<p>With both New South Wales and Queensland preparing for Origin II, NRL round 16 will be a short but sweet weekend of Rugby League.</p> <p>There are only five regular season fixtures to look forward to, with seven teams on a bye, as most of the competition’s best players are unavailable due to representative duties.</p> <p>That doesn’t mean they aren’t five fantastic games though. We’ve got a top four showdown between Melbourne and the Phins, as well as Anthnony Seibold squaring off against his old side the Rabbitohs, who are undergoing one hell of a revival.</p> <p>Can the Rabbits maintain the rage without their biggest star? Who wins out of Bellamy and Bennett, as the two master coaches try to out-fox each other on Friday night? And can the Tigers pick up rare back-to-back wins?</p> <p>For the answer to these questions and so much more, check out our NRL round 16 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Dolphins vs Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, June 21, 8:00pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>NRL round 16 kicks off with a meeting of the minds, as Wayne Bennett reignites his rivalry with former apprentice turned master coach Criag Bellamy.</p> <p>It’s always worth tuning in when these two master mentors square off, with the tactical battle worth the price of admission alone.</p> <p>Both sides will be undermanned thanks to State of Origin, but the Storm more so than the Dolphins.</p> <p>Neither are their sides first choice fullbacks, but with injury and Origin opening the door for them, look to add both livewire No. 1s Trai Fuller and Sualauvi Faalogo to your bet slips this week.</p> <p>The Storm also struggled to put away the Warriors last week who at one point had two players in the sin bin, so at home the Phins will fancy their chances here and frankly so do we.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-melbourne-storm-8323576">The Dolphins.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>SGM – Fuller and Faalogo anytime try scorers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 22, 3:00pm AEST – Robina Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Warriors were valiant in defeat last week as their run of three straight victories came to an end at the hands of the table topping Melbourne Storm.</p> <p>They pushed Melbourne all the way despite being down two men at one point. As for their opponents this week, the Titans, they lost to the Tigers to slide to the foot of the ladder - not good.&nbsp;</p> <p>With Rocking Roger rumoured to be back on deck this week for the Wahs, this should be plain sailing for the NZ boys, even away from home.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-new-zealand-warriors-8323577">New Zealand Warriors.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Roger Tuivasa-Sheck anytime try scorer.</p>

<h2>Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 22, 5:30pm AEST – Industree Group Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes, we don’t know how it happened either but the Bulldogs are sixth on the ladder. This week they tangle with the side sitting just above them, the Roosters.</p> <p>Like most games in round 16, Origin has drastically weakened both of these sides, but the inclusion of James Tedesco for the Roosters should be enough to get them across the line.</p> <p>It should be very, very close though, with a winning margin wager of Rooster 1-6 looking very appealing indeed.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/sydney-roosters-v-canterbury-bulldogs-8323578">Sydney Roosters.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Winning margin – Roosters 1-6.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 22, 7:35pm AEST – Stadium Australia</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Rabbitohs will look to continue their miraculous revival when they welcome the Sea Eagles to Stadium Australia on Saturday night.</p> <p>One time Bunnies’ boss Anthony Seibold returns to face his old side and we are sure, as always, he’ll be more than eager to get one over his former employers.</p> <p>That will be easier said than done however, with the Bunnies a completely different side to the one they were a month ago.</p> <p>They’ve won their last three on the spin, largely thanks to the exploits of mercurial superstar Latrell Mitchell.</p> <p>Such has been the form of the powerhouse fullback; he has earned a recall to the Blues’ Origin setup.</p> <p>NSW’s gain is the Bunnies loss however, with this being one exclusion they might not be able to overcome.</p> <p>Even if the Bunnies do go down as predicted, keep an eye on winger Alex Johnston who moved to outright second on the NRL’s <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/most-nrl-tries">all time leading try scorer list</a> last weekend with his 191st try in first grade.</p> <p>The record shattering Rabbitoh also became the player to score the most tries for a single club when he overtook current QLD coach Billy Slater’s total of 190.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-v-manly-sea-eagles-8323580">Manly Sea Eagles.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>&nbsp;Alex Johnston first try scorer.</p>

<h2>Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, June 23, 4:05pm AEST – Campbelltown Sports Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final game of NRL round 16 sees the Tigers go looking for rare back-to-back victories.</p> <p>They came from behind to pip the Titans by eight points at Leichhardt and now must entertain the Raiders.</p> <p>The now dead last Titans aren’t exactly world beaters and only seeing them off by eight points at home doesn’t exactly fill us with confidence. We’ll be backing the seventh placed Raiders here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/wests-tigers-v-canberra-raiders-8323589">Canberra Raiders.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, St George Illawarra Dragons, Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Cronulla Sharks – BYE.</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As both Queensland and New South Wales head into camp for State of Origin Game II, the second major bye week of the season takes place in NRL round 16.</p> <p>No less than seven different teams will have a week off to rest and relax while their Origin stars are away.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>