters and Rabbitohs out of the contest in the past fortnight. Compelling underdogs given their away record in 2026.
SGM: COWBOYS WIN / UNDER 53.5 TOTAL POINTS / MATT TIMOKO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HEILUM LUKI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $52.70
One hosts two in a genuine blockbuster – though uncertainty over whether the Panthers’ Origin players back up will have a major bearing on this clash with the streaking Warriors.
FORM: The 10-1 Panthers keep rolling on, seeing off a plucky Dragons side 28-6 in Magic Round on the back of a 30-18 win in a high-quality showdown in Canberra.
The 9-2 Warriors have won six straight games for just the fourth time in their history, thrashing the Broncos 42-12 in Magic Round and easing past the Saints 30-12 on a wet Saturday night since their Round 10 bye.
INS AND OUTS: Penrith’s Origin quartet have been named on the extended bench, with Jack Cogger named at halfback, Luke Garner at centre, Paul Alamoti on the wing and Lindsay Smith at lock. Liam Martin returns in a significant boost.
The Warriors will rest Origin forwards Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s season-ending injury gives Adam Pompey a recall in the centres, while Luke Metcalf is in the extended reserves and has been named to play NSW Cup.
KEY MATCH-UP: James Fisher-Harris has been magnificent for the Warriors this season and will relish the opportunity to come up against his former club and ex-‘bash brother’ Moses Leota.
HISTORY: The Warriors have won just one of their last 11 against the Panthers – a Magic Round boilover in 2024. Last season the Panthers powered to a 28-18 win at Mount Smart without their Origin players and backed that up with a grinding 24-8 elimination final victory at the same venue.
KEY STAT: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored in a club-record-equalling seven straight games for the Warriors, while their other winger, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, has bagged four doubles in his past five games.
VERDICT: It’s hard to analyse this game accurately until the availability of Penrith’s NSW stars is known, but assuming they play the immediate inclination is the Panthers are great value as $1.67 favourites.
The Warriors can’t have done much more to impress on their current winning streak, but their victims all currently rank eighth or lower. This is an enormous litmus test after losing Tanah Boyd and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to ACL injuries in consecutive weeks.
Expect a gripping encounter befitting its top-of-the-table status, however.
SGM: PANTHERS BY 1-12 / UNDER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / IZACK TAGO ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $37.29