NRL Round 25 Tips & Predictions

<p>With only three rounds left until the finals, every game is potentially life or death in the race to make the eight.</p> <p>There are a number of teams fighting for the last finals places, while it’s equally as tight at the summit of the table.</p> <p>Both the Panthers and the Broncos continue to trade blows at the top, with points difference looking more and more likely to be the deciding factor in the battle for the minor premiership.</p> <p>With everything still to play for, there’s never been a better time to check out our expert NRL round 25 tips and predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, August 17, 7:50pm AEST – Queensland Country Bank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/nth-queensland-cowboys-v-cronulla-sharks-7555952">North Queensland and Cronulla</a> will once again honour the late Paul Green when they face off on Thursday night.</p> <p>Vying for the Paul Green Cup, both sides will be desperate to get the win in this one. Aside from the trophy that is on offer, there are also valuable points up for grabs, points that can be used to make either the top four or eight.</p> <p>After a bumpy period, the Sharks seem to have righted the ship, winning their last two games back-to-back to have them on the precipice of the top four.</p> <p>It’s been the opposite for the Cowboys who have traded a streak of six straight wins for back-to-back losses and now sit just outside the eight.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>A pure price play here - Sharks 13+. The Sharks major problem had been their left hand side defensively. With Braydon Trindall coming into the side on that edge and joined by his security guard Wade Graham they have tidied things up in a big way.&nbsp;</p> <p>They’ve conceded just the one try in the last 3 weeks on that side and that run of games included playing the Panthers. With only the Broncos having scored more points in attack this season and the fact that when these two sides last met in round nine Cronulla had all the answers (they won 44-6), this price play looks more and more appealing.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Sharks 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 18, 6:00pm AEST – Mt Smart Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Friday’s action gets underway when the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-manly-sea-eagles-7555953">Warriors welcome the Sea Eagles to Mt Smart Stadium.</a></p> <p>This season’s feel-good story just keeps getting better and better as the weeks roll by. The Warriors have gone from preseason spoon favourites to genuine title contenders.</p> <p>Another week, another win, this time over the lowly Tigers, has them sitting pretty in third.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Sea Eagles who's sorry campaign dogged by injuries is now all but over after becoming Penrith’s latest victim last week.</p> <p>Unsurprisingly the Warriors have been borderline unbeatable in New Zealand this year and you’d have to think they’re going to add another notch to their belt this week on their side of the Tasman.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>In years gone by, backing a home side in the mix against a traveling team out of finals contention has fared very well if you went with the locals to win big. Last week the Sharks won by 30 against the Titans, the Roosters cruised by the Dolphins and the Knights pumped the Bulldogs. Keen on the Warriors 13+ and even look at the larger alternative margins.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Warriors 13+</p>

<h2>Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 18, 8:00pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Both the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-sydney-roosters-7555954">Roosters and the Eels</a> are still in the finals race, just. However, that won’t be the case come full-time in this one.</p> <p>The curtain will come down on the season of the loser of this one, with that likely to be Parramatta.</p> <p>Last week they suffered a demoralizing 54-10 shellacking at the hands of the Broncos, with their woes being further compounded by a season ending injury to star man Mitchell Moses.</p> <p>As for the Chooks, they’ve finally found some form and just in the nick of time. A solid win over the struggling Dolphins last week confirms they live to fight another day.</p> <p>We’re tipping them to move another step closer to an unlikely finals berth, with the injury to Mitchell Moses surely proving too much for the downtrodden Eels to overcome.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Both teams are in deep trouble and can ill afford to make even one more slip up. Billy Smith has the hot hand right now, he got the Arthur Beetson Legacy Medal carving up the Dolphins last week and before that gave the Sea Eagles the same treatment. With the Roosters changing their attacking plan, he has scored in the last three weeks in a row and it’s hard to see the Eels stopping him this week.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Billy Smith Anytime Tryscorer&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Wests Tigers v The Dolphins Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 19, 3:00pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Two sides who have nothing but pride to play for, <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/wests-tigers-v-dolphins-7555984">go toe-to-toe at CommBank Stadium</a> on Saturday afternoon in round 25.</p> <p>After a stunning start to their inaugural campaign, the Dolphins look destined to end it with a whimper.</p> <p>They recorded another loss last week, as did the Tigers, despite actually giving a decent account of themselves for a change.</p> <p>They pushed the Warriors all the way in New Zealand, scoring some stunning tries in the process.</p> <p>They’ve been building towards a rare win in recent weeks and against a down and out Dolphins side, we think this is the week they finally make it stick.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Dolphins are wounded and wobbling and are wishing for the finish line. The Tigers over the last three weeks have met top teams and pushed them the whole way before coming up short. If things click they might get busy and post a huge razzle dazzle win.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Tigers 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 19, 5:30pm AEST – Robina Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Saturday’s action continues when the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-penrith-panthers-7555985">Gold Coast Titans welcome the all-conquering Penrith Panthers</a> to Robina Stadium.</p> <p>After a big loss to the Sharks last week, another Titans’ campaign is set to end before September, with only pride on the line in this one.</p> <p>We highly doubt pride will be enough to keep the purring Panthers at bay however, as they zero in on title number three in a row.</p> <p>They’ve won their last seven games in a row, and it seems they have a date with number eight on the Glitter Strip.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The profit and loss statement doesn’t read too well for the Gold Coast Titans right side. They have only scored 13 tries on that right side yet conceded a whopping 34! Those prowling Panthers on the left which Includes Turuva, Peachey and Luai will be licking their lips. Take your pick in the Anytime Tryscorer Market and maybe even chuck all three in a Same Game Multi.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tips: </strong>SGM - Turuva, Peachey &amp; Luai Anytime Tryscorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 19, 7:35pm AEST – Win Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-melbourne-storm-7555987">St George entertain Melbourne</a> in round 25, as they go searching for their first victory in four weeks.</p> <p>Their home may be known as Win Stadium, but that seems like the one thing the Dragons can’t do.</p> <p>Another week, another defeat, this time to the Bunnies, ensures St George can still take home the spoon in 2023.</p> <p>Melbourne have no such issues and they flexed their premiership muscle last week with a dominant display against the Raiders last time out.</p> <p>They turned on the attacking flair to run out 48-2 winners and should have no problem inflicting another defeat on the Dragons at the not-so-aptly-named Win Stadium.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Dragons left side has had a tough year in defence and it's been raining tries out there. In their last five games together Jahrome Hughes has put Eli Katoa over for a try and they are building a nice little combo together. The poor left side of the Dragons married with the Hughes and Katoa combo picks itself.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Eli Katoa Anytime Tryscorer.</p> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2>Newcastle Knights v South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 20, 2:00pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>McDonald Jones Stadium will play host to a big battle in terms of the top eight, when the nuclear <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-7555988">Knights entertain the battling Bunnies </a>on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>Newcastle are doing in the NRL what Carlton are doing in the AFL. They were supposed to be also-rans staring down another disappointing campaign, now they are the form team of the competition and a genuine smokey for the title.</p> <p>They picked up another huge win last week, this time over the Bulldogs, however what appears to be a serious ankle injury to in form half Jackson Hastings is a potential spanner in the works.</p> <p>Regardless, the way they’ve been traveling they’re impossible not to back at the moment, even if the Bunnies' big guns are starting to click, as evidenced in their win over the Dragons last time out.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>A sell out at McDonald Jones Stadium sets the scene for a real beauty. Kalyn Ponga is the highest paid player at the Knights and this is the biggest game for the club since he has been there. If they get the win, you can bet he will have had a blinder. The Rabbitohs still have many defensive concerns so I can easily see the Ponga cashing in on the big stage.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Kalyn Ponga Anytime Tryscorer.</p>

<h2>Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 20, 4:05pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last week’s two worst performers round out round 25 at GIO stadium.</p> <p>Both the Raiders and the Bulldogs were beyond terrible in their catastrophic losses last round.</p> <p>The Doggies cemented their status as this season’s biggest disappointment in their 42-6 defeat to the white-hot Knights. They’ve been all bark and no bite in 2023, with plenty of big-name recruits and nothing but loss after loss to show for it.</p> <p>While any hopes the Raiders had of sneaking into the top four were dashed by the always ruthless Storm, who ran out 48-2 winners over the Green Machine in Melbourne.</p> <p>Despite this heavy defeat, the Raiders are still lightyears ahead of the Bulldogs and with captain and club legend Jarrod Croker announcing his retirement, they’ll want to put on a show for him at home. So, all things considered, we’ll be backing the Raiders in this one.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Both sides are coming off hidings, so who will respond the best? Canterbury presents a good team on paper and should be ready to go this week after last week's embarrassment. As for the Raiders, is their place on the ladder fools gold? They can boast about having 12 wins, but eight of those were wins by four points or less. While their biggest win this year was by just 10 points and that was against the lowly Dragons.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Tribet - either side to win by 6 points or less.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After another dazzling display full of stunning four-pointers, the Brisbane Broncos get a well-deserved week off.</p>