<p>The first week of the NRL Finals is done and now it’s time for the semis. There’s a lot to live up to and then there’s what transpired last week.</p> <p>Obviously, finals footy is always exciting, but nothing could have prepared punters for what went down over the weekend.</p> <p>Game after game of edge-of-your-seat entertainment was capped off by arguably the greatest finals match in NRL history.</p> <p>The Raiders vs Broncos 94-minute epic in the nation’s capital will live long in the memory of everyone who witnessed it, particularly those who were barracking for Brisbane.</p> <p>Still, there’s no time to dwell on that instant classic, especially if you’re the Raiders. They’ve got a do-or-die clash against the Sharks to focus on, which will kick off the 2025 NRL Semi-finals.</p> <p>That winner takes all affair will then be followed by another between the Bulldogs and Penrith, where the stakes are the same.</p> <p>It’s time for these teams to move all in if they want to have a tilt at the title. Who is moving on to the final four and who is going home?</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of the week two of finals, check out our expert NRL Semi-finals tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 20, 7:50pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Kicking off semi-final proceedings this weekend are the crestfallen Canberra Raiders and the confident Cronulla Sharks.</p> <p>The Raiders return to the scene of their heartbreaking golden point defeat to Brisbane, which we’re sure they won’t mind as it’s their home ground – GIO Stadium.</p> <p>It’s hard to gauge what the mindset of the Canberra troops will be. Yes, the fashion in which they lost to Brisbane was far from ideal, especially considering they were leading by three converted tries with 15 minutes to play.</p> <p>However, their cause wasn’t exactly helped by the officials, who made some dubious decisions to put it lightly.</p> <p>They can also take great confidence from the way they performed, particularly with the ball. Their Young guns Hudson, Weekes and Strange put on a clinic with the pill in hand and the Sharks should be shaking in their boots accordingly.</p> <p>While they should be shaking, they probably won’t be to be honest. They’re in a rich vein of form at the moment and have timed their run to perfection.</p> <p>They were assured last week, seeing off the red-hot Roosters in a composed 20-10 win. Ronaldo Mulitalo continues to do what all Ronaldos in sport are known for - scoring, while main man Nicho Hynes is slowly getting back to his best.</p> <p>However, there is a big difference between playing the eighth placed team at home and the first placed one on the road.</p> <p>After being the team to beat nearly all year, we don’t see the Green Machine going out in straight sets. They’ve worked too hard and too long for it to end here.</p> <p>They’ll also want to get their hands on having another crack at the Broncos, which of course, will have to be in the Grand Final. To get there though, they need to start by winning this one, which we think they will.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-cronulla-sharks-9625222">Canberra Raiders.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>SGM – Ronaldo Mulitalo first try scorer &amp; Ethan Strange anytime try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 21, 4:05pm AEST – Accor Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>They planned this all along, didn’t they? Penrith left everyone scratching their heads when they seemingly gave up on securing what was an unlikely, but still available, top four spot a few weeks ago and instead settling for seventh.</p> <p>Well, who’s laughing now? Their final regular season ladder position has turned out to be seventh heaven.</p> <p>They had their way with the wounded Warriors last start and now get to face the beatdown Bulldogs in Sydney.</p> <p>With this game being at Accor Stadium, home ground advantage is effective out the window and the Bulldogs have seen better days in terms of team health.</p> <p>Skipper Stephen Crichton, along with Viliame Kikau and Enari Tuala are all either set to miss this one or are in serious doubt, after their bloodbath down in Melbourne.</p> <p>Out of form and running out of troops, Canterbury appear at the opposite end of the spectrum to the Panthers who are full of running and full of health.</p> <p>They’re also not lacking in big game experience like the Doggies, which tends to happen when you’ve won the last four Grand Finals in a row.</p> <p>Everybody watch out, here come the Panthers.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-penrith-panthers-9622000">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Big win little win – Panthers 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Think one of these sides can go all the way from here? See where each team is currently sitting in the<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/nrl-grand-final-winner-2025-8616768"> 2025 NRL Premiership Odds.</a></p>