<p>Welcome back to Sportsbet’s NRL tips and predictions for Round 11.</p> <p>It’s also that time for the best week on the NRL calendar, It’s Magic Round!</p> <p>Yes, it’s the week where the NRL community descends on Brisbane and Peter V’Landys and his teams put on a show of all the shining, shimmering, and splendid things that Rugby League has to offer.</p> <p>And what a round of ladder-shaping matches there are to choose from too as injuries are hitting hard and squads are getting tested.</p> <p>For the latest round 11 analysis, news, odds, and betting tips, check out our NRL round 11 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury Bulldogs Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, May 17, 6:00 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>Following the Women’s State of Origin opener to get the Magic Round party started, the green machine and the Bulldogs will kick off the carnival for the men in the first of a Friday doubleheader.</p> <p>The Raiders held their place in the top eight last week on the bye with results falling their way while the Bulldogs failed to overcome the Panthers machine – despite their opponent’s injury carnage.</p> <p>Despite going down to the competition’s measuring stick, the Dogs would be buoyed by their performance. With their system standing up and star players starting to get rolling, they’d be eyeing off a big win here and a spot in the top eight.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-canterbury-bulldogs-8230012">Bulldogs</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Josh Addo-Carr anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, May 17, 8:00 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>After the undercard, comes the opening night main event with two of the competition's biggest teams duking it out under Friday night lights.</p> <p>Despite the loss of their skipper Adam Reynolds, The Broncos did the business last week away against the Eels and will now, thanks to the quirk of Magic Round, be the designated away team on their home deck against a NSW-based team. (seriously, whatever happened to logic?)</p> <p>Logic aside, it’s a fixture at a perfect time for the Bronx as they look to be hitting their straps with the trio of Ezra Man, Deine Mariner, and Reece Walsh all finding their best form and contributing to big performances.</p> <p>The Sea Eagles will again be forced to tackle the road trip up north without one of their biggest stars Tom Trbojevic re-injuring his troublesome hamstring among a swathe of injuries and reports to come from their loss to the Dolphins.</p> <p>The Sea Eagles have now conceded 136 points in their last four matches at Suncorp Stadium, and we can see a few more being added to that tally this week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head–to–head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-v-brisbane-broncos-8230024">Broncos</a>.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Selwyn Cobbo anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 18, 3:00 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>The winning feeling feels great doesn’t it Titans fans?</p> <p>It feels even better when you hold on to win by the skin of your teeth too after losing several key players throughout the day.</p> <p>It means though that the Titans will take the trip up the motorway to tackle the Knights without a quartet of important starts with Kieran Foran, AJ Brimson, Harley Smith – Shields and Phillip Sami all set to miss the clash through respective hamstring, groin, and pec injuries.</p> <p>The Knights continued to show that there is indeed a way forward without injured skipper Kayln Ponga, extending their winning streak to three games in a row, this time against the struggling Tigers. They were inspired by multiple Bradman Best efforts to terrorize and break through the Tigers' defensive line to open the scoring floodgates and secure the win.</p> <p>The emotional high for the Titans and into a six–day break might be too much to overcome, especially with the mounting injury toll to important players. Expect the Knights to keep marching on.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-newcastle-knights-8230045">Knights</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>David Fifita first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 18, 5:30 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>This one looks like an absolute belter.</p> <p>After vanquishing the Storm at AAMI Park last week, the Sharkies are on top of the world and a game clear on top of the ladder.</p> <p>They’ve now won five games in a row and are setting themselves up beautifully to make a deep run right to the end of September.</p> <p>But first, they meet the Roosters who cruised to victory over the Warriors last week and are hitting their stride with three wins on the trot as they eye off a spot in the top four.</p> <p>While it didn’t bother them much with his absence last week, the Sharks will be hoping that star hooker Nicho Hynes’ calf injury is minor and will be available to take his place in a crunch game before the Origin absences take control of the competition.</p> <p>Expect this one to be high-scoring and free-flowing – the best form of footy with a little bit in it for everyone.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/cronulla-sharks-v-sydney-roosters-8230050">Sharks</a>.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Total match points 50+</p>

<h2>South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 18, 7:45 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>The wait for the pressure-relieving win goes on for the Rabbitohs after they failed to convert a promising start against the Dragons into a coveted W.</p> <p>Things however didn’t fare much better for the Cowboys who despite coming home with a wet sail, went down to the Titans last week and are now desperate to save face.</p> <p>Maybe this is a slice of fixturing genius from the NRL – two sides desperate for a win, in prime time where the consequences for the loser are once again far greater than the side that salutes?</p> <p>The Bunnies made some unwanted history last week, becoming the first team in NRL history to concede 28 points or more in eight of their opening nine games in a season.</p> <p>They will be hoping Alex Johnston will be cleared to play and help stiffen up their already depleted backline and stem the flow.</p> <p>The Cowboys know they probably are the better team here, but they also know they must be tidier with the ball in hand and stop gifting away points through handling errors and sloppy tackling.</p> <p>We probably believe in the Cowboys a little bit more despite the individual scoring power of Latrell Mitchell for the Bunnies.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head–to–head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-8230060">Cowboys</a>.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jerimiah Nanai anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NZ Warriors vs Penrith Panthers Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 19, 1:50 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>Start your Sunday footy off with a ……. Bloodbath?</p> <p>Look, I suppose you have to slot this matchup in somewhere, and after last year's fairytale run from the Wah’s, this actually looked like a pretty enticing matchup. But now, oh boy…. This could get ugly.</p> <p>The Warriors season has gone from bad to worse while the Panthers season has kept on rolling despite their injury woes.</p> <p>There’s a glimmer of hope though Warriors fans, you’re playing against a Nathan Cleary-less Panthers. Is that enough to fill you with belief?</p> <p>We’re expecting another business trip-like performance here from the reigning premiers. Put your feet up Panthers fans.</p> <p>&nbsp;</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-8230147">Panthers</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Brian To’o 2+ tries.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 19, 4:05 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>The weeks roll on and the tests don’t get easier for the Eels.</p> <p>Already down on star power, they now run into the Melbourne Storm who are looking to bounce back quickly after going down to the Sharks at home.</p> <p>They will have extra fire following the Harry Grant sin-bin saga last week too.</p> <p>The Storm will welcome back some much-needed X- -Factor with Xavier Coates in line to return to the starting lineup following a hamstring injury but look set to be without Jahrome Hughes for another week.</p> <p>The Eels too will be hoping to welcome back Mitchell Moses but will need to find something extraordinary to snap the now 10-game losing streak without star fullback Clint Gutherson.</p> <p>The Storm boys will be hungry to avenge last week's slip-up at home at a ground they like playing at and adding to the total of 96 points that the Eels have conceded in the past three weeks.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-parramatta-eels-8230157">Storm</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Balize Talagi anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>West Tigers vs The Dolphins’ Predictions</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 19, 6:25 pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>Rounding out the Magic Round carnival is the struggling Tigers taking on the Dolphins.</p> <p>The competition's newest team continues to take scalps and set themselves up to make a run at an early finals appearance.</p> <p>They took full advantage of an injury-hit Manly side to come away with a win and will be highly fancied here against Benji’s struggling Tigers.</p> <p>Rising star Isaiya Katoa continued his try-scoring ways, bobbing up to snatch back the lead for the home side, and will be a sure thing to get back on the scoresheet again against the leaky Tigers.</p> <p>The Tigers though will be encouraged by their strong defensive performance in their opening half against the Knights but this shapes as a very different proposition against the high-flying Dolphins.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It will be a task made harder with some of their stars looking set to miss after being placed on report and needing to overcome judiciary hearings to take their place in Magic Round.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head–to–head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/wests-tigers-v-dolphins-8230161">Dolphins</a>.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Dolphins win 13 +</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra– Bye</h2> <p>The Dragons have drawn the short straw this year and will be the club to sit out of Magic Round. But they will be doing so with an air of relief about it after recording a strong win against the Rabbitohs and evening the ledger on the season. With some tricky matches scheduled for the teams above them, results could see them move up the ladder. With a decent gap on the pack below them, their lack of playing shouldn’t see them tumble down too far.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>