The arrival of NRL Round 24 means there’s officially only one month of regular season footy remaining. 

Then, 17 will become eight and finals footy will begin. That means we are nearing last call for the unclaimed top eight spots.

It’s do or die time for a number of teams and a loss in Round 24 for teams like Manly and Canberra will all but spell the end of any potential September participation.

Away from the mid-table mire, the top two will duke it out this week in a contest that will go a long way to deciding this year’s minor premiership. 

When the dust settles on Round 24’s opening game, who will be left standing at the top of the NRL mountain? The Panthers or the Roosters? Let’s find out! 

For all the latest news, analysis, and predictions ahead of this week's action, check out our NRL Round 24 tips and predictions below.

Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Prediction 

Thursday, August 13, 7:50pm AEST – CommBank Stadium 

What a way to open NRL Round 24. There’s nothing quite like a top of the table clash to get the blood pumping for a massive weekend of footy.

Perennial powerhouses the Panthers and the Roosters sit equal on points in first and second respectively, meaning the winner of this one will pull clear of the pack as outright numero uno. 

In terms of form, the Panthers have a stranglehold on this fixture, winning four of the last five meetings between these two sides.

However, there are actually a number of factors that are steering us towards backing the Chooks home here. Firstly, the Panthers were comprehensively beaten last week by the Warriors, while the Roosters recorded their seventh straight win.

The biggest consideration here however, comes on the personnel front. The Panthers are set to be without their co-captain Issah Yeo who tore his pec in their loss to the Warriors and his influence in freeing up space for the likes of Cleary and co to do their thing cannot be emphasised enough.

Meanwhile, the Roosters fortunes in terms of injury couldn’t be more different as they look set to welcome back their skipper and main man James Tedesco who was a late scratching last week with an ongoing ankle complaint.

Put all this together and betting against the Panthers starts to look a lot less foolish than it usually does. 

Head-to-head prediction: Sydney Roosters. 

Betting tip: James Tedesco anytime try scorer. 

Manly Sea Eagles vs Dolphins Prediction

Friday, August 14, 6:00pm AEST – 4 Pines Park

Thursday’s Round 24 action is a tough act to follow but seeing as neither of these teams seem to be overly fond of defending, we could at least see plenty of tries in this one. 

The Sea Eagles enter this one with their tails firmly between their legs, while the Dolphins will roll into 4 Pines Park with both their tails and Phins firmly up.

The Sea Eagles’ loss to Melbourne last week was their fifth in a row and one more loss means finals football will essentially be out of the question for the Sea Eagles.

Unfortunately for all the Fozball sympathisers out there, we’re backing the Phins to deliver the coup de grace to Manly’s top eight aspirations for season 2026. 

The Dolphins may concede tries by the bucket load, but they seem to more often than not be able to outscore their opponents, as was shown in their 42-32 firefight against Brisbane last week. 

They’ll want to fix these leaks by the time the finals roll around, but for now we fancy their chances of outscoring the badly out of form Sea Eagles here. 

Head-to-head prediction: The Dolphins. 

Betting tip: Selwyn Cobbo first try scorer. 

Canterbury Bulldogs vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction

Friday, August 14, 8:00pm AEST – Accor Stadium

A classic all-Sydney smash between the Bulldogs and the Rabbitohs will wrap up Friday’s Round 24 action.

The Bulldogs recent red-hot run came to an end last week, as they went down in a two-point thriller to the ever redder and hotter Roosters.

The Bunnies meanwhile nearly blew a 28-0 lead against the lowly Eels, with the match ending 28-24 in scenes that would have had Wayne Bennett pulling out the last of his hair.

For whatever reason, the Rabbitohs simply can’t find consistency this season, maybe it’s injuries, maybe it’s belief, maybe it’s both? 

The only consistency around Redfern is try-scoring GOAT Alex Johnston’s form. Win or lose he simply cannot stop running in four-pointers, adding another hat-trick last start to take his tally to 25 this season. 

The Bunnies have been maintaining a uniform WLWLW record recently, so if that is to continue, they’re due their fortnightly loss here. 

Head-to-head prediction: Canterbury Bulldogs. 

Betting tip: Alex Johnston to score 2 or more tries. 

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Canberra Raiders Prediction

Saturday, August 15, 3:00pm AEST – Shark Park

The Sharks were on a five match winning streak until they ran into the *checks note* Dragons?

Rugby League is a funny old game sometimes and the seemingly unstoppable Sharks ended up being no match for the last-placed Dragons who managed to get up for just their third win of the season. 

How will his loss affect them here against the Raiders? It’s hard to say, but retreating to the comfort of home can only help here.

The Raiders also enter NRL Round 24 off the back of a loss, going down 24-30 to the Knights despite the best efforts of rampaging centre Simi Sasagi.

Yes, losing to the Dragons is never a good thing, but we’re giving the Sharks a second chance here, particularly at home. 

Head-to-head prediction: Cronulla Sharks. 

Betting tip: Simi Sasagi first try scorer.

Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction

Saturday, August 15, 5:30pm AEST – CommBank Stadium

Bouncing back from an 82-12 defeat can’t be easy, so credit where credit is due for the North Queensland Cowboys.

They drew a line in the sand last start, seeing off the Titans with a comprehensive 30-8 victory, with a couple of forwards in Jason Taumalolo and Heilum Luki leading the charge with impressive performances.

The Cows now congregate south to size up the Eels, who mounted an impressive but ultimately unsuccessful comeback against the Bunnies last start. 

It was a case of too little too late for Parra, as often seems to be the case for the club, as they scored 24 unanswered points to lose 28-24.

With North Queensland sitting exactly eighth they simply have so much more to play for than the 13th placed Eels, whose season flatlined weeks ago. Giddy up. 

Head-to-head prediction: North Queensland Cowboys. 

Betting tip: Heilum Luki first try scorer. 

Brisbane Broncos vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction

Saturday, August 15, 7:30pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium

Did the Broncos really win the premiership last season? Or was that just a fever dream bought on from heat stroke thanks to the Queensland sun? 

You’d be forgiven for thinking it was, because this Broncos side are the further thing from defending premiers.

Their high-scoring loss to Queensland rivals the Dolphins last week was their 11th in their last 12 outings. 

Not only do they now sit second last, but they also sit in the “do not tip” bucket., particularly against a third placed Warriors side who knocked off the Panthers last week. 

Head-to-head prediction: New Zealand Warriors. 

Betting tip: Luke Metcalf first try scorer. 

Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans Prediction

Sunday, August 16, 2:00pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium

The penultimate game of NRL Round 24 sees the Knights welcome the Titans to the Hunter Valley on Sunday afternoon. 

No need to get too fancy here in our opinion, Newcastle have been one of the standout sides of this season, the Titans have not.

Sitting up in sixth, with strike weapons such as Ponga, Young and Sharpe all looking mighty sharp, we’re backing them to get home at home against a 15th placed Titans team on a two-game skid. 

Head-to-head prediction: Newcastle Knights. 

Betting tip: Dom Young first try scorer. 

Wests Tigers vs St George Illawarra Dragons Prediction

Sunday, August 16, 4:05pm AEST – CommBank Stadium

Looks like they saved the best for first and the worst for last in NRL Round 24.

We’re doing it, we’re actually doing it! We’re going to tip the Dragons in 2026. Why you ask? Five words – they’re playing the Wests Tigers.

Benji’s boys have lost seven straight and if you could lose to a bye, they’d probably have done that last week too. 

The Dragons win over the Sharks last week showed they are still capable of winning football games, something we aren’t sure this incarnation of the Tigers are. 

Head-to-head prediction: St George Illawarra Dragons. 

Betting tip: Under total match points. 

Melbourne Storm – BYE 

After their high-scoring win over the Sea Eagles, which kept their slim finals hopes alive, Melbourne get the week off in NRL Round 24.

*Odds are subject to change.