It’s the final round of the NRL season and the top 8 is still not completed, so it’s a massive weekend for some teams around the league. It kicks off on Thursday night footy with a huge top 4 clash as the Broncos are looking to make it 2 straight losses for the Storm.<\/p>\n
The Broncos head into the last game of the regular season against the Storm with a top-four spot on the line, and their form\u2019s peaking at the right time. They\u2019ve won three straight and are 4-1 across their last five, fresh off a 38\u201330 shootout over the Cowboys in Round 26. The attack has real bite\u20143rd in the NRL for points scored and 2nd for tries\u2014so they can pile it on when they click. The watch-out is errors (they\u2019re among the worst in the comp there), which can hand the Storm cheap field position. Overall it\u2019s a 14\u20139 season with solid splits (8\u20133 at home, 6\u20136 away). If they keep the ball tidy and let the strike power do its thing, they\u2019re every chance to lock in that top-four finish.<\/p>\n
The Storm roll into the last game of the regular season against the Broncos sitting comfy in 2nd with a home final locked in, but there\u2019s still a statement to make. They\u2019re 17\u20136 on the year, 4\u20131 across the last five, and travel nicely at 8\u20133 away. Last week\u2019s 30-point thud to the Roosters at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium stings, but the season profile is still elite: 1st in the NRL for tries and 2nd for points scored. That strike power should ask plenty of questions of Brisbane. If they reset after the hiccup and play at their usual tempo, they\u2019re every chance to finish strong and keep momentum rolling into the finals.<\/p>\n
Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Brisbane are 4-1 in their last 5 games at this venue. Melbourne are 3-2 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10 meetings, the Storm have won 9 games against the Broncos.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Storm have got Hughes, Meaney and Coates back in the lineup so they’ll be playing hard, especially after last week’s shocker. So I like the Over, which is 9-1 when the Broncos face the Storm at home.<\/p>\n Over 48.5 = $1.87<\/a><\/p>\n Same Game Multi<\/strong><\/p>\n Papenhuyzen likes playing in QLD, he has scored in 7 of his last 8 games when the Storm play up north. Josiah Karapani has scored in 3 straight and I think he makes it 4 straight against a shaky Storm edge defence that leaked plenty of winger tries last week.<\/p>\n Over 48.5 \/ Ryan Papenhuyzen Anytime Tryscorer \/ Josiah Karapani Anytime Tryscorer = $6.00<\/a><\/p>\n The Sea Eagles take on the Warriors with everything on the line\u2014sitting 10th, they basically have to win to sneak into the finals. It\u2019s been a mixed run (11\u201312 overall, 2\u20133 in the last five) but they\u2019ve found a bit of spark with back-to-back wins, including a 40\u201324 result over the Dragons in Round 26. Manly have been much tidier at home (7\u20134) than on the road (4\u20138), so if they keep that recent momentum rolling and cut out the lapses, they\u2019re right in this one.<\/p>\n The Warriors head into this one against Manly with a top-four sniff still alive, sitting 6th and able to jump if results fall their way. It\u2019s been a solid 14\u20139 season with balanced splits (7\u20135 at home, 7\u20134 away), though recent form is patchy at 2\u20133 and they\u2019re coming off a tight 4-point loss to the Eels at Mount Smart. The big positive? They\u2019re one of the best at looking after the footy\u2014ranked 17th for errors made\u2014so their set completion and field position should hold up. If they keep the mistakes down and turn pressure into points, they\u2019re every chance to edge a finals-style arm wrestle with the Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Manly are 6-4 in their last 10 games at 4 Pines Park. New Zealand are 1-4 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 5 meetings, the head to head is squared at 2-2 (1 draw).<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Under has a 4-0 record at this venue and the Warriors have struggled to score pts with their halfback out for the season.<\/p>\n Under 47.5 = $1.90<\/a><\/p>\n The Roosters hit this one with everything to play for\u2014sitting 8th and a win punches their finals ticket\u2014so expect some intent. They\u2019re 12\u201311 overall and rolling nicely at 4\u20131 across the last five, fresh off a huge 40\u201310 statement over the Storm in Round 26. The attack stacks up (5th for points and 5th for tries), which suits a high-tempo derby against Souths. The watch-out is errors\u2014they\u2019re among the worst in the comp there (3rd most)\u2014and the home split isn\u2019t perfect at 5\u20136, though they\u2019ve travelled OK at 7\u20135 away. If they keep the handling tidy and lean on that strike power, the Chooks have the momentum to get it done in a massive game.<\/p>\n The Rabbitohs head into the derby with a bit of swagger after three straight wins and a 40\u20130 thumping of the Dragons at Stadium Australia. It\u2019s still been a rough year overall (9\u201314), and the attack has lacked punch (bottom-tier for points and tries), but they\u2019ve cleaned up the handling\u2014one of the better teams at limiting errors. The splits tell the story too: 6\u20136 at home, 3\u20138 on the road. Sitting 13th and playing for pride, they\u2019d love nothing more than to spoil the Roosters\u2019 party in a fierce rivalry spot\u2014and on current form, they\u2019re not without a shout.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Sydney are 2-3 in their last 5 games at this venue. South Sydney are 4-6 in their last 10 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n The Roosters are 4-1 against the Rabbitohs in the last 5.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n I think the Roosters get the job done but it should be high scoring. They’re 8-1 against the Over as a home team.<\/p>\n Over 50.5 = $1.90<\/a><\/p>\n The Dragons finish up against the Panthers with nothing on the line ladder-wise (15th), but pride still matters. It\u2019s been a tough year at 8\u201315 and they\u2019ve dropped three on the trot, including a 16-point loss to Manly at Jubilee. Recent form is patchy (2\u20133 last five), and the road record has hurt (2\u201310) even though they\u2019ve been serviceable at home (6\u20135). If they can start clean and keep the errors down, they can make it a scrap\u2014but they\u2019ll need to lift to match the Panthers\u2019 tempo.<\/p>\n The Panthers face the Dragons with 7th spot locked in\u2014can\u2019t climb any higher\u2014but they\u2019ll still want a spark before finals after three straight losses. It\u2019s been a 12\u201310 season and 2\u20133 across the last five, with a flat one last week (28\u20134 to the Bulldogs at Stadium Australia). They\u2019re 6\u20136 at home and actually better away (6-1-4), so the big focus is cleaning up the start and getting their attack humming again. If they settle early and win field position, they\u2019re a good chance to finish the regular season on a positive note.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n St. George are 6-4 in their last 10 games at WIN Stadium. Penrith are 2-3 at this venue since 2010.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 5 meetings, the Panthers have won 4 games against the Dragons.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Over is 4-1 when the Dragons host the Panthers at home.<\/p>\n Over 47.5 = $1.85<\/a><\/p>\n The Titans wrap up a rough season against the Tigers, sitting 17th but still a chance to dodge the wooden spoon if the Knights slip and they get the W. Form\u2019s ugly\u2014five losses on the bounce and 0\u20135 in the last five\u2014and they\u2019re coming off a 36\u201330 defeat to the Dolphins at Lang Park. It\u2019s 5\u201318 overall with tough splits (2\u20139 at home, 3\u20139 away). The attack showed signs last week, but they\u2019ll need to tidy up and finish sets to give themselves a shot here.<\/p>\n The Tigers finish up against the Titans after a solid-but-shy-of-finals year, sitting 11th and looking to end on a positive note. They\u2019ve dropped two straight and are 2\u20133 across the last five, coming off a 24\u201310 loss to the Raiders in Canberra. The splits are pretty even (5\u20137 at home, 4\u20137 away), but the attack\u2019s been the sticking point\u2014bottom half for both points and tries (14th in each). Still, at 9\u201314 overall they\u2019ve been competitive, and if they tidy up their sets and find a bit of polish in good ball, they\u2019re a genuine chance to finish the season with a win.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Gold Coast are 0-5 in their last 5 games at this venue. Wests are 5-5 in their last 10 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10, the Titans hold a 6-4 record.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Tigers to finish off the season with a win against a Titans side that has lost 12 of their last 13 in the sunshine state.<\/p>\n Wests Tigers -1.5 = $1.90<\/a><\/p>\n The Bulldogs finish up against the Sharks with 3rd spot already locked in, so this is all about keeping the momentum humming into finals. They\u2019re 16\u20137 on the year and coming off a statement 28\u20134 win over the Panthers at Stadium Australia, a nice response after a patchy 2\u20133 run across the last five. The splits look strong too\u20149\u20132 at home and 7\u20135 away\u2014so they\u2019ve travelled and hosted well all season. Even without ladder pressure, expect a pretty businesslike effort to bank form and stay sharp for next week.<\/p>\n The Sharks roll into the Bulldogs clash with a bit to play for\u2014sitting 5th at 14\u20139 and a live chance at the top four if they win and the Broncos slip. Form\u2019s strong (4\u20131 last five, W2) and they\u2019re coming off a 40\u201316 thumping of the Knights at Sharks Stadium. The split\u2019s the big talking point: rock-solid at home (10\u20132) but a lot shakier on the road (4\u20137), so travel could be the leveller. If they bring the same intent and tidy up away from home, they\u2019re right in this, even against a Dogs outfit that\u2019s already locked into 3rd.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Canterbury are 4-1 in their last 5 games at this venue. Cronulla are 2-3 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10 meetings, the Sharks have won 7 games against the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n This should be a tough and defensive game, with the Under saluting. It’s 5-1 in the Dogs last 6.<\/p>\n Under 44.5 = $1.80<\/a><\/p>\n The Dolphins are right in the mix for a finals berth, sitting 9th and needing the Roosters to slip, so there\u2019s plenty on the line against the Raiders. They\u2019re coming off a 36\u201330 win over the Titans at Lang Park and while the recent run is a bit up-and-down (2\u20133 last five), the attack is legit\u2014top of the comp for points and 2nd for tries. They\u2019ve generally looked after the footy better this year and the splits are decent (6\u20135 at home, 5\u20137 away). If they bring that scoring punch and keep the errors down, they\u2019re every chance to finish the regular season with a statement.<\/p>\n The Raiders roll into this one against the Dolphins with top spot locked up and a few big names getting a rest, but the form line still pops: 19\u20134 on the season, W3, and 4\u20131 across the last five after a comfortable 24\u201310 win over the Tigers in Canberra. They\u2019ve travelled well (8\u20133 away) and been a wagon at home (11\u20131), and the profile is tidy\u2014low error rate (ranked 17th for errors made is best; you\u2019ve listed 14th, still solid) with top-four punch for both points and tries. Even with rotations, the system holds up, so the question is just intensity with nothing to gain. If they start clean and kick to corners, their depth can still make this a grind the Dolphins have to chase.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n The Dolphins are 4-3 at this venue since 2023. Canberra are 1-2 at this venue since 2010.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n The Raiders are 3-1 against the Dolphins since 2023.<\/p>\nManly-Warringah Sea Eagles (10th) vs New Zealand Warriors (6th)<\/h3>\n
Sydney Roosters (8th) vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (13th)<\/h3>\n
St. George Illawarra Dragons (15th) vs Penrith Panthers (7th)<\/h3>\n
Gold Coast Titans (17th) vs Wests Tigers (11th)<\/h3>\n
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (3rd) vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (5th)<\/h3>\n
Dolphins (9th) vs Canberra Raiders (1st)<\/h3>\n