<p>What was that? All hell broke loose last week in the NRL, and boy did it make for some cinematic viewing.</p> <p>Upsets, blowouts, miracle comebacks and some truly jaw dropping hero plays – Nathan Cleary we’re looking at you.</p> <p>NRL round 23 certainly has a lot to live up to, but with so much on the line for so many, we’re confident it can live up to the hype.</p> <p>Results this week will have massive ramifications on every facet of the ladder, from the minor premiership to the wooden spoon.</p> <p>It sounds like we’re in need of some expert NRL tips and predictions to try and figure out what’s about to go down.</p> <p>Luckily, we have just the thing. For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this week’s action, check out our expert NRL round 23 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, August 7, 7:50pm AEST – AAMI Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>What a way to open NRL round 23. Old foes Melbourne and Brisbane kick off proceedings this week, when they meet at AAMI Park on Thursday night.</p> <p>It was rabbit season at Suncorp last Friday night, as the Broncos bounced back from their shock loss to the Eels with a 60-point slaughter of struggling South Sydney.</p> <p>Speaking of the Eels, that’s who the Storm saw off, just. Jahrome Hughes absence was plain for all to see as they only just crept past the lowly Eels thanks to a late Xavier Coates try.</p> <p>We’re very, very tempted to take the Broncos here, based on momentum and injuries, but their record at AAMI Park makes them nearly untippable.</p> <p>They’ve only won on three out of 15 attempts at this venue and while eventually that does have to become four, we’re not taking that chance this time around. Melbourne by a nose.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-brisbane-broncos-9463837">Melbourne Storm.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Over total match points.</p>

<h2>Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 8, 6:00pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After taking part in the most entertaining game of the season, the Penrith Panthers will travel to the Hunter Valley as they look to keep their remarkable win streak alive.</p> <p>After a golden point epic up on the Gold Coast that included a two-point field goal from Nathan Cleary to level proceedings at 26-26 with a minute to play, the Panthers now sit just one point outside of the top four.</p> <p>If they win here and the Warriors lose later in the week, they will have gone from dead last to fourth on the back of a nine-game winning streak, in scenes rarely seen before.</p> <p>We’re backing them to keep up their end of the bargain against a rested, but ultimately lacklustre Newcastle outfit.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-penrith-panthers-9463838">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Blaze Talagi anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 8, 8:00pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All good things must come to an end as they say. That was certainly the case for the Canberra Raiders last start, who couldn’t make it 10 in a row, as their remarkable winning run was ended by the Dragons of all people.</p> <p>This allowed Melbourne to close the gap at the top with their win over Parra, meaning the race for the minor premiership is well and truly on as we head into round 23.</p> <p>Back at home this week and facing a Manly side who were particularly ineffective in attack in their loss to the Roosters, we fancy the Green Machine to return to winning ways and protect their lead at the top of the pops.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-manly-sea-eagles-9463840">Canberra Raiders.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Matthew Timoko first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, August 9, 3:00pm AEST – Jubilee Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Sharks have really started circling in recent weeks and are quickly becoming one of the form teams of the competition.</p> <p>It hasn’t been all that pretty, but they’ve managed to grind out four wins in a row to launch themselves into the eight.</p> <p>They’ll be looking to sure up their position in the finals places when they head to Jubilee Stadium to face a Dragons side coming off a big result.</p> <p>The Red V ended the first-placed Raiders winning streak one game short of a perfect 10 and now they’ll want to deny Cronulla hitting the five-for.</p> <p>This one has grind written all over it, but we’re swimming with the Sharks here, they’ve just shown in recent weeks they are ready to roll their sleeves up and get their fins dirty when required.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-cronulla-sharks-9463842">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Dolphins vs Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 9, 5:30pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This has to be the hardest game of NRL round 23 to pick. It also might be the most important in terms of the premiership ladder.</p> <p>Both the Dolphins and the Roosters are fighting for eighth at the moment, with the Phins two points ahead of the Tri-colours.</p> <p>This effectively makes this a must-win for the Chooks, because a four-point swing in the race for the eight would be detrimental to their final’s aspirations.</p> <p>After their impressive away win over Manly last week coupled with Herbie Farnworth’s awful season ending injury for The Dolphins, we’re going to back the Roosters to close the gap between them and the Phins to points difference alone on Saturday.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-sydney-roosters-9463843">Sydney Roosters.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Billy Smith anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, August 9, 7:35pm AEST – Accor Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It appears as though the Warriors mounting injury crisis has finally caught up with them. They’ve lost their last two and are now in real danger of dropping out of the top four.</p> <p>With Penrith on the prowl, a loss here to the Dogs will most likely see them fall to fifth, so they’ll be desperate to return to the winner’s circle when they head to Sydney on Saturday.</p> <p>They’re not the only ones. The Bulldogs will no doubt be desperate to bounce back from their shock loss to the Tigers of all people.</p> <p>While the loss to the Tigers is inexplicable, it comes across more as a blip after a rich run of results for Canterbury. Whereas it really looks like the Wahs are losing faith and fast.</p> <p>When you’ve lost your main man, starting halfback and at the time of Luke Metcalf’s injury, one of the most in form players in the entire NRL, a dip in form can more than be excused. That doesn’t mean it will stop though.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-new-zealand-warriors-9463847">Canterbury Bulldogs.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Leka Halasima anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 10, 2:00pm AEST – Cbus Super Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Spoon Bowl. Whoever loses this one between the Titans and the Rabbitohs will more than likely be taking home the wooden spoon come season’s end.</p> <p>Both teams recorded their 14th loss of the season last week, albeit in very different circumstances.</p> <p>The Titans were minutes away from pulling off an all-time comeback against Penrith, until Nathan Cleary had other ideas.</p> <p>The Rabbitohs loss was for more befitting of a team at the bottom of the table. They were torn limb from limb by the Broncos in a 60-14 slamming.</p> <p>In what has to be a league first, the Rabbitohs took to their field without an available 18th man due to some last-minute scratchings. They simply did not have 18 fit players available.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Souths are in a state, the likes of which they haven’t experienced for nearly two decades.</p> <p>Dead last, -197 points difference and what feels like more players sidelined than available, where do Bennett and his Bunnies go from here?</p> <p>The only place they have left to go – the kitchen drawer to collect their wooden spoon.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-9463848">Gold Coast Titans.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jojo Fifita first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 10, 4:05pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final game of NRL round 23 sees the Parramatta Eels welcome the North Queensland Cowboys to CommBank Stadium on Sunday arvo.</p> <p>Two teams with nothing but pride to play for, this one is a good old fashioned dead rubber.</p> <p>To be honest, the Eels have impressed us more than the Cows in recent times, thanks to the return of Mitchell Moses. After upsetting the Broncos, they nearly did the same to the Storm last week.</p> <p>We like them here against a North Queensland side coming off a 32-12 defeat to the Sharks.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-9463849">Parramatta Eels.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Wests Tigers – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After a memorable upset win over the Bulldogs, the Wests Tigers get a well-deserved week off in NRL round 23.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>