<p>Another week, another season going down in flames. This time the curtain came down on the Parramatta Eels campaign, with defeat to the Roosters officially ruling the Blue and Gold out of the finals race.</p>
<p>Elsewhere the Knights won their seventh straight game, the Panthers continued to flex their premiership muscle and the Tigers picked up a rare win.</p>
<p>What’s in store this week? As the NRL regular season enters its penultimate week the pressure gauge is set to be dialed up to 11.</p>
<p>With so much still on the line for so many clubs, now is the perfect time to check out our expert NRL round 26 tips & predictions.</p>
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<h2>Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Thursday, August 24, 7:50pm AEST – Penrith Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>The penultimate round of the regular season gets underway with the latest edition of the “Battle of the West” between <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-parramatta-eels-7572545">Parramatta and Penrith</a>.</p>
<p>It’s all over for the Eels in 2023, after last week’s loss to the Roosters made it mathematically impossible for them to make the finals.</p>
<p>With only pride to play for, no Mitchell Moses and away from home against the seemingly unstoppable Panthers, this grand final rematch is likely to be as one sided as they come. The Panthers should win and win well.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts:</strong> The Panthers have let in just seven first half tries in their nine games at home this year. Remarkable! </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip:</strong> Tryfecta - Panthers/Panthers/Panthers (Penrith to score the first three tries of the match).</p>
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<h2>New Zealand Warriors v St George Illawarra Dragons Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Friday, August 25, 6:00pm AEST – Mt Smart Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>This season’s great overachievers, <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-7572549">the Warriors welcome the disappointing Dragons to Mt Smart</a> to kick off Friday’s action.</p>
<p>New Zealand all but locked in a top four finish with their win over Manly last week.</p>
<p>It was their sixth on the spin, and they’ll go searching for seven heaven against St George.</p>
<p>The Dragons were brave but ultimately defeated by the Storm meaning they can still finish the season dead last.</p>
<p>Across the ditch and in a ditch in terms of form and confidence we are giving them little to no hope of springing an upset in this one.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Dallin Watene-Zelezniak comes into this match as the equal leading try scorer in the NRL. The most impressive part about it is he has done it in six fewer games than his co-leaders Johnston & Isaako. </p>
<p>This week is hand in glove. He should benefit hugely from the Warriors potent right side service coming up against the worst left hand side defense in the comp. The Dragons’ left leaked six tries just last week. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>DWZ in any of your Tryscorer Markets.</p>
<h2>The Dolphins v North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Friday, August 25, 8:00pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>An all-Queensland affair will take place at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night when <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-7572563">the Dolphins host the North Queensland Cowboys.</a></p>
<p>Wayne Bennett’s side became one of the few sides to lose to the Tigers this year, when they were downed by a solitary point in a 24-23 thriller last time out.</p>
<p>Their opponents this week the Cowboys can still make the eight, just. A loss to Cronulla last week has their season on life support.</p>
<p>This fixture against a fatigued and depleted Dolphins side has come at the right time for the North Queenslanders and they should be able to win this one to ensure they are still alive heading into the final round of the season.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Cowboys must have been listening to Tom Petty lately - because they are Free Fallin'. They need a win here in a major way. </p>
<p>The QLD Derbies have been great this year with nine of the 11 decided by 1-12. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Cowboys 1-12</p>
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<h2>Melbourne Storm v Gold Coast Titans Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Saturday, August 26, 3:00pm AEST – AAMI Park</strong></em></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-gold-coast-titans-7572568">Melbourne welcomes the Gold Coast to AAMI Park</a> in Saturday’s opening game this week.</p>
<p>The Storm survived a scare last week, after being forced to come from behind to beat the Dragons.</p>
<p>The Titans on the other hand were dismantled by the table-topping Panthers 40-14. Their woes were compounded by a suspected knee injury to young gun Jayden Campbell that could rule him out of their road trip to Melbourne.</p>
<p>With nothing left to play for against a Storm side who are eager to lock up a top four finish and potentially without the electrifying Campbell, this could be another heavy defeat for the boys who call the Glitter Strip home.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Jarome Hughes is one of the form players in the competition. We mentioned this last week, but his combination with Eli Katoa has become one of the most deadly in the comp.</p>
<p>In their last six games together, Eli Katoa has scored five tries - all off Hughes. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Add Eli Katoa to your Tryscorer Markets.</p>
<h2>Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Saturday, August 26, 5:30pm AEST – Allianz Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>The Sydney Roosters have capitalized on a favorable run of games to somehow keep their season alive and now <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/sydney-roosters-v-wests-tigers-7572573">face the last placed Tigers this week</a>.</p>
<p>In a position where they couldn’t afford to lose another game, the Chooks have won their last three in a row to ensure they can still make the eight with two matches left to play.</p>
<p>Their adversaries this week, The Tigers, picked up a rare win last time out in stunning fashion. They overcame the Dolphins by a single point thanks to an Api Koroisau penalty goal from the sideline that hit the crossbar and went over.</p>
<p>This ended their 10-game losing streak. Unfortunately for the Tigers faithful, they’ll need more than just some Api magic to get past a Roosters side who are coming home with the wettest of sails.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Roosters have found their mojo. Rounds 1-19 they were averaging just 17 points per game. Rounds 20-25 that has skyrocketed to 27 points per game. </p>
<p>The TIgers got the win they needed last week, so the foot may come off the pedal here. The Roosters alternate winning margin 31-40 presents good value at its current price.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Roosters - Alternate Winning Margin 31-40</p>
<h2>Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Saturday, August 26, 7:35pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Saturday’s final game sees the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-brisbane-broncos-7572576">Raiders welcome the Broncos</a> to the nation’s capital. </p>
<p>The Raiders position on the ladder feels a bit like fool’s gold. They can technically still finish in the top four if results go their way, but they have failed to convince far too often this season to be considered genuine threats.</p>
<p>They struggled past the dismal Doggies last week in a high scoring affair, who failed to punish them for their, at times, sloppy play.</p>
<p>We doubt a fully rested Brisbane outfit will extend them the same courtesy and we’re tipping them to take care of the Green Machine to ensure the race for the Minor Premiership goes to the final week of the competition.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Raiders when playing the top four this year have averaged just 13 points a game, while conceding 34 - a disparity of a staggering 21 points. </p>
<p>Play the numbers and look for the Alternate Winning Margins or Pick Your Own Line of -20.5 and above. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Pick your Own Line - Broncos -20.5</p>
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<h2>Canterbury Bulldogs v Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Sunday, August 27, 2:00pm AEST – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>It’ll be just pride on the line when<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-manly-sea-eagles-7572584"> the Bulldogs and the Sea Eagles meet at Accor Stadium</a> on Sunday afternoon.</p>
<p>Neither of these sides can make the eight and both are coming off losses. This one is as drab as it gets at this time of year, when usually so many have so much to play for.</p>
<p>Both sides were valiant in defeat last week, showing they can still pile on points despite their respective ladder positions.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts:</strong> The Bulldogs have spent the last two games on the road and this week find themselves back home.</p>
<p>They were much improved last week and meet a depleted and deflated Sea Eagles this time out. Young Blake Wilson is getting better and better and if the Dogs win big he has potential to find the line. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>SGM - Bulldogs win & Blake Wilson Anytime Tryscorer.</p>
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<h2>Newcastle Knights v Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2>
<p><em><strong>Sunday, August 27, 4:05pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p>
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<p>Round 26 has truly saved the best for last, with this contest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-cronulla-sharks-7572596">between the Knights and the Sharks</a> definitely the match of the round.</p>
<p>Virtually impossible to tip, both of these sides are in some serious form right now. The Sharks have silenced their doubters, winning their last three in a row.</p>
<p>What the Knights have accomplished, however, is nothing short of remarkable. They’ve now won seven in a row to catapult themselves up the ladder and into the final’s places.</p>
<p>Their renaissance has been led by Kalyn Ponga who was once again in fine touch last week, laying on a hattrick for barnstorming winger Greg Marzhew in their win over the Rabbitohs.The refs helped too, with an alleged “eighth tackle try” being scored in the win. </p>
<p>The Knights look simply untouchable at the moment and in front of what is sure to be a packed home crowd, we are backing them to seal a date with eight in a row. Wins that is, not tackles.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>Kalyn Ponga is wearing a cape at the moment. During the Knights current winning streak he has had a hand in 15 tries (scored or assisted).</p>
<p>For 13 of the 15 he has started on the left side of the play the ball. Greg Marzhew (left winger) has scored eight tries and has been the big winner here. Meanwhile, Mulitalo has 19 tries under his belt for the Sharks this season and is always a threat near the line. </p>
<p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>SGM - Greg Marzhew & Ronaldo Mulitalo Anytime Tryscorers.</p>
<h2>South Sydney Rabbitohs – BYE</h2>
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<p>After a loss to the Knights which has left them barely clinging to eighth spot, the Bunnies get a much-needed week off to prepare for their must win final match of the season. </p>
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