<p>Origin is over, the Panthers are purring, the Broncos are back and its bye bye to the major bye rounds.</p> <p>NRL round 20 is here and from now on we’ve got a full schedule until the end of the regular season.</p> <p>That means there’s plenty of huge clashes, stunning tries and with Sportsbet’s Try July still running, epic celebrations to look forward to.</p> <p>There’s no time like the present, as they say. So, let’s hook in to this week’s upcoming action and see if we can find some diamonds in the roughies with our NRL round 20 tips.</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this week’s action, check out our expert NRL round 20 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, July 17, 7:50pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Kicking off proceedings in NRL round 20 is this all-Queensland affair between the Dolphin and the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.</p> <p>Both enter this one coming off narrow defeats and will no doubt be desperate to bounce back in an effort to keep their finals hopes alive.</p> <p>Such is the mid-table log jam at the moment, only two wins currently separate the Dolphins, who are 10th, from the fifth-place Broncos.</p> <p>The Cowboys situation is a little more desperate, as they are currently three points and two places off the Phins. They did show plenty of fight in their last two losses, which were both by a single try and against the Storm and Bulldogs respectively.</p> <p>Still, narrow heart-breaking defeats like those can more than knock your confidence as they are the ultimate reminder of ‘so close, yet so far.’&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The Dolphins are at home here and are all set to welcome back the Hammer now that Origin is won and done. Phins up for us.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-9394491">The Dolphins.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score two or more tries.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, July 18, 6:00pm AEST – Shark Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>You wouldn’t have thought that Roosters halfback Sam Walker had missed nearly an entire year of footy, the way he played last week.</p> <p>The diminutive No.7 was everywhere (including the sin bin at one point) as his side saw off the Dragons in a high-scoring thriller.</p> <p>He’ll be up against Nicho Hynes this week, who has started to reclaim his best form after intense scrutiny this season.</p> <p>The former Dally M medallist scored two tries last week, including the opener and we fancy him to have another big one here.</p> <p>This is a massive match in the complexion of both sides' seasons. They currently occupy 8th and 9th on the ladder and are deadlocked on 22 competition points.</p> <p>That means this one will carry a four-point swing in terms of the race for the eight. We’re going to back Cronulla to win the battle here, but come the end of the season, will they have won the war? Watch this space.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/cronulla-sharks-v-sydney-roosters-9394504">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Nicho Hynes first try scorer.</p>

<h2>Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, July 18, 8:00pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The first of two mammoth mismatches in NRL round 20 takes place at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.</p> <p>The purring Panthers will be looking to pounce on struggling South Sydney and shoot for their sixth straight win.</p> <p>Speaking off sixth, that’s where the reigning back-to-back-to-back-to-back premiers currently sit and they’ve got all those above them firmly in their crosshairs.</p> <p>Six seems to be the number here, seeing as that’s also how many games Souths have lost in a row, to sit 16th in the standings.</p> <p>We’re tipping that to become seven and if the Titans win, for 16th to become 17th.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-9394514">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Big win, little win – Penrith 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Parramatta Eels Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, July 19, 3:00pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Wondering what the second major mismatch of NRL round 20 was? Well, wonder no more.</p> <p>The first-placed Canberra Raiders welcome the Parramatta Eels, who currently sit 15th, to GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon.</p> <p>Mismatch doesn’t even begin to cover it, Canberra have turned their home into a complete fortress this season, while the Eels are in complete disarray without their main man Mitchell Moses.</p> <p>No need for over-the-top analysis here, check the table, check the form guide and act accordingly. Canberra by plenty.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-parramatta-eels-9394518">Canberra Raiders.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Big win, little win – Canberra 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Dragons Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, July 19, 5:30pm AEST – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Bulldogs snapped their mini losing streak with a gusty win up north last week and now turn their attention to the Dragons as they look to sure up their position in the top four.</p> <p>St George on the other hand have been left in the lurch after getting cooked by the Chooks last start and need to bounce back ASAP if playing finals footy is something they want to achieve this season.</p> <p>Unfortunately for the Red V, this game really isn’t the rebound opportunity they were looking for. The Bulldogs, at home, with all their Origin stars back on board? It’s not exactly the Titans at Kogarah, is it?</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-9394519">Canterbury Bulldogs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, July 19. 7:35pm AEST – AAMI Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the fiercest rivals of the 2010s will be getting run back on Saturday night, when the Melbourne Storm welcome the Manly Sea Eagles to AAMI Park.</p> <p>While we are now quite far removed from the ‘Battle of Brookie” days, both teams still have plenty of fight left in them and should serve up a cracking encounter.</p> <p>Manly have been rejuvenated in recent weeks, with the gamble, turned masterstroke, of moving Tom Trbojevic from fullback to centre paying instant dividends.</p> <p>That change, coupled with the return to form of departing skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has catapulted the Sea Eagles back inside the top eight.</p> <p>We’re about to find out just how rejuvenated Manly really are, because the Storm in Melbourne are as tough as it comes.</p> <p>There are still question marks as to whether Cameron Munster will feature here or take more time to continue mourning his father. Storm coach Craig Bellamy has already announced that the club will give Munster as much time off as he needs.</p> <p>Still, even if Munster doesn’t feature, with him on his teammates' mind, and with the number of other superstars they have in their ranks, we anticipate Melbourne to be far too strong for the rapidly improving Sea Eagles.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> Melbourne Storm.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Tom Trbojevic anytime try scorer.</p>

<h2>Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, July 20, 2:00pm AEST – Leichhardt Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It always seems to be one step forward, three steps back for the Tigers these days. They couldn’t back up their epic 30-28 upset over the Roosters last week as they went down with minimal resistance to a severely undermanned Warriors outfit.</p> <p>It could be worse though. For the Titans it’s a matter of zero steps forward, three steps back.</p> <p>They’re dead last, haven’t had a win for month now, and Des is all but done. Not even the Tigers can fumble this one, right?</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/wests-tigers-v-gold-coast-titans-9394521">Wests Tigers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Adam Doueihi first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, July 20, 4:05pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final game of NRL round 20 sees the wounded Warriors travel to Hunter Valley to take on the Newcastle Knights.</p> <p>The Wahs proved they are greater than the sum of their parts last week, winning their first game without main man Luke Metcalf who won’t be back in 2025 after rupturing his ACL.</p> <p>For Newcastle, the sun has all but set on their season. Yes, they showed a decent amount of fight against Melbourne last week, courtesy of an early Dom Young double, but one more loss and we’ll most likely have to call time on any potential finals participation for Adam O’Brien’s men.</p> <p>Watches at the ready. We’re backing the Warriors to be the ones to deliver the coup de grace to Knights in 2025.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-new-zealand-warriors-9394525">New Zealand Warriors.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Dom Young first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After five stunning wins in a row, which have fully rebooted their season, the Brisbane Broncos get a well-deserved bye in NRL round 20.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>