<p>Welcome back to Sportsbet’s NRL tips and predictions for Round 12.</p> <p>After the carnival, and the craziness that was Magic Round, the celebrations of all things Rugby League continue as the NRL rolls into Indigenous Round.</p> <p>It’s a week to celebrate the brilliant contribution to the game from all the First Nations players past and present.</p> <p>And haven’t they got some matches to look forward to here? Some arch-rivals going head to head, headlined by the mouthwatering first vs third battle on Saturday in the twilight between the Sharks and the Panthers.</p> <p>For the latest round 12 analysis, news, odds, and betting tips, check out our NRL round 12tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday 23rd May, 7:50 PM AEST – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>After drawing the short straw and sitting out of Magic Round on the bye, the Dragons travel to Homebush to face the Bulldogs and open Indigenous Round.</p> <p>The Dogs would still be licking their wounds after a sloppy performance against the Raiders and would be chasing a much crisper performance with fewer handling errors on their home deck.</p> <p>Coming up against a fresh Dragons side (who rose on the ladder thanks to results around them going their way), a fellow team contending for a spot in the top eight, there’s a bit extra riding on this one where the loser’s finals hopes will get that bit harder.</p> <p>The Bulldogs will be sweating on the availability of forward Kurt Mann who was put on report late for grappling.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction</strong>: <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-8253216">Dragons</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip</strong>: Stephen Crichton anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Queensland Cowboys vs West Tigers Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Friday 24th May, 6:00 PM AEST – Queensland Country Bank Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>The Cowboys are finally back on the winners' list!</p> <p>Yes, it came against the Rabbitohs who everyone is taking their turn in beating at the moment, but a win is a win and with it comes renewed optimism. Or delusion – take your pick sports fans.</p> <p>And that winning feeling could be felt for a second straight week this week, coming back home to face the struggling West Tigers.</p> <p>The Tigers were no match for the Dolphins last week, despite their best efforts according to coach Benji Marshall, who kept shooting themselves in the foot with their discipline.</p> <p>They will get their chances against the Cowboys – they like playing the Cowboys, they lead the head-to-head. But on exposed form this season, It looks as if the home side will be far too strong with much stronger talent, and discipline across the park at home.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/nth-queensland-cowboys-v-wests-tigers-8253218">Cowboys</a></p> <p><strong>Betting Tip:</strong> Cowboys Line (-9.5)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday 24th May, 8:00 PM AEST – 4 Pines Park</strong></em></p> <p>These two clubs flat-out don’t like each other.</p> <p>And here they meet, Friday night lights, prime time footy – And the Sea Eagles are cranky after coming ever so short of stealing a win against the Broncos last week,</p> <p>The Storm bounced back strongly from their first defeat at home in god knows how long – putting the Eels to the sword at their second favourite place to play. However, it might have come at a cost with star playmaker Cameron Munster aggravating a groin injury and was unable to finish the game.</p> <p>Xavier Coates will also be monitored this week for the Storm after undergoing and passing a HIA during the game. The Storm are also hopeful of re-gaining Jahrome Hughes whose availability is now more important with Munster's impending loss.</p> <p>It’s just shy of a month now that Manly have gone without a win, and after a two-week sojourn in Queensland, they return home desperate to overcome some injury misses and get a win on the board before the Origin unavailability hits.</p> <p>We think the Storm will be too good here though.</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Head-to-head prediction</strong>: <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-v-melbourne-storm-8253219">Storm</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Storm 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday 25th May, 3:00 PM AEST – GIO Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>Saturday’s NRL action kicks off in the nation’s capital with a high stakes top eight clash.</p> <p>The Raiders and the Roosters meet in an important sixth vs seventh battle, in what’s shaping as a contender for match of the round.</p> <p>The Chooks came crashing back down to earth at the hands of the table-topping Sharks. But despite going down, they would have been buoyed by the way they challenged a contender.</p> <p>Despite getting the win against the Bulldogs, the Raiders were shaky for extended periods of the game. With moments of ill-discipline and sin bins dogging them of controlling the entire game, they will need a much more team-rounded performance if they are to down the Roosters.</p> <p>The home-ground advantage will certainly help, but The Roosters appear to be in better nick, who despite the loss to the Sharks, continued to show off their point-scoring prowess.</p> <p>Which is why we think the Roosters will prevail here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-sydney-roosters-8253220">Roosters</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Joseph Sua’ali’I anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cronulla Sharks vs Penrith Panthers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday 25th May, 5:30 PM - PointsBet Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>It’s become the glamour timeslot in another code, and yet again the NRL has seen it and raised you AFL!</p> <p>It’s the game of the round, first vs third in a matchup that I’m sure, we will see again come the finals.</p> <p>Although the Panthers had a massive slip-up at Magic Rond where they somehow, went down to the Warriors and dropped a game they might live to regret come the business end.</p> <p>The Sharks machine though, just rolled on. Winning their seventh straight game for the first time since 2006 and are pushing to extend the streak to eight for the first time since then.</p> <p>They regained star Nicho Hynes and showed no signs of a calf issue that kept him out the week prior against Melbourne – He was instrumental in their win and further enhanced his reputation as one of the best players in the competition.</p> <p>The Panthers might have some further availability issues this week after prop Matt Eisenhuth was put on report for a high tackle and James Fisher-Harris was cited for a hip drop 10 minutes from full-time are both waiting outcomes from judiciary hearings.</p> <p>The Panthers rarely lose two on the bounce, but this one might be interesting.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/cronulla-sharks-v-penrith-panthers-8253223">Panthers</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Hudson Young first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Parramatta Eels Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday 25th May, 7:30 PM – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>It might not be the Saturday night primetime spectacle for the neutrals, but hey, if you’re an Eels or a Bunnies fan, here is a big chance to remember what victory feels like.</p> <p>Both these sides are deep on struggle street this season. The Bunnies, while slowly starting to re-gather themselves after the change of coach. They’re having moments, but the wait to see them put it all together goes on.</p> <p>The Eels season, while never tipped to reach any great heights, has sunk deeper into the abyss after the Storm put nearly a half-century on them at Magic Round.</p> <p>They will be sweating on the fitness of Mitchell Moses who they desperately need back if they are to be considered a chance of winning.</p> <p>Could this be the day for Ben Hornby to get on the board with an NRL coaching win?</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-v-parramatta-eels-8253224">Rabbitohs</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip</strong>: Latrell Mitchell first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday 26th May, 2:00 PM AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>It’s the Queensland derby! And like any big rivalry, form lines, regardless of how well or poor your seasons are going – go out the window when these fixtures roll around.</p> <p>The Broncos shook off the late withdrawal of superstar Reece Walsh to hold onto a dramatic one-point win against the Sea Eagles, whereas the Titans, probably still celebrating the big mid-week win with the news that David Fifita was sticking around and went down in a back-and-forth battle against the Knights.</p> <p>They will be boosted this week with Kieran Foran expected to be back from a hamstring injury.</p> <p>We know anything can happen in derbies, but surely the Broncos should be too good here, right?</p> <p>Once again, Broncos fans, and even Maroons fans are on Walsh watch to see if he suits up. But they should have too much power.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/brisbane-broncos-v-gold-coast-titans-8253226">Broncos</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Alofiana Khan-Pereira anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Warriors vs The Dolphins Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday 26th May, 4:05 PM AEST – Go Media Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>Who saw that coming from the Wahs?</p> <p>It wasn’t pretty at all, but I don’t think anyone thought that they were capable of doing that to the Panthers in the form that they were in.</p> <p>But the celebrations will be short-lived, as they run into the red-hot Dolphins this week who are going about their business superbly in just their second season in the comp.</p> <p>Wayde Egan will almost certainly make way for the Warriors after failing a HIA, but they should get Freddy Lussick back from concussion and slot straight back into his role as starting hooker.</p> <p>The Dolphins are firing on close to all cylinders on the field after running in another four tries against the Warriors. They will have to make room for Max Plath who is due back from concussion and will force a re-shuffle of the back row.</p> <p>With a win back next to their name and returning home, the Wahs might be the value tip here. Last week’s upset might just be what they needed to get rolling once again.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-dolphins-8253230">Warriors</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> total points Under 42.5</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Newcastle Knights – Bye</h2> <p>Pick a worse time for the Knights to have their bye.</p> <p>After a series of solid wins to climb into the top eight, the Knights now must sit and watch the chasing pack get closer and maybe even overtake them. They’ll be hoping the Doggies get the job done nice and early to keep the Dragons at arm’s length.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>