NRL 2025 Round 18 – Betting tips & Predictions

The Origin decider looms large for rugby league fans, but NRL Round 18 also offers plenty of exciting matchups still this weekend. A mouthwatering clash between the Bulldogs and Broncos will open the action, with four more battles to follow. We have analysed all of the matches and present the best NRL betting tips for each.

The Bulldogs and Broncos will be the opening act of the week as they meet under Friday night lights at Accor Stadium. The Bulldogs return to their den after a rare defeat, but betting sites still consider them favourites in this clash.

It’s understandable why bookmakers have such high confidence in the Canterbury outfit. They have been remarkable for most of the season and are level on points with the Raiders, with two games in hand.

However, we think cracks are beginning to appear at the Bulldogs camp. Two of their three losses have come in their last five games, and they failed to hit double digits in both of those fixtures.

The Broncos are on a three-match winning streak, on the contrary. They beat the Warriors last week, and we believe they have what it takes to get the job done against a Bulldogs side that no longer looks as invincible as it did earlier in the season.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Bulldogs not to score 3+ tries	$5.25
	Broncos 1-12	$3.50
	Broncos to win	$2.65

Official Squads

Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Enari Tuala 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Lipoi Hopoi 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Bailey Hayward 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Harry Hayes 16. Jack Todd 17. Lachlan Galvin.

Broncos: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Ben Hunt 15. Billy Walters 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Jack Gosiewski.

Canberra Raiders will look to cement their position at the top of the ladder as an injury-ridden Dragons side come to town for Saturday afternoon footy. The visitors returned to winning ways last week after back-to-back defeats as they saw off the Sea Eagles 34-20.

The win did not come cheap, however, as Luciano Leilua and Toby Couchman joined many others in the Dragons infirmary. Shane Flanagan’s options in the forward pack are now stretched thin—and that’s not good news when you’re about to face a team riding a six-game winning streak. The Raiders should cover the handicap comfortably in this game.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Raiders 13+	$2.05
	Over 47.5	$1.84
	Over 8.5 tries	$1.95

Official Squads

Raiders: 1.Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Seb Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joe Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Ata Mariota 17. Trey Mooney.

Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Corey Allan 3. Moses Suli 4. Nick Tsougranis 5. Sione Finau 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Viliami Fifita 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga.

If the odds on betting apps are any indication, this should be another comfortable win for the Storm. The Melbourners will be eyeing their fifth successive victory after sinking the Sharks in the last round. Up next, they have a trip to Queensland to take on the Cowboys.

Todd Payten’s men have not been the most exciting team to watch this season. After three heavy defeats on the trot, the Cowboys picked up a vital win against the Titans last week. However, the Storm should present a sterner test than the Wooden Spoon contenders. Back the away side to win convincingly and cover the line.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Storm 13+	$2.10
	Storm -10.5	$1.87
	Storm -5.5 1st Half	$1.77

Official Squads

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Duffy 8. Griffin Neame 9. Harrison Edwards 10. Sam McIntyre 11. Marly Bitungane 12. Kai O'Donnell 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Braidon Burns 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Coen Hess 17. Kaiden Lahrs.

Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 4. Nick Meaney 5. Tyran Wishart 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eli Katoa 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Keagan Russell-Smith 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Ativalu Lisati 17. Kane Bradley.

The Roosters will be confident of extending their winning streak to three games when they host the most out-of-form team in the league right now: the Tigers.

It has been two months since Benji Marshall’s men beat the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium. Since then the Tigers have played six more games and have no points to show for it. Losing Jarome Luai to Origin duty and Tallyn Da Silva to a permanent deal at the Eels has only added to their already alarming number of problems.

The Roosters will also have a large number of absentees because of Origin commitments, but this should still be a win they can bank on.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Roosters 13+	$1.95
	Roosters -12.5	$1.87
	Over 48.5	$1.91

Official Squads

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Mark Nawaqanitawase 5. Junior Tupou 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Makahesi Makatoa 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Egan Butcher 12. Blake Steep 13. Salesi Foketi 14. Jake Elliott 15. Zach Dockar-Clay 16. Taylor Losalu 17. De La Salle Va'a.

Tigers: 1. Sunia Turuva 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Starford To'a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Tristan Hope 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Jack Bird 13. Alex Twal 14. Alex Seyfarth 15. Sione Fainu 16. Tony Sukkar 17. Luke Laulilii.

A fierce Sydney derby is the final course on the menu for NRL fans this weekend. The Rabbitohs land at 4 Pines Park on Sunday, hoping to stop the rot following five straight defeats. The Sea Eagles, on the other hand, will eye successive wins for the first time since March.

Both of these sides have not been at their best lately, but Rabbitohs seem at the moment that they have forgotten how to win. There have been flashes of fight and resilience, but these have failed to translate to points on the board for Wayne Bennett’s side. This should be a close fight, no matter who wins.

Bookmaker	Bren’s Tip	Odds
	Rabbitohs +9.5	$1.90
	Sea Eagles 1-12	$3.10
	Over 47.5	$1.91

Official Squads

Sea Eagles: 1.Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolu Koula 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Tof Sipley 17. Caleb Navale.

Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Lewis Dodd 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Jai Arrow 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tevita Tatola.

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