<p>Time flies when you’re having fun. It also flies when you’re witnessing one of the most remarkable rugby league seasons in recent memory.</p> <p>Just like that, six months’ worth of fast-paced footy has evaporated before our eyes and we’re left with a solitary round of the NRL regular season left.</p> <p>That’s right, NRL round 27 is the last chance saloon for anyone looking to participate in finals footy with the Rooster, Dolphins and the Sea Eagles (just) all fighting for the final finals place.</p> <p>Which of these three will make the final cut and who will need to start planning their Mad Monday celebrations? Let’s find out!</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of the last week of the regular season, check out our expert NRL round 27 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, September 4, 7:50pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>NRL round 27 opens up with a thrilling top four tango between long-time rivals the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm.</p> <p>That’s right, despite losing their two starting halves about a month ago, Brisbane enter the final week of the season inside the top four.</p> <p>That’s where they’ll want to stay, come full-time of this one, given that no side outside the top four has ever lifted the Provan-Summons trophy in the modern era.</p> <p>Normally, the Storm would be the last side you’d want to face in a situation like this, however after the Raiders sewed up the minor premiership last week, the dynamics of this clash have somewhat changed.</p> <p>Now that they can’t finish first and unless there is a near 100-point swing between them and the Bulldogs, they can’t finish lower than second either, they are more than likely to rest all their stars to avoid injury and an interstate road trip, a week out from a crunch home final.</p> <p>This drastically shifts the narrative into the home side’s favour, who will no doubt field their strongest available 17 to ensure they enter the finals as a member of the top four.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/brisbane-broncos-v-melbourne-storm-9565441">Brisbane Broncos.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, September 5, 6:00pm AEST – Brookvale Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the teams that will be challenging the Broncos for that coveted final top four spot is the New Zealand Warriors.</p> <p>The Wahs were inhabitants of the top four for most of the year, only for the wheels to fall off late, largely due to a series of unfortunate injuries.</p> <p>Now they must beat Manly at Brookie, and hope other results go their way if they are to reclaim fourth.</p> <p>They’re not the only ones who need results to go their way, Manly are still a mathematical chance of playing finals footy after their 40-24 victory over St George last week, but they need both the Dolphins and the Roosters to lose and to make up 80 points worth of differential to pull off one of the great smash and grabs.</p> <p>While we are unsure all of those events will transpire, we do fancy Manly to keep up their end of the bargain and win here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-v-new-zealand-warriors-9565444">Manly Sea Eagles.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Daly Chery-Evan anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, September 5, 8:00pm AEST – Allianz Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Friday’s headline fixture between the Roosters and Rabbitohs is packed full of plotlines and is arguably the must-watch match of NRL round 27.</p> <p>After their remarkable 40-10 victory last start against the Storm in Melbourne, the equation for the Roosters is simple: win and they play finals.</p> <p>We’re sure South Sydney would love nothing more than to ensure their arch-rivals join them in missing out on finals footy and it looks as if their captain <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/cam-murray-eyes-return-against-roosters">Cameron Murray is set to make his first appearance of the season</a> in an effort to make that happen.</p> <p>The other reason Murray is most likely pushing for a final round return despite the Rabbitohs race being well and truly run in 2025, is to be there in case his great mate<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/alex-johnston-closing-in-on-nrl-try-scoring-record"> Alex Johnston breaks the all-time NRL try scoring record.</a></p> <p>Johnston needs a hat-trick to go one clear of Ken Irvine’s long-standing record of 212 four-pointers. That may seem unlikely, until you learn that AJ has <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/most-nrl-hat-tricks-of-all-time">the joint most hat-tricks in NRL history,</a> with 16 and counting.</p> <p>Two records in one night? Why not? Roosters to make the finals, Johnston to make history.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/sydney-roosters-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-9565464">Sydney Roosters.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Alex Johnston to score a hat-trick.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra Dragons vs Penrith Panthers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 6, 3:00pm AEST – WIN Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the many dead rubbers that always materialise this time of year, this result will largely hinge on who the Panthers do or do not pick to play.</p> <p>Frozen in seventh, there is no incentive for them to try and win this match, but will they rest 16 players again like they did last week?</p> <p>We doubt it, as they’ll want to make sure their big hitters aren’t too rusty heading into the finals.</p> <p>Unless they do wheel out the kids once again, we can't see Penrith losing to a St George side who gave up on season 2025 some weeks ago and have been conceding points for fun as they limp to a lowly 15th placed finish.</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-penrith-panthers-9565465">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Big win little win – Panthers 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs Wests Tigers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 6, 5:30pm AEST – Cbus Super Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After copping so much flack over the last few seasons for consistently picking up the dreaded wooden spoon, the Tigers have the perfect opportunity to give some back when they travel to take on the Titans in round 27.</p> <p>We’re tipping them to do just that and send out both Des Hasler and Kieran Foran with an unwanted kitchen utensil.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-wests-tigers-9565466">Wests Tigers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Kieran Foran anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 6, 7:35pm AEST – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Can the Sharks swim into the top four? Well, we think the Bulldogs will give them every chance to do just that.</p> <p>Obviously, they’ll need the Broncos to slip up, but if they do, they’ll fancy their chances of beating the third-placed Bulldogs.</p> <p>That’s because Cameron Ciraldo will most likely rest most of his stars as his Canterbury side cannot finish any higher or lower than their current position of third.</p> <p>This opens the door for the Sharks to grab a win where they would have usually faced a war.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-cronulla-sharks-9565467">Cronulla Sharks.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Ronaldo Mulitalo first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Dolphins vs Canberra Raiders Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 7, 2:00pm AEST – Kayo Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Much like their fellow sea-dwelling creatures the Sharks, the Dolphins’ cause may be aided by heavy rotation from their opposition.</p> <p>The Canberra Raiders capped off a remarkable regular season by officially locking up the minor premiership last week.</p> <p>With that piece of silverware now firmly in the cabinet, they’ll turn their attention to the big one – the Provan-Summons trophy.</p> <p>That means they will most likely rest absolutely everyone here in what is a meaningless game for them, particularly as it’s all the way up at Redcliffe.</p> <p>This presents a very clear path to victory for the Phins, one we are tipping them to walk without hesitation.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/dolphins-v-canberra-raiders-9565468">The Dolphins.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Trae Fuller first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Parramatta Eels vs Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 7, 4:05pm AEST – CommBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final game of NRL round 27 and the final game of the 2025 NRL regular season sees the Parramatta Eels host the Newcastle Knights at CommBank Stadium.</p> <p>The only real headline here is, will Dylan Brown get the chance to play one final game for the Blue and gold before departing to join their opponents Newcastle.</p> <p>If he is granted that opportunity by head coach Jason Ryles look to him to say goodbye in style, while also reminding the struggling Knights what they are paying over $10 million dollars for, with a meat pie for the road.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/parramatta-eels-v-newcastle-knights-9565469">Parramatta Eels.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Dylan Brown anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Queensland Cowboys – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last week’s valiant 38-30 loss to the Broncos was the final outing for the Cowboys in 2025, who have missed out on the finals and have a bye in round 27. Enjoy Mad Monday boys.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>