NRL Round 24 Tipping: The Roar’s expert tips and predictions

If the first 23 rounds of the season are any guide, BlueBet Stadium will be hosting the Grand Final preview on Thursday night when the Storm head to Sydney’s golden west in a bid to take down the Panthers.

Of course, the race for the title is not as straightforward as that with the Roosters, Sharks, rejuvenated Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Cowboys also in with some kind of hope of being there on GF night.

There are seven teams within five points fighting it out for eighth spot but even the most optimistic fan of the Dolphins, Dragons, Knights, Raiders, Broncos, Titans or Warriors would have a tough time convincing anyone but themselves that their team will be hoisting the trophy this year.

While there is a split hair between the Panthers and Storm for their showdwon according to the bookmakers, every other match this week has a clear favourite.

Manly should end the Warriors’ flickering finals hopes and the Roosters have too much firepower for the Eels in the other Friday fixture.

Saturday should kick off with the Bulldogs beating the Dolphins but the fact that the match is in Bundaberg will help Wayne Bennett’s side.

The Cowboys can all but kill Canberra’s playoff chances in the tropics while Wests Tigers and South Sydney are playing for nothing apart from pride at Campbelltown.

St George Illawarra have home-ground advantage in Wollongong on Sunday against the Titans before the Sharks should snuff out the Knights up the road at Shark Park to complete the round.

Here’s how the experts see Round 23 unfolding.

Stuart Thomas

Panthers, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers, Titans, Dragons, Sharks

I’m calling this one of the rounds of the season, should the match-ups play out as anticipated. Home advantage will help the Panthers get over the Storm on Thursday night and the sixth-placed Sea Eagles should have too much for the Warriors, with 4 Pines Park also playing a key role.

The Chooks will smash the Eels on Friday as the blue and gold’s go through yet another horrible period. The Dogs are humming along well but the plucky Dolphins will be a good test in Bundaberg on Saturday afternoon. A danger game for the Bulldogs.

The Cowboys at home is usually a challenge and Ricky Stuart’s team does look up for the contest and a last gasp push for the finals. The Cows at home. Will anyone turn up to watch the Tigers and Bunnies at Campbelltown? Both embarrassing and Wests to notch a rare win.

The Dragons must win against the Titans, who also have faint finals’ chances. Surely the Red V bounces back after a tough loss to the Dogs last week, even without Kyle Flanagan? Cronulla continue to hold firm in the top four and with a win over the Knights on Sunday afternoon will confirm their place there for yet another week. A tricky match-up
for the Sharks but one they should win.

Nick Wasiliev

Panthers, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Titans, Sharks

A top of the table, possible GF fixture to kick off the round? Sign me up. Despite last week, the Riff will know whats coming with the Storm, and will lift. Home support will get them over the line.

Sea Eagles should get home too over the Warriors, as will the Chooks over the Eels.I don’t know why, but there is a feeling of homefield advantage this weekend, Doggies will get over the Phins, as will the Cowboys as the Raiders are awful on the road.

Sharks look to be getting their groove back, so I back them to beat the Knights as well at home.The only exceptions are the Bunnies – yep, this year has been bad, but they’re up against the only team that is more of a basketcase. Weirdly, I’ve got a good feeling about the Titans too.

Until the Sharks result the last few weeks have looked promising. I back them to spring a surprise result over Illawarra.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Penrith, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Cronulla

We start the round with the match of the round. Both teams have been in good form lately, but will acknowledge that there is much to improve on. I’m tipping the Panthers because I still think they are the team to beat in the competition and will have a point to prove after a game against Parramatta characterised by poor discipline and errors (and of course, a Nathan Cleary masterclass at the end).

The Sea Eagles will continue their march toward the finals with a win over the Warriors who have had a tough couple of weeks. If the Warriors are any chance in this one, it will need to be led by the forwards and Addin Fonua-Blake. If Manly are able to get the edge in the forwards early, they may put up a cricket score.

The Eels will follow their model for the last three weeks; play tough and put in plenty of effort but ultimately lose to a superior Roosters side.

I’m confident the Bulldogs will beat the Phins, but I’m curious as to whether the Phins will draw the Bulldogs into a close, chaotic win and ultimately prevail?

I’m tipping the Cowboys over the Raiders, who I think are now on the slow death march to the end of the season. The last two weeks have been tough losses for the Raiders and I think that might be them done for the year.

The Bunnies will beat the Tigers the Dragons will topple the Titans.

Cronulla seem to be going from strength to strength right now and will cap off the weekend with a win against the Knights whose finals hopes are hanging by a thread.

Paul Suttor

Panthers, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Titans, Sharks

Penrith have the attack to overcome Melbourne. The Storm have the defence to limit the Panthers but not the points in them to win if both teams get space from the referee. Panthers by 10

If Manly start strongly, the Warriors will go to water. Sea Eagles by 22

The Roosters have too much to play for, Parra will still by in the foetal position after their blown lead to Penrith. Roosters by 14

Canterbury are peaking at the right end of year, the Dolphins are sinking, then getting their heads above water, then sinking. Rinse and repeat. Dogs by 8

North Queensland’s flashes of brilliance will beat out the Green Machine’s grind. Cowboys by 2

South Sydney and Wests Tigers will probably both top 30 or neither team will hit double figures. The first scenario is the more likely. Rabbitohs by 4

St George Illawarra will show plenty of bite but won’t be frightened by the Titans after the incident with Crichton. Dragons by 18

Cronulla can score points, the Knights can’t. Sharks by 16

AJ Mithen

Melbourne, Warriors, Eels, Dolphins, Raiders, Tigers, Titans, Knights 

Courageous tipping continues as the season offers a path to glorious victory. 

It begins with Melbourne proving too defensive for Penrith, who will 100 per cent be dialling this game in. Warriors will do over Manly by going up the middle. 

Parramatta are BACK and they’ll get over the chooks in a 120 point thriller. Dolphins to do the same to the Bulldogs. 

Your presumptive champion, the people’s team the Canberra Raiders will head north to obliterate the hapless, inconsistent Cowboys to the tune of 56 sweet points. 

Tigers will work over the bunnies, Titans are due for their scheduled win and Newcastle will outgrind the Sharks at the construction site. 

Mike Meehall Wood

Panthers, Manly, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers, Dragons, Sharks

The top of the table meeting should be a belter. People have been sleeping on the Panthers form a little and, with Edwards and JFH back, this is when they reclaim top spot. They’ll stay there, too.

Normally I reverse psychology tip against by Beaches Boys but seen as that would mean tipping for the untippable Wahs, i’ll go straight down the line. Manly 13+

Roosters are good, Parra aren’t. Next.

The Dogs are favourites against the Phins and rightly so given the run they’re on. This is actually more of a Radcliffe home game as it’s being played in Bundaberg but I can’t tip against the Canterbury momentum. They’ll get there (I think)

The Cowboys should smash the Raiders, which probably means that they won’t. NQ are frauds, Canberra aren’t that good. I’ll take NQ on home advantage but I won’t be watching.

Given that myself and Nick are tying, someone has to take the point of difference pick … that’s me picking the Tigers to finally get a win at their *ahem* spiritual home in Campbelltown. That said, Nick is a Tigers fans – tip them too, Wasiliev, you coward.

Dragons at home to Titans is exactly the sort of game STI lose and the Gold Coast decide to show up for, but really, it’d be a brave tipper to touch the GC. That won’t be me after last week.

Sharkies at home to a team that can’t/won’t attack. Up up.

Round 24	Stuart Thomas	Nick Wasiliev	Mary K	Paul Suttor	AJ Mithen	Mike Meehall Wood	The Crowd
PEN v MEL	Storm	Storm	Storm	Storm	Rabbitohs	Storm	?
MSE v NZW	Titans	Titans	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Titans	?
SYD v PAR	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Eels	Panthers	?
CBY v DOL	Raiders	Raiders	Manly	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	?
NQC v CBA	Cowboys	Broncos	Cowboys	Cowboys	Broncos	Cowboys	?
WST v SSR	Dragons	Bulldogs	Bulldogs	Bulldogs	Dragons	Bulldogs	?
SGI v GCT	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Warriors	Dolphins	?
CSS v NEW	Knights	Knights	Knights	Knights	Tigers	Knights	?
Last Round	4	6	7	6	2	5	6
2024 tally	107	114	96	106	94	114	112