NRL 2025 Round 18 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

With the final game of Origin just around the corner, there are just five games of NRL in Round 18. After last week's loss to the Panthers, the Bulldogs are no longer top of the table. That honour now goes to the Raiders, who are on the same amount of points as the Bulldogs, but have a better points differential. Things haven’t changed at the bottom of the ladder though, with the Titans holding that position with just 12 points.

Round 18 awaits, so let’s get stuck into some 2025 NRL predictions for all the action!

The first game of the round sees the Bulldogs welcome the Broncos to Accor Stadium. Jacob Kiraz is down as the 18th man for the Blues, so he won’t make an appearance in this game. Stephen Crichton, Max King and Kurt Mann will also be off for Origin duties. The Bulldogs faced one of their toughest tests last time out and they couldn’t get the job done over the Panthers, going down 6-8.

When the Broncos thumped the lowly Titans, I didn’t think too much of it. But now they have beaten both the Sharks and Warriors to boast a three-game winning streak, which has helped move them to fifth on the ladder. Getting their fourth win on the trot looks a little tricky considering Gehamat Shibasaki, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are all out for Origin, plus Reece Walsh is the 18th man for Queensland.

Bookmaker	Katherine’s Tip	Odds
	Bulldogs to win	$1.52
	Bulldogs to win	$1.47
	Bulldogs to win	$1.50

Predicted Squads

Canterbury Bulldogs - Connor Tracey, Blake Wilson, Bronson Xerri, Enari Tuala, Marcelo Montoya, Matt Burton, Toby Sexton, Lipoi Hopoi, Reed Mahoney, Josh Curran, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Preston, Bailey Hayward, Kurtis Morrin, Harry Hayes, Jack Todd & Lachlan Galvin

Brisbane Broncos - Selwyn Cobbo, Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Deine Mariner, Jesse Arthars, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Corey Jensen, Cory Paix, Xavier Willison, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, Kobe Hetherington, Ben Hunt, Billy Walters, Fletcher Baker & Jack Gosiewski

The Raiders are now top of the table, thanks to their 22-18 win over the Knights last time out. In the first Saturday game of the round, the Raiders play host to the Dragons. The last time the Raiders lost was in Round 10 when they went down to the Bulldogs, 20-32. They do lose Josh Papalii and Hudson Young to Origin, but on the whole, they still look like a hyper-competitive team.

After back-to-back losses to the Dolphins and the Sharks, the Dragons got a much-needed win last time out, over the Eels, 34-20. That victory brought many injuries, with Nathan Lawson, Toby Couchman, Luciano Leilua and Hamish Stewart all picking up an injury. Christian Tuipulotu also hurt himself before the game started. To make matters even worse, Valentine Holmes is off for Origin duties.

Bookmaker	Katherine’s Tip	Odds
	Raiders -11.5	$1.90
	Raiders -11.5	$1.87
	Raiders -11.5	$1.91

Predicted Squads

Canberra Raiders - Kaeo Weekes, Jed Stuart, Matthew Timoko, Seb Kris, Xavier Savage, Ethan Strange, Jamal Fogarty, Corey Horsburgh, Tom Starling, Joe Tapine, Simi Sasagi, Zac Hosking, Morgan Smithies, Owen Pattie, Noah Martin, Ata Mariota & Trey Mooney

St. George Illawarra Dragons - Clint Gutherson, Corey Allan, Moses Suli, Nick Tsougranis, Sione Finau, Lyhkan King-Togia, Kyle Flanagan, Emre Guler, Damien Cook, David Klemmer, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Jaydn Su'A, Jack de Belin, Jacob Liddle, Blake Lawrie, Viliami Fifita & Loko Pasifiki Tonga

A lot is happening this round, but here are the key factors that will most likely impact your bets:

1. Playing at home, the on-fire Raiders should prove too strong for the Dragons who have been completely decimated by injury and Origin recently. Expect a big win for the Raiders.
2. Even without a lot of their star players, I expect the Storm to be too good for the Cowboys, who were barely able to beat the bottom-of-the-table Titans last time out.
3. The Tigers don’t have a lot of star power and with their three key players out, this could spell disaster. Even though the Roosters have lost Origin players, they have more depth.

Multi of the Week

My multi of the week comes across three different games in Round 18:

• Leg 1 - Canberra Raiders vs St. George Illawarra Dragons
• Leg 2 - North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm
• Leg 3 - Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers

The Cowboys managed to put an end to their three-game losing streak last time out over the Titans. It wasn’t exactly in convincing fashion though, winning 30-24. The Storm, on the other hand, boasts a four-game winning streak, with wins over the Titans, Cowboys, Rabbitohs and Sharks. The two teams only just played each other in Round 14, and the Storm won 38-14. 

This game is in Townsville this time, but this is a difficult challenge for the Cowboys. Tom Dearden, Reece Robson, Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter are all unavailable for the Cowboys. The Storm will have to compete without a lot of their stars as well, with Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Stefano Utoikamanu and Trent Loiero all out for Origin.

Bookmaker	Katherine’s Tip	Odds
	Storm -10.5	$1.90
	Storm -10.5	$1.91
	Storm -10.5	$1.91

Predicted Squads

North Queensland Cowboys - Scott Drinkwater, Robert Derby, Jaxon Purdue, Zac Laybutt, Murray Taulagi, Jake Clifford, Tom Duffy, Griffin Neame, Harrison Edwards, Sam McIntyre, Marly Bitungane, Kai O'Donnell, Jason Taumalolo, Braidon Burns, Thomas Mikaele, Coen Hess & Kaiden Lahrs

Melbourne Storm - Ryan Papenhuyzen, Grant Anderson, Joe Chan, Nick Meaney, Tyran Wishart, Jonah Pezet, Jahrome Hughes, Tui Kamikamica, Bronson Garlick, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Keagan Russell-Smith, Alec MacDonald, Ativalu Lisati & Kane Bradley

The Roosters will have fresh legs thanks to their bye last round, but they will be without a host of Origin players, including Robert Toia, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu, Connor Watson and Angus Crichton. They will be looking to build on their current two-game winning streak over the Tigers, who are in the middle of a slide. The Tigers’ most recent loss was to the Sea Eagles, 10-28.

Not a lot has gone right for the Tigers as of late. Both Jahream Bula and Api Koroisau have been ruled out for this one, plus Jarome Luai is off on Origin duties. Tallyn Da Silva has also left the club after being granted an early release. The last couple of times the two teams have played resulted in blowout wins for the Roosters. If the Tigers are struggling to win with their star players, they are likely going to struggle without.

Bookmaker	Katherine’s Tip	Odds
	Roosters -12.5	$1.90
	Roosters -12.5	$1.88
	Roosters -12.5	$1.91

Predicted Squads

Sydney Roosters - James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Billy Smith, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Junior Tupou, Sandon Smith, Hugo Savala, Makahesi Makatoa, Benaiah Ioelu, Naufahu Whyte, Egan Butcher, Blake Steep, Salesi Foketi, Jake Elliott, Zach Dockar-Clay, Taylor Losalu & De La Salle Va'a

Wests Tigers - Sunia Turuva, Charlie Staines, Brent Naden, Starford To'a, Jeral Skelton, Adam Doueihi, Latu Fainu, Terrell May, Tristan Hope, Fonua Pole, Samuela Fainu, Jack Bird, Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth, Sione Fainu, Tony Sukkar & Luke Laulilii

The final game of the round sees the Sea Eagles battle with the Rabbitohs at 4 Pines Park. A win over the Tigers last time out was just what the doctor ordered for the Sea Eagles and now they play another team below them on the ladder. The Rabbitohs have been on a bit of a slide recently, with losses to the Warriors, Raiders, Bulldogs, Storm and Dolphins. It has been a pretty tough draw for them, but a loss is still a loss.

Latrell Mitchell is off on Origin duties for the Blues and Cody Walker is out again, which are two key blows for the Rabbitohs. It’s easy to write off the Rabbitohs for this game, especially considering the way the Sea Eagles played last time out. But, I think this one will be closer than expected. The Sea Eagles are inconsistent at best, so take the Rabbitohs to cover the spread.

Bookmaker	Katherine’s Tip	Odds
	Rabbitohs +9.5	$1.90
	Rabbitohs +9.5	$1.88
	Rabbitohs +9.5	$1.91

Predicted Squads

Manly Sea Eagles - Lehi Hopoate, Jason Saab, Tolu Koula, Tom Trbojevic, Reuben Garrick, Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans, Matthew Lodge, Jazz Tevaga, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Corey Waddell, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Jake Simpkin, Ethan Bullemor, Tof Sipley & Caleb Navale

South Sydney Rabbitohs - Alex Johnston, Isaiah Tass, Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham, Tyrone Munro, Lewis Dodd, Jamie Humphreys, Sean Keppie, Siliva Havili, Keaon Koloamatangi, Euan Aitken, Tallis Duncan, Jai Arrow, Peter Mamouzelos, Lachlan Hubner, Davvy Moale & Tevita Tatola

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