NRL 2025 Round 17 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

With around three months to go in the NRL season, it’s safe to say that things are tightening up. Incredibly, just two games separate the Broncos in 5th from the Rabbitohs in 16th, meaning there will likely be plenty of ladder movement in the weeks to come We’re back to a full slate of eight games this weekend, and with lines of 4.5 points or less for five of them, there could be more close finishes on the way. Below, take a look at my match previews and NRL tips for every game in Round 17, kicking off with a huge clash between the Bulldogs and Panthers.

Odds provided by Playup

Date: Thursday, 26th of June

Kick-off: 7.50pm AEST

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Broadcast: Nine/9Gem, Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Panthers: $2.10

Bulldogs: $1.74

Match Preview

After a dreadful start to the season, the Panthers were always going to make a run, and over the past six weeks that’s exactly what they’ve done. They’ve lost just one game in that time, but last weekend’s defeat of the Warriors in New Zealand was their best yet, coming with five of their best players absent on State of Origin duties.

But nothing will come easy against the Bulldogs, who will also have a bunch of stars returning from Origin. Canterbury have spent much of the season on top of the ladder but they have had a relatively soft draw over the past few weeks, and this will be the toughest test they’ve faced in some time.

Much depends on the health of Nathan Cleary, but he looks likely to play and if he does there is an argument to be made that they should be favourites. They might not be the side they once were, but the Panthers are beginning to look dangerous and look like value at odds of up to $2.20 with a couple of new bookies, including EliteBet.

Expert Tip

Panthers to win @ $2.20 with PlayUp

The four-time reigning Premiers are beginning to look dangerous.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Panthers to win by 1-12 @ $3.30 with Bet365
• Panthers +2.5 @ $1.85 with Bet365

Date: Friday, 27th of June

Kick-off: 6.00pm AEST

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney 

Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Sea Eagles: $1.48

Tigers: $2.65

Match Preview

The Sea Eagles have been as erratic as anyone this season, with a 20-point loss to the worst team in the league prior to their bye last weekend a stark contrast to their 28-point defeat of the Broncos just a fortnight earlier. The gap between their best and worst is huge, but the end result is that they are 6-8 and somehow, just a game back from 5th.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, but you have to feel for them with the last three of those by just four points. But the make-up of the ladder means that all is not yet lost, and a couple of wins in a row could have them right back in the frame for the top eight.

This is a big game for both teams, and considering how bad Manly were in their last outing, the Tigers are more than capable of causing an upset. But as was the case last season, the Sea Eagles’ form has generally been a hell of a lot better at home than away, and back at 4 Pines Park for the first time in nearly a month they can hand the Tigers their fourth consecutive single-figure loss.

Expert Tip

Sea Eagles to win by 1-12 @ $3.10 with PlayUp

The Sea Eagles should be too strong, but the Tigers have made a habit of losing close games this season.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Under 48.5 total match points @ $1.88 with EliteBet
• Tolutau Koula anytime tryscorer @ $2.50 with Bet365

Date: Friday, 27th of June

Kick-off: 8.00pm AEST

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Broadcast: Channel Nine/9 Gem, Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Knights: $3.10

Raiders: $1.37

Match Preview

The Knights have been alternating wins and losses for eight weeks now. Last week’s win over the Dolphins kept them within reaching distance of the eight, but they’ll have a tough time winning a second consecutive game for the first time since March this Friday night.

The Raiders have made winning tight games look like a walk in the park over recent seasons, and did it once again last weekend with a four-point defeat of the Tigers – their third win by six points or less in the past month. But a win is a win, and that was their fifth in a row, a streak which has seen them move to 2nd and a massive three games clear inside the top four.

The Knights have been the lowest scoring team in the league this year, but they have balanced that out to some extent by conceding less than all but two other teams. Expect a relatively low-scoring game and one which could easily have a tight finish, but the visitors’ knack for winning close games may once again see them earn the two points.

Expert Tip

Raiders to win by 1-12 @ $3.00 Bet365

Of the Raiders’ 12 wins this season, 8 have come by 12 points or less.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Under 44.5 total match points @ $1.88 with PlayUp
• Raiders to win by 1-5 @ $7.25 with Bet365

Date: Saturday, 28th of June

Kick-off: 3.00pm AEST

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Broncos: $1.50

Warriors: $2.45

Match Preview

Saturday kicks off with a huge game between two teams side by side on the ladder, the Broncos sitting in 5th and the Warriors in 4th. But the gap between the two is far greater than that would suggest. Incredibly, the Broncos are as far away from the Warriors as they are from the Titans way back in last, with six points separating them from each of those teams, so to say their position in 5th is precarious is an understatement.

But the home team enters this name on the back of a much-needed two-game win streak, and with 78 points having been scored in their past two games their talented offence is beginning to put it together, with Gehamat Shibasaki and Josiah Karapani major catalysts for that with four tries apiece in those games. The Warriors, meanwhile, are coming off a disappointing loss to a severely Origin-weakened Panthers outfit.

It's no coincidence that the Broncos’ form has coincided with consecutive home games, and with a 5-2 record at Suncorp Stadium they’ll be a lot tougher to beat in this game than they would be if it were in New Zealand. Expect plenty of tries from two in-form offensive teams, but the home side looks like one of the best NRL tips for the week to cover this line, set at 5.5 on most betting apps.

Expert Tip

Broncos -5.5 @ $1.90 with PlayUp

The Broncos are 5-2 in home games this season and have an average winning margin of 18.4 points in those wins.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Over 48.5 total match points @ $1.88 with PlayUp
• Josiah Karapani anytime tryscorer @ $1.85 with Bet365

• Storm to win by 13+ vs Sharks @ $2.35 with Bet365 – The Sharks consistently struggle against good teams, and the Storm are dominant on their home turf.
• Dolphins over 26.5 points  @ $1.91 with Bet365 – The Dolphins have the second-highest scoring offence in the league and have been in incredible form, while the Rabbitohs have conceded the 4th most points in the NRL.
• Broncos -5.5 vs Warriors  @ $1.90 with Playup – The Broncos have had their struggles away, but it’s hard to argue with a 5-2 record at home and a winning margin of nearly 20 points.

Same Game Multi Tip

Date: Saturday, 28th of June

Kick-off: 5.30pm AEST

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Dragons: $1.67

Eels: $2.20

Match Preview

Neither the Dragons nor the Eels are world beaters, but despite each having just five wins to their names they are both within three points or less of the top eight. The Dragons, however, suffered a couple of losses in a row prior to last weekend’s bye, and an inability to score with any sort of consistency has plagued them during that time.

In contrast, the Eels put up 36 points in their second-highest scoring performance of the season last weekend, with a Will Penisini double in a four-minute span leading them to a 16-point. It was, however, against the Titans at home, so let’s not get too carried away.

Theoretically this is an important game, with the winner potentially able to move within a game of the top eight, though don’t expect it to get too much interest from neutrals. The Dragons have been poor in their last two games, but fresh off a bye they can bounce back on their home turf.

Expert Tip

Dragons -3.5 @ $1.90 with PlayUp

The Dragons have had a bad couple of games, but should be too strong for the Eels at home.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Dragons 7+ @ $2.35 with EliteBet
• Under 46.5 total match points @ $1.88 with PlayUp

Date: Saturday, 28th of June

Kick-off: 7.50pm AEST

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Dolphins: $1.60

Rabbitohs: $2.35

Match Preview

The Dolphins’ blistering run of form came to an end last weekend, as they conceded a last-minute try to go down by six points to the Knights. But it’s hard to forget what they did in the three games prior, scoring a ridiculous 162 points while conceding just 18, Jack Bostock scoring six tries in that time, multiple other players at least three, and Jamayne Isaako converting twenty-four tries (in three weeks!).

In contrast the Bunnies have lost four in a row, but their form has been better than that record would indicate. They have literally played the top four teams during that time, and with three of the losses coming by six points or less they could easily have snared at least one or two wins.

Though the Dolphins are 9th and the Rabbitohs 16th, just one game separates these two teams. The Bunnies have given some very good teams a scare over the past few weeks, but the Dolphins’ have played some great footy of late, and their rampant offence should see them put up a big enough score to get the job done.

Expert Tip

Dolphins over 26.5 points @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Dolphins have averaged 44.5 points per game in their past four outings.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Dolphins to win by 1-12 @ $3.15 with Bet365
• Over 48.5 total match points @ $1.88 with EliteBet

Date: Sunday, 29th of June

Kick-off: 2.00pm AEST

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Storm: $1.37

Sharks: $3.10

Match Preview

The Storm avoided defeat to the Rabbitohs by the skin of their teeth last weekend, winning with a Ryan Papenhuyzen golden point in the 83rd minute. That saw them jump into third on the back of three consecutive wins, their last loss coming just over a month ago when they played the Sharks.

But while the Storm have found some winning form since that game, Cronulla have gone in the opposite direction. They’ve lost three of their last four, their inability to challenge good teams once again prevalent. All three of those losses came against top eight teams, which took their record against the current top eight this season to a measly 1-6.

Will they take confidence from the fact that the Storm is the one good team they have beaten this year? Maybe, but confidence won’t be enough to overcome the fact that they don’t generally beat good teams for a reason. And with this game taking place at AAMI Park, where the Storm are 6-1 this season, it’s hard to imagine the Sharks getting particularly close.

Expert Tip

Storm 13+ @ $2.35 with Bet365

The Storm are 6-1 at home this season, with their average winning margin in those games a huge 28 points.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Storm -9.5 @ $1.90 with PlayUp
• Grant Anderson anytime tryscorer @ $2.50 with Bet365

Date: Sunday, 29th of June

Kick-off: 4.05pm AEST

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Broadcast: Channel Nine/9Now, Fox League, Kayo

Bookmaker odds (PlayUp):

Titans: $2.15

Cowboys: $1.70

Match Preview

Round 17 ends with a relatively uninspiring game between the Titans and the Cowboys, arguably the two worst teams in the comp at the moment. The Titans certainly deserve that title, sitting dead last and having won just one of their last five games.

The Cowboys, incredibly, are just a game out of the eight, but they have an appalling 138-26 aggregate over the past three weeks. Their points differential has now spiralled to the worst in the comp at -140, marginally beyond the Titans’ -138.

These two teams have conceded the equal most points in the league this season and it’s not close, but neither of their offences are particularly capable of taking advantage of that. The Titans will at least likely be boosted by the return of David Fifita; he’s not going to transform them into a competitive team overnight, but given the form of the Cowboys his first game back might just be a rare victory for his team on their home turf.

Expert Tip

Titans to win @ $2.15 with PlayUp

It’s hard to ignore the fact that the Cowboys have lost their last three games by an average of over 37 points.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Titans to win by 1-12 @ $3.55 with Bet365
• Titans +2.5 @ $1.90 with Bet365