<p>As we move into the final month of the NRL regular season, both the Penrith Panthers and the Brisbane Broncos continue to trade blows at the top of the table.</p>
<p>Both sides currently sit on 34 points, but the Panthers superior points difference sees them out in first. However, the Broncos still have a bye in hand, while Penrith do not.</p>
<p>Who will win the race for the minor premiership? And what about the top 8? Recent results have seen the fight for finals places grow even closer, as both Parramatta and North Queensland’s respective revivals took untimely hits.</p>
<p>With everything still to play for, including the wooden spoon, there’s never been a better time to check out our expert NRL round 23 tips and predictions.</p>
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<h2>Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Thursday, August 3, 7:50pm AEST – SCG</strong></em></p>
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<p>Getting the party started this week are the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/sydney-roosters-v-manly-sea-eagles-7524434">Sydney Rooster and Manly Sea Eagles</a>, going toe-to-toe in the battle of the beaches.</p>
<p>Both sides have underwhelmed so far this season, despite having above average rosters at their disposal.</p>
<p>The Sea Eagles scraped home last week against the Dragons in skipper Daly Cherry-Evans 300th match. That win ensures they remain in the hunt for the top eight, but they’ll have to play a lot better if they want to beat teams higher up the ladder.</p>
<p>As for the Roosters, their disappointing season officially flatlined after their loss to the Broncos. Something has gone seriously wrong at the Tri-colours this year, as a squad with that much talent should not be languishing at 14th on the ladder.</p>
<p>When it rains it pours though and with so much more left to play for, we’re backing Manly to win this one.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Sea Eagles had a narrow two point win over the Roosters just a month ago. With finals still a distinct possibility for Anthony Seibold’s men, they should be the more motivated of the pair. The Chooks are hardly nocturnal having lost each of their last eight night matches. All in all, there are enough reasons to back Manly home.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Manly 1-12.</p>
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<h2>Gold Coast Titans v New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Friday, August 4, 6:00pm AEST – Robina Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Is there anything more frustrating in the NRL than supporting the Gold Coast Titans? One minute they’re losing unlosable games, the next they’re turning in top tier showings against the form team in the competition.</p>
<p>The Titans ended the Cowboys six-game winning streak last time out, can they do the same <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-new-zealand-warriors-7524451">to the high-flying Warriors this week?</a></p>
<p>The New Zealand side are looking for their fourth straight win and will be fully rested after having a bye last week.</p>
<p>Such is the Titans inconsistency; we simply can’t back them to take two massive scalps in a row and the Warriors are sitting in third for a reason.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Two of the NRL's top try scorers go head-to-head here in a battle royale - Dallin Watene-Zelezniak vs Alofiana Khan-Periera.</p>
<p>Shaun Johnson's pet play on the right hand side is proving very fruitful for Warriors’ flyer Watene-Zelezniak, meanwhile, when David Fifita runs the ball on the left side for the Titans, he's such a handful he needs more than one opposition player to take him down. This has been leaving open pastures for one of the games quickest to score - Khan Periera.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Look at a Same Game Multi or the Try Markets for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and/or Alofiana Khan-Periera.</p>
<h2>Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Friday, August 4, 8:00pm AEST – Penrith Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Headlining Friday night’s action is a top four blockbuster between the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-melbourne-storm-7524460">Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm</a>.</p>
<p>Both sides recorded big wins last week. Penrith shut out the Sharks to win 28-0, while the Storm shredded the Eels 46-16.</p>
<p>Both side’s star-studded spines are beginning to flex their muscle at the business end of the season. Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes were outstanding in Melbourne’s rout of Parramatta, while Nathan Cleary showed his injury woes are well and truly in the rearview mirror with a commanding display against Cronulla.</p>
<p>In a way, this could be the game that decides the minor premiership, with this undoubtedly the toughest match Penrith will face before the end of the season.</p>
<p>At home and on the back of last week's near perfect showing, it’s impossible not to pick the purring Panthers.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Penrith defence is the best we have seen since Bozo's Manly side in the mid 90s. In fact probably better than that. This year, in their eight home games, they have let in just five first half tries!</p>
<p>The last two weeks we have tipped the Panthers/Panthers/Panthers Tryfecta (first three tries of the match to be scored by Penrith). </p>
<p>This Tryfecta has won the last two times on the spin and saluted in five of their eight home games overall this year.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Panthers Tryfecta. </p>
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<h2>North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Saturday, August 5, 3:00pm AEST – Queensland Country Bank Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Saturday starts with a mouth-watering Queensland derby between the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/nth-queensland-cowboys-v-brisbane-broncos-7524462">North Queensland Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos</a>.</p>
<p>Both are two of the form sides of the competition and it’s hard to remember the last time this matchup didn’t produce an absolute thriller.</p>
<p>If the Cowboys hadn’t lost to the Titans last week, both sides would have entered this one on mammoth winning streaks.</p>
<p>Regardless, this should still be one for the ages. Back at home, you’d expect the Cowboys to click back into gear, with a view to get star fullback Scott Drinkwater more involved than he was last week.</p>
<p>For Brisbane, their dream season keeps getting better every week. If being equal first and winning games wasn’t enough, there are additional highlights like Pat Carrigan scoring his first ever try now getting added to the mix. Unfortunately he didn’t have a <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/best-try-july-celebrations-2023">Try July celebration</a> ready to. Maybe next year Patty. </p>
<p>It’s simply the Broncos’ year and while the Cowboys recent revival has been nothing short of miraculous, the cracks have finally started to show.</p>
<p>However, with their lives on the line, we're backing the Cowboys to get home in a match for the ages. Don’t be surprised if golden point is needed to settle this one.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Where are the Cowboys really at? Well, we are about to find out. Forget last week, we had a feeling they might be due for a clanger.</p>
<p>Before their little mishap last weekend, the six weeks prior read - wins over Penrith, South Sydney, Melbourne, Parramatta & Sea Eagles and 74 to blot over my beloved Tigers. </p>
<p>At home against their arch rivals, if they truly are contenders, then they have more to play for here than the traveling Broncos and must win.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Cowboys 1-12.</p>
<h2>The Dolphins v Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Saturday, August 5, 5:30pm AEST – Optus Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Saturday sees the NRL take a double header to Optus Stadium in Perth. The first of the two games is between the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-newcastle-knights-7524470">Dolphins and the Newcastle Knights</a>.</p>
<p>After a bright start, the shine has well and truly worn off the Dolphins inaugural campaign, as the stark reality of the limitations of their razor thin squad sets in.</p>
<p>This was evident in their one-point loss to the usually dismal Dogs last week. Once again, the effort was there, but the result was not.</p>
<p>We’re not giving them much hope against a Newcastle side who are simply cooking at the moment.</p>
<p>Led by superstar Kalyn Ponga, who is in arguably career best form, the Knights have transformed from also rans to genuine finals contenders.</p>
<p>They have won their four on the trot to be on the precipice of the eight and we’re all but certain they’ll make it five this weekend.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>All the games played so far at Optus Stadium have had comfortable margins for the winning side. </p>
<p>In recent times the Dolphins defence has been very friendly for opposing right wingers. Jenkins got two for Penrith, Sami got one for the Titans, while Cobbo got a hatrick, Saab a double and even Sean Russell slid over for the Eels. This week they meet the competition’s leading try scorer Dom Young (20). Good Luck!</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s Tips: </strong>Same Game Multi - Knights 13+ & Dom Young 1st, 2nd or 3rd Try.</p>
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<h2>South Sydney Rabbitohs v Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Saturday, August 5, 7:35pm AEST – Optus Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>The second game at Optus Stadium this weekend sees the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-v-cronulla-sharks-7524473">South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks</a> go head-to-head.</p>
<p>Second year syndrome has well and truly set in for Craig Fitzgibbon and his side who are slowly sliding out of the eight.</p>
<p>They were shut out by the Panthers last week, but couldn’t keep their opposition out, despite the best effort of Cameron McInnes who broke the NRL record for most tackles in a single game.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs were far from convincing in their win over the Tigers, but they did flex their attacking muscle.</p>
<p>The biggest positive for the Red and Green was that Latrell Micthell made it through his return from injury unscathed.</p>
<p>He showed glimpses of his class, and that lethal left edge was back in full flight, with him and Cody Walker serving up a hattrick for flyer Alex Johnston.</p>
<p>Mitchell will only get better as the weeks go by and a rapidly imploding Cronulla side should prove to be the ideal test subjects for the latest step in his return to peak performance.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>As previously discussed, Optus Stadium has been ground zero for try scoring fiestas so far in the NRL, averaging over 50 points per match. </p>
<p>Both the Sharkies and the Bunnies are great gunslingers. This has an old fashion shootout written all over it. </p>
<p>Nicho Hynes is class and despite people selling shares in him, I'm still a subscriber.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s Tips: </strong>Same Game Multi - Nicho Hynes Anytime Tryscorer/Total Match Points Over.</p>
<h2>Parramatta Eels v St George Illawarra Dragons Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Sunday, August 6, 2:00pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>After a spirited mid-season revival that saw them explode back into finals contention, injuries and suspensions have taken their toll on the Eels and they’ve crashed back out of the eight. Now, this <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-7524476">match against the Dragons</a> is a must win if they want to keep their dreams of September alive. </p>
<p>They were no match for Melbourne in Melbourne, with the Storm handing them a 30-point reality check.</p>
<p>As for the Dragons, they’re done. They have been for weeks now. Their loss to Manly was just another in a long line of recent defeats.</p>
<p>For Parramatta they’re all must wins from here on out and with star half Dylan Brown finally back onboard they should be able to see off the Dragons with ease. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Let's get straight to the point here, statistically the Dragons have the worst left side defence in the competition. </p>
<p>Take your pick in the tryscorer markets but for me it's hard not to see Sean Russell snare at least one. But as my late Grandfather in-law would say, take my advice and please yourself.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tips: </strong>Sean Russell anytime tryscorer.</p>
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<h2>Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Sunday, August 6, 4:05pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Rounding out this week’s action is the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-wests-tigers-7524487">Canberra Raiders and everyone’s favourite opponents - the Wests Tigers.</a></p>
<p>Both sides lost last week, with Canberra’s defeat definitely the more surprising of the two.</p>
<p>They were rolled by the Knights in a one-sided affair few saw coming. Luckily for the Green Machine they get to face everyone’s favourite rebound team this week.</p>
<p>We can’t remember the last time we tipped the Tigers and uncoincidentally can’t remember the last time we were wrong.</p>
<p>In saying that, this feels like the week to pivot. The Tigers didn't disgrace themselves last week against the Bunnies and Canberra were rocked badly by the Kinghts. Is an upset brewing in the nation's capital? Watch this space. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Raiders find themselves in a precarious position now and this one is a potential banana peel. </p>
<p>Picture the scenario, an uptight Raiders at home against former Green Machine coach Tim Sheens and 17 men who have nothing to lose. </p>
<p>Benji Marshall had a brilliant playing record in Canberra. Can he transfer that to the coaches box? The Raiders only snuck by the Tigers earlier in the year & with further forensics there were three flukey kick tries for the Milk. The Tigers boys will think they can win this. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Tigers H2H or 1-12.</p>
<h2>Canterbury Bulldogs – BYE</h2>
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<p>The Doggies get a week off after picking up a rare win last week. </p>
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