Pressure continues to mount for the likes of Canterbury and Melbourne in NRL Round 10, while the Souths-Cronulla and Manly-Brisbane showdowns on Saturday could have a big impact on the make-up of the top half of the ladder.
The Dolphins are searching for back-to-back wins when they take on another struggling heavyweight.
FORM: Building on gritty defeats to the Panthers and Warriors, the Dolphins snapped a four-match losing streak with a dominant second half in a 28-10 win over the Storm last Friday.
Fellow 3-5 outfit Bulldogs have stumbled from one disaster to the next since upsetting Penrith, losing heavily to the Eels (38-20), Broncos (32-12) and Cowboys (28-12) as their offence continues to splutter.
INS AND OUTS: The Dolphins have named Kodi Nikorima and Jeremy Marshall-King in the last two spots on a six-man bench, but the starting line-up is unchanged. The Bulldogs have named the same 17 despite the continuation of a poor run of form.
KEY MATCH-UP: Two contenders for the ‘world’s best centre’ mantle, Herbie Farnworth and Stephen Crichton, gear up for a fascinating duel.
HISTORY: The Bulldogs lead this head-to-head 2-1, but the Dolphins romped to a 44-8 win at Accor Stadium in Round 12 last year.
KEY STAT: These teams are both conceding 24 points per game, but the Bulldogs are only scoring 18 points on average (second-worst in the NRL) to the Dolphins’ 23.
VERDICT: The Bulldogs are rightly under extreme scrutiny for their decline on last season’s achievements, paying the price for needlessly dismantling their spine. The team’s defensive attitude is another glaring issue – a far cry from 2025.
If the Dolphins show the same sort of grit and resolve as the past few weeks, Katoa and co. should steer them to victory over the rudderless visitors.
SGM: DOLPHINS WIN / UNDER 50.5 TOTAL POINTS / JACK BOSTOCK ANYTIME TRYSCORER / CONNOR TRACEY ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $25.87
Gold Coast faces a daunting road trip to Gosford in the shape of the in-form Sydney Roosters.
FORM: The Roosters keep piling on the points and piling up wins, making it five straight with a 38-24 win over the Broncos – though it got a bit nervy as they saw a 30-0 lead quickly whittled away.
The 2-6 Titans showed some second-half fight in a 28-20 away loss to the Warriors and were disappointing in a 28-12 home defeat to the Raiders either side of their Round 8 bye.
INS AND OUTS: The Roosters have named Cody Ramsey and Spencer Leniu in the starting team for injured duo Mark Nawaqanitawase and Lindsay Collins. Taylor Losalu and Benaiah Ioelu joined the bench.
The Titans have brought in Zane Harrison to debut in the halves at Lachlan Ilias’ expense, with Jayden Campbell going to five-eighth. Jensen Taumoepeau will also debut on the wing with Siale Faeamani injured, while Klese Haas, Oliver Pascoe and Cooper Bai all come into the starting team.
KEY MATCH-UP: Expect some fireworks with Leniu – who is reportedly on the nose with the Roosters – named to start opposite Origin opponent, Titans enforcer and skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
HISTORY: The Titans snapped an 11-match losing streak against the Roosters with a stunning, Jayden Campbell-inspired 30-12 upset in their only 2025 meeting.
KEY STAT: The Roosters have scored 33-plus points in five straight matches, leading to 49-plus points totals in each (and at least 56 points in the past four).
VERDICT: Big guns and battlers alike are struggling to combat the Roosters’ elite attack, though the premiership hopefuls are still yet to produce anything like an 80-minute performance – the second-half fadeout against the Broncos almost proved very costly.
Keeping on task for half a game would probably be enough to account for the Titans, however, with Josh Hannay’s sweeping changes indicating he is still quite a way off finding his desired combination.
SGM: ROOSTERS BY 11-20 / OVER 55.5 TOTAL POINTS / SIUA WONG ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAYDEN CAMPBELL ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $71.94
North Queensland keeps getting the job down and will eye off their seventh win in eight games when they host a slumping Parramatta.
FORM: Since their Round 7 blip against Manly, the Cowboys have won a 46-34 shootout against Cronulla at home and powered away late to beat Canterbury 28-12 in Sydney.
Parramatta showed some pluck against the high-flying Warriors – closing to 18-14 during the second half – but were ultimately overrun 36-14, their fifth loss in six games.
INS AND OUTS: Sam McIntyre replaces Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder) in the Cowboys’ only starting line-up change. Tallyn Da Silva starts at hooker for Parramatta with Ryley Smith out and Jordan Samrani replaces injured centre Will Penisini.
KEY MATCH-UP: The two most centre Origin-winning No.7s, Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses, need to set the tone for their respective sides.
HISTORY: The Eels have won six of their last eight against the Cowboys, including a 19-18 eclipse at CommBank Stadium in the teams’ only 2025 clash.
KEY STAT: The points total has not exceeded 47 points in the teams’ last nine encounters, but North Queensland’s matches average 51.8 points and Parramatta’s average 56.6 points in 2026.
VERDICT: With injuries continuing to mount and the NRL’s worst defensive record hanging over them, it feels like a long way out of this current hole for Parramatta.
Scott Drinkwater keeps delivering for the Cowboys, their halves are in a nice groove and a rejuvenated Jason Taumalolo breaking the club’s all-time appearances record on Friday is set to provide even more impetus for the home side continuing their purple patch.
SGM: COWBOYS WIN / OVER 55.5 TOTAL POINTS / SCOTT DRINKWATER TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / MITCH MOSES ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $28.99
Beleaguered St George Illawarra comes off the bye with a home clash against a Newcastle side that has its tail up again.
FORM: The Dragons went into last week’s bye 0-8, crashing 62-16 to the Roosters on Anzac Day in their first match under interim coach Dean Young.
The Knights pulled out of a three-game skid and improved to 5-4, outlasting Souths in a 42-38 thriller after letting a very handy lead slip. Kalyn Ponga scooped six Dally M votes, while there were great signs from recruits Dylan Brown and Trey Mooney.
INS AND OUTS: The Dragons get fullback and captain Clint Gutherson back, while back-rower Dylan Egan is back in the NRL for the first time since tearing his ACL last year – replacing the suspended Luciano Leilua. The Knights are unchanged.
KEY MATCH-UP: Gutherson is the type of all-effort veteran capable of sparking a Saints turnaround, while rival No.1 and skipper Kalyn Ponga made a very welcome return to the Knights’ line-up last week.
HISTORY: The clubs have split their last eight encounters. The Dragons won the only 2025 meeting 20-6 at Kogarah.
KEY STAT: The Dragons have not scored more than 28 points in their last 13 matches at Kogarah.
The Knights have upped their offensive output from 14 points per game in 2025 (last) to 26 points per game in 2026 (ninth).
VERDICT: A week off may do wonders as Dean Young looks to put his stamp on the battling Saints, while Gutherson’s return can’t be underestimated. But confidence in a drought-breaking win is low with the hosts $3.10 outsiders.
Last season’s historically poor attack seemingly rectified, the Knights are now looking for defensive improvement after conceding 38-plus in four straight games – but Ponga, Brown, Sharpe and co. will be licking their lips at the prospect of picking holes in the Red V.
SGM: KNIGHTS -9.5 / UNDER 53.5 TOTAL POINTS / KALYN PONGA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SETU TU ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $27.43
Souths will be eager to bounce back from a loss in a high-scoring shootout, while Cronulla rocketed back into form last week by demolishing a rising contender.
FORM: The 5-3 Rabbitohs are still searching for consistency, again following up back-to-back wins with a high-scoring upset loss. This time they posting the second-highest losing score of all time in a 48-32 defeat in Newcastle, despite the heroics of Latrell Mitchell.
The Sharks are 4-4 after bouncing back from a disappointing couple of outings – conceding 80 points in consecutive losses to the Roosters and Cowboys – with a 52-10 rampage against the Tigers at home. Braydon Trindall shone again, while KL Iro and Tieg Wilton both had hat-tricks on a dominant left egde.
INS AND OUTS: Souths have brought in halfback Ashton Ward at the expense of Jamie Humprheys, while Ed Kosi makes his club debut on the wing with Campbell Graham moving to centre for the injured Jack Wighton.
Jye Gray returns at fullback, Keaon Koloamatagi goes back to prop and Euan Aitken comes into the second-row. Cronulla is unchanged.
KEY MATCH-UP: Opposing No.6s Cody Walker and Braydon Trindall are their teams’ chief playmakers and are set for a fascinating individual showdown.
HISTORY: Cronulla is on a five-match winning streak against South Sydney, including wins in the Shire (27-12) and at Gosford (14-12) in 2025.
KEY STAT: Alex Johnston has scored just four tries in 12 career appearances against Cronulla, by far his worst strike-rate against any team.
VERDICT: The Rabbitohs are scoring more points per game (32.50) than any team in the NRL, while the Sharks rank fifth (30.50). Both are conceding 24-plus a game. All signs point to another high-scoring shootout, of which both teams have been involved in multiple this year.
Souths are $1.65 favourites at home but this feels very much like a coin-flip encounter.
SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS/ LATRELL MITCHELL ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KL IRO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / OVER 53.5 TOTAL POINTS @ $9.70
A blockbuster awaits at 4 Pines Park as Kieran Foran’s firing Sea Eagles host injury-hit champs the Broncos.
FORM: Manly’s four-match winning streak since introducing an interim coach came to an end last weekend, but a gutsy 18-16 loss to Penrith arguably enhanced the Sea Eagles credentials as much as the preceding victories.
After winning five of their previous six despite severe line-up disruptions, the Broncos were stuck in the blocks against the Roosters as they trailed 30-0 – before staging a remarkable revival in what was an eventual 38-24 loss.
INS AND OUTS: Jamal Fogarty has been named to return for Manly after withdrawing late in Round 9, pushing Joey Walsh back to the bench. Ethan Bullemor starts for Kobe Hetherington (head knock).
Tom Duffy comes in for injured Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds, while Jesse Arthars and Antonio Verhoeven replace unavailable backs Kotoni Staggs and Deine Mariner. Preston Riki returns from suspension on the bench.
KEY MATCH-UP: A battle of the dynamic second-row giants awaits as Haumole Olakau’atu and Xavier Willison oppose one another.
HISTORY: The Broncos have won three of their last four against the Sea Eagles, but they were swamped 34-6 at 4 Pines Park in the teams’ sole 2025 encounter. Haumole Olakau’atu and Clayton Faulalo both notched try doubles.
KEY STAT: Brisbane’s last win at Manly was in 2010.
VERDICT: Manly’s turnaround around Foran has been nothing short of extraordinary and the home side heads in as a $1.68 favourite with Brisbane’s backline shaken up by injury and suspension, with Payne Haas also still on the sidelines.
The Broncos’ depth is excellent and a team with Reece Walsh firing can never be counted out, but they look vulnerable in this one and the Sea Eagles’ defensive improvement – conceding 18 or less in five straight games – is compelling.
SGM: SEA EAGLES WIN / UNDER 51.5 TOTAL POINTS / TOLU KOULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / REECE WALSH ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HAUMOLE OLAKAU’ATU ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $39.10
The Storm are in the midst of a club-record losing streak as the square off against a Tigers outfit chastened by conceding a half-century – and a heavy injury toll – last week.
FORM: After plumbing the depths in a 48-6 loss to Souths, Melbourne were on track to bust out of the slump against the Dolphins but gave up a halftime lead in a 28-10 defeat. It’s the fourth time in five games they’ve scored 14 points or less.
The high-flying Tigers received a jolting reality last week in a 52-10 loss to the Sharks that was compounded a couple more key stars being added to the casualty ward.
INS AND OUTS: Jahrome Hughes returns for Melbourne in time to replace the injured Tyran Wishart in the Storm’s only change.
Big changes to the Tigers’ backline with Heath Mason at fullback, Sunia Turuva reverting to the wing, Patrick Herbert replacing Starford To’a and Jock Madden in at halfback for Adam Doueihi. Kai Pearce-Paul returns from concussion, replacing the injured Samuela Fainu.
KEY MATCH-UP: The Storm desperately need Cameron Munster to play his way back into form, while there’s plenty on Jarome Luai’s shoulders with Doueihi out in this potential Origin preview.
HISTORY: The Storm are unbeaten against the Tigers since the start of 2019, winning eight straight – including a 64-0 annihilation in Round 10 last season at AAMI Park.
KEY STAT: The Tigers have conceded at least 24 points in their last eight games against the Storm, while they have scored more than 16 points just once in the teams’ last six clashes.
VERDICT: This is a great opportunity for the Storm to bank a much-needed win, however it comes. They have a great record against the Tigers, who will be rocked by last week’s blowout loss and the injury to talisman Doueihi.
Expect Hughes to lead the way in his return and the out-of-sorts Munster and Grant to regain form on the back of the halfback’s impetus.
SGM: STORM WIN / UNDER 54.5 TOTAL POINTS / JAHROME HUGHES ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KAI PEARCE-PAUL ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $39.56
After quietly turning things around over the past month, Canberra faces the NRL’s toughest test with ladder-leading Penrith coming to the capital – but the 2025 minor premiers get a couple of big guns back.
FORM: The Raiders have followed up a four-match losing streak with three wins from their last four, despite the absence of several key performers. After crashing 33-14 to the Tigers at Leichhardt, that put away the Titans 28-12 on the Gold Coast last Saturday in a gritty display.
The 8-1 Panthers were made to work hard for it against Manly last Sunday night, holding on 18-16.
INS AND OUTS: Canberra welcomes back Ethan Strange, allowing Kaeo Weekes to revert to fullback. Hudson Young is also back from suspension in a huge boost.
The Panthers’ starting line-up is unchanged, while Jack Cole replaces suspended bench utility Jack Cogger and Liam Henry has been named to return from injury on the bench.
KEY MATCH-UP: Kaeo Weekes – who starred last week at five-eighth – scored the golden point match-winner in last year’s epic against the Panthers, while no No.1 in the NRL is playing better than Dylan Edwards.
HISTORY: The Raiders knocked over the Panthers late in the 2024 (22-18 at GIO Stadium) and 2025 (20-16 in Mudgee) seasons.
KEY STAT: Only one of the past seven Canberra-Penrith encounters has produced more than 42 points.
VERDICT: The Raiders will look to use their best defensive performance of the season (conceding less than 22 points for the first time in six weeks) as a platform for engineering a third straight win over the Panthers. The return of Young and Strange is timely and they’ll be buoyed by a packed house.
After blitzing all comers in the early rounds, the Panthers are showing some signs of fatigue with a couple of narrow escapes in recent weeks.
They’re still the out-and-out benchmark in this premiership race but it likely they’ll have to roll the sleeves up again to see off this week’s opponents, who look strong value with a double-digit start.
SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / UNDER 51.5 TOTAL POITNS / KAEO WEEKES ANYTIME TRYSCORER / PAUL ALAMOTI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $37.02
2025
With another Magic Round extravaganza in the books, NRL Round 10 spreads back out across the eastern seaboard with a bevy of pivotal encounters.
The clear headliner is a 1 v 2 clash in the capital, but with the disruptive Origin period just around the corner every team will be desperate to collect the two points this weekend.
Magic Round losers Parramatta Eels and the Dolphins kick off Round 10 on Thursday at CommBank Stadium.
The struggling Eels had a Round 8 bye in the wake of their Mitch Moses-led victory over Wests Tigers, before going down to Cronulla 28-18 in Brisbane. Moses and Isaiah Iongi were again strong for the blue-and-golds, while Josh Addo-Carr scored a second straight double.
The Dolphins’ blistering three-match winning streak has given way to back-to-back losses to Canberra (40-28) and Sydney Roosters (36-26) – their two worst defensive efforts of the season as the Redcliffe-based outfit slips to a 3-6 record.
The Eels’ only change sees Matt Doorey replace Sam Tuivaiti on the bench. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are boosted by the return of Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Donoghoe from injury, but Jeremy Marshall-King has been ruled out.
The head-to-head is split after two clashes: the Dolphins romped to a 48-20 win on the Sunshine Coast in 2023, while Parramatta’s win in Darwin last year was a similarly emphatic 44-16.
The Dolphins haven’t won outside southeast Queensland since Round 15 last year. The Eels have won their last two at CommBank and should get up with Moses and Dylan Brown sizing up a leaky Dolphins defence.
Tip: Back the Eels to Win @ $1.73
SGM: EELS BY 1-12 / OVER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / JOSH ADDO-CARR ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HERBIE FARNWORTH ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $17.94
After breaking out of a slump in Brisbane, Newcastle Knights look to keep the momentum going against runaway wooden spoon favourites Gold Coast Titans.
The Knights’ five-game slide began with a dismal 26-6 road loss to the Titans. They scored just 30 points across their next four outings.
But Magic Round provided a circuit-breaker for the Knights, overwhelming Souths 30-4 with Fletcher Sharpe scoring a hat-trick, and the likes of Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best finding some room to move again. An improved, Jacob Saifiti-led engine-room effort was also crucial.
The Titans, meanwhile, are now on a five-game losing run of their own – conceding 30-plus points in each game. After leaking a half-century against the Cowboys in Round 8, they were overrun 38-18 by the Bulldogs in Brisbane. Beau Fermor scored a double in a rare bright spot.
The Knights are unchanged, while the Titans welcome Jojo Fifita and halfback Jayden Campbell back.
The Knights have won six straight against the Titans in Newcastle, with the last four victories (including last year’s 36-14 result) coming by margins of 20-plus points.
The Titans are in horrid form, but Campbell’s return offers a glimmer of hope. The playmaker can’t arrest the team’s defensive frailties, however, and with the shackles belatedly shaken off the Knights should run up a score here.
Tip: Back the Knights to Score Over 26.5 Points @ $1.90
SGM: KNIGHTS WIN / OVER 47.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / FLETCHER SHARPE ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $23.28
Magic Round duds South Sydney Rabbitohs and Brisbane Broncos get an opportunity to regroup on Friday night.
Souths have followed up a spirited 4-1 start to the season with four straight losses. They barely fired a shot in a 30-4 defeat to out-of-sorts Newcastle, with Wayne Bennett blasting his side’s attitude.
The Broncos are still battling for consistency, with their Round 8 demolition of Canterbury surrounded by three disappointing losses – including a 32-8 defeat in Magic Round to struggling premiers Penrith after leading 8-0 early.
Latrell Mitchell returns at fullback for Souths and Jamie Humphreys is back in the No.7. Siliva Havili replaces injured hooker Peter Mamouzelos, Euan Aitken returns to the second-row with Isaiah Taas going to centre and Fletcher Myers coming in on the wing.
Tevita Tatola has been dropped from a reshuffled pack.
Ezra Mam will make his return to the field in NSW Cup, leaving Ben Hunt to partner Adam Reynolds. The Broncos’ only change sees Fletcher Baker replace Jaiyden Hunt.
The Broncos have won four of their last six against the Rabbitohs, but the honours were shared a home win apiece in 2024. Souths have won four of the last five clashes at Accor Stadium.
Bennett loves coaching against his former teams and went 4-1 against the Broncos during his previous stint with the Rabbitohs. Expect him to instil a siege mentality in his rejigged squad and Mitchell’s return to get the hosts much closer to a drought-breaking win than their $3.75 price suggests.
Tip: Back the Rabbitohs to Cover the Line (+10.5) @ $1.90
SGM: UNDER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / EITHER TEAM BY LESS THAN 10.5 POINTS / LATRELL MITCHELL ANYTIME TRYSCORER / ADAM REYNOLDS ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $50.15
A mouth-watering top-of-the-table showdown awaits on Saturday afternoon with Canberra Raiders looking to join Canterbury Bulldogs in equal-first spot with a home victory. It’s the only fixture in Round 10 between Magic Round winners.
The Raiders have emerged as bona fide contenders courtesy of five straight wins, following up a comeback against the Dolphins from 20 points down with another revival to beat the Storm in golden point.
Trailing 14-0, the Raiders grafted their way back into the contest and levelled up with a stunning late solo try from Kaeo Weekes. A penalty goal in extra time gave them their first lead of the game – and a 22-20 victory.
The Bulldogs, whose 6-0 start was halted by a 42-18 beatdown from the Broncos in Round 8, bounced back in Magic Round with a 38-18 cruise against the battling Titans. NSW hopeful Jacob Kiraz bagged a hat-trick, while Connor Tracey and Stephen Crichton were also superb.
Suspension has hit the Bulldogs hard, with Jacob Preston now joining Josh Curran and Sitili Tupouniua on the sidelines.
On the bright side, Matt Burton returns from suspension to face the unchanged Raiders, with Bailey Hayward moving to the bench. Preston has copped a four-game ban, which will require an addition to the 17 named on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs halted a nine-game losing streak against the Raiders with a tense 22-18 victory at Belmore Oval late last season. They are searching for their first win in Canberra since 2015 but went close last year, edged out 24-20. Six of their last nine meetings were decided by four points or less.
The Raiders are 3-0 at GIO Stadium this season, including wins over high-profile sides Brisbane and Cronulla. They’ve been installed as $1.78 favourites with the Bulldogs still missing key personnel but this should go down to the wire with both teams eager to make a statement.
Tip: Under 45.5 Total Points @ $1.90
SGM: RAIDERS WIN / 1ST HALF POINTS UNDER 22.5 / JACOB KIRAZ ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SEBASTIAN KRIS @ $20.01
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for St George Illawarra Dragons, who are getting desperate for a win as they size up the surprise-packet, equal-second-placed Warriors in Wollongong.
The 3-5 Saints continue to prove as inscrutable as ever, rolling Melbourne and Manly but getting thrashed by the Roosters (46-18) on Anzac Day and losing to Wests Tigers (34-28) in Magic Round in their last two.
The Warriors have improved to 6-2, with their only loss from their last six games coming against the Storm on a sweltering Sunday at AAMI Park. After an authoritative win over Newcastle on Anzac Day, they held on 30-26 in a Magic Round thriller against North Queensland.
Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita were on fire as the Warriors powered to a 30-12 lead, before a gutsy defensive effort held off a surging Cowboys outfit. Erin Clark, Leka Halasima and Mitch Barnett were a massive part of the victory.
The Dragons have lost Emre Guler, replacing him with teenaged debutant Loko Pasifiki Tonga.
The Warriors get a big boost with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returning on the wing for his first appearance of 2025. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is also among the reserves.
Rocco Berry is out (as is late Magic Round withdrawal Ali Leiataua, with Kurt Capewell named in the centres with Adam Pompey. Jacob Laban is back from concussion on the bench.
The Dragons have traditionally dominated this fixture and have only lost twice to the Warriors at WIN Stadium. But the Warriors have won seven of the last 11 encounters, with DWZ scoring four tries in a 48-18 win at this venue in 2023. The Saints won 30-12 at home in their only clash last season.
The Warriors’ high-discipline approach, dynamic pack and Metcalf’s growing confidence in the No.7 are a formidable combination. The Saints’ recent defensive showings make it hard to get behind them, regardless of the venue.
Tip: Back the Warriors to Win by 1-12 Points @ $2.95
SGM: WARRIORS -2.5 / OVER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / VALENTINE HOLMES ANYTIME TRYSCORER / LUKE METCALF ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $20.92
North Queensland Cowboys are coming off a nail-biting Magic Round defeat – and now face the prospect of hosting a rejuvenated Penrith Panthers outfit on Saturday night.
The Cowboys pulled off a 22-18 upset at CommBank Stadium in Round 5, holding the four-time premiers scoreless in the second half. It was part of a four-match winning streak that came to an end via a 30-26 Magic Round loss to the Warriors.
Caught on the back foot in the first half, the Cowboys will take heart from fighting from 18 points down to go within an ace of snatching victory. But they were worryingly exposed on the edges by the Warriors.
The Panthers are still on 3-6, but they have won two of their last three – bookending a loss to Manly with big wins over Sydney Roosters (40-12) and Brisbane (32-8).
The latter in Magic Round looked like the Penrith of 2020-24. Nathan Cleary was sublime in every facet, while Dylan Edwards was superb at the back.
The Cowboys have lost Reuben Cotter to suspension; Sam McIntyre comes in at lock and Thomas Mikaele joins the bench. The Panthers get Brian To’o, Mitch Kenny and Brad Schneider back, which sees Tom Jenkins go to the bench, and Trent Toelau, Luke Sommerton and Mavrik Geyer drop out.
This rivalry has been skewed in recent years by Origin absences and resting players from final-round dead-rubbers; nevertheless, the Cowboys can take plenty of confidence from winning four of their last six against the NRL’s preeminent force.
It’s too early to say the Panthers are back…but last week appeared to be the circuit-breaking performance the champs have been searching for. A big Team List Tuesday tips the scales further in the visitors’ favour.
Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-4.5) @ $1.94
SGM: PANTHERS WIN / UNDER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / MURRAY TAULAGI ANYTIME TRYSCORER / IZACK TAGO ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $21.40
After letting some big leads slip in recent weeks, premiership favourites Melbourne Storm are at an interesting juncture ahead of a home clash with a burgeoning Wests Tigers outfit on Sunday.
Either side of a 24-16 home win over Souths, the Storm blew 14-point advantages against the Dolphins – who thrashed them 42-22 – and in a golden point defeat to the Raiders, both at Suncorp Stadium.
They were well in control against Canberra, up 14-0 in the Magic Round wet, but ill-discipline proved costly in regulation and extra-time.
The Tigers have dug their way out of the hole the Lachlan Galvin controversy briefly left them in, banking back-to-back wins over the Sharks (20-18) in golden point and the Dragons (34-28) at Magic Round.
Jahream Bula was on fire at Suncorp Stadium, while Terrell May continues to press his NSW claims with consistently powerful performances up front. The Tigers led 26-10 at halftime before warding off a Saints rally.
Both sides rolls out the same 17 as last week with Harry Grant still sidelined for Melbourne.
Melbourne has won seven straight against Wests Tigers, with the last five coming by double-digit margins. The Tigers have a comparatively remarkable record at AAMI Park, however, winning two of six matches and never conceding more than 29 points.
The Storm are 4-0 at AAMI Park, however, and have not lost consecutive games since Round 3, 2023. The Tigers are unquestionably building, though, and provide very handy value with a 15.5-point start.
Tip: Back Under 51.5 Total Points @ $1.90
SGM: STORM WIN / TIGERS +15.5 / GRANT ANDERSON ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAHREAM BULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $24.96
The latest instalment of the Battle of the Beaches sees Manly Sea Eagles coming off the bye against a Cronulla side looking for their fourth win in five games. Both sides are part of a five-team logjam in equal-fifth.
It’s their second meeting in less than a month, after the Sharks held off the Sea Eagles 24-18 in Perth in Round 6. Dally M leader Will Kennedy was untouchable from fullback, ably supported by Braydon Trindall and Blayke Brailey. Daly Cherry-Evans was something of a lone hand in a beaten side.
Manly subsequently lost to the Dragons at home but broke out of a three-game slide with a 26-10 defeat of the Panthers at CommBank Stadium in Round 8.
Cronulla remain somewhat unconvincing but have won three of their last four, bouncing back from a frustrating golden point loss to the Tigers in Round 8 with a 28-18 victory over the Eels at Magic Round.
Nicho Hynes had his best game of the season, while Trindall and Kennedy were also strong.
Jason Saab and Jake Trbojevic are back on deck for Manly, while Cronulla’s only change sees Daniel Atkinson come onto the bench for Siosifa Talakai (concussion).
The Sharks have won their last three at 4 Pines Park, including a 40-20 thrashing in the final round of 2024.
This shapes as an ideal barometer for both sides, whose best in 2025 is top-four material and worst has been also-ran quality. The Sea Eagles have generally been much stronger at home this season but this one’s an out-and-out coin-flip.
Tip: Back Either Team to Win by Less Than 10.5 Points @ $1.94
SGM: SHARKS +2.5 / UNDER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / RONALDO MULITALO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TOM TRBOJEVIC ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $21.45