2025 NRL Round 26 Betting Predictions
There are just 2 more rounds of the NRL regular season and the top 8 is far more settled. So it's another big weekend ahead across the NRL and here is a betting preview of every game.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (3rd) vs Penrith Panthers (7th)
The Bulldogs take on the Panthers this week, and they’ll be looking to bounce back after a narrow 20-14 loss to the Storm at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. It’s been a mixed run for them lately, dropping their last two games and going 2-3 across their past five. Still, they’ve shown strength at home with an impressive 8-2 record this season, while away from home they sit at 7-5. Overall, their 15-7 season record has them holding down 3rd spot on the ladder, but they’ll need to turn things around quickly if they want to stay in touch with the top teams.
The Panthers face the Bulldogs this week, but they’ll be going in well under strength after deciding to rest all their starters with the top 4 now out of reach. Big names like Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, and Liam Martin are all out, which leaves them vulnerable. They’ve dropped their last two games, including a tight 4-point loss to the Raiders at Glen Willow Stadium, and their overall season record sits at 12-9, putting them 7th on the ladder. The Panthers have been solid away from home at 6-3, but only average at home with a 6-6 split. With a 3-2 record across their past five, they’ll need to find something extra with so much talent missing.
Stadium Record
Canterbury are 4-1 in their last 5 games at this venue. Penrith are 8-2 in their last 10 games at Accor Stadium.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10 meetings, the Panthers have won 9 games against the Bulldogs.
Best Bet
Sure, the Panthers are resting their starters but their second-string team could beat a lot of NRL teams and I think a 20 point start is worth taking against the out of form Doggies. They're just 1-9 ATS in their last 10 night games.
Penrith Panthers +20.5 = $1.90
New Zealand Warriors (4th) vs Parramatta Eels (14th)
The Warriors head into their clash with the Eels on the back of a solid 32-18 win over the Titans in Round 25. They’ve now strung together two wins in a row and sit 4th on the ladder, meaning every game is crucial if they want to lock in a top-four finish. Their record shows plenty of consistency this season, going 7-4 both at home and away, and sitting at 14-8 overall. While they’ve only managed a 2-3 run across their last five, the back-to-back wins have given them some momentum at the right time of the year.
The Eels come into this one sitting 14th on the ladder with an 8-14 record, but they’ll take confidence from their big 30-10 win over the Roosters at Western Sydney Stadium last round. They’ve shown a bit of improvement lately with three wins from their last five, though their away form has been shaky at just 3-8 this season. At home they’re slightly better with a 5-6 record, but overall consistency has been an issue. Stat-wise, the Eels have really struggled in attack, ranking near the bottom of the NRL for points and tries scored, while also sitting high up in errors made. They’ll need to tidy things up if they’re any chance against the Warriors.
Stadium Record
New Zealand are 5-5 in their last 10 games at this venue. Parramatta are 2-3 in their last 5 games at this venue.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10, the Eels are 7-3 against the Warriors.
Best Bet
Should be tough scoring conditions over in NZ and the Eels are finishing off the season nicely. So I like the Under, which is 5-0 in the Eels last 5 games.
Melbourne Storm (2nd) vs Sydney Roosters (8th)
The Storm are flying right now, riding a five-game winning streak and boasting a perfect 5-0 run from their last five outings. Sitting 2nd on the ladder with a 17-5 record, they’ve already locked in a top-two finish and a home final, which means they’ll be resting a few key players here. Even so, Melbourne remain the benchmark in attack, ranked number one in the NRL for both points and tries scored. Last round they edged out the Bulldogs 20-14 at AAMI Park, showing they can grind out wins as well as pile on the points. With strong records both home (9-2) and away (8-3), the Storm head into this clash with plenty of momentum.
The Roosters head into a must-win clash with the Storm as they fight to keep their finals hopes alive, sitting 8th on the ladder with an even 11-11 record. They’ll need to bounce back quickly after a disappointing 30-10 loss to the Eels at Western Sydney Stadium last round. Form-wise they’ve been up and down, going 3-2 across their past five, and their home record (5-6) hasn’t been great, though they’ve been slightly better on the road at 6-5. Statistically, the Roosters can put points on the board, ranking 5th in the NRL for both points and tries scored, but errors have been a major issue, with only two teams worse in that department. With everything on the line, they’ll need a clean performance if they’re to upset the Storm.
Stadium Record
Melbourne are 9-1 in their last 10 games at this venue. Sydney are 2-8 in their last 10 games at this venue.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10, the Storm hold a 9-1 record.
Best Bet
The Storm are resting players and the Under is a perfect 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
Canberra Raiders (1st) vs Wests Tigers (11th)
The Raiders come into this one on top of the ladder and already locked in for a home final, but they’ll still want to keep momentum rolling. Sitting at 18-4 for the season, they’ve been dominant both home (10-1) and away (8-3), and head in on a two-game winning streak. Last round they edged out the Panthers 20-16 in a tough contest, showing they can handle the pressure against quality opposition. Stat-wise, the Raiders are one of the best attacking teams in the comp, ranked 4th for points scored and 2nd for tries, while also keeping mistakes to a minimum with the 15th-fewest errors in the NRL. With four wins from their last five, they’ll be confident against the Tigers.
The Tigers head into their clash with the Raiders sitting 11th on the ladder, their season done and dusted but still playing for pride. They’re 9-13 overall, with a 5-7 record at home and 4-6 on the road, so consistency has been hard to come by. Last round they went down by six points to the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval, and while they’ve managed three wins from their past five, scoring points has been their biggest issue, ranked 14th in the NRL in that area. With nothing left to play for but pride, they’ll be out to finish on a high against the competition leaders.
Stadium Record
Canberra are 9-1 in their last 10 games at this venue. Wests are 1-4 in their last 5 games at this venue.
Head to Head Record
The Raiders are 4-1 against the Tigers in the last 5.
Best Bet
There should be plenty of points in this matchup and the Raiders are 7-1 against the Over in Canberra.
St. George Illawarra Dragons (13th) vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (10th)
The Dragons take on the Sea Eagles this week with their finals hopes already gone, sitting 13th on the ladder at 8-14. It’s been a rough patch for them, dropping their last two and coming off a brutal 40-0 loss to the Rabbitohs at Stadium Australia. Their away form has been poor all year at 2-10, though they’ve been much better at home with a 6-4 record. Overall, they’ve only managed two wins from their past five, and with nothing left to play for, it’s all about salvaging some pride to finish the season.
The Sea Eagles head into their clash with the Dragons sitting 10th on the ladder with a 10-12 record, still clinging to a slim chance of cracking the top 8. They snapped a poor run of form last week with a huge 58-30 win over the Dolphins at Brookvale, their first victory in five games. While they’ve been solid at home with a 7-4 record, their away form has been a real concern at just 3-8. With their finals hopes still alive, they’ll be desperate to back up last week’s performance and keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Stadium Record
St. George are 5-5 in their last 10 games at this venue. Manly are 2-5 at this venue since 2010.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10 meetings, the Dragons hold a 6-4 record against the Sea Eagles.
Best Bet
Should be a tough game. The Sea Eagles need to win but the Dragons will be looking to prove a point after last week's awful display. So I like the Under here too.
North Queensland Cowboys (12th) vs Brisbane Broncos (5th)
The Cowboys line up against the Broncos this week sitting 12th on the ladder with a 9-13 record, and while finals are off the table, they’ve managed to build some late-season form. They’ve won their last two, including a tight 34-28 victory over the Tigers in Round 25, and have gone 3-2 across their past five. At home they’re even at 5-5, while on the road they’ve struggled at 4-8. Errors have been a big issue all season, ranking 2nd worst in the NRL, but with back-to-back wins under their belt, the Cowboys will be looking to finish strong against their Queensland rivals.
The Broncos head into their Queensland derby with the Cowboys full of confidence after smashing the Knights 46-12 in Round 25. Sitting 5th on the ladder with a 13-9 record, they’re pushing hard to sneak into the top 4 and have hit some form with back-to-back wins. They’ve been tough to beat at home with an 8-3 record, though a little patchier on the road at 5-6. Stat-wise, the Broncos have one of the best attacks in the comp, ranked 3rd for both points and tries scored, but errors have hurt them, sitting 5th worst in the NRL. With three wins from their last five, they’ll be eager to keep their momentum rolling against the Cowboys.
Stadium Record
North Queensland are 5-4 (1 draw) in their last 10 games at QCB. Brisbane are 3-2 at this venue since 2010.
Head to Head Record
In the last 5 meetings, the Broncos have won 5 games against the Cowboys.
Best Bet
Brisbane still have a shot of a top 4 spot and I think they'll be strong for an inconsistent Cowboys team that makes a lot of errors.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (6th) vs Newcastle Knights (16th)
The Sharks come into this one in good touch after thumping the Titans 54-22 at home, a win that keeps them right in the hunt for a top-four finish. Sitting 6th on the ladder with a 13-9 record, they’ve been especially strong at Sharks Stadium with a 9-2 record, though their away form hasn’t been as convincing at 4-7. They’ve won four of their last five to build some nice momentum, and with finals around the corner, they’ll be keen to keep that roll going against the Knights.
It’s been a nightmare season for the Knights, and things hit another low with the club sacking their coach today. Sitting dead last on the ladder in 16th with a 6-16 record, they’ve now lost seven straight and haven’t won in their last five. Their most recent outing was a heavy 34-point defeat to the Broncos at home, and their home record of 2-10 sums up their struggles. While they’ve been slightly better on the road at 4-6, the Knights are ranked last in the NRL for both points and tries scored, and they lead the comp in errors. Up against the in-form Sharks, it’s looking like another tough night ahead.
Stadium Record
Cronulla are 7-3 in their last 10 games at Shark Park. Newcastle are 4-7 at this venue since 2010.
Head to Head Record
The Sharks are 4-1 against the Knights in the last 5.
Best Bet
Let's see if the Knights step up with their coach sacked and bring their defence to Cronulla. The Under is 7-1 when they play each other so should be the best bet.
Dolphins (9th) vs Gold Coast Titans (17th)
The Dolphins head into their clash with the Titans sitting 9th on the ladder with a 10-12 record, knowing their finals hopes are on the line. They’ve hit a rough patch with three straight losses, the latest a high-scoring 58-30 defeat to the Sea Eagles at Brookvale. Despite the slump, their attack remains one of the best in the comp, ranked 2nd for points scored and 3rd for tries. They’ve been even at home with a 5-5 record and slightly weaker on the road at 5-7, while their last five outings have produced just two wins. With everything to play for, the Dolphins will need to rediscover their scoring punch and steady the ship fast.
It’s been a messy week for the Titans, with the club sacking Des Hasler but still having him coach the side – a pretty strange situation to say the least. On the field, things haven’t been much better, with the Titans stuck on a four-game losing streak and sitting second-last on the ladder at 5-17. Their last outing was a 14-point loss to the Warriors at Robina, and their home record of 2-9 shows just how tough it’s been. They’ve only managed one win from their past five, and while they’ve been slightly better on the road at 3-8, consistency has been missing all year. Up against a Dolphins side still chasing finals, it could be another tough night for the Titans.
Stadium Record
The Dolphins are 5-5 in their last 10 games at Suncorp. Gold Coast are 2-3 in their last 5 games at this venue.
Head to Head Record
The Dolphins are 4-1 against the Titans since 2023.
Best Bet
Both sides are a bit all over the shop at the moment, especially in defence. So I like the chances of the Over, which is 7-1 when the Dolphins play at Suncorp.
