NRL 2025 Round 1 – Betting tips & Predictions

We have only seen four teams in action so far in the 2025 NRL season. Now, the rest of the pack is set to grace the pitch. Can the Wests Tigers win their first opening round match in five years? Will the Roosters continue their dominant form against the Broncos? We look at all the matchups in round one and share our expert tips using the latest odds from top betting sites.

The Roosters are set to begin their campaign by hosting a fresh-faced Brisbane side. They had a commendable third-place finish in the regular season last year, but losing some key names during the off-season has thrown a significant challenge at them.

Head coach Trent Robinson saw the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary leave for greener pastures. Injuries to Sam Walker and Brandon Smith have also dealt a severe blow.

The Broncos, meanwhile, will welcome back Ben Hunt. Adam Reynolds and Hunt pair up as one of the most experienced halves partnerships in the division. The duo was excellent in Bronco’s Pre-Season Challenge title win against the Bulldogs.

The teams appeared to be on different trajectories during pre-season, so we fancy an away win for the Broncos in this one.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Broncos -7.5	$1.90
	Broncos score first and win	$1.95
	Reece Walsh first tryscorer	$8.00

Official Squads

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Nat Butcher 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Makahesi Makatoa 

Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter 20. Martin Taupau 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Jaiyden Hunt 

The Wests Tigers kick off their 2025 season with a showdown against the Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Tigers fans have reason for optimism as the season begins. A close encounter with the Bulldogs and a solid win against the Eels should give them the momentum to start their season on a high. Betting apps, however, still view the Tigers slight underdogs against the Knights at home.

The Tigers finished last season with the wooden spoon, so bookmakers are approaching them with a degree of scepticism early on. Their first opponent, the Knights, have given out mixed signals during the pre-seasons.

Adam O'Brien's men suffered a hammering against the Eels, but responded with a dominant victory against the Roosters. Fletcher Sharpe was the standout performer for the Knights across both matches, and should continue his excellent form in this match. 

This is a close call, but we’re picking the good vibes to continue with Benji Marshall and the Tigers to start the season.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Tigers 1-12	$3.25
	Tigers +1.5	$1.92
	Fletcher Sharpe anytime tryscorer	$3.40

Official Squads

Tigers: 1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 19. Charlie Staines 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Reuben Porter

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Adam Elliott

Familiar faces will collide at CommBank Stadium this Friday as Dolphins boss Kristian Woolf goes up against his mentor, Wayne Bennett, who will be in the Rabbitohs dugout.

Bennett's second stint at South Sydney has begun with significant challenges. He watched Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray both pick up major injuries in training. The veteran coach will also be without the services of Lewis Dodd, who serves a suspension.

While the Dolphins have had a less turbulent lead-up to the season, they'll need a significantly stronger performance than their recent pre-season defeat to the Titans. An injury-hit Rabbitohs side could present the perfect opportunity for them to bounce back.

The Dolphins should be able to get a winning start, but it’ll be a tight one.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Over 36.5	$1.92
	Rabbitohs +4.5	$1.90
	Rabbitohs halftime, Dolphins full time	$7.50

Official Squads

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Josh Kerr 20. Sean O'Sullivan 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai

Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata

The Dragons are entering their season opener with strong momentum, having secured two encouraging victories against the Roosters and Rabbitohs in the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.

But the statistics are not in their favour before they lock horns with the Bulldogs. The Dragons have won only twice in their last six games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, and they have lost four of their last five matches against the Canterbury outfit. 

The Bulldogs will look to build on their impressive 2024 campaign. Cameron Ciraldo has likely marked the Dragons clash as a must-win fixture, given his side's strong record against them and the Dragons' struggles throughout the 2024 season.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Bulldogs 1-12	$2.85
	Bulldogs -4.5	$1.95
	Bulldogs to win	$1.62

Official Squads

Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tom Eisenhuth

Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Luke Smith 23. Ratu Rinakama

The North Queensland Cowboys are set to travel to Sydney for a clash with the Manly Sea Eagles, aiming to begin their 30th anniversary season with a victory. Skipper Tom Dearden is determined to follow the path of his childhood hero, Jonathan Thurston, and lead the Cowboys to Premiership glory.

The first assignment for the Cowboys is a daunting one, however. They must overcome a Manly unit that lost only twice last year at 4 Pines Park. The head-to-head record shows that the Sea Eagles have dominated the fixture in recent times, with five wins in their last seven meetings with the Queenslanders.

The evergreen Daly Cherry-Evans will step out for his 15th NRL campaign and looks to be as excellent as ever. Tom Trbojevic should also be fit to start and look to torment the Cowboys defence early on.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Over 44.5	$1.92
	Sea Eagles -5.5	$1.84
	Tom Trbojevic first tryscorer	$7.50

Official Squads

Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Kai O'Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo

Melbourne Storm will look to put their grand final heartbreak aside and start their bid for the 2025 title with a solid win against the Parramatta Eels. The Melbourners will be looking to extend their phenomenal opening round winning streak to 23 matches.

Storm boss Craig Bellamy will be eager to find the right combination with Christian Welch retiring and Stefano Utoikamanu coming in as a marquee signing.

The Eels, meanwhile, are entering a new era with coach Jason Ryles at the helm. The former Storm assistant faces his mentor, Craig Bellamy, with a point to prove and will be relying on new signings Zac Lomax, Isaiah Iongi, and Jack Williams to help establish a winning start.

That said, the Storm should be able to get their campaign off to a flying start with a home win against the Eels.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Storm 13+	$2.15
	Storm -9.5	$1.84
	Ryan Papenhuyzen to score anytime	$2.50

Official Squads

Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Kane Bradley

Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jake Tago 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. J'maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Charlie Guymer 18. Joash Papali'i 19. Jordan Samrani 20. Toni Mataele 21. Sam Tuivaiti 22. Joey Lussick

Hey, NRL fans! Got some great tips for your next bet, didn’t ya? Well, it gets even better! We got all you need to make a smart NRL bet. We listed the best NRL betting sites and the best betting apps if mobile betting is your thing. And if you can’t decide where to bet, we’ve got all the bookmakers reviews for you.

But we’re not all about NRL. Here at MyBettingAustralia we cover a wide variety of sports – AFL, Horse Racing, NBA, Cricket, Golf. Hey, we even got some UFC action for you. So, sit back and enjoy your sports betting. We got you covered.