<p>Ladies and gentlemen, the NRL Finals are here. After 27 grueling rounds of high-octane Rugby League, 17 teams have been whittled down to eight.</p> <p>Now the Canberra Raiders, Melbourne Storm, Canterbury Bulldogs, Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters will all attempt to capture the holy grail that is the Provan-Summons trophy.</p> <p>Only one can lift it though, the question is, just who will that be? Will the Raiders cap off their sensational season that saw them run first by picking up the Premiership?</p> <p>Can reigning back-to-back-to-back-to-back champions Penrith make it five on the spin despite finishing seventh?</p> <p>What about recent revivalists, the Broncos and Roosters? Do they have an ambush for the ages stuffed up their sleeves?</p> <p>The Storm, Bulldogs, Warriors and Sharks will also want to lay claim to the NRL’s greatest prize, so don’t expect anyone to go quietly at any point.</p> <p>Now all that’s left to do it, sit back and watch all the action unfold, after you’ve read our NRL Finals tips and predictions of course.</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of the first week of finals, check out our expert NRL Finals Week 1 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne Storm (2nd) vs Canterbury Bulldogs (3rd) Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, September 12, 7:50pm AEST – AAMI Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The 2025 NRL Finals series gets underway on Friday night when the Melbourne Storm welcome the Canterbury Bulldogs to AAMI Park in the first Qualifying Final.</p> <p>The winner here will win straight through to a Grand Final qualifier, meaning they also get next week off.</p> <p>There is no doubt about it, the Storm are September specialists and thrive at this time of year. However, over the last fortnight, the wheels have been slowly coming off Craig Bellamy’s normally well-oiled machine.</p> <p>Horrific losses to the Roosters and Broncos to finish the season have been compounded by the loss of superstars Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen.</p> <p>Hughes has played for the last time in 2025 after fracturing his forearm against Brisbane, while Papenhuyzen will have to sit this one out under the NRL’s concussion protocols after failing a HIA last start.</p> <p>The Dogs are far from full strength themselves, with Bronson Xerri and Marcelo Montoya set to miss this one.</p> <p>While it’s clear the Storms stocks are plummeting, should we commence a fire sale? Or hold strong?</p> <p>We’re going to ride it out for one more week, this is largely due to the location of this Qualifying Final. Melbourne’s record at AAMI Park speaks for itself. It doesn’t seem to matter who the opposition is or whether it’s finals time or the regular season.</p> <p>The Dogs have only won once here in their last five attempts and that was well over three years ago. We’re backing the home team, but don’t be surprised if golden point is required to settle this one.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-canterbury-bulldogs-9586530">Melbourne Storm.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Winning margin – Storm 1-5.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Warriors (6th) vs Penrith Panthers (7th) Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 13, 4:05pm AEST – Go Media Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Saturday sees the first do-or-die match of the 2025 NRL Finals series when the New Zealand Warriors host the Penrith Panthers.</p> <p>If you thought the Storm were September specials, the Panthers are the end boss of finals footy.</p> <p>They’ve featured in the last five Grand Finals, winning the last four, but they’ve never found themselves in this position.</p> <p>After a season riddled with injuries and inconsistencies, they pulled themselves from the foot of the ladder into the eight and must now do it the hard way if they are to capture an unprecedented fifth consecutive crown.</p> <p>Speaking of injuries and inconsistencies, the Warriors can certainly relate. They were flying high for most of the regular season until injuries, namely the one of main man Luke Metcalfe sent them into somewhat of a tailspin.</p> <p>Back-to-back losses to finish the season, saw them crash out of the top four and now their lives are on the line when Penrith come to town.</p> <p>As resilient as the Wahs have been in the face of adversity this season, this feels like a step too far for them.</p> <p>Penrith simply have too much experience in these pressure cooker situations and in Nathan Cleary, have arguably the most clutch player in the competition, when he isn’t wearing sky blue, that is.</p> <p>Yes, the Warriors are at home but come full-time, we think that’s where they’ll be staying.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-penrith-panthers-9597449">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Brian To’o first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cronulla Sharks (5th) vs Sydney Roosters (8th) Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 13, 7:50pm AEST – Shark Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Saturday’s second elimination final goes down at Shark Park when Cronulla welcome the red-hot Roosters to town.</p> <p>Despite just sneaking into eighth, the Chooks are actually the favorites in the head-to-head market here and it’s not hard to see why.</p> <p>They finished the season with five wins from their final six matches, in a run of results headlined by the scalping of both Melbourne and Canterbury.</p> <p>The Sharks also enjoyed a strong finish to the regular season, closing out with three wins on the swim.</p> <p>The good news just keeps coming for Cronulla too, with main man Nicho Hynes cleared to play, after initial reports suggested he was facing a one-match ban for a hip drop tackle.</p> <p>His battle against the recently revived Sam Walker, whose return from a long-term injury has completely reinvigorated the Roosters, will be a must watch.</p> <p>All in all, we simply can’t walk away from Walker and his Tri-colours. They’ve pulled off too many massive results with their season on the line in the last two months, for us to believe they can’t pull off at least one more.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/cronulla-sharks-v-sydney-roosters-9597452">Sydney Roosters.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Mark Nawaqanitawase first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders (1st) vs Brisbane Broncos (4th) Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 14, 4:05pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final game of the first week of the 2025 NRL Finals sees minor premiers Canberra welcome the Broncos to the nation’s capital in the second Qualifying Final.</p> <p>From would-be wooden spooners to minor premiers, silencing all the doubters in the process, the Raiders have been the team to beat all season long. Speaking of doubters, get ready to pick your jaws up off the floor, because despite that wrap, we are tipping the Broncos.</p> <p>Why? Well, there are actually a number of reasons. Firstly, inspirational prop and Mr. Green Machine himself - Josh Paplii - is in doubt for this clash after injuring his ankle in training.</p> <p>This coupled with the recent loss of speed demon Xavier Savage means Ricky’s Raiders are looking a little thin in certain areas.</p> <p>Then there’s history, which shows that no team has ever won the comp after conceding 50 or more points in a regular season game.</p> <p>Well, the Raiders second-string side had 62 dropped on them last week by the Dolphins, does that mean we have to put a red line through their finals hopes? That seems a little extreme, but stats like this have a strange way of holding strong in the world of Rugby League.</p> <p>The main reason we’re backing the Broncos here though, is, well, the Broncos. Their form has been irresistible of late. Since losing both their starting halves in the same play over a month ago, they haven’t dropped a point.</p> <p>Talk about a blessing in disguise. Fill-ins’ Ben Hunt and Billy Walters have been nothing short of superb and have found a way to bring Reece Wash into the attack in a way both Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam failed to do so.</p> <p>With Reynolds set to return shortly, don’t be surprised to see him do so via the bench. There’s no way they’d want to change this winning formula, particularly if, as predicted, it yields another W this weekend.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-brisbane-broncos-9597446">Brisbane Broncos.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Reece Walsh anytime try scorer.</p>