NRL 2025 Round 20 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

Round 19 was a good one for the top 8, with the Dolphins its only member to suffer a loss over the course of the weekend. It’s indicative of how tight the ladder is that that defeat was enough to see them slip from 7th down to 10th, outside the eight despite boasting the second-best points difference in the league. They won’t have to wait long to rectify that as they face the Cowboys on Thursday night, kicking off a round that will also see the Sharks host the Roosters, the Panthers face the Rabbitohs and the Sea Eagles head to Melbourne to take on the Storm. Below, take a look at the previews and NRL tips from Australianbettingsites’ resident league expert for all eight games this weekend.

Odds provided by Playup

• Date: Thursday, 17th of July
• Kick off: 7.50pm AEST
• Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.53	$2.50
	$1.56	$2.45
	$1.55	$2.48

Match Analysis

The Dolphins were unable to replicate their otherworldly form from recent weeks against the Sharks last Friday night, failing to score until the 66th minute. They still went close to making a late comeback, but tries in the 74th and 79th minute blew the margin out to 12 points and sent the Dolphins from 7th way down to 10th. A win here, however, and they will likely find themselves back inside the top 8 by round’s end.

The Cowboys’ recent woes have been much-publicised, with just a solitary win from their last six games and that coming against the bottom-placed Titans, but they have actually been solid the past fortnight, losing by a single score to first the Storm and last week the Bulldogs. Consistency is not exactly their forte, but if they can replicate that kind of form they are a chance against the Dolphins.

Hamiso Tubuai-Fidow will return for the Dolphins after being rested following the Origin decider last weekend, and his presence will make a massive difference for the home side. Though the Cowboys have played much better the last couple of weeks, the Dolphins recent form has by and large been excellent, and on their home turf with their fullback back in action, they should be too strong.

Expert Tip

Dolphins -5.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Dolphins have put up some big scores and recorded some comfortable wins of late

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Over 48.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Dolphins 13+ @ $2.90 with PlayUp

• Date: Friday, 18th of July
• Kick off: 6.00pm AEST
• Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.65	$2.25
	$1.65	$2.25
	$1.66	$2.28

Match Analysis

Though the top 8 is gradually beginning to take shape, there is still plenty of water left to go under the bridge before finals time, and the Sharks and Roosters are two of the teams whose fortunes remain very much up in the air. The Sharks badly needed a win against the Dolphins last weekend following two consecutive losses, and in keeping with a season in which they have struggled away from home and been very tough to beat at home, their return to Sharks Stadium yielded a much-needed victory.

The Roosters also needed to bounce back following a disappointing two-point loss to the Tigers, and though they needed all 80 minutes to do so, they were just able to hold off the Dragons in a tight, high-scoring affair. That win saw them sneak back inside the top 8, but they’ll slip straight back out if they can’t upset the Sharks this weekend.

This should be a tense and fiercely contested game with plenty on the line for both teams, and to me the betting sites are being a little too friendly to the Sharks. Granted they are 6-2 at home this season, but the bulk of those wins have been against bottom 9 teams and it wasn’t long ago that they were pumped here 40-10 by the Warriors. The Roosters have been playing well more consistently than their opponents this weekend, and at good odds can snatch a tight and very important win.

Expert Tip

Roosters to win @ $2.28 with EliteBet

This should be a close one, but the Roosters have been more consistent than the Sharks over the past month and look like good value.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Roosters +2.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365
• Roosters 1-12 @ $3.50 with PlayUp

• Date: Friday, 18th of July
• Kick off: 8.00pm AEST
• Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.23	$4.20
	$1.23	$4.20
	$1.23	$4.20

Match Analysis

The Panthers’ tilt at a fifth straight Premiership continues to gain momentum, with an easy win over the Eels last weekend marking their fifth in a row. They did that without a number of their Origin stars, and with the likes of Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards returning to the line-up and Nathan Cleary starting on the field, they will be significantly boosted this Friday night.

Which is exactly what the Rabbitohs don’t need. The Bunnies have lost six in a row after starting the season with a lot of promise, and though they will welcome back Latrell Mitchell this weekend, Wayne Bennett still has far from a full-strength list to choose from.

The Rabbitohs had been losing very competitively to excellent teams throughout June, but the continual lack of reward for effort appeared to be taking its toll in the last couple of games before last week’s bye. After a week’s rest they will hopefully return with some renewed vigour, but the Panthers, bolstered by a raft of key returns, should be able to make it six on the trot without too much trouble.

Expert Tip

Panthers -8.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Panthers are in-form, boosted by numerous big ins, and the Bunnies have been flailing of late.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Panthers 13+ @ $2.45 with PlayUp
• Under 46.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet

• Date: Saturday, 19th of July
• Kick off: 3.00pm AEST
• Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.26	$3.90
	$1.25	$4.00
	$1.27	$3.80

Match Analysis

The Raiders enjoyed a well-deserved week off in Round 19 after seven wins on the trot, with the free couple of points keeping them a game clear at the top of the ladder. Five of the last six of those wins, of course, came by six points or less in typical Raiders’ fashion, but a win is a win and with a clash against the Eels at home this Saturday, they look likely to retain their spot atop the table for at least another week.

After finding a little spark midway through the season, Parramatta have lost their last two games comfortably to fall to 5-11, their latest defeat a 32-10 thrashing at the hands of the Panthers. The impending return of Mitch Moses will provide them with a much-needed boost, but more than likely he’ll be given another week to recover from his calf injury.

Regardless, the Raiders will be expecting to win this one, and with their points difference fairly similar to a couple of teams they may be fighting for spots with, they’ll be keen to win it well. For all their winning ways, however, they nonetheless seem to find themselves in very tight games more often than not. Tipping the Raiders to win close games has been a pretty profitable move this season – and, in fact, for the past couple – so another close win for the boys from the nation’s capital looks like one of the better value NRL tips this weekend.

Expert Tip

Raiders to win by 1-12 @ $3.15 with PlayUp

The Raiders should win this, but they have an unbelievable habit of winning close games.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Eels +12.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365
• Under 47.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet

• Storm to win by 13+ @ $2.40 with PlayUp – The Storm are 7-1 at home this year, and their last three games there have yielded wins by 24, 24 and 64 points. The Sea Eagles aren’t that good and with the Storm getting their stars back, they are great value to win easily.
• Panthers -8.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365 – The Panthers have now won five in a row while the Rabbitohs have lost six in a row, and while those wins are getting more and more impressive for Penrith they are getting increasingly heavy for the Bunnies.
• Raiders to win by 1-12 @ $3.15 with PlayUp – The Raiders should really be looking to win this comfortably, but they aren’t exactly your run-of-the-mill top-of-the-ladder team. Their last three wins have all been against teams in the bottom seven, like the Eels, but they’ve only won each of them by four points.
• Warriors -6.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365 – This is more of a bet on the Knights to struggle than anything. They have been reasonably competitive of late despite losing a lot more than they’ve been winning, but with multiple key players out it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them struggle.

Same Game Multi Tip

• Date: Saturday, 19th of July
• Kick off: 5.30pm AEST
• Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.33	$3.35
	$1.33	$3.35
	$1.34	$3.35

Match Analysis

The Bulldogs went a little closer than they would have liked to losing a third consecutive game last weekend, but after going down 8-0 early against the Cowboys, they finally managed to end a close game on the right side of the ledger. Two tries on the brink of half-time took them to a 12-8 lead, and a scoreless second half worked in their favour to keep them in touch with top spot on the NRL ladder.

The Dragons found themselves on the other side of a close game for the second consecutive week, following up their four-point loss to the Raiders with a seven-point defeat at the hands of the Roosters. That was an entertaining game, though that will be of little solace to the Dragons, who are now two games and points difference out of the top 8.

This is an important game for both teams for different reasons, but there is a pretty hefty class differential between the two of them, particularly with the Bulldogs playing on a home deck on which they are typically pretty difficult to beat. The Dragons are usually reasonably competitive and the Bulldogs are not exactly playing at their best at the moment, but the home team should still be comfortably too good.

Expert Tip

Bulldogs -7.5 @ $1.85 with PlayUp

The Bulldogs haven’t been playing their best, but should win this easily at home.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Bulldogs 13+ @ $2.45 with PlayUp
• Under 45.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet

• Date: Saturday, 19th of July
• Kick off: 7.35pm AEST
• Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.34	$3.25
	$1.30	$3.60
	$1.35	$3.30

Match Analysis

It feels as though it’s only a matter of time before the Storm grab top spot on the ladder, though it won’t likely be this week with the Raiders facing a relatively easy match-up against the Eels. The Premiership favourites have now won six games on the trot after easily disposing of the Knights last weekend, and with a pretty handy trio in the form of Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen set to return for this one, it’s hard to see their winning streak coming to an end on Saturday night.

In fairness, the Sea Eagles’ last couple of games have been really solid, with comfortable wins at home against first the Tigers and then the Rabbitohs on either side of the Origin decider helping them slide up to 7th spot. But they have a tough month ahead of them, playing each of the current top three away from home, and this one is probably the most difficult challenge out of all of them.

The Storm have lost just a solitary game at home this season, and have given plenty of teams a pretty healthy belting down at AAMI Park. Belting might be too strong a word for what will likely happen in this game, but the line set by betting apps does look pretty small given what the Storm are capable of and the returns of numerous stars. Expect the home team to get the job done relatively easily.

Expert Tip

Storm to win by 13+ @ $2.40 with PlayUp

These are some pretty good odds for the Storm to win big at a ground at which that’s exactly what they usually do.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Storm -8.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365
• Over 46.5 total match points @ $1.90 with Bet365

• Date: Sunday, 20th of July
• Kick off: 2.00pm AEST
• Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.50	$2.60
	$1.52	$2.55
	$1.51	$2.60

Match Analysis

The Wests Tigers’ tumble following a positive first half of the year continued last weekend, with a pretty meek performance over in New Zealand resulting in a 20-point defeat to the Warriors. That made it seven losses from their last eight games, the solitary win coming by just two points against the Roosters a fortnight ago. They do, however, get an excellent chance to make it two wins in three games when they welcome the bottom-placed Titans to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

The Titans have been entrenched on the bottom of the ladder for some time now, though given they are just a game away from 13th it’s certainly possible that they’ll climb their way out of the doldrums. Whether they’re actually capable of that, however, is a different question. They weren’t terrible against the Broncos last weekend, but it was nonetheless their sixth defeat in seven games and their third in a row.

This is not a game that will inspire a great deal of interest in neutral supporters, though with wins few and far between for these teams lately, they will both view it as a good opportunity to give their fans something to cheer about. Neither team will exactly inspire confidence in anyone bold enough to back them, but the Tigers, for all their recent woes, should be good enough to notch a seventh win of the year.

Expert Tip

Tigers to win by 1-12 @ $3.10 with PlayUp

This is a hard game to predict; the Tigers should win it, but the Titans aren’t without a chance.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Under 47.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Tigers to win outright @ $1.52 with PlayUp

• Date: Sunday, 20th of July
• Kick off: 4.05pm AEST
• Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$2.75	$1.45
	$2.75	$1.45
	$2.75	$1.45

Match Analysis

The Knights have had an interesting few weeks. This will be their fifth home game of their last six and their third in a row, but it will also be their third consecutive game against a team currently in the top four. They haven’t had much success over those last couple of weeks, unsurprising particularly given that it has coincided with Kalyn Ponga’s absence. And with Dylan Lucas now joining he and Fletcher Sharpe on the sidelines, the Knights will most likely continue to struggle.

The Warriors are not without injury concerns of their own, with Rocco Berry set to miss this one after picking up a shoulder injury last week, but despite his loss they bounced back to some form with a 20-point win over the Tigers to break a two-game losing streak. They are the most vulnerable member of the top 4, but they remain two games clear of the Broncos and have ensured that the ball is in their court over the final couple of months of the season.

The Warriors are typically a much better side in New Zealand than out of it, but they’ve actually won two of their last three in Australia and have a 5-3 record overall this season, and McDonald Jones Stadium has not exactly been an impenetrable fortress for visiting teams this season; the Knights are just 2-7 on their home turf this season. All signs point to a Warriors win here, and they should be able to do it fairly comfortably.

Expert Tip

Warriors -6.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Knights don’t really have the depth to deal with their injury woes and will likely be outclassed by the Warriors.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Warriors to win by 13+ @ $3.00 with PlayUp
• Warriors/Warriors half-time/full-time double @ $1.95 with PlayUp