<p>With just two weeks of the regular season left, the stakes of NRL round 26 couldn’t be higher.</p> <p>All but one spot in the top eight is now taken, with only a final finals place available.</p> <p>With just two rounds of footy left and five teams still able to qualify for September, as well as the top four and wooden spoon far from being settled, there is really still everything to play for.</p> <p>NRL round 26 will see some team’s finals aspirations finally come to an end, while others will take a massive step towards a once seemingly unlikely playoffs berth.</p> <p>With so much on the line, let’s not waste anymore time! For the latest news, analysis, odds and more, check out our NRL round 26 tips and predictions below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, August 29, 7:50pm AEST – Queensland Country Bank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Kicking off NRL round 26 are two teams whose finals participation is already locked and loaded.</p> <p>Melbourne sealed the minor premiership last time out with their thumping win over the Dolphins, while the bye ensured the Cowboys would appear in the 2024 finals after missing out last year.</p> <p>It’s usually around this time that Melbourne like to rest some of their stars to ensure they are fresh for the finals. So before locking in your wagers for this one keep your eye on the teams lists.</p> <p>As it stands, Melbourne are the ones to back, but that could change depending on who they elect to rest.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/nth-queensland-cowboys-v-melbourne-storm-8500072">Melbourne Storm.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Cowboys line.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 30, 6:00pm AEST – Stadium Australia</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite losing to the Tigers last week, Manly are officially locked in for this year’s edition of the finals.</p> <p>As are their opponents this week, the Bulldogs. Canterbury continue to go from strength to strength and are a legitimate top four chance.</p> <p>They’ve strung together a number of impressive results, built predominantly on their defensive resolve. They’ve won five on the spin and have not conceded over 20 points in any of them.</p> <p>If they are able to keep this momentum going and sneak into the top four, they will be a genuine premiership threat, which would have sounded ludicrous a few months ago.</p> <p>Remember no team in the NRL era has ever won the Premiership from outside the top four places. No doubt this will be at the forefront of the Bulldogs mind and inspire them to a crucial win over the Sea Eagles here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-manly-sea-eagles-8500075">Canterbury Bulldogs.</a></p> <p><strong>Sugar's tip:</strong> 11 to 20 points <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-manly-sea-eagles-8500075">Manly Seas Eagles Total Points Bands</a>.</p>

<h2>Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 30, 8:00pm AEST – Penrith Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sorry what? The Panthers are fourth!? Yep. No Cleary, no party it seems. They’ve lost two on the spin and if they slip up again could find themselves out of the top four altogether.</p> <p>That would be a disaster for the back-to-back-to-back champions, particularly with Cleary expected back in time for the finals.</p> <p>Luckily, this week they play the rudderless Rabbitohs, who face the prospect of playing their remaining two games of the season without their skipper and best player Cameron Murray. The representative forward was cited by the judiciary after their most recent loss and now faces a two-game suspension.</p> <p>With or without Cleary this should be an easy win for Penrith, which will go a long way to ensure their top four status come season’s end.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-8500080">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Big win little win – Penrith 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 31, 3:00pm EST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Parramatta Eels have the chance to play party poopers as well as take a step away from the wooden spoon with a win at home here against the eighth placed Dragons.</p> <p>Illustrating just how congested the ladder is at the moment, the Dragons can still finish as high as sixth, but lose here and their season is all but over.</p> <p>Yes, the Dragons have more to play for here than the Eels, but Parra showed plenty of fight away to Brisbane last start.</p> <p>Back home at CommBank Stadium and desperate to at least avoid the spoon, the Eels are our value bet of the week, and we can certainly see them spring an upset and effectively bringing the curtain down on St George’s season.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-8500096">Parramatta Eels.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Dolphins vs Brisbane Broncos Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 31, 5:30pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Undoubtedly the biggest Brisbane derby in the history of this fixture since it became possible roughly two years ago.</p> <p>Neck and neck on the ladder and both battling for the last spot in the eight, it’s game over for the loser of this one.</p> <p>The Dolphins enter this clash on the back of a potentially season-derailing mauling at the hands of Melbourne, while Brisbane ride in full of confidence after coming back from the dead against Parra.</p> <p>It looked like Brisbane’s season was run and done when they found themselves down 16-0 to the Eels, only for Kevin Walters’ men to rally back to a miraculous 30-24 victory.</p> <p>This showing of spirit prompted Walters to declare that his side will make the finals, and you know what Kevvie? We agree. Brisbane in a thriller here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-brisbane-broncos-8500104">Brisbane Broncos</a>.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> SGM – Selwyn Cobbo and Jake Averillo anytime try scorers.</p>

<h2>Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 31, 7:35pm AEST – Shark Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Shaun Johnson will play the final game of his professional football career in NRL round 26 when the Warriors take on Cronulla at Shark Park.</p> <p>Fittingly it will be against his former club, so he is sure to receive a huge send off despite playing away from home.</p> <p>The Warriors couldn’t get him a win in his final game in New Zealand and unfortunately, we don’t see them sending him out a winner here.</p> <p>However, they might be able to get him over for a meat pie at some point here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/cronulla-sharks-v-new-zealand-warriors-8500105">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Shaun Johnson anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 1, 2:00pm AEST – McDonald Jones Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Titans may be the most entertaining club in the NRL, as long as you don’t support them.</p> <p>They’re big on scoring stunning tries, not so much on winning matches. We are tipping that trend to continue here away against a Newcastle side fighting for their final’s future.</p> <p>Expect some scorching four points and a big score line, with excitement machines like Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Kalyn Ponga in red hot form at the moment.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/newcastle-knights-v-gold-coast-titans-8500115">Newcastle Knights.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> SGM - Alofiana Khan-Pereira &amp; Kalyn Ponga anytime try scorers and over total match points.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 1, 4:05pm AEST – Allianz Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final game of NRL round 26 sees the free scoring Roosters entertain giant slayers the Raiders.</p> <p>Canberra kept their slim finals hope alive last time out with a miraculous win against Penrith, while the Chooks were on the right end of a 70-point free for all against the Titans.</p> <p>The Roosters are becoming red hot at just the right time, and we are tipping them to render Canberra’s heroic efforts last week null and void, putting a score on them here to end any hope of the Green Machine participating in the 2024 finals.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/sydney-roosters-v-canberra-raiders-8500116">Sydney Roosters.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>James Tedesco to score two or more tries.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Wests Tigers – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The freebie points from the bye will see the Wests Tigers move off the foot of the ladder, leaping the Eels, providing Parra don’t beat the Dragons. This well-timed week off will go a long way to ensuring the Tigers avoid an unwanted hat-trick of <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/most-wooden-spoons-of-all-time">wooden spoons.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>