<p>Are the Cowboys cooked, the Broncos back and the Panthers preparing to pounce? Heading into NRL round 17 it certainly seems that way.</p> <p>Origin is over for the next few weeks at least, so we’re back to our usual programming, which means there’s plenty of footy to feast on.</p> <p>There’s a blockbuster clash between reigning champs Penrith and premiership hopefuls Canterbury, Brisbane will go hunting three on the trot, and a Rabbitohs winger will be hoping to take a step closer to overtaking NRL try-scoring royalty. Ken he do it?</p> <p>NRL Round 17 will also mark the ninth year of Sportsbet supporting the NRL and the Mark Hughes Foundation for the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/beanie-for-brain-cancer-round-2025">Beanie for Brain Cancer Round.</a></p> <p>For every try scored in NRL round 17, Sportsbet will donate $1,000 to The Mark Hughes Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to funding brain cancer research and raising awareness across Australia.</p> <p>Let’s take a look at which players have the best chance of finding the tryline this week, as well as which teams are primed to pick up some precious points as the race for the eight, premiership and dreaded wooden spoon really start to heat up.</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this week’s action, check out our expert NRL round 17 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, June 26, 7:50pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>NRL round 17 opens with what is sure to be the match of the round. The once again purring Panthers welcome the table-topping Bulldogs to CommBank Stadium.</p> <p>This will be a real battle of ‘master vs apprentice’ with Penrith the epitome of consistent success every club in the land aspires to be and Canterbury this season’s champions-elect, if the league table is to be believed.</p> <p>It will also once again pit Ivan Cleary against his former assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo in a genuine ‘master vs apprentice’ matchup.</p> <p>In terms of the result for this one, believe it or not, we’re taking Penrith, despite them sitting some seven spots below the Bulldogs.</p> <p>The saw off the high-flying Warriors without their Origin stars last week, in New Zealand no less, with Nathan Cleary and co expected back on deck, the Doggies best watch out here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-canterbury-bulldogs-9328026">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Thomas Jenkins first try scorer.</p>

<h2>Manly Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, June 27, 6:00pm AEST – Brookvale Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last week’s bye couldn’t have come at a better time for the Sea Eagles. They were coming off two losses to arguably the two worst sides in the competition – Newcastle and the Gold Coast.</p> <p>The Tigers, unsurprisingly, aren’t exactly crash hot either, but they were very competitive last week in their narrow loss to second-placed Canberra.</p> <p>If they can pick up where they left off in the second half of that match, there’s no reason they can’t upset a Manly side who seem hellbent on entering freefall mode.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-v-wests-tigers-9328027">Wests Tigers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Big win little win – Tigers 1 to 12.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, June 27, 8:00pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The feel-good moments just keep coming for Canberra this season. After Josh Papali’i’s two-try heroics in his milestone match, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart got to watch his son Jed score a try on debut against the Tigers last week.</p> <p>Not only that, but he also got to see his side pick up yet another win, which now has them up to second in the standings.</p> <p>Against the Knights in NRL round 17, we reckon he’ll get to watch both happen again.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-canberra-raiders-9328029">Canberra Raiders.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jed Stuart first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 28, 3:00pm, AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Are the Broncos back? After their daring come from behind win against the Sharks it certainly seems that way.</p> <p>Finding themselves down 28-12 after 53 minutes, on their own patch, it looked like more doom and gloom for Michael Maguire’s men in 2025.</p> <p>However, they promptly clicked into gear and off the back of some big plays from big names like Reece Walsh, both Gehamat Shibasaki and Josiah Karapani crossed for doubles to sew up a memorable 34-28 victory.</p> <p>They’ll be back at Lang Park again this week, with the wounded Warriors in tow. Not only did they Wahs lose at home to an undermanned Penrith side last start, but they lost Marata Niukore, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and most crucially, halfback Luke Metcalf to injury.</p> <p>Between these omissions and the travel, we think it will all be too much for the Warriors to overcome. We like the look of a third straight Brisbane win here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/brisbane-broncos-v-new-zealand-warriors-9328031">Brisbane Broncos.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Gehamat Shibasaki and Josiah Karapani anytime try scorers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 28, 5:30pm, AEST – WIN Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After a week off, the St George Dragons will return to action looking to avoid three straight defeats, as they welcome the Parramatta Eels to WIN Stadium on Saturday night.</p> <p>Before their bye the Dragons were pummelled by the Dolphins 56-6, then went down by two converted tries to Cronulla.</p> <p>Even though they’re at home here, we don’t overly fancy their chances against a Parramatta outfit who seem determined to avoid the wooden spoon, regardless how many key injuries they get.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-parramatta-eels-9328032">Parramatta Eels.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Will Penisini first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Dolphins vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 28, 7:50pm, AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And the award for the unluckiest team to feature last week goes to – the South Sydney Rabbitohs!</p> <p>After launching a comeback of herculean proportions against their bogey team the Storm, the Bunnies still couldn’t seal the win.</p> <p>Alex Johnston had the commentators in disbelief as he ran in four tries to not only put the Bunnies on the brink of victory, but himself on the brink of breaking the all-time NRL try scoring record.</p> <p>A shanked Latrell Mitchell conversion was the only thing that prevented them from claiming a memorable victory, although it’s hard to put any blame on the mercurial fullback as they were only still in the game thanks to his heroics.</p> <p>After a performance like that, even though it resulted in a loss, makes it very hard to tip against the Rabbits, Mitchell and Johnston. Particularly after the Dolphins lost to Newcastle of all people last week.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-9328033">South Sydney Rabbitohs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Alex Johnston to score two or more tries.</p>

<h2>Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, June 29, 2:00pm AEST – AAMI Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Two teams who had to endure late comebacks last week, will tangle when the Storm welcome the Sharks to AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>Melbourne handled their opponent’s revival last week a lot better than the Sharks did, managing to still see off the Bunnies in golden point, despite giving up what seemed like an unassailable lead in regular time.</p> <p>Cronulla on the other hand folded like hot laundry when the Broncos came for them late, ultimately crashing to defeat.</p> <p>We are expecting more of the same from the Sharks here in what often proves to be the toughest road trip in Rugby League. Storm by a couple for us.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-cronulla-sharks-9328036">Melbourne Storm.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Grant Anderson first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, June 29, 4:05pm AEST – Robina Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Not the way anyone wants to end NRL round 17. What is usually known as a Queensland Derby, will instead resemble more of a desperation derby instead.</p> <p>Both the Titans and Cowboys’ respective gooses appear cooked in 2025, with the North Queenslander’s recent form particularly concerning.</p> <p>Not only have they lost their last three in a row, but the scorecards have read: 38-14, 58-4 and 42-8. Yikes.</p> <p>The Titans aren’t much better, but home ground advantage has to count for something right?</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-9328038">Gold Coast Titans.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Roosters – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>There are few teams more deserving of a week off than the Roosters. Not only has their form of late been irresistible, but they seem to be obsessed with scoring ‘try of the season’ contenders. Put those feet up lads.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>