NRL Round 26 Tipping: The Roar’s expert tips and predictions by StuffsEarth

It’s the final countdown, do-doo-do-doooo, do-doo-do-do-doooo.

Well, not quite but we are preilously close to the finish of the NRL regular season with two rounds to go.

It’s actually the last we’ll see of the Warriors in 2024 as they have the bye next week and therefore, the final time Shaun Johnson will run onto an NRL field, fittingly after his home farewell in Auckland last weekend he will say goodbye at his other home ground of Shark Park on Saturday night.

The judiciary has thrown a few curveballs at teams heading into Round 26 with Souths skipper Cameron Murray, Roosters veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sharks centre Jesse Ramien, Manly forward Corey Waddell and Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton rubbed out.

Waddell and Crichton’s teams go head to head on Friday night in what shapes up as one of the crucial matches of the round.

Manly need to get their finals campaign back on track to avoid a road trip in the first round of the playoffs after sinking to seventh while the fifth-placed Dogs need to win and hope the sliding Panthers, or the Roosters or Sharks, drop a game in the final fortnight so they can sneak into the top four.

This week’s other key matches are the Cowboys at home to the depleted Storm on Thursday, the Dragons needing to beat the Eels on Saturday to hold onto eighth spot followed by the Dolphins and Broncos squaring off at Suncorp Stadium with the losing team knocked out of the playoff race.

North Queensland Cowboys

v

Melbourne Storm

NRL : Head To Head

Thu, 29 Aug 2024, 19:50

Canterbury Bulldogs

v

Manly Sea Eagles

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NRL : Head To Head

Fri, 30 Aug 2024, 18:00

Penrith Panthers

v

South Sydney Rabbitohs

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NRL : Head To Head

Fri, 30 Aug 2024, 20:00

Parramatta Eels

v

St. George Illawarra Dragons

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NRL : Head To Head

Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 15:00

Dolphins

v

Brisbane Broncos

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NRL : Head To Head

Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 17:30

Cronulla Sharks

v

New Zealand Warriors

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NRL : Head To Head

Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 19:35

Newcastle Knights

v

Gold Coast Titans

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NRL : Head To Head

Sun, 1 Sep 2024, 14:00

Sydney Roosters

v

Canberra Raiders

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NRL : Head To Head

Sun, 1 Sep 2024, 16:05

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check PlayUp Website For Latest Odds

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In The Roar‘s expert tipping panel, Mike Meehall Wood holders a slender lead over Nick Wasiliev heading into the final couple of rounds.

Sledges have been flying back and forth. Management was forced to step in at one stage to separate them at one stage. But the Bunker reviewed the footage and found there was no further punishment required. Just like Stephen Crichton last Friday in Auckland.

Here’s how the experts see Round 26 unfolding.

Stuart Thomas

The Cowboys are finals bound and now jostling for position. Fifth helps plenty but a win over the ladder leaders would be needed to do so. They can manage it. Bulldogs and Sea Eagles is a ripper and could play out again in the finals. Canterbury have far better form.

For the first time in a while, Penrith are under a little pressure to hold onto a spot in the top four. Two points against the Rabbitohs will be a cinch. The Dragons have a banana skin game against the Eels on the road and a slip up could make the race for eighth incredible heading into the final round. Eels to shake up the final’s aspirants.

Both the Dolphins and Broncos are in that race, yet Brisbane have the weapons to win what will potentially be one of the games of the season. The Sharks cannot afford to slip up in the quest for second place and they won’t against the Warriors in the shire.

Something tells me the season might end for the Knights when they face the Titans in the Hunter. Realistically, they don’t deserve to be there. The final match of the round will see off another pretender when the Chooks beat the Raiders in Sydney.

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Tyrell Sloan is tackled. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Nick Wasiliev

Storm, Bulldogs, Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Roosters

The penultimate round of the competition is here –  and before we know it, the season will be over. Enjoy it while you can!

Despite the personnel getting rested, I still back the Storm. Momentum becomes the priority if you are in Melbourne’s situation, and the young guns will be hungry to maintain the rage for finals. This is the real indication of Melbourne’s premiership credentials if the back ups can deliver.

The Sea Eagles are deservedly reeling from their loss to the Tigers (woo!), and it doesn’t help they now have to face the Bulldogs in hostile territory. Unfortunately, the Doggies are looking bloody good right now and, despite a few changes, should get the job done.

Panthers are deservedly pissed after getting some public rockets fired up them by Ivan Cleary. They’ll be in the mood to make a statement. The Bunnies are the sacrificial lamb.

Ditto the Eels, the Dragons are fighting for finals here and have looked great in parts this season, they’ve got more on the line.This is the question mark game.

Brisbane were not convincing in their win over the Eels last week, but given Kevin Walters’ rev-up and the fact the Dolphins have been painfully mediocre the last fortnight, I’m going with the Broncos.Sharks should dispatch the Warriors, they’re at home and playing good footy.

The Knights should be favourites in the Steel City, but the Titans have had their moments of promise this year to put a bit of doubt into predicting this match. Going with the hosts.

Lastly, while the Raiders got the win over the Panthers last week, their record on the road is not good, never mind the fact they’re playing at the SFS. Roosters will be heavy favourites to close out the round with a win. 

Mary Konstantopoulos

Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Eels, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Roosters

The Storm may be resting several key players this week, but I really don’t like to tip against them. Even with several key players missing, the Storm still have plenty of attacking weapons and will prove a point by beating the Cowboys on their own home turf.

The Bulldogs are running high on vibes right now, but I’m tipping the upset with the Sea Eagles to win. The Dogs are missing Stephen Crichton and I’m curious to see who steps up to lead in his absence.

The Panthers never lose two weeks in a row, especially to a Bunnies team that looks as listless as this one.

For fun, I’m also tipping the Eels to beat the Dragons. The Eels may be last on the ladder, but they have had moments in recent weeks where they look like a decent footy team. After tight losses to the Storm and the Panthers, this might be the Eels only chance to get one more win this year.

The Broncos will beat the Dolphins and the Sharks will continue to fly under the radar and beat the Warriors.

The Knights can still make the finals and this is a perfect opportunity for them to creep closer to that 8^th spot with a win over the Titans. The Roosters love beating up on teams lower on the ladder than they are and I think they will beat the Raiders.

Paul Suttor

Cowboys, Bulldogs, Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Roosters

The Cowboys get the benefit of a depleted, not quite a Storm, a low level pressure system heading to the tropics, with Craig Bellamy giving his stars some R&R as a reward for wrapping up the minor premiership with two rounds remaining. North Qld by 12

Canterbury are showing signs of wear and tear while Manly are displaying their annoying habit of being tough to predict. Dogs by 10

Penrith are below their best but they could be stuck in first gear and still have enough horsepower to put away the Bunnies. Panthers by 12

St George Illawarra have plenty to play for but so do Parra with the wooden spoon race going down to the wire. Beware the upset but Dragons by 2 

The battle for Brisbane is being fought out by popgun attacks with the Broncos and Dolphins both well down on form, talent and effort. Dolphins by 4

Cronulla get a few of their big guns back and will dispatch of the Warriors without too much fuss. Sharks by 18

The Knights have lucked out with the Titans and Dolphins to finish the year, both on home turf. Knights by 24

Canberra will take the fight to the Roosters, as is their trademark this year, but they will be Faders (new term, just made it up) in the final 20 minutes. Roosters by 10

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Canberra celebrate a try. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

AJ Mithen

Hasn’t entered his tips. We’ve been a bit worried about his predictions for a while.

We’ll give him the Raiders because he’s tipped them every other round.

Mike Meehall Wood

Cowboys, Bulldogs, Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Roosters

I can’t believe I’m tipping against the Storm, but with NQ playing a full team and Melbourne not, plus the key point that the Cows actually have something to play for, I’ll take them.

Canterbury are in red hot form and, while I would like my Beaches Boys to bring them back to earth, I will hedge that by tipping the Bulldogs. 

Penrith are good, the Bunnies are not. Next.

It would be peak Parra to beat the Dragons at this juncture and peak Dragons to lose to Parra as well. That said, back the team that has something to play for over the one that does. SGI ton win.

The formlines are all over the place with the Phins and Broncos, and there’s no discernable home ground advantage either. I haven’t the first clue but I think Haas will play off the reserves list, so a wild stab tells me Broncos.

The Sharks need to win, the Wahs don’t. Up Up.

Newcastle need to win, the Titans don’t and are also trash.

The Roosters are good, the Raiders are occasionally good but mostly meh. Easts to win.