<p>NRL round 12 will run at a reduced capacity thanks to the first major bye round of season 2025.</p> <p>A major bye round of course means only one thing; State of Origin is just around the corner.</p> <p>Both New South Wales and Queensland have both named their sides for Game 1, with plenty of shocks, snubs and gambles as always.</p> <p>As always, Origin means that the teams who will be playing this week will most likely be missing a superstar or two.</p> <p>So just when you thought tipping in this chaotic season was hard enough, there will now be an influx of unproven players, combinations, and tactics that need to be navigated in NRL Round 12.</p> <p>Compasses at the ready! Let’s see if we can find some buried treasure with our NRL round 12 tips and predictions.</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this week’s action, check out our expert NRL Round 12 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs The Dolphins Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, May 22, 7:50pm AEST – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>NRL round 12 opens with this confrontation between the Bulldogs and the Dolphins at Accor Stadium.</p> <p>In terms of Origin representation, both sides will be missing key personnel. The Dolphins will be without fullback and main man Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who has been selected at centre yet again for the Maroons.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will have to make do without captain Stephen Crichton and workhorse prop Max King, who have made their way into Laurie Daley’s NSW plans. The latter, earning a debut call-up to Origin after a couple of stellar seasons for the Dogs.</p> <p>In terms of the result for this one, the Dolphins have taken a bit of a dive in recent times, with just one win from their last four. The Dogs on the other hand still sit clear on top of the table and we’re tipping them to maintain that gap with win number 10 of the season here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-dolphins-9224351">Canterbury Bulldogs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Connor Tracey anytime try scorer.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, May 23, 8:00pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Eels will go looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they welcome old foes Manly to CommBank Stadium in NRL round 12.</p> <p>They’ll have to do it without star half Mitchell Moses who has earned a recall for NSW at the expense of Jarome Luai, after leading the Blues to a famous series win last year.</p> <p>We had plenty of opportunities to see how the Eels fare without main man Moses, while he was out injured over the opening six rounds.</p> <p>They won just once during that time, and we have little hope for them against a Sea Eagles side who for the first time in what seems like forever will still have the services of Tom Trbojevic during this period.</p> <p>That’s right, there was no room for Turbo or his brother Jake in Daley’s NSW side, so keep an eye on the superstar No.1 as he’ll no doubt be out to prove a point on Friday night.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-manly-sea-eagles-9224362">Manly Sea Eagles.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Tom Trbojevic anytime try scorer.</p>

<h2>Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 24, 5:30pm AEST – Carrington Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Form is temporary, class is permanent. That’s no doubt the credo NSW coach Laurie Daley had between the ears when selecting his Blues side for Game 1, as it’s got more Panthers than your average jungle.</p> <p>Penrith will be without five of their best here, despite currently sitting in 13th. When you’ve won the comp the last four years in a row, we suppose it’s fine to be given a little leeway.</p> <p>In terms of the result of this one, there’s definitely room to tip a Knights ambush here, with some much top talent away for the Panthers.</p> <p>Still, Newcastle have been so poor at full strength, we just can’t bring ourselves to back them, particularly without their only saving grace – Kalyn Ponga.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-newcastle-knights-9224364">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 24, 7:35pm AEST – Industree Group Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After seeing off the Storm last week and with no one away on Origin duty, the Sharks are the side best poised to cash in on the upcoming Origin period.</p> <p>Sitting just outside the top four and with Nicho Hynes, Will Kennedy, Jesse Ramien, and Cameron McInnes all being overlooked for state duty, Cronulla will be at full strength, while their NRL round 12 opponents the Roosters will not.</p> <p>While Tri-colours captain James Tedesco managed to fade selection despite an exemplary campaign so far in 2025, Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Spencer Leniu, Lindsay Collins, and remarkably Robert Toia did not.</p> <p>Yes, in stunning scenes, QLD coach Billy Slater has opted to select 20-year-old Toia at centre, despite only having 10 first-grade games under his belt.</p> <p>While it remains to be seen whether or not this is the right call, we think the right call here is to back the full-strength Sharks over the undermanned Roosters.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/sydney-roosters-v-cronulla-sharks-9224461">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Will Kennedy first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 25, 4:05pm AEST – Go Media Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Talk about saving the best for last. The final game of NRL round 12 sees the high-flying Warriors square off against the equally electric Raiders.</p> <p>With minimal Origin representation from either side despite their lofty ladder positions (only Mitch Barnett and Hudson Young were called up), this is shaping up to be a full-strength barnburner between two of the form sides in the competition.</p> <p>We’re actually taking the Wahs here, for two very specific reasons: home ground advantage and Luke Metcalf.</p> <p>The young Warriors half has caught fire in a way few could have seen coming this season and currently sits first in the Dally M count.</p> <p>He’s simply doing everything at the moment, whether it be kicking goals, scoring tries, or setting them up in stunning fashion, as he did against the Dolphins last week.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-canberra-raiders-9224462">New Zealand Warriors.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Luke Metcalf anytime try scorer.</p>

<h2>Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Melbourne Storm, Gold Coast Titans, Wests Tigers – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>No less than seven teams have the week off in NRL round 12. This is due to round 12 being the first major bye round of the season, as most of the game’s stars will be in camp preparing for State of Origin Game 1 next week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>