The seventh edition of NRL Magic Round contains a string of fascinating and vital match-ups, kicking off with under-pressure duo the Bulldogs and Sharks followed by in-form teams the Rabbitohs and Dolphins on Friday.
The Tigers face a tough ask regaining form against the on-fire Sea Eagles and the Eels and Storm will be aiming to maintain last week’s momentum when they square off on Saturday, while Sunday’s Warriors-Broncos showdown shapes as one of the great Magic Round encounters.
Magic Round gets underway with a Cronulla side seeking consistency facing a beleaguered Canterbury outfit whose season is rapidly slipping away.
FORM: The Sharks are in the bottom half after losing three of their last four, following up a 52-10 beatdown of the Tigers with a listless 36-12 defeat to the Rabbitohs in Round 10.
The Bulldogs have lost four on the trot since stunning the Panthers – and each loss seems to get worse than the last. They were embarrassed 44-12 by the Dolphins last Thursday after trailing by just two at halftime.
INS AND OUTS: The Sharks get Ronaldo Mulitalo, returning from an ACL, and Jesse Ramien back in a key backline boost. Siosifa Talakai goes to the bench. Jayden Berrell replaces hooker ironman Jayden Berrell, while Jesse Colqhoun comes in for Cam McInnes.
Matt Burton, Max King and Kurt Mann all return for the Bulldogs, bumping Sean O’Sullivan and Josh Curran out of the 19.
KEY MATCH-UP: Will Kennedy continues to be an underrated, creative contributor for the Sharks, while Connor Tracey is coming off a shocker at fullback for the Bulldogs and needs to prove himself.
HISTORY: The Sharks have won 13 of the teams’ last 17 encounters, but the 2025 ledger was square. The Bulldogs won an early-season clash 20-6 and the Sharks responded 24-6 in the final round.
KEY STAT: None of the last four Sharks-Bulldogs clashes have produced more than 31 points.
VERDICT: While the Bulldogs’ second-last-ranked attack has pulled most of the focus, they have also been the competition’s seventh-worst defensive unit – a far cry from this time last year. Some valuable cattle returns this week but the same problems remain.
The Sharks are grappling with an identity crisis of their own and have conceded 22-plus in seven of their last eight. But they should have enough points in them to eke out a victory here, provided Trindall and Hynes can find something like their best.
SGM: SHARKS WIN / JACOB PRESTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER / WILLIAM KENNEDY ANYTIME TRYSCORER / OVER 50.5 TOTAL POINTS @ $15.48
With both clubs coming off a statement win, Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney side line up against his former club the Dolphins in a Friday night doozy – and the first double-up encounter of 2026.
FORM: The 6-3 Rabbitohs have climbed into the top four, bookending a high-scoring loss to the Knights with dominant wins over the Storm (48-6) and Sharks (36-12). Jye Gray and Cody Walker were particularly impressive last week.
The 4-5 Dolphins are cooking with gas finally, beating the Storm (28-10) and Bulldogs (44-12) in the past fortnight. A brilliant Jamayne Isaako hat-trick led the way for the Dolphins in Round 10.
INS AND OUTS: Latrell Mitchell returns for Souths with Latrell Siegwalt moving to the interchange, while Bayleigh Bentley-Hape comes in for the injured Alex Johnston. The Dolphins are unchanged.
KEY MATCH-UP: Jamayne Isaako is in career-best form on the Dolphins’ right wing, putting Bentley-Hape on high alert for his first NRL game of the season.
HISTORY: The Rabbitohs have a 3-2 lead in this rivalry after outlasting the Dolphins 40-30 at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1.
KEY STAT: Only one of the clubs’ five encounters has failed to produce a total of 50-plus points.
VERDICT: Souths boast the NRL’s most potent attack, while the Dolphins showed signs last week that they are getting back to their points-piling best with ball in hand. Both sides have shown a propensity for leaking tries – despite improving dramatically in that department last week.
It’s a surprise to see the Rabbitohs installed as slight outsiders, particularly given the psychological edge of their win at this ground earlier this year – they are shaping as a genuine title threat.
SGM: RABBITOHS +1.5 / OVER 55.5 TOTAL POINTS / LATRELL MITCHELL ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JYE GRAY ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAMAYNE ISAAKO TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES @ $31.58
Depleted Wests Tigers are in freefall, which makes this assignment against resurgent Manly especially daunting as former Kiwi halves partners Benji Marshall and Kieran Foran match coaching wits.
FORM: Amid injury and suspension woes, the bottom has fallen out of the Tigers’ 5-2 start to the season – conceding 96 points in back-to-back losses to the Sharks and Storm. Taylan May’s performance last week was a silver lining.
Manly is 5-1 since Foran took over, following up a gallant 18-16 loss to the Panthers with a comprehensive 32-4 thrashing of the Broncos last week with Luke Brooks starring alongside rookie No.7 Joey Walsh.
INS AND OUTS: Terrell May is a key inclusion for the Tigers, while Latu Fainu will start at hooker with Tristan Hope coming off the bench.
Jamal Fogarty is back for Manly, pushing halfback sensation Joey Walsh to the bench. Clayton Faulalo is named at fullback and Tolu Koula at centre, while Jake Simpkin is in for the suspended Brandon Wakeham. Kobe Hetherington returns from concussion on the interchange.
KEY MATCH-UP: Fogarty could make a genuine case for a Queensland Origin call-up here, while Jock Madden will be looking to reproduce his fill-in magic of earlier in the season to help turn things around for the Tigers.
HISTORY: After losing six straight to the Sea Eagles, the Tigers have won two of the clubs’ last three encounters. Last season Manly won 28-10 at Brookvale in Round 17 before the Tigers hit back 26-12 at Allianz Stadium seven weeks later.
KEY STAT: Tolu Koula has scored five tries in his last five starts against the Tigers.
VERDICT: No team in the competition is defending better than the Sea Eagles, who have not conceded more than 18 points under Kieran Foran – and they’re not having much trouble putting tries on the board.
That is a major concern for a rejigged Tigers line-up that is suddenly haemorrhaging points…the likes of Olakau’atu, Koula, Hopoate and Saab could run riot here.
SGM: SEA EAGLES OVER 31.5 TOTAL POINTS / LEHI HOPOATE TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / TOLUTAU KOULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HAUMOLE OLAKAU’ATU ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TAYLAN MAY ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $30.64
Sydney Roosters are hunting seven straight wins as they host a North Queensland side reeling from a golden point loss and an injury to their linchpin.
FORM: The third-placed Roosters keep on banking the two competition points every week despite largely patchy performances. After a second-half scare in a 38-24 win over the Broncos, they saw off the Titans in Gosford 28-12 with James Tedesco the driving force.
The 6-4 Cowboys followed up consecutive wins over the Sharks and Bulldogs with a dramatic 33-30 golden point loss to the Eels, with Tom Dearden succumbing to injury.
INS AND OUTS: Lindsay Collins is back from concussion for the Roosters, so Spencer Leniu reverts to the bench. Connor Watson starts at lock for the suspended Victor Radley.
Jake Clifford moves to halfback with Tom Dearden out, with debutant Liam Sutton coming in at five-eighth. Jason Taumalolo is being rested with Matt Lodge coming into the starting team and Wiremu Greig joining the interchange. Xavier Kerrisk is in line for a bench debut with Soni Luke injured.
KEY MATCH-UP: In what could be a straight shootout for the Queensland No.7 jersey, Sam Walker and Jake Clifford directly oppose each other – but not individual match-up is more important than Tedesco versus Drinkwater.
HISTORY: The Roosters have won six of the teams’ last eight clashes, including a 42-8 drubbing in Sydney in their sole 2025 encounter after the Cowboys won both in 2024.
KEY STAT: The Roosters’ 2026 matches average 55 total points, while the Cowboys’ average 52.9.
VERDICT: The Roosters have positioned themselves nicely at this time of the season, but anything close to an 80-minute performance remains frustratingly elusive. Fortunately, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue against a Cowboys side that has conceded 30-plus in four of their past five games.
Clifford has plenty on his shoulders with Dearden out, while the timing of Taumalolo’s rest is curious. With Origin spots on the line expect the Roosters’ big names to fire.
SGM: ROOSTERS -15.5 / OVER 56.5 TOTAL POINTS / DANIEL TUPOU & ROBERT TOIA TO HAVE 2+ TRIES COMBINED / JAMES TEDESCO & SCOTT DRINKWATER TO HAVE 2+ TRIES COMBINED @ $7.80
Parramatta and Melbourne made welcome returns to the NRL’s winner’s circle last week. Which team can back it up in Magic Round?
FORM: After losing five of their previous six, the Eels pulled off a gutsy 33-30 golden point win over the Cowboys in Townsville last Friday.
The Storm halted their club record seven-match losing streak emphatically, overwhelming the Tigers 44-16. It was the first time since Round 3 they had conceded less than 26 points.
INS AND OUTS: The Eels are unchanged, with Ronald Volkman continuing to keep Jonah Pezet at bay and Ryley Smith still sidelined.
The Storm are buoyed by Sua Faalogo being cleared of a facial fracture. Moses Leo replaces Hugo Peel on the wing.
KEY MATCH-UP: The smell of Origin is in the air and Cameron Munster will be hellbent on parlaying last week’s return to form into a big game at Suncorp Stadium. Ronald Volkman has grabbed his chance in the Eels’ No.6 very impressively and won’t shy away from this individual battle.
HISTORY: The Storm are on a seven-match winning streak against the Eels, including a 52-4 rout in Round 1 this season.
KEY STAT: Five of the Storm’s past six wins over the Eels were by margins of 18-plus.
VERDICT: The Eels showed plenty of moxy to get it done on the road in a high-scorer last week, but it still left them with the NRL’s worst defensive record – despite playing in a competition that includes the winless Dragons.
The Storm’s victory felt more like the harbinger of a turnaround, particularly with Munster and Grant finding form. Faalogo’s clean bill of health is a big bonus, too. This has been a lopsided rivalry in recent years and that is set to continue.
SGM: STORM WIN / OVER 53.5 TOTAL POINTS / JAHROME HUGHES ANYTIME TRYSCORER / RONALD VOLKMAN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $20.65
The free-flowing Knights are firming as a genuine Top 8 team – and architect Justin Holbrook will be keyed up for his team to put his former club the Titans to the sword.
FORM: After a three-game slide, the 6-4 Knights have hit top gear offensively in the past fortnight to put away Souths (42-38) and St George Illawarra (44-10), with Kalyn Ponga’s return having a massive effect.
The 2-7 Titans have lost their last two to the Raiders and Roosters by identical 28-12 scorelines. Worryingly, a team that is stacked with firepower has scored more than 22 points just once this season.
INS AND OUTS: The Titans’ and Knights’ starting line-ups are unchanged. Luke Sommerton comes onto Gold Coast’s bench for Sam Verrills.
KEY MATCH-UP: The incumbent New Zealand Test No.1, Keano Kini, will be eager to light it up opposite the favourite for the Kiwis’ fullback spot at the World Cup, Kalyn Ponga.
HISTORY: After losing five of the clubs’ previous six encounters, the Titans prevailed 26-6 at home and 24-20 on the road against the Knights in 2025.
KEY STAT: Four of the past six Titans-Knights clashes have seen both teams score 20-plus points.
VERDICT: Holbrook has transformed the worst attacking side of 2025 into one of the NRL’s most dangerous units. Greg Marzehew has scored eight tries in the past two weeks, while he and Dom Young have an astonishing 24 tries between them already.
The return of Ponga and Best has only made the Knights more scary. The Titans and their frequently changing spine will struggle to compete on the scoreboard – particularly when their big names in the pack are underperforming.
SGM: KNIGHTS OVER 33.5 TOTAL POINTS / TITANS UNDER 23.5 TOTAL POINTS / GREG MARZHEW & DOM YOUNG TO HAVE 2+ TRIES COMBINED / BRADMAN BEST ANYTIME TRYSCORER / AJ BRIMSON ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $26.76
The game of the weekend sees the flying Warriors – always well-supported at Magic Round – lock horns with surrogate home team the Broncos.
FORM: The 7-2 Warriors went into the bye on a four-match winning streak, kicking away late in a 36-14 win over the Eels in Round 9 before navigating some Luke Metcalf drama during the break.
With injuries and suspension biting, the Broncos has slipped to a 5-6 record via losses to the Roosters (38-24) and Manly (32-4) – the latter one of their more insipid efforts in recent years.
INS AND OUTS: Ali Leiataua returns from concussion with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (shoulder) ruled out, while Mitch Barnett returns in the front-row. Jackson Ford moves back to the bench and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava drops to the reserves. Te Maire Martin replaces Metcalf on the six-man bench.
Adam Reynolds is a massive inclusion for Brisbane, pushing Ben Hunt to the interchange. Philip Coates will debut on the wing with fellow rookie Antonio Verhoeven (shoulder) injured. Jack Gosiewski (head knock) will miss this game, so Xavier Willison goes to prop and Jaiyden Hunt gets a second-row start.
KEY MATCH-UP: In yet another possible Queensland Origin audition, man of the moment Tanah Boyd will do his chances no harm with a strong performance opposite Adam Reynolds.
HISTORY: The teams have split their last eight encounters. Last season the Warriors won in golden point in Auckland (via a Metcalf penalty goal) and were gallant in a 26-12 loss in Brisbane after trailing 18-0 at halftime (with Metcalf suffering a fateful ACL injury).
KEY STAT: The Warriors’ last win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium was back in 2018. None of the clubs’ last 18 regular-season matches have produced more than 50 points.
VERDICT: Reynolds’ return is a godsend for the hosts, but it has to start up front after the Broncos’ pack was bullied at Manly, while much more is needed from a three-quarter line missing Staggs and Mariner. Walsh will be primed for this massive occasion against his former club, no doubt.
The Metcalf bombshell aside, there’s every reason to assume the Warriors will hit the ground running off the bye with a big crowd contingent behind them. Barnett adds yet more steel to arguably the NRL’s standout engine-room, while no halves duo is playing better than Boyd and CHT.
This has almost a semi-final feel – expect it to go down to the wire.
SGM: WARRIORS WIN / UNDER 51.5 TOTAL POINTS / LEKA HALASIMA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / ALI LEIATAUA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / REECE WALSH ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $55.20
The NRL’s best and worst teams close out Magic Round with the 9-1 Panthers squaring off against the 0-9 Dragons.
FORM: The Panthers have been pushed in recent weeks but showed their championship qualities in edging Manly 18-16 and getting away late in Canberra 30-18 in one of the highest-quality games of the season so far.
Sacking Shane Flanagan hasn’t had an immediate effect on the field for the Saints, who have crashed 62-16 to the Roosters and 44-10 to the Knights under Dean Young.
INS AND OUTS: Kyle Flanagan has been recalled as St George Illawarra’s No.7 with Kade Reed injured, while Moses Suli’s return sees Clint Gutherson revert to fullback and Tyrell Sloan go to the bench. Christian Tuipolotu, Dan Atkinson and Luciano Leilua are also back for the Red V.
Jack Cogger replaces Jack Cole in the No.14 in the Panthers’ sole change.
KEY MATCH-UP: The Dragons are a better side with Suli in the centres, but he’ll have his hands full with Kiwi star Casey McLean.
HISTORY: The Panthers have won eight of their last nine against the Dragons. Their sole 2025 clash saw the Panthers cruise to a 40-20 final-round win in Wollongong.
KEY STAT: Nathan Cleary has scored seven tries in his last seven games against the Saints.
VERDICT: The Dragons understandably head into this mismatch as by far the biggest underdogs of 2026 so far at $12, giving away a 26.5-point start. They’re still terrible value. The Saints are going nowhere with this spine and they are significantly outmatched in most positions across the park.
Meanwhile, St George Illawarra have lost their last five at Magic Round, failing to cover on each occasion.
Ivan Cleary’s announcement this week should spur the Panthers on in a game where it would otherwise be easy to understand them going in only half-motivated.
SGM: UNDER 57.5 TOTAL POINTS / DRAGONS UNDER 15.5 TOTAL POINTS / NATHAN CLEARY ANYTIME TRYSCORER / LUKE GARNER ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $31.04
2025
With the NRL regular season nearing the halfway mark and State of Origin almost upon us, Round 11 serves up a buffet of critical match-ups.
Ladder-leading Canterbury take on Sydney Roosters on Friday night, Cronulla host Melbourne in a Saturday blockbuster and Wests Tigers will be desperate to bounce back from last week’s disaster when they take on South Sydney on Sunday.
The NRL Round 11 opener already has a do-or-die feel about it as bottom-four battlers Newcastle and Parramatta lock horns.
The 3-6 Knights bounced back from a five-match losing streak with a big Magic Round win over Souths, but they surrendered any momentum by inexplicably coughing up a 20-0 halftime lead at home to the struggling Titans – caving late in a 24-20 defeat.
Pressure continues to pile up on an out-and-sorts Kalyn Ponga, but Newcastle’s problems run far deeper.
Last-placed Parramatta have shown genuine promise in their back-to-back losses to Cronulla (28-18) and Dolphins (20-16), looking far better with Mitch Moses back in the saddle. The No.7’s return has also helped the likes of Dylan Brown find their feet again.
Recruits Josh Addo-Carr, Dylan Walker and Isaiah Iongi continue to shine – but at 2-7, the Top 8 is getting further and further away for the Eels.
Fletcher Hunt will debut for the Knights in the place of the injured Greg Marzhew, while Leo Thompson has also been ruled out with Thomas Cant joining the bench. Zac Lomax is back in a huge boost for the Eels, replacing the injured Bailey Simonsson; Toni Mataele is into the 17 for Charlie Guymer.
The Knights snapped a six-match losing streak against the Eels in the teams’ sole 2024 clash, a 34-26 result in Newcastle in Round 17 that saw left-side duo Bradman Best and Greg Marzhew both score two tries.
Brown’s impending $13 million exit to Newcastle in 2026 adds another element to this clash at McDonald Jones Stadium, but expect Moses to prove the difference in an encounter between two otherwise rudderless outfits.
Tip: Back the Eels to Win @ $2.15
SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 6.5 POINTS / OVER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / FLETCHER SHARPE ANYTIME TRYSCORER / ISAIAH IONGI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $25.67
Outright competition leader Canterbury-Bankstown is coming off arguably its best win yet as it prepares to take on a Sydney Roosters side searching for a third straight win after a Round 10 bye.
The wind went out of the Bulldogs’ 6-0 start via a big loss to the Broncos in Round 9, but after regrouping with a comfortable Magic Round victory over the Titans they pulled off a stunning 32-20 win in Canberra after trailing 20-0 at halftime.
Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau had their hands all over the revival as the Bulldogs raced in six tries in 27 minutes.
Something of a forgotten team in the mix, the 4-5 Roosters went into the bye off an Anzac Day demolition of the Dragons and a 36-26 Magic Round win over the Dolphins – with James Tedesco in irrepressible form.
The Bulldogs’ only change sees Harry Hayes move into he starting side for the injured Jaeman Salmon and debutant Luke Smith join the bench. Lindsay Collins is back on the bench for the Roosters.
After a long period of Roosters dominance, the Bulldogs have split the past four encounters with their archrivals. The Bulldogs snared a 30-26 upset in Round 5 at Accor Stadium last year, while the Roosters hit back 26-8 on the Central Coast in Round 16.
The Roosters have produced some decent wins – and some horrible losses. They’re hard to trust against a team that has had one off day this season and defensively the sides are poles apart.
Tip: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (-8.5) @ $1.95
SGM: BULLDOGS WIN / ROOSTERS UNDER 16.5 TOTAL POINTS / DANIEL TUPOU ANYTIME TRYSCORER / MATT BURTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $23.08
The Warriors return to Suncorp Stadium for the second time in three weeks, chasing a fifth straight win against a Dolphins side eager to string some victories together themselves.
The surprise-packet of the NRL, the Warriors are outright second with a 7-2 record – despite boasting a for-and-against of just +1. But they keep grinding teams down and closing out tight games.
They’ve been held try-less in the second half of their last two games, yet held off the Cowboys 30-26 (after leading 30-12) at Magic Round and the Dragons 15-14 (after leading 14-0) in Wollongong. Luke Metcalf was the headliner in both but Erin Clark, Mitch Barnett and Leka Halasima have been immense.
The 4-6 Dolphins pulled out of a two-game skid to outlast Parramatta 20-16 in a Thursday night nail-biter in Round 10. Herbie Farnworth was on fire in the wing, while Isaiya Katoa continues to develop and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has certainly shaken off his early-season malaise.
The Dolphins have kept the same 17, while the Warriors have been boosted by the return of James Fisher-Harris. Jackson Ford and Bunty Afoa have been ruled out, with Sam Healey the new face on the bench.
The clubs have split their four clashes to date, with the home side winning on each occasion. In 2024, a shorthanded Warriors team rallied from 10 points down at Mt Smart to win 24-20, while the Dolphins won a 32-30 rollercoaster in golden point via a booming Sean O’Sullivan field goal.
The travel factor could start wearing the Warriors down – they have played just one of their last six in Auckland – but the JFH factor in a high-performing pack is more compelling than the Dolphins advantage in speed and strike in the back-five.
The over appeals in this one with three of the Dolphins’ last four games producing 62-plus points. Luke Metcalf has scored six tries in the Warriors last six games (and the first try in the past two rounds) while the Dolphins will look to target a shaky Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s wing
Tip: Back Over 48.5 Total Points @ $1.90
SGM: WARRIORS WIN / JACK BOSTOCK ANYTIME TRYSCORER / LUKE METCALF ANYTIME TRYSCORER / DOLPHINS OVER 22.5 TOTAL POINTS @ $14.69
A pivotal Townsville encounter awaits as North Queensland looks to build off the promise of a golden point draw against Penrith and Manly strives to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Cronulla.
The Cowboys – who headed into last weekend 4-4 after a 30-26 Magic Round loss to the Warriors – showed plenty of character to claw back from 30-18 down and force Penrith into golden point with two late tries.
The match finished in a draw but there was something of a moral victory in it for Todd Payten’s side, for whom the mercurial Scott Drinkwater was a standout.
Manly is hard to make sense of, losing four of their last five to slip to a 4-5 record. They beat Penrith before the Magic Round bye but crashed 30-14 to Cronulla at home last Sunday – after drawing level from 14-0 down.
The Cowboys have moved Jaxon Purdue to five-eighth with Tom Dearden at halfback, while Zac Laybutt makes a long-awaited return in the centres. The Sea Eagles have moved Jake Trbojevic back to lock, Jazz Tevaga to hooker, Ethan Bullemor to prop and Jake Simpkin to the bench along with Caleb Navale.
The Sea Eagles have won six of their last eight against the Cowboys, including a 21-20 golden point eclipse in Townsville in their only 2024 encounter as Daly Cherry-Evans provided the match-winning strike.
In Round 1 at 4 Pines Park, Manly obliterated North Queensland early before taking the foot off the gas in a 42-12 cruise.
The Cowboys’ only loss in four home games in 2025 was to Cronulla in Round 2, scoring 30-plus points in all three games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium since.
The Sea Eagles are missing something – whether it’s anything to do with the DCE saga is anyone’s guess – but this shapes as a tough road trip for the $2.25 underdogs, despite the backline firepower at Anthony Seibold’s disposal.
Tip: Back the Cowboys to Win by 1-12 @ $3.10
SGM: COWBOYS WIN / JEREMIAH NANAI ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SCOTT DRINKWATER ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TOLUTAU KOULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $27.02
Top-four hopefuls Cronulla and premiership favourites Melbourne resume their rivalry in the Shire, with both teams coming off statement wins in Round 10.
The 6-4 Sharks are fifth on the ladder and quietly going about their business after some early bumps, winning four of their last five. After accounting for Parramatta 28-18 in Magic Round, they overwhelmed Manly 30-14 at 4 Pines Park last Sunday.
Giving up a 14-0 lead was less than ideal, but the Sharks produced a rousing finish – with Nicho Hynes’ performance a huge plus, and Will Kennedy and Addin Fonua-Blake maintaining their elite form.
The 6-3 Storm have been stuck in a win-loss pattern for five matches, but after a heartbreaking golden point loss to Canberra at Magic Round the 2024 runners-up obliterated Wests Tigers 64-0.
Ryan Papenhuyzen scored four tries among a club record 36 points, edging the incomparable Cam Munster for best-on-ground honours.
Siosifa Talakai comes onto the Sharks’ bench with Oregon Kaufusi moving into the starting side for the injured Tom Hazelton. Harry Grant lurks in the Storm’s reserves, with the only change to last week’s 17 Tui Kamikamica on the bench for Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The Sharks have won two of their last four against the Storm, including a gutsy 25-18 upset at AAMI Park in Round 10 last year. But the Storm powered to an emphatic 37-10 qualifying final win in September on the back of a Harry Grant hat-trick.
While this is a gilt-edged opportunity for Cronulla to underline its credentials, Melbourne arguably heads to Sydney under more pressure after sprinkling some uncharacteristic collapses among their last four matches.
Expect a classic slugfest between the clubs as the Sharks play at home for the first time since Round 4.
Tip: Back Either Team by Under 10.5 Points @ $1.92
SGM: SHARKS +3.5 / UNDER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / KL IRO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / GRANT ANDERSON ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $40.80
Brisbane and St George Illawarra are desperate to steer out of their current skids in this Saturday night clash.
The 5-5 Broncos are staring reality in the face now after losing four of their last five. They were steamrolled 32-8 after leading Penrith 8-0 early in Magic Round, then shelled a 14-0 advantage in a 22-14 defeat to down-on-form Souths.
Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan couldn’t be faulted for the platform they laid against the Rabbitohs, but the spine struggled for cohesion for the most part and Reece Walsh’s spark has been missed, despite his patchy form.
Controversial five-eighth Ezra Mam returns from an off-field suspension to replace injured Ben Hunt in the Broncos’ only change.
The Saints have dropped their last three games, though there were positives to be gleaned from a 15-14 loss to the Warriors after trailing 14-0. There is no question, however, that the team is lacking a quality chief shot-caller with too much resting on the shoulders of Clint Gutherson.
The Dragons have named Jack de Belin to start with Toby Couchman injured; Blake Lawrie joins the interchange.
The Dragons have won seven of the clubs’ last nine clashes, with Christian Tuipolotu bagging a hat-trick in a 30-26 victory at Suncorp Stadium in Round 19 last season.
St George Illawarra is a tempting option with an 11.5-point start, but Brisbane – potentially galvanised by the scrutiny surround Mam – should get a hard-earned result at home.
Tip: Back the Broncos to Win by 1-12 @ $3.10
SGM: BRONCOS WIN / SELWYN COBBO TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / TYRELL SLOAN TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES @ $48.03
Previously in-form Canberra is coming off a collapse against the competition leaders, while previously battling Gold Coast produced an equally astounding revival on the road last week – setting up an intriguing Sunday afternoon encounter in the capital.
The Raiders blew a chance to go equal top last weekend at home, giving up a 20-0 halftime lead in a 32-20 loss to the Bulldogs as a five-match winning streak came to a jarring end.
In the exact inverse, the Titans snapped a five-match losing run by coming from 20-0 down at halftime to beat the Knights 24-20 in Newcastle – a club-record comeback engineered by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, AJ Brimson and Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
Zac Hosking goes to the second-row with Matty Nicholson injured, while Corey Horsburgh is back in the side after a Magic Round head knock.
A massive in for the Titans with Kieran Foran to play his first game of 2025 from the bench, which also includes the returning Jaiman Joliffe in the place of Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (concussion). Arama Hau drops out, while Phil Sami and Jojo Fifita swap positions out wide.
The Raiders have won nine of their last 10 against the Titans, including a 21-20 golden point win in Round 6 at GIO Stadium last year with ex-Gold Coast linchpin kicking the decisive field goal.
Canberra’s collapse is probably the worst thing that could happen to a Gold Coast looking for some momentum. The Raiders’ first home loss of 2025 stings and they will be acutely aware of the importance of responding ahead of a tough road trip to Auckland next week.
Despite tightening up the second half last week, the Titans’ porous defence – conceding 30-plus in their previous five matches – remains a concern for Des Hasler.
Tip: Back the Raiders Over 28.5 Total Points @ $1.92
SGM: RAIDERS -9.5 / OVER 48.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HUDSON YOUNG ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SEBASTIAN KRIS ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $18.05
Beware the bounce-back as Wests Tigers aim to respond to a 64-0 rout in Melbourne when they welcome a Latrell Mitchell-inspired South Sydney to Campbelltown on Sunday.
The Tigers of three straight wooden spoons fame resurfaced at AAMI Park on Sunday, rolling over from the opening whistle in an 11-try drubbing – in stark contrast to handy wins over Cronulla and St George Illawarra in the previous fortnight.
The Rabbitohs, on the other hand, snapped a four-match losing streak in Round 10 thanks to Latrell Mitchell’s virtuoso brilliance – try-saving tackles, a 48-metre field goal and a last-minute try – as they came from 14-0 down to beat the Broncos 22-14.
The Tigers are set to get in-form centre Starford To’a back from a neck injury, with Brent Naden to go back to the bench. Fonua Pole’s knee injury brings Royce Hunt into the starting pack and Jack Bird returns on the bench.
Alex Johnston attempts another injury comeback on the wing for Souths at Fletcher Myers’ expense in the team’s only change.
Souths have won eight of the clubs’ last 10 matches, but the honours were shared in 2025. The Rabbitohs prevailed 42-28 in Round 20 in Gosford, before the Tigers responded 18-16 at Campbelltown just four weeks later.
Take last week out of the equation and the Tigers have been the more impressive of these Sydney rivals of late. Meanwhile, teams beaten by 40-plus points in 2024 went 4-4 straight up in their next match.
Tip: Back the Tigers to Win @ $1.90
SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / OVER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / LATRELL MITCHELL ANYTIME TRYCORER / STARFORD TO’A ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $16.46