Round 17 of the NRL is in the books, and it was one which saw plenty of movement particularly around the middle sections of the ladder. There are still ten weeks remaining in the regular season, but with just one game separating the Bulldogs in 5th from the Raiders in 12th, we look set for an enthralling run home. The attention of the NRL world turns now to Round 18, a round headlined by a Friday night Grand Final rematch between the Broncos and Panthers in Brisbane. Take a look at our detailed previews of every game set to take place over the course of the weekend below.
NRL 2024 Round 18
Parramatta Eels vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Eels surprisingly found themselves on the bottom of the ladder 16 weeks into the season, but having been much better performed since regaining Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson they have been playing better for the past month despite not getting the results that they are after. They endured a third loss in a row last Saturday night but still managed to haul themselves – or, perhaps more aptly, be hauled – out of bottom spot courtesy of a big Tigers loss. The Eels went down by eight points to the Knights in Newcastle in a see-sawing affair that they could easily have won, with two Bradman Best tries in the final eight minutes ultimately getting the better of them. That’s now three tight losses in succession, and they may well be in for another close game this Thursday night against the Rabbitohs.
The Bunnies, after a calamitous first half of the season, have turned their season on its head in recent weeks, winning four on the trot after losing nine of their first ten games. And with a bye last weekend, they picked up two points for the sixth week in a row – they have had another bye thrown in the middle of that winning streak – to move, incredibly, to just a couple of games from 5th spot. With two and a half months still to go in the season, suddenly finals are not out of the realms of possibility for a side that only a few weeks ago was favourite to finish last. They have for the most part struggled on the road this year, but their latest away game saw them win 46-12 over the Titans. This is a renewed South Sydney outfit that is playing like a team possessed of late, and they can keep their winning streak going with a second consecutive win away from home.
| Bookmaker | James’ Tip | Odds |
 | Rabbitohs to win | $1.67 |
 | Rabbitohs -3.5 | $1.90 |
 | Under 50.5 Total match points | $1.83 |
Predicted Squads
Parramatta Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Will Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Blaize Talagi 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitch Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Shaun Lane 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Matt Doorey 17. Charlie Guymer 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Morgan Harper 22. Luca Moretti
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 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. Cameron Murray 12. Jai Arrow 13. Keaon Koloamatangi 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Tom Burgess 17. Michael Chee Kam 18. Jye Gray 19. Liam Le Blanc 20. Fletcher Myers 21. Adam Christensen 22. Thomas Fletcher
Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans
The Sharks’ slump continued last weekend as they lost their fourth game in five weeks, and while they hung onto their spot in third they are now a hell of a lot more precariously placed in the top four than what they have been for most of the season. But while they really need to be winning games if they’re to hang onto that top four spot, the loss was the second in a row which could easily have gone the other way. After going down by two points to the Dolphins in their game prior, the Sharks lost to the Bulldogs last Friday by just a point in extra time in a game in which they scored more tries than their opposition. Unfortunately, a 1/3 conversion rate and a 76th minute penalty goal to Matt Burton saw the scores tied after 80 minutes, and Burton finished his work three minutes later to secure the win for the Bulldogs.
But the Sharks get a great chance to bounce back this weekend against a Titans team sitting in 16th position on the NRL ladder, though the Titans are not the easybeats that they were early in the season. After a really positive seven-week stint they had a couple of poor performances in a row in early June, but they could hardly have bounced back more emphatically in their last game when they trounced the Warriors 66-6 before enjoying a well-earned week off. If they play like that, they will make the Sharks work for their spoils, but on their home turf this is a great opportunity for Cronulla to get a much-needed 11th win of the season.
Predicted Squads
Cronulla Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Daniel Atkinson 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Sifa Talakai 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Teig Wilton 18. Jesse Colquhoun 19. Tom Rodwell 20. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha 22. Jayden Berrell
Gold Coast Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Isaac Liu 15. Josiah Pahulu 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Joe Stimson 18. Tanah Boyd 19. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Ken Maumalo 22. Jaylan De Groot
Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers
Last year’s Grand Final was one for the ages, with the Broncos seeming destined to snap the Panthers’ Premiership winning streak before Nathan Cleary took over to make it three in as many years for Penrith. They both have high hopes once again this year, but their seasons have taken on relatively different shapes so far. The Broncos remain one of the five seemingly legitimate Premiership threats, but they are going to have to get a move on. Their loss last weekend to the Warriors was disheartening to say the least, as they went down by 16 points to record their fourth loss in a row, take their record to 7-8 and send them down to 10th spot on the NRL ladder. The Panthers, for their part, have not been travelling nearly as well as they would have liked either, but despite a third loss in six weeks last weekend they still find themselves sitting in second spot. That loss was admittedly not a particularly good one – they managed just one try en route to a 16-6 defeat which was just their second loss at home all year.
Neither of these teams is firing on all cylinders, which in a way places even more importance on this game than there would be were they both humming along at the top of the ladder. The Broncos are in desperate need of a win while the Panthers would certainly be keen to recapture something resembling their best form against a team that they may well be meeting again later in the year. This one could very easily go down to the wire, but even though they are at home it is tough to pick the Broncos given the way they have been playing. The Panthers can bounce back from last week’s defeat with a tight and tough win to maintain their hold on second spot.
Predicted Squads
Brisbane Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Deine Mariner 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Kobe Hetherington 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Josiah Karapani 17. Martin Taupau 18. Tristan Sailor 19. Josh Rogers 20. Cory Paix 21. Blake Mozer 22. Kotoni Staggs
Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To'o 6. Jack Cole 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matthew Eisenhuth 18. Brad Schneider 19. Luron Patea 20. Trent Toelau 21. Casey McLean 22. Luke Sommerton
- A key reason for the Rabbitohs’ recent resurgence has been their defence; they have conceded just 50 total points in their last four games – an average of 12.5 per game – and just 24 in their last three – an average of 8.0 per game.
- The Bulldogs are yet to lose a home game this season, having won all seven of them.
- Just one of the last six Panthers games has gone over the points line for their game this weekend, while for their opponent, the Broncos, it’s just two of their last six.
Multi of the Week
| Legs | Odds |
| Eels vs Rabbitohs under 50.5 total match points | $1.83 |
| Bulldogs to win | $1.53 |
| Panthers vs Broncos under 45.5 total match points | $1.88 |
| Bet $10 for $52.64 with Bet365 | |
Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors
If ever proof was needed of the Bulldogs’ improvement this year, last Friday’s performance was it. After a disappointing effort against the Roosters – their first really poor game since Round 2 – which ended a three-game losing streak, they faced a tough task in bouncing back up against the Sharks. And while that game reached no great heights from an offensive perspective, it was a tough, physical and finals like affair which they found a way to force to extra time and ultimately win courtesy of an 83rd minute field goal to Matt Burton. That sent them all the way up to 5th, but they will need to keep winning to stay there given that they are just a game ahead of the Raiders in 12th, and just a game and a half ahead of the team that they welcome to Accor Stadium this Saturday.
The Warriors themselves bounced back with a much-needed win last weekend, making for a very odd couple of weeks for results for them. They’ve now lost to the Titans by 60 points, and beaten the Broncos by 16 within a fortnight, and that erratic form makes them a little bit hard to pick at the moment. If they play like they did last weekend they are right in this game, but the Bulldogs have been just about the best team at home in the league this season. In what should be an entertaining game, the home team can get the chocolates.
Predicted Squads
Canterbury Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Sam Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Bailey Hayward 14. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Lipoi Hopoi 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Jake Turpin 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Harry Hayes 23. Jack Todd
New Zealand Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitch Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Dylan Walker 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Jackson Ford 18. Jacob Laban 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Leka Halasima
Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm
Last weekend could hardly have gone better for the Storm, who extended their lead atop the NRL ladder to two games courtesy of a win of their own as well as losses to both the Sharks and the Panthers. Though the Storm took their time to get going against the Raiders last Saturday, not scoring until the 36th minute, they were defensively really sound all game and ultimately ran out 16-6 winners. They now get a terrific chance to open up an even bigger gap in top spot when they face the Tigers, who have just fallen back to bottom spot.
They had a rare two-week period with back to back wins a fortnight ago, beating first the Titans and then very impressively the Raiders, but they were brought all the way back down to earth when they took on the Roosters last Sunday. A first half onslaught saw the Roosters open up a 20-0 lead at the half in that game, a lead that they doubled in the second before Fonua Pole managed a consolation try just before the final whistle to avoid what would have been a 40-0 drubbing – not that 40-6 is much better. Granted the Roosters are a really good team, but so are the Storm. At least the Tigers will get to face them at home, but that isn’t likely to change the result. The Storm haven’t made all that much of a habit of completely trouncing teams this year, but they should still have no problems winning this one pretty easily.
Predicted Squads
Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Luke Laulilii 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Api Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. John Bateman 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Justin Matamua 14. Heath Mason 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. David Klemmer 18. Reuben Porter 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Solomon Alaimalo 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Justin Olam
Melbourne Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuzyen 2. Will Warbrick 3. Grant Anderson 4. Jack Howarth 5. Kane Bradley 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. Sualauvi Faalogo 15. Christian Welch 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Joe Chan 18. Reimis Smith 19. Alec MacDonald 20. Dean Ieremia 21. Chris Lewis 22. Dean Ieremia
North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles
What an interesting little game this one shapes up as being. Both the Cowboys and the Sea Eagles are smack bang in the middle of the raft of teams jostling for positions in the lower part of the top eight, each of the two sitting within a game of both 5th place and 12th place. The Cowboys enjoyed a big jump up the ladder last weekend and they fully deserved it, having knocked off the Panthers – in Penrith no less – last Sunday despite suffering a pair of first half sin bins along the way. That made it five wins in six games for the Cowboys – a streak which followed five consecutive losses.
The Sea Eagles, meanwhile, failed to score at all against a rejuvenated Rabbitohs’ outfit, going down 14-0 and falling out of the top eight in the process. They haven’t had the results they would have liked over the past month and a half but have generally played reasonably well, and will be boosted enormously this weekend by the return of Tom Trbojevic, who is set to slot straight back into the starting lineup. Their most important player, his return could have a major impact on the Sea Eagles’ fortunes, though in his first game back from an extended layoff it’s difficult to know just how much to expect from the former Dally M Medalist. And while his presence should certainly help, there is no denying the form of the Cowboys at the minute. Add to that the fact that the Sea Eagles have struggled hugely away from home this year, winning just one of their six away games, and this looks like a game that the Cowboys should be winning to further solidify their spot inside the top eight.
Predicted Squads
North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Villiami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jake Granville 19. Braidon Burns 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jake Clifford 22. Jaxon Purdue
Manly Sea Eagles: 1. Tolu Koula 2. Jason Saab 3. Tom Trbojevic 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Lehi Hopoate 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Caleb Navale 22. Aitasi James
Sydney Roosters vs St. George Illawarra Dragons
The Roosters made it three wins on the trot to solidify their spot inside the top four last weekend, and those wins have been getting bigger by the week. After knocking off the Eels by ten and then the Bulldogs by 18, they pumped the Tigers from the outset on Sunday, establishing a 20-0 lead by the half, and extending that to 40-0 in the second before a 79th minute try to the Tigers added the tiniest bit of respectability to the scoreboard for them. Unfortunately, the win came at a cost, with centre Joseph Manu fracturing his hand and now due for a month on the sidelines, where he will join a host of teammates. But despite his absence, they are well placed to continue their winning streak this weekend.
That’s not to say that they will have things all their own way – the Dragons just keep on defying their critics, with last Sunday’s impressive 26-6 win over the Dolphins their third in four weeks – one of those others coming against the Panthers, the other by 42 points against the Tigers. That win put them, incredibly, inside the top eight well over halfway into the season – a hell of a lot better than the bottom two finish many had them pencilled in for entering the season. The proof is now in the pudding that they are just a much better team than many gave them credit for, but for all of their improvement, they will have an incredibly hard time against the Roosters. They are a consistently competitive outfit and might hang around for a while, but the home side should ultimately be able to prevail relatively comfortably.
Predicted Squads
Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Sitili Tupouniua 5. Dom Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Connor Watson 14. Naufahu Whyte 15. Terrell May 16. Nat Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King 19. Siua Wong 20. Sandon Smith 21. Blake Steep 22. Salesi Foketi
St. George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Toby Couchman 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Michael Molo 19. Fa'amanu Brown 20. Ryan Couchman 21. Savelio Tamale 22. Jack Bird
Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights
Though both the Raiders and the Knights sit a few spots outside of the top eight, each of them is potentially just a win away from jumping inside it – albeit a huge win for the Raiders given their woeful points difference. A large reason for that points difference has been the last three weeks, which has seen the team from the nation’s capital lose three consecutive games by double figure margins and a total of 52 points overall. Last week was a semi-competitive ten-point loss to the Storm, but a 24-point defeat to the Tigers the week before was the opposite.
The Knights, meanwhile, ended a three-game losing streak of their own last Saturday, beating the Eels in a high scoring game by eight points. That was a pulsating game with multiple lead changes, but two Bradman Best tries in the last eight minutes – with a counter by Junior Paulo sandwiched in the middle – ultimately proved the difference and secured a much-needed 34-26 win for the home team. They will hit the road again this weekend, not that GIO Stadium is exactly the most intimidating of battle grounds. This game is one of significant importance of two teams who are just on the edge of the top eight, and could very easily go down to the wire, but the Raiders have been struggling of late, and though the Knights have not been all that much better, they can just sneak over the line to conclude Round 18.
Predicted Squads
Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matt Timoko 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Adam Cook 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Joe Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Simi Sasagi 18. Sebastian Kris 19. Zac Woolford 20. Emre Guler 21. James Schiller 22. Hohepa Puru
Newcastle Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Fletcher Sharpe 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Brodie Jones 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Mat Croker 19. Jack Hetherington 20. Jack Cogger 21. Krystian Mapapalangi 22. Thomas Cant
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