Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Round 21 clash between Manly and Cronulla is the Sharks -3.5 / Over 46.5 / Mulitalo to Score Same Game Multi at $5.00, with the Sharks in red-hot form and Manly missing Tom Trbojevic at 4 Pines Park.

Round 21 of the NRL continues to dish up more blockbusters, with the Sharks heading to Manly to take on the Sea Eagles this Sunday in a match that has big finals implications.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks

These teams come into this clash in contrasting form, Manly having lost three on the bounce and Cronulla having won three straight.

This puts the Sharks fourth overall on the ladder, while the Sea Eagles are down in ninth and battling to keep their hopes alive.

Manly will have to do without fullback Tom Trbojevic after he suffered a hamstring injury, though Ben Trbojevic rejoins the side after concussion. For the Sharks, big prop Addin Fonua-Blake and centre Jesse Ramien return.

Leg 1 – Sharks -3.5

All signs are pointing towards a Sharks win here, who are in hot form and will be eyeing a strong run to the post-season.

The visitors have dominated this head-to-head in recent years, winning the last four including their meeting earlier this season 28-22.

Manly, on the other hand, are in free fall with four losses from their last five, and losing Trbojevic doesn’t help.

Leg 2 – Over 46.5 Points Total

50 points were scored when these two sides met in May.

They’ve each had their fair share of high scores since then, with the Sea Eagles playing out a 70-point thriller against the Titans last week and the Sharks putting 66 on the Dolphins the week before last.

With both teams having a tendency to play loose at times, expect the points to flow in this one.

Leg 3 – Ronaldo Mulitalo to Score

Mulitalo missed the first 10 rounds of the season due to injury, but has made up for lost time the past two months.

The Sharks’ winger has been prolific, scoring at a strike rate of just under one a game in his last eight matches.

Having bagged tries against both the Dolphins and Knights the last two weeks, he should keep that run going against an imperfect Sea Eagles defence.

Same Game Multi

Sharks -3.5 / Over 46.5 / Mulitalo to Score = $5.00

Value Bet

When the Sharks get up a head of steam, they’re hard to stop, just ask the Dolphins.

Sans Trbojevic, Manly’s attack and defence are muted.

There’s a very real chance that Cronulla simply get on top in this clash and never let up, putting a hefty scoreline on the hosts.

Sharks 13+ @ $3.00

Our best bet for Friday’s NRL Round 21 clash between South Sydney and Melbourne is the Storm -1.5 / Over 46.5 / Alex Johnston to Score Same Game Multi at $5.80, with both sides desperate for points and the Rabbitohs averaging over 52 total points per game this season at Accor Stadium.

Two teams fighting to make the NRL post-season clash this Friday, with the Rabbitohs hosting the Storm at Accor Stadium.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Melbourne Storm

Both sides are still a live chance at making the top eight, but can’t afford to drop many more games.

South Sydney currently sit seventh on 24 points, while the Storm are four points adrift in 11th place.

Each have lost two of their last three, with the Rabbitohs going down 34-24 to the Raiders last week while Melbourne lost 14-6 to the Roosters.

Leg 1 – Storm -1.5

Melbourne were thrashed by the Rabbitohs when they met in April, but don’t expect a similar outcome here.

That was in the middle of a seven-game losing streak for the Storm. Now they’re a different side, and will know they have very little room for error if they’re to make the eight.

Given their consistency the past two decades, back them to come up with the goods when it counts.

Leg 2 – Over 46.5 Points Total

These sides typically produce high-scoring encounters, with four of their last five exceeding 46.5 points.

The Rabbitohs in particular have a knack for getting entangled in try-fests. Their average match total this season is north of 52, with 11 of their 17 games this season producing more than 46 points.

Leg 3 – Alex Johnston to Score

Johnston has scored in all but two of the games he’s played in 2026, bagging 20 tries in 14 appearances.

With Will Warbrick out for Melbourne, expect the Rabbitohs’ winger to find space down the edge and add to his tally.

Same Game Multi

Storm -1.5 / Over 46.5 / Johnston to Score = $5.80

Value Bet

The Rabbitohs have scored more than 21.5 points in four of their last five games, and 11 times overall this season.

Their last two matches have also seen both teams score over 21.5 points.

Throw in Melbourne’s desperation to win this, and this is a fixture that screams high-scoring on both sides of the paddock.

Each Team Over 21.5 Points @ $3.20

Our best bet for Thursday’s NRL Round 21 clash between the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers is the Eels +15.5 / Jenkins to Score / To’o to Score Same Game Multi at $7.50, with both wingers in strong form and the Eels expected to keep this tighter than the line suggests at CommBank Stadium.

Top-of-the-table Penrith look to bounce back from a loss when they take on the Eels in the opening game of NRL Round 21 at CommBank Stadium this Thursday.

Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers

The NRL ladder says this clash won’t be much of a contest, with first playing 15th.

However, form indicates this will be more of a scrap, given both sides have picked up just one win in the last month.

Most recently, Penrith were edged out by a desperate Broncos side, while Parramatta lost 28-12 to the Roosters before their Round 20 bye.

Leg 1 – Eels +15.5

The Eels are expected to lose heavily here.

But with Mitchell Moses back, a spot in the finals on the line, and their home crowd cheering them on, don’t expect this to be all one-way traffic.

Penrith should win, yet in a tighter contest than the 15.5 margin implies.

Leg 2 – Thomas Jenkins to Score

Off the back of a brace and a hattrick, Jenkins went scoreless last week.

It’s unlikely the Panthers’ winger is kept out again though. The Eels have been leaky down the edges all season long, and with 25 tries from 17 games, Jenkins should capitalise.

Leg 3 – Brian To’o to Score

To’o is on a heater after being dropped in the final game of Origin.

The winger has crossed over in three of his last five appearances, scoring both of Penrith’s tries in their loss last week.

Expect him to continue making a point and run in at least one this Thursday evening.

Same Game Multi

Eels +15.5 / Jenkins to Score / To’o to Score = $7.50

Value Bet

Parramatta have struggled for points in recent weeks, scoring 23 or less in their last seven matches.

The Panthers have also gone through a rough patch with their attack, posting 18 or less in three of their last four. However, they’ve kept their opponents under 20 in nine of their last 10.

The head-to-head has also had some low scores, with 2025’s first meeting ending 18-10.

There’s value in backing this to be a low-scoring encounter.

Each Team Under 22.5 @ $4.10

Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Round 20 clash between the Dolphins and North Queensland Cowboys is the Dolphins -3.5 / Over 44.5 / Cobbo 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Same Game Multi at $8.00, with the Dolphins expected to bounce back strongly at Suncorp after last week’s historic 66-0 defeat.

The Dolphins look to bounce back from a historic loss when they host the Cowboys at Suncorp on Sunday evening in the final match of NRL Round 20.

Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys

These two sides sit dead level on the NRL ladder, seventh and eighth, each with 10 wins and 24 points for the season.

The elephant in the room is that the Dolphins come into this clash off the back of a 66-0 drubbing at the hands of the Sharks last weekend, the heaviest defeat in their club’s history.

North Queensland, meanwhile, have bagged two good wins, tipping over the competition’s top side Penrith before edging out the Sea Eagles last Sunday.

Leg 1 – Dolphins -3.5

Expect the home side to put last weekend’s horrors behind them and present a far better brand of football here.

While all of their struggles can’t be put down to Origin absences, they do receive Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jack Bostock and Selwyn Cobbo back, which will do wonders for their attack.

They’ve owned this head-to-head in recent years, winning four straight against the Cowboys including six weeks ago when they won 40-14 on the road.

Leg 2 – Over 44.5 Points Total

Both teams have lethal attacks, and as the Dolphins showed last week, are susceptible to leaking points.

Seven of the Dolphins’ last nine matches have seen 44 or more points scored, while the Cowboys have had 10 such games so far this season.

Leg 3 – Selwyn Cobbo 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Tryscorer

Cobbo is a key finisher for the Dolphins, with 10 tries from 12 matches in 2026, including eight in his last five.

Last time these sides met, the big winger crossed over inside the first five minutes. Expect the hosts to get him involved early once more.

Same Game Multi

Dolphins -3.5 / Over 44.5 / Cobbo 1st, 2nd, or 3rd = $8.00

Value Bet

Burns is also scoring at a healthy clip this season, picking up 12 tries from 13 matches so far.

Playing out on the wing he’s been a focal point of the Cowboys’ attack, and has been rewarded with four doubles already in 2026, three of which have come in his last four matches.

Given how vulnerable the Dolphins looked on defence last week, Burns should see opportunities down the edge on Sunday.

Braidon Burns to Score 2 Tries @ $4.33

Our best bet for Friday’s NRL Round 20 clash between the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm is the Storm +11.5 / Nawaqanitawase to Score / Warbrick to Score Same Game Multi at $5.20, with Melbourne’s desperation and head-to-head dominance making them strong value to cover the spread at Allianz Stadium.

Round 20 of the 2026 NRL sees the Roosters take on the Storm in a fascinating Friday night blockbuster at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm

The third-placed Roosters come into this match pushing for a top-two finish, while the Storm are down in 10th, scrapping to even make the post-season at all.

Both sides are in decent nick, with four wins from their last five.

Most recently, Melbourne edged past the Titans thanks to a late try, while Sydney comfortably saw off the Eels.

Injuries and Origin play are a factor for each team this round, with Sam Walker returning for the Roosters and the Storm losing Jahrome Hughes.

Leg 1 – Storm +11.5

Melbourne have traditionally dominated this head-to-head, winning eight of the last nine meetings between these sides.

They’re also the more motivated side, with desperation a factor as they fight to make the eight.

Their record on the road in 2026 (2-6) doesn’t inspire confidence for an outright bet, but they should still cover a +11.5 spread at minimum.

Leg 2 – Mark Nawaqanitawase to Score

Sydney’s Nawaqanitawase has been a brilliant finisher this season, scoring 12 tries from 12 matches plus two in Origin Game 2.

It’s been a fortnight since he scored in the NRL, but before that he bagged five tries in two matches.

With Walker back driving things for the Roosters, expect more of their attack to be funnelled towards Nawaqanitawase’s edge.

Leg 3 – Will Warbrick to Score

Warbrick is another consistent try scorer that should cross over in this match.

The Storm winger has been on the scoreboard in his last four appearances, including a hattrick in Round 16, and has 15 tries for the season.

Last time these two played, Warbrick found space down the edge and scored early in the second half. Expect him to do so again on Friday.

Same Game Multi

Storm +11.5 / Nawaqanitawase to Score / Warbrick to Score = $5.20

Value Bet

Both teams have skin in the game as far as the ladder goes, but the stakes are much higher for Melbourne.

A win here and they move within striking range of the top eight. A loss, and they potentially fall six points adrift of the cut off and may need to rely on other results to qualify.

For a team that’s not missed out on the top eight since 2002, bar their salary-cap affected season in 2010, this is the kind of spot where Melbourne find a way to win.

Storm 1-12 @ $5.00

Our best bet for Thursday’s NRL Round 20 clash between the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos is the Panthers -13.5 / Over 44.5 / Nathan Cleary to Score Same Game Multi at $6.25, with the Panthers expected to win comfortably at home against a Broncos side on an eight-game losing streak.

The table-topping Panthers host a hapless Broncos side this Thursday to kick off Round 20 of the 2026 NRL in Penrith.

Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos

This is a rematch of the 2025 Preliminary Final, but don’t expect a load of suspense over who wins this one.

Penrith are yet again the pace setters in 2026, winning 13 of their 16 games so far this season for top spot on the ladder.

Brisbane, meanwhile, are down in 14th with their hopes of making the eight all but extinguished already.

Both sides come into this fixture off the back of a bye, with a host of Origin and injured players making their returns.

Leg 1 – Panthers -13.5

This column has previously backed the Broncos to come right in 2026, but there will be no such prediction this week.

The defending champs have lost eight in a row, and for the majority of those it’s not even been close.

Yes, they get the likes of Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas and Reece Walsh back, but such widespread changes are more likely to translate into a lack of cohesion than an immediate shift in form.

Instead, back the well-oiled Panthers machine to take care of business at home and win this one by a healthy margin.

Leg 2 – Over 44.5 Points Total

The Panthers have scored 31.4 points per game on average this season, and that’s including big chunks of the last six weeks without some of their big names on the pitch.

On the other hand, Brisbane leak upwards of 27.5 points per match.

An injection of individual brilliance for the Broncos but shaky defence are all pointing towards this one passing the 44.5 point mark.

Leg 3 – Nathan Cleary to Score

Cleary returns to the NRL after playing out of his skin and single-handedly winning New South Wales the Origin decider last week.

Buoyed by this success, and playing against a weak side that he’ll be eager to assert his dominance over, expect Cleary to have plenty of snipes and cross over himself.

Same Game Multi

Panthers -13.5 / Over 44.5 / Cleary to Score = $6.25

Value Bet

Jenkins is the competition’s most prolific try scorer this season, bagging 25 from 16 appearances.

In 11 of these, he’s scored two tries.

Against a disjointed defence, and having bagged five tries in his last two matches, Jenkins is a strong chance at netting another brace.

Thomas Jenkins to Score 2 Tries @ $2.50

The final game of Round 19 sees the Melbourne Storm attempt to keep their finals hopes alive as they host the Gold Coast Titans at AAMI Park on Sunday.

Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans

The Storm were thrashed 30-4 by the Sea Eagles most recently, which relegated them to 11th on the ladder and put their chances of making the post-season in jeopardy.

Off the back of a bye and with eight players returning from Origin or injury, they’ll be targeting this game as a major bounce-back opportunity.

The Titans have been poor in 2026, winning just twice on the road and four times overall. Last match, the 10th-placed Bulldogs put 30 points on them.

Leg 1 – Storm -16.5

Melbourne may not be the team everyone expected them to be this year, but they’re still a championship side that knows how to take an opportunity when it’s presented.

A home game against a struggling side, with near-perfection required across their remaining eight regular-season fixtures, is where the Storm step up.

Names like Jahrome Hughes and Nick Meaney being back in the run-on team is a huge boost to their attack, which should put a hefty scoreline on the Titans this Sunday.

Leg 2 – Over 47.5 Points Total

Five of the last seven meetings between these two have crossed the 47.5 points mark, while the two that didn’t weren’t far off either.

Expect to see plenty of tries from Melbourne’s end here that will knock off the lion’s share of this total.

The head-to-head has seen the Gold Coast sneak at least three tries in each of their last eight meetings with the Storm too, so they should contribute even in defeat.

Leg 3 – Sualauvi Fa’alogo to Score

Fa’alogo is made for these kinds of matches. The Storm fullback has 13 tries from 16 matches this season and leads his team for line breaks.

Any time Melbourne have scored 40+ points in 2026, Fa’alogo has picked up at least one try.

Against a Titans defence that’s leaked 387 points already this year, he’s likely to be a tryscorer yet again.

Same Game Multi

Storm -16.5 / Over 47.5 / Fa’alogo to Score = $5.10

Value Bet

Warbrick is Melbourne’s finishing machine, with 15 tries from 16 games in 2026, including one in each of their last four.

Crucially, the big winger has bagged three or more tries on two occasions already this season, in Round 16 against the Raiders and earlier in the year against the Cowboys in Round 4.

He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and in a match that should open up, he could have another hattrick coming his way.

Will Warbrick to Score 3 Tries @ $8.50

The Warriors are out for revenge when they head to Campbelltown to take on the Tigers in Round 19 of the NRL on Friday.

Wests Tigers vs New Zealand Warriors

Last time these two sides met, Wests came to Auckland and handed the Warriors their first loss of the season against all odds.

This time, New Zealand are again heavy favourites to win, sitting second on the ladder compared to the Tigers’ 12th.

Each enter off the back of a loss, with the hosts going down 24-10 to fellow cellar-dwellers the Dragons while the Warriors were pipped 26-24 in a top-four clash against the Dolphins before their bye last weekend.

Leg 1 – Warriors 13+

The expectation of a big home victory got to the Warriors in their first meeting with the Tigers this season, but that won’t be the case this time.

New Zealand are a more measured side who have their sights set on a top-two finish and will know that bagging these kinds of wins is critical.

They’ve got captain James Fisher-Harris as well as Leka Halasima back in the mix, and should put a big margin on a team that’s struggling to keep up with the competition’s worst sides at the moment.

Leg 2 – Over 46.5 Points Total

Points have flowed in the last five meetings between New Zealand and the Tigers, with an average total of 48 per match.

Considering the Warriors have scored the third-highest number of points in 2026 and the Tigers are leaking the third most, it’s hard to see this being a low-scoring game.

Leg 3 – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to Score

With Dallin Watene-Zelezniak out of this one, Nicoll-Klokstad will see even more action than usual down the edge.

The Warriors’ winger picked up four tries against the Cowboys in Round 16 and dotted down again against the Dolphins for his eighth try of the season.

In good form and against one of the worst defensive teams, Nicoll-Klokstad scoring is a high probability.

Same Game Multi

Warriors 13+ / Over 46.5 / Nicoll-Klokstad to Score = $5.25

Value Bet

Big second-rower Halasima will be chomping at the bit this weekend, having been out of action since Round 13 with a hamstring injury.

He’ll be eager to make up for lost time, and has a good chance at adding to his five 2026 tries with his bustling ball-running and elite aerial game.

Halasima to Score @ $3.40

This weekend’s NRL action wraps up with a table-topping blockbuster, as the Knights host the Dolphins in Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins

The Knights and Dolphins are the two form teams of the competition right now.

Newcastle have won six of their last seven, while the Dolphins are on an eight-match heater. Both have 10 wins for the season and are second-equal overall on points, putting the Dolphins third on the ladder and the Knights fifth.

The hosts are without Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best due to Origin. The Dolphins lose six starters, including Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Isaiya Katoa.

Leg 1 – Knights 1-12

Form says the Dolphins win this, but team sheets point strongly towards the Knights.

The visitors have lost close to half of their run-on side thanks to Origin and injuries, which guts their otherwise red-hot attack.

They’ve an impressive unit and will still keep this one close, but Newcastle’s greater cohesion gives them the edge here.

Leg 2 – Under 50.5 Points Total

The Knights have been winning ugly in recent weeks and that’s likely what they do here as well.

They gritted out a 12-6 win over the Tigers last round and a tight one over the Eels the week before.

Without Best and Ponga, it’s hard to see them turning on much razzle dazzle in this one. Expect another scrappy effort that gets the job done.

Leg 3 – Jamayne Isaako to Score

Isaako will carry more of the attacking burden due to the Dolphins’ backline being stripped of its other stars.

The big winger has a track record of stepping up to the plate when needed, having scored five times already during this Origin period, and should do so again.

Same Game Multi

Knights 1-12 / Under 50.5 / Isaako to Score = $11.00

Value Bet

Young hasn’t crossed over since Round 11, making the Knights’ winger well overdue for a try.

He has a tendency to score his points in batches, with two hattricks and a further three braces already in 2026.

Given the Dolphins’ makeshift backline, backing him to collect another hattrick this round is excellent value.

Dominic Young to Score 3 Tries @ $12.00

Round 18 of the NRL sees an embattled Brisbane Broncos host the Cronulla Sharks at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening.

Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks

The Broncos have all but kissed their title defence goodbye, with a seven-match losing streak relegating them to 13th on the table.

Their most recent defeat was an improved effort, leading the Roosters at half-time only to fall 24-18.

For the Sharks, they come into this clash off the back of a bye, before which they also lost to the Roosters. They’re tracking much better in 2026, sitting eighth with eight wins from 14.

Both sides have a raft of Origin absentees, with Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan out for Brisbane and Cronulla sans Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora.

Leg 1 – Broncos +6.5

Brisbane may be languishing low on the table, but they won’t keep losing forever.

This is a head-to-head they’ve historically dominated, winning 10 of their last 13. Broncos vs Sharks matches are typically tight too, with only one 10+ margin in the past decade.

Backing the Broncos to win outright is a risk, but they should cover the +6.5 spread at a minimum.

Leg 2 – Second Half Highest Scoring

Reshuffled sides usually take time to gel, and both teams have significant changes to their attacks courtesy of next week’s Origin.

Expect this one to be scrappy initially, before the points begin flowing in the second half.

Leg 3 – Ronaldo Mulitalo to Score

Mulitalo has only been back from injury for five games, yet he’s already picked up five tries in 2026.

The Sharks’ winger is a clinical finisher and should see ample opportunity against a Brisbane defence that’s leaked 413 points already this season.

Same Game Multi

Broncos +6.5 / Second Half Highest Scoring / Mulitalo to Score = $6.50

Value Bet

This column has been tipping the Broncos to break their drought for weeks now, and the same reasoning stands.

Despite poor form, they’re a quality side that will eventually put it together.

Given their rough run, there’s excellent value on Brisbane putting a few points on Cronulla in front of a home crowd.

Broncos to Win by 8+ @ $4.40