2026 NRL Round 20 Tips & Predictions

Last year’s preliminary final opponents kick off Round 20 – but their 2026 fortunes could not be much more disparate.  

FORM: The Panthers have a four-point gap on the competition, following up shock back-to-back losses to the Titans and Cowboys with a 36-14 victory over the Rabbitohs in Round 18.  

The struggling Broncos went into last week’s bye on an eight-game losing streak, most recently going down to the Sharks (28-16) with Origin players unavailable.  

INS AND OUTS: The Panthers are boosted by the return of Casey McLean and Isaiah Papali’i, as well as Origin trio Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin.  

Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Brendan Piakura and Pat Carrigan are back for the Broncos.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Deposed Origin No.1s Dylan Edwards and Reece Walsh remain two of the competition’s most influential players.  

HISTORY: The Panthers have won 10 of their last 12 against the Broncos. They gained some early revenge for last year’s 16-14 preliminary final loss courtesy of a 26-0 victory at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1.  

KEY STAT: Nine of the clubs’ last 13 matches have produced totals of 37 points or less.  

VERDICT: The rugby league world has been waiting patiently for the Broncos to turn things around – like they did last year before setting sail for premiership glory – but it’s just not happening. They need to win eight from eight just to scrape into the finals…starting with this daunting assignment.  

Complacency is not the Panthers’ bag, while they already had something of a wake-up call via consecutive defeats to unfancied Queensland opposition. With Cleary, Yeo and co. sporting a post-Origin glow, the Panthers look set to go 7-0 at CommBank Stadium with relative ease.  

Prediction: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-13.5) @ $1.83 

SGM: PANTHERS WIN / UNDER 45.5 TOTAL POINTS / CASEY MCLEAN ANYTIME TRYSCORER / BLAIZE TALAGI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $18.20 

Fourth hosts fifth in a massive Friday night showdown in the context of the finals race.  

FORM: The Sharks have won six of their last seven – culminating in a blistering 66-0 win over the Dolphins in Redcliffe last Saturday.  

The Knights have won seven of their last nine but went down to the Rabbitohs on Sunday, with a rousing late fight-back masking an overall disappointing performance in a 26-24 loss.  

INS AND OUTS: The Sharks get Origin star Briton Nikora back, with Billy Burns going to the interchange. Addin Fonua-Blake returns to the starting line-up.  

Bradman Best returns to the Knights line-up after getting a post-Origin rest, so Fletcher Sharpe reverts to five-eighth and Sandon Smith goes to the bench.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Nicho Hynes has hit a purple patch in recent weeks, while Dylan Brown needs to step up and provide Kalyn Ponga with playmaking support.  

HISTORY: The Sharks have won six of their last seven against the Knights – including big wins in Newcastle (34-14) and at Cronulla (40-16) in 2025.  

KEY STAT: Only one of the last seven Sharks-Knights encounters have featured a margin of less than 18 points.  

VERDICT: We’ve been here with the Sharks before multiple times in recent seasons, only for them to flatter to deceive…but last week’s dismantling of the Dolphins was an emphatic statement. With Hynes firing and AFB finding his mojo in the Origin decider, the signs are good for the Sharks.  

The firepower-laden Knights will take heart from almost pulling off a late win against Souths despite playing poorly – and they thoroughly deserve their unexpectedly lofty position on the ladder. Expect this clash to reflect the high stakes as both teams strive for a top-four finish.   

Prediction: Back Either Team to Win by Under 10.5 Points @ $1.94 

SGM: KNIGHTS +4.5 / OVER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / GREG MARZHEW ANYTIME TRYSCORER / BRITON NIKORA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $17.66  

The under-the-radar Roosters are right in the mix for a top-two finish, while injuries have rocked the Storm’s already-tenuous finals prospects. 

FORM: The third-placed Roosters have emerged from a wobbly mid-Origin period to win their last three, including a gritty 28-12 defeat of the Eels in Round 19 with several rep stars out.  

The Storm have put themselves back in finals contention with six wins from their last eight games, climbing to 10th on the ladder with a 22-18 eclipse of the Titans via a late Nick Meaney try.  

INS AND OUTS: James Tedesco is still out on concussion protocols, so Cody Ramsey stays at fullback of the Roosters. Sam Walker and Reece Robson are back after being rested last week, while Robert Toia is listed in the reserves. Nat Butcher returns from suspension. 

Tyran Wishart and Trent Toelau line up in the Storm’s halves with Cam Munster and Jahrome Hughes ruled out. Harry Grant is back in the starting side, while Oryn Keeley replaces Joe Chan in the second-row. Moses Leos returns on the wing. 

KEY MATCH-UP: Cody Ramsey’s heartwarming return has been one of the season’s great individual stories – and he has a vital role to play at fullback. Sua Faalogo’s importance goes through the roof with Munster and Hughes out. 

HISTORY: The Storm have won 13 of their last 15 against the Roosters, including an 18-4 result at AAMI Park in Round 13.  

KEY STAT: The Roosters haven’t beaten the Storm in Sydney since the 2019 preliminary final.  

VERDICT: It’s backs-to-the-wall time for the Storm, precariously placed on the ladder and missing a couple of million bucks’ worth of halves talent.  

The jury remains out on the Roosters – the consensus is they have to lift a couple more gears to genuinely contend for the title – yet they are very handily placed with seven rounds to go.  

This hasn’t been a fruitful match-up for the Tricolours. Their middle-forward and playmaking advantages should be telling, but the Storm with a double-digit start are difficult to overlook. 

Prediction: Back the Storm to Cover the Line (+11.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: ROOSTERS BY 1-12 / OVER 45.5 TOTAL POINTS / BILLY SMITH ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HARRY GRANT ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $42.69 

After a big win last week, the Raiders can keep their finals flame flickering with a home win over the sixth-placed Rabbitohs.  

FORM: The Raiders have pieced together back-to-back wins for just their second time this season, producing an ugly 24-16 win over the Dragons and a dominant 40-16 victory against the Bulldogs either side of their Round 18 bye.  

Souths have rallied with three wins from their last four games, surviving a late scare in a rousing 26-24 defeat of in-form Newcastle last Sunday.  

INS AND OUTS: Origin duo Ethan Strange and Hudson Young are back in the Raiders’ starting side, pushing Daine Laurie and Ata Mariota to the interchange. Seb Kris remains sidelined.  

Alex Johnston returns for the Rabbitohs for Dayne Jennings, while Cody Walker is back from suspension for Jayden Sullivan (head knock).  

KEY MATCH-UP: The battle up front between Joe Tapine and Keaon Koloamatangi will help set the tone for this match.  

HISTORY: The Raiders are on a five-match winning streak against the Rabbitohs, holding on a for 36-34 win in Perth in Round 6 after twice almost letting huge leads slip.  

KEY STAT: One team has scored at least 32 points in the past six Raiders-Rabbitohs matches.  

VERDICT: The Raiders are the slightest of outsiders as they search for three wins in a row for the first time in 2026. The thrashing of the Bulldogs was a huge turnaround on anything they’ve delivered in recent times. Whether it’s enough to spark a late-season charge remains to be seen.  

The Rabbitohs have done a good job of winning the games they should this season, but they have won just one of their last five outside Sydney. Despite their gusty win over the Knights, they still appear to be treading water until the return of talisman Latrell Mitchell. 

Prediction: Back the Raiders to Win @ $2.00 

SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / OVER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / SIMI SASAGI ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KAEO WEEKES ANYTIME TRYSCORER / DAVID FIFITA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $35.70 

The Warriors are sailing along in second and head into a home assignment against the last-placed Dragons as short-priced favourites.  

FORM: The Warriors bounced back from three narrow losses in their previous four games to dispose of the Tigers 32-6 at Campbelltown last Friday.  

The Dragons have discovered some backbone over their past five outings, bookending honourable losses to the Sharks, Knights and Raiders with strong wins over the Broncos and Tigers.  

INS AND OUTS: Origin forwards Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell are back for the Warriors, along with star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who pushes Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad out of the side.  

The Dragons are unchanged, though Moses Suli is included on the bench after a NSW Cup return in Round 18. 

KEY MATCH-UP: Former Warriors lower-grader Setu Tu will be on high alert opposite try scoring machine Alofiana-Khan Pereira.  

HISTORY: The Warriors have won five of their last six against the Dragons, including a 30-12 victory at Kogarah in Round 12.  

KEY STAT: The Saints’ last victory at Mount Smart Stadium was in 2011.  

VERDICT: The Warriors were solid enough off the bye in the first match of a stretch against struggling teams, which provides them with an excellent chance of cementing a top-two finish.  

But they’ll want to tidy up their discipline with and without the ball – which was uncharacteristically sloppy against the Tigers. On the plus side, they only have Jackson Ford left to come back into the likely first-choice 17 that Andrew Webster will take into the playoffs.  

The Dragons have provided some encouraging signs lately, but their promising pack of greenhorns are likely to struggle against the Warriors’ menacing engine-room. The Warriors have a habit of tying themselves up in knots at their Mount Smart fortress at times, but this shapes as a comfortable win. 

Prediction: Back the Warriors to Cover the Line (-15.5) @ $1.83 

SGM: WARRIORS BY 11-20 / UNDER 47.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / JACOB LABAN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $163.49 

Both coming off dismal losses, the Bulldogs and Tigers are both in must-win territory ahead of this Saturday night encounter.  

FORM: The 11th-placed Bulldogs’ three-match winning run came to an end via an insipid 40-16 defeat to the Raiders at home in Round 19.  

The Tigers’ slide continued courtesy of a fourth straight defeat on Friday – 32-6 at home to the Warriors.  

INS AND OUTS: Stephen Crichton’s worrying injury sees Sean O’Sullivan come in at five-eighth – though Crichton and Viliame Kikau are in the reserves. Jacob Preston is back in the starting side after last week’s successful return and Enari Tuala is back at Bronson Xerri’s expense. 

Api Koroisau is listed in the Tigers’ reserves, with Jared Haywood named at hooker after debuting off the bench last week. Fonua Pole starts at prop for Bunty Afoa.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Lachlan Galvin always comes in for some extra scrutiny against his old club, while Adam Doueihi is the Tigers’ go-to man – particularly in the wake of news of Jarome Luai’s shock impending exit.  

HISTORY: The Tigers have won both matches against the Bulldogs since Galvin’s defection: 28-14 in Round 22 last season and 22-16 in Round 13 this year.  

KEY STAT: Neither side has scored more than 28 points in the last four Bulldogs-Tigers clashes.  

VERDICT: Just when the Bulldogs were gaining a little traction, they sunk to their second-biggest loss of the season at home to a team in a form slump. Stephen Crichton’s absence is another hammer blow to their teetering finals prospects.  

Meanwhile, the wheels have completely fallen off the Tigers’ campaign. However they try to dress it up, Luai’s confirmed departure at the end of the year is a terrible distraction for a team that has battled since his PNG Chiefs deal was announced. They scored 22 points in the past three weeks. 

Impotent attack is something they share in common with the Bulldogs, which makes the under an attractive option in a match-up that has trended towards low-scorers. 

Prediction: Back Under 45.5 Total Points @ $1.90 

The pressure valve has cranked up on the Sea Eagles after dropping out of the Top 8, making a victory on the Gold Coast of the utmost importance.  

FORM: The 4-12 Titans are coming off an agonising 22-18 defeat to the Storm in Melbourne, conceding a late match-winner.  

The Sea Eagles have now lost four of their last six – including upsets to Parramatta (23-14) and North Queensland (19-18) in the past fortnight, the latter in golden point. 

INS AND OUTS: The Titans’ only change sees Lachlan Ilias come onto the six-man bench for Jaylan de Groot. The Sea Eagles have named Ethan Bullemor to come in for second-rower Ben Trbojevic (concussion), while Corey Waddell has been ruled out. 

KEY MATCH-UP: There’s about half a metre’s height difference between, but rival fullbacks Keano Kini and Tom Trbojevic are game-breakers of the highest order.  

HISTORY: The clubs have split their last six clashes three wins apiece. Manly grafted out a 12-10 home win in Round 12, while Gold Coast powered to a 28-8 victory at Cbus Super Stadium in last season’s sole encounter.  

KEY STAT: The Sea Eagles are on a three-match losing streak on the road. 

VERDICT: Kieran Foran is finding out this NRL coaching caper is not quite as simple as it first appeared – the Sea Eagles were flying before being out-enthused by the Eels and blowing it late against the Cowboys.  

The Titans are certainly capable of providing nuisance value to finals hopes over the last two months of the regular season and a repeat of last week’s effort might be enough to jag an upset at home.  

Prediction: Back the Titans to Cover the Line (+5.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: SEA EAGLES WIN / TITANS WIN EITHER HALF / TOM TRBOJEVIC ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KEANO KINI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $16.47 

Contrasting results last weekend renders this vital derby arguably the match of Round 20.  

FORM: After eight straight wins, the Dolphins have tumbled to seventh with consecutive losses – a 13-12 thriller in Newcastle and a jarring 66-0 rout at the hands of Cronulla in Redcliffe.  

The Cowboys have regrouped and moved back into the Top 8 with upset victories over Penrith (26-12) and Manly (19-18) either side of their Round 18 bye.  

INS AND OUTS: Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jack Bostock and Selwyn Cobbo are back for the Dolphins, while Jake Averillo (ribs) is out.  

Tom Dearden is in the Cowboys’ reserves and a chance of playing after 10 weeks out. Griffin Neame starts at prop for Tom Mikaele (concussion). 

KEY MATCH-UP: Scott Drinkwater’s match-winning qualities were there for all to see in the upset of Manly, while opposing fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be eager to inspire the Dolphins after missing last week’s massacre.  

HISTORY: The Dolphins boast a 5-2 record against the Cowboys and have won the last four encounters – including a 40-14 beatdown in Townsville in Round 14.  

KEY STAT: Jamayne Isaako has scored 10 tries in seven games for the Dolphins against the Cowboys, including two hat-tricks.  

VERDICT: The loss of halfback Isaiya Katoa and a heavy Origin load is taking its toll on the Dolphins, but they put up the white flag in inexcusable fashion against the Sharks. They have to make a statement this week, or a fourth straight fadeout beckons.  

The Cowboys, meanwhile, have shown real character in knocking over highly-rated opposition in recent weeks – despite the ongoing absence of their No.7 linchpin. The Dolphins have won their last five at Suncorp but they’re hard to get on board with as a favourite after last week’s abomination. 

Prediction: Back the Cowboys to Cover the Line (+3.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: COWBOYS WIN / OVER 50.5 TOTAL POINTS / SCOTT DRINKWATER ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JACK BOSTOCK ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HEILUM LUKI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $43.14