NRL 2024 Round 16 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

Round 16 will be a shortened week in the NRL, with seven teams enjoying a bye and only five games set to take place over the course of the weekend. For the second time in three weeks there will be no Thursday night game, with the round’s action kicking off when the Dolphins host the Storm in an intriguing Friday night clash. Later in the weekend, the Roosters take on the Bulldogs in Gosford on Saturday afternoon, while that evening the resurgent Rabbitohs host the Sea Eagles as they search, remarkably, for a fourth consecutive win. Below, we have previewed all five of the matches set to take place over this abridged round of the NRL. 

Incredibly, we are now four months into the season and the Dolphins are still in the top four. After another strong start to the year a tumble down the ladder at some point has felt inevitable, and realistically there are still at least a couple of far more talented teams below them that will likely take their place at some point over the coming weeks. But these Dolphins are not giving up their spot up without a fight. After consecutive tight losses they had what looked like a difficult matchup in Cronulla against the Sharks last Thursday, but they came out of the blocks like a team possessed and opened up a 22-0 lead by the 25-minute mark. Unsurprisingly the home side did come storming back, and a 79th minute try by Sione Katoa could have resulted in extra time had Nicho Hynes converted it. Alas, he didn’t, the Dolphins won by two points, and maintained their hold on fourth spot as a result. But though they are sitting pretty for the time being, they are just two games ahead of the Dragons back in 11th and have yet another tough game coming up this weekend, this time against the Storm. The Storm have been offensively electric over the past month, the solitary exception coming when they were defeated by the Sea Eagles; in the three other of their past four games they have scored at least 36 points, in the last two weeks notching up solid wins against first the Knights and then the Warriors. Those victories have seen them retain their hold on top spot on the NRL ladder over the past few weeks, and with a three-game lead over the Roosters in fifth they are in a great position to once again finish top four. With grander aspirations than just a top four finish they will be hoping to secure a home double chance with a top two finish, and with the end to the home and away season gradually coming into sight, games like this against fellow potential finalists will have a big say on whether they can manage to achieve that accomplishment. Based on the way that the Storm have been playing over recent weeks this should be a high-scoring game, and while the Dolphins will make things hard for them, the Storm – in Ryan Papenhuyzen’s return from injury – should be able to notch up a third consecutive win.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Storm -6.5	$1.91
	Storm to win	$1.48
	Over 48.5 total match points	$1.92

Predicted Squads

The Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Kenny Bromwich 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Tevita Pangai Junior 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Sean O'Sullivan 20. Mason Teague 21. Tesi Niu 22. Anthony Milford

Melbourne Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Will Warbrick 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Sua Fa'alogo 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eli Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Jack Howarth 15. Christian Welch 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Joe Chan 18. Reimis Smith 19. Dean Ieremia 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Chris Lewis 22. Kane Bradley

After a really impressive couple of months put the dreadful first few weeks of the Titans season well and truly in the rearview mirror, they have hit a wall over the past fortnight with consecutive poor losses to fellow cellar dwellers. The first came in humiliating fashion to a resurgent Rabbitohs outfit – they lost that one 46-12 – and while last week wasn’t nearly as emphatic, a loss to the Tigers is not something that any team particularly wants on their resume. That loss sent them back to the bottom of the ladder – albeit very marginally – and with a tough game against a Warriors team that has been really good form of late, they are a good chance of staying there for at least another week. The Warriors actually had a three-game winning streak snapped last week against the Storm, though they were far from disgraced. Up against potentially the best team in the league outside of the Panthers, they were in it up to their eyeballs for about an hour before the Storm accelerated away late. Prior to that they had been in really good form, beating the Panthers, Dolphins and Cowboys in consecutive weeks, the latter of those victories coming by a margin of 30 points. The Warriors wouldn’t have been thrilled with conceding 38 points last weekend, but up against the Titans they will feel confident in their ability to prevent a similar outcome this Saturday. Currently back in 12th, the Warriors have some work to do if they are to play finals this year, but given that they are just a game and a half away from fifth, things could change very quickly, and given how they have been playing of late it looks like it might do just that. Up against a struggling Titans team, they should be able to return to the winners’ list with a comfortable victory.  

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Warriors -4.5	$1.91
	Warriors to win	$1.57
	Warriors 7+	$2.10

Predicted Squads

Gold Coast Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Chris Randall 10. Josiah Pahulu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Erin Clark 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui 17. Joe Stimson 18. Tanah Boyd 19. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 20. Ken Maumalo 21. Arama Hau 22. Jaylan De Groot

New Zealand Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Marata Niukore 12. Dylan Walker 13. Tohu Harris 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita 15. Jacob Laban 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale 18. Bunty Afoa 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Moala Graham-Taufa 22. Freddy Lussick 23. Demitric Sifakula

Probably the game of the weekend comes on Saturday evening, when the fifth placed Roosters take on the sixth placed Bulldogs in Gosford. The Roosters bounced back from an Origin-impacted loss to the Cowboys a fortnight ago with a solid performance against the Eels last Saturday, jumping out of the blocks with the first three tries of the game before fending off the surging home team with a couple more in the last 15 minutes to secure a 28-18 victory. Given the tightness of the ladder that was a pivotal win, putting them within a game of the top four; though with just a game separating them from the Dragons in 11th they will need to keep winning to stay there. But the Roosters have well and truly established themselves as Premiership contenders so far this year, something to which their +143 points difference – the best in the league – points to, and will be fully intending to work their way into that top four over the coming months. A win this weekend would be a good place to start, but the Bulldogs won’t make things easy for them. They are continually proving that they are a legitimate finals quality side, and went into their bye last weekend on the back of three consecutive impressive wins which came by an average of 22 points. After a poor opening fortnight they have been really consistent all season long, and at this point in the season remain the only team not to have dropped a game at home. The flip side of that is that they are 1-6 on the road, which doesn’t bode particularly well for this game, but that record belies the reality that they have actually been pretty solid away; their last four away games have seen a two-point loss to the Storm, a six-point loss to the Panthers, a four-point loss to the Raiders, and most recently a 30-point win over the Knights. The Bulldogs, at long last, are a pretty decent team and will make the home side work for this one, but the Roosters are one of the most professional outfits in the business and should probably have won more than the eight victories they have managed so far. After a tight contest for much of this game, they can put their foot down in the second half to notch up a ninth win of the season. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Roosters 1-12	$3.20
	Roosters to win	$1.37
	Over 49.5 total match points	$1.88

Predicted Squads

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Joey Manu 5. Dom Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Terrell May 11. Nat Butcher 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Sandon Smith 15. Blake Steep 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Siua Wong 18. Ethan King 19. Dylan Napa 20. Tyler Moriarty 21. Hugo Savala 22. Salesi Foketi

Canterbury Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jeral Skelton 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Sam Hughes 11. Josh Curran 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Bailey Hayward 14. Jake Turpin 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Lipoi Hopoi 19 Drew Hutchison 20. Blake Taaffe 21. Eli Clark 22. Harry Hayes 23. Viliame Kikau

• The Raiders’ last four wins have come by an average of just two points. 
• The Warriors are 3-2 in their past five games with those losses coming to the Storm and the Roosters, while the Titans have lost their past two games to bottom four teams. 
• The Storm’s last four games have seen an average of 60 points scored, while the last two and four of the last six Dolphins games have surpassed 50 points. 

Multi of the Week

A few weeks ago this would have looked like an easy win for the Sea Eagles, but the Rabbitohs have turned a corner over the past month and will enter this game as pretty comfortable favourites. After losing nine of their first ten games of the season, they have now won three in a row, each of those pretty impressive victories. In the first they put up 42 points en route to a 16-point win over the Eels while the next week they put up 46 in a 34-point rout of the Titans, while last week they secured their most impressive victory of the year when they knocked off the Broncos by ten points – and having put together a 22-0 lead with 15 minutes to go, that scoreboard probably flattered Brisbane in the end. The Bunnies have likely left themselves far too much work to do to challenge for a spot in the top eight, although…they are only two and a half games outside of it with still nearly half of the season to go, and they are playing like an entirely different team over the past three weeks. Another win this week over the team sitting in eighth spot would bridge the gap between them and a finals spot further, and given the Sea Eagles’ shonky away record so far this year that is very much on the card. Manly have been solid for much of the year and could easily have won more than the seven games they have managed so far – three consecutive losses by six points or less throughout May sending them tumbling down the ladder – but there is no ignoring the fact that they have won just once outside of Manly this year, and that win was by just four points over the Titans. They are likely to find themselves right in the hunt for one of the lower spots in the top eight by season’s end and the return of Tom Trbojevic in a couple of weeks will help them enormously, but for the time being they are still without him and are coming up against a very in-form team this weekend. Given the Rabbitohs relatively short odds tipping them feels like a bit of a risk given how bad they have been for most of the season, but there is no denying their recent form, and having turned their season completely on its head over the past three weeks they can continue their winning ways with a fourth consecutive victory. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Rabbitohs 1-12	$3.20
	Rabbitohs to win	$1.47
	Rabbitohs/Rabbitohs half-time/full-time double	$1.90

Predicted Squads

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Jack Wighton 7. Cody Walker 8. Davvy Moale 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jai Arrow 13. Keaon Koloamatangi 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Tom Burgess 17. Liam Le Blanc 18. Dion Teaupa 19. Chase Chapman 20. Adam Christensen 21. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 22. Gehamat Shibasaki

Manly Sea Eagles: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolu Koula 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Karl Lawton 8. Ethan Bullemor 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Tof Sipley 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Nathan Brown 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Ben Condon 16. Caleb Navale 17. Aitasi James 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jaxson Paulo 20. Brad Parker 21. Jamie Humphreys 22. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega

The Tigers are off the bottom of the ladder! Insignificant an achievement though that may be, given how much time they have spent there in recent years it feels worthy of acknowledgement, particularly given that it may very well not remain the case for long. They hauled themselves out of bottom spot with a long-awaited win over the Titans last weekend, their first since the 1st of April and one which saw them switch places with the team that they beat. They have another winnable game this weekend at home against the Raiders, but after that their fixture gets pretty ugly for a month or so, so if they want to win again anytime soon then this weekend might have to be the time they do it. The Raiders somehow sit in seventh spot, but as was the case throughout the course of last year, their ladder position is not really reflective of their ability as a team. They have once again managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat numerous times this year, and they have a points difference worse than all but the bottom four teams despite boasting a 7-6 record. Perhaps that all sounds a little harsh; winning tight games is a genuine art and they are as good as any team in the league at it, but they have begun throwing in a few ugly performances of late which are suggestive of a team that is not going to hang around in the eight all that much longer. In the past six weeks they have lost 40-0 to the Sharks, 44-16 to the Roosters and last week 34-16 to the Cowboys, and though they have notched up three wins in that time those have been by a combined total of just seven points. But for all of that criticism of the Raiders, one thing that they have shown an ability to consistently do this year is to beat the teams below them. They may not have nearly the talent to go with the best in the business and a few more floggings will likely come their way over the rest of the season as a result, but when they play the bottom feeders they generally get the job done. When they do win the Raiders have an incredible penchant for doing it by a small margin and that may be the case again this weekend, but they should hold on to their spot in the top eight for at least another week with an eighth victory of the season to conclude Round 16. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Raiders to win	$1.63
	Raiders 1-5	$7.25
	Raiders 1-12	$3.00

Predicted Squads

Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Solomona Faataape 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Api Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Justin Matamua 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Kit Laulilii 18. Heath Mason 19. Luke Laulilii 20. Adam Doueihi 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Jordan Miller

Canberra Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matt Timoko 4. Seb Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Kaeo Weekes 8. Josh Papalii 9. Danny Levi 10. Joe Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Zac Woolford 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Emre Guler 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Adrian Trevilyan 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Simi Sasagi 22. Adam Cook

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