NRL 2025 Round 21
The first game of Round 21 sees the Roosters welcome the Storm to Allianz Stadium. The Storm had their winning stream broken last time out in Melbourne, but their arch rivals, the Sea Eagles, 16-18. The Roosters will also be looking to bounce back from a loss to the Sharks on the road, 18-31. These two teams haven’t played each other yet this season, and the last time they met was in Week 3 of the Finals, and the Storm won 48-18.
It looks like the Roosters will be without Billy Smith for this one after he suffered a head knock last time out. Victor Radley also joins a growing list of Roosters that are sidelined due to injury, after suffering a shoulder injury in his last game. For the Storm, Ryan Papenhuyzen might return from his calf injury in this clash. Cameron Munster out though, for personal reasons, and Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing a two-game ban.
Sydney Roosters - James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Robert Toia, Tom Rodwell, Hugo Savala, Sam Walker, Naufahu Whyte, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Egan Butcher, Salesi Foketi, Zach Dockar-Clay, Blake Steep, Makahesi Makatoa & Spencer Leniu
Melbourne Storm - Ryan Papenhuyzen, Grant Anderson, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Xavier Coates, Tyran Wishart, Jahrome Hughes, Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa, Trent Loiero, Jonah Pezet, Tui Kamikamica, Joe Chan & Ativalu Lisati
The Cowboys are playing at home in the first of two Friday night clashes and will face the Dragons. Both teams are currently sitting outside the top eight and will be desperate for a win. Interestingly, both teams have the exact same record over the last five games, 1-4. They are both riding a three-game losing streak, with the Cowboys going down to the Dolphins, 24-43, and the Dragons going down to the Bulldogs, 18-20, last time out.
The two teams haven’t played each other much recently, but their two most recent games have gone in favour of the Cowboys, both by a reasonable margin. Both Murray Taulagi and Thomas Mikaele will join an already long list of injured players for the Cowboys. But we could see both Jake Clifford and John Bateman return to the side. For the Dragons, it looks like Christian Tuipulotu is set to return, which is certainly a welcome boost.
North Queensland Cowboys - Scott Drinkwater, Jaxson Paulo, Jaxon Purdue, Zac Laybutt, Braidon Burns, Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden, Coen Hess, Reece Robson, Griffin Neame, John Bateman, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter, Karl Lawton, Kaiden Lahrs, Kai O'Donnell & Harrison Edwards
St. George Illawarra Dragons - Clint Gutherson, Tyrell Sloan, Moses Suli, Corey Allan, Christian Tuipulotu, Lyhkan King-Togia, Kyle Flanagan, Emre Guler, Damien Cook, David Klemmer, Luciano Leilua, Jaydn Su'A, Jack de Belin, Jacob Liddle, Blake Lawrie, Hamish Stewart & Michael Molo
To wrap up the Friday night action, we have the Broncos up against the Eels. The Broncos' stocks keep rising, and they are currently on a five-game winning streak. They will have fresh legs as well, after having their bye last round. The Eels come into this clash in Brisbane, looking to snap a three-game losing streak, which includes losses to the Raiders, Panthers and Dragons.
In good news for the Broncos, it looks like we’ll see Jesse Arthars and Payne Haas return to the fold for this clash. The Eels will also welcome back some key players for this clash, with the likes of Mitch Moses and Will Penisini both set to return. Isaiah Iongi has a hand injury and will likely spend a few weeks on the sidelines. With the Broncos in form and their sights set on a top-four finish, it’s difficult to go past them for this one.
Brisbane Broncos - Reece Walsh, Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Jesse Arthars, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Xavier Willison, Ben Hunt, Payne Haas, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan, Billy Walters, Kobe Hetherington, Jack Gosiewski & Corey Jensen
Parramatta Eels - Joash Papali’i, Zac Lomax, Bailey Simonsson, Will Penisini, Josh Addo-Carr, Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses, J’maine Hopgood, Ryley Smith, Junior Paulo, Charlie Guymer, Jack Williams, Dylan Walker, Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Samrani, Matt Doorey & Sam Tuivaiti
We head to New Zealand for the first of three Saturday games with the Warriors taking on the bottom-of-the-table Titans. The Warriors currently hold a top-four spot and have won their last two games, which include wins over the Knights and Tigers. The Titans, on the other hand, are riding a four-game losing streak at the moment, and lost by one point last time out, to the Tigers.
Interestingly, the Titans have won their last two games over the Warriors, but the two teams haven’t played each other yet this season. The Warriors look to get a boost in this clash with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad set to return. For the Titans, they suffered a massive blow in their loss to the Tigers, with captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui suffering a knee injury, and he looks out for this one at least.
| Bookmaker | Katherine’s Tip | Odds |
 | Total points - Over 47.5 | $1.85 |
 | Total points - Over 46.5 | $1.75 |
 | Total points - Over 48.5 | $1.91 |
New Zealand Warriors - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey, Kurt Capewell, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Tanah Boyd, James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford, Leka Halasima, Marata Niukore, Erin Clark, Te Maire Martin, Jacob Laban, Demitric Vaimauga & Tanner Stowers-Smith
Gold Coast Titans - AJ Brimson, Jaylan De Groot, Brian Kelly, Jojo Fifita, Phillip Sami, Kieran Foran, Jayden Campbell, Moeaki Fotuaika, Sam Verrills, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Klese Haas, Beau Fermor, Chris Randall, Keano Kini, Jaimin Jolliffe, David Fifita & Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
The Panthers and Tigers will face off against each other at CommBank Stadium in the middle Saturday game. The Panthers are riding a six-game winning streak and are looking to push themselves into the top four. Meanwhile, the Tigers are 12th on the ladder, and while that’s an improvement from seasons gone by, they’ll need to win a lot of their final games to make the top eight this season.
The two teams played each other in Round 14 this season, and it was a fairly tight game, with the Panthers winning, 18-14. The Tigers have won two of their last three games and just scraped by the Titans last time out, 21-20. Facing off against the Panthers, especially now that they’ve found their groove, looks to be a difficult task. The Tigers have famously poached several ex-Panthers players, most notably being Jarome Luai.
Penrith Panthers - Dylan Edwards, Thomas Jenkins, Izack Tago, Casey McLean, Paul Alamoti, Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, Lindsay Smith, Scott Sorensen, Isaiah Papalii, Isaah Yeo, Brad Schneider, Liam Henry, Luke Garner & Luron Patea
Wests Tigers - Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva, Taylan May, Starford To'a, Jeral Skelton, Jarome Luai, Latu Fainu, Terrell May, Api Koroisau, Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth, Tony Sukkar, Adam Doueihi, Tristan Hope, Sione Fainu, Fonua Pole & Jack Bird
The Sharks gave their top-eight chances a massive boost last time out, beating the Roosters, who were close to them on the ladder. Now, the Sharks are clinging on to a top-eight spot and will feel confident about their chances of another two Premiership points as they are taking on the Rabbitohs, who have lost seven games in a row, and are sitting down in 15th spot on the ladder.
Peter Mamouzelos and Keaon Koloamatangi join a growing list of injured Rabbitohs players. For the Sharks, they will be without Briton Nikora for this one after he suffered a head knock in the team’s win over the Roosters last time out. The Sharks have won the last two games over the Rabbitohs, including in Round 3 this season. It looks like the Sharks have found form at just the right time.
South Sydney Rabbitohs - Alex Johnston, Isaiah Tass, Euan Aitken, Tallis Duncan, Tyrone Munro, Jack Wighton, Jamie Humphreys, Tevita Tatola, Siliva Havili, Sean Keppie, Jai Arrow, Jacob Host, Lachlan Hubner, Lewis Dodd, Shaq Mitchell, Thomas Fletcher & Liam Le Blanc
Cronulla Sharks - Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Chris Vea'ila, Sifa Talakai, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes, Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Oregon Kaufusi, Billy Burns, Teig Wilton, Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Jesse Colquhoun, Toby Rudolf & Braden Hamlin-Uele
The top-of-the-table Raiders are at home once again for their Round 21 clash with the Knights, who are currently sitting down in 14th position on the ladder. The Raiders beat the Eels last time out, 40-16, but it was a close one in the first half, with the half-time score 12-16 (to the Eels). That win over the Eels means the Raiders are now on an eight-game winning streak, with their last loss coming back in Round 10.
The Knights, on the other hand, come into this clash on a three-game losing streak, with losses to the Warriors, Storm and Raiders. Yes, that’s right, the Raiders and Knights only played each other in Round 17, which resulted in a 22-18 win to the Raiders. While the Raiders are riding high, will they become complacent against a lowly team like the Knights? I’ll be playing it safe, taking the Knights to keep this one at least marginally close.
Canberra Raiders - Kaeo Weekes, Jed Stuart, Matthew Timoko, Sebastian Kris, Xavier Savage, Ethan Strange, Jamal Fogarty, Josh Papali’i, Tom Starling, Joseph Tapine, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Corey Horsburgh, Owen Pattie, Simi Sasagi, Morgan Smithies & Ata Mariota
Newcastle Knights - Dane Gagai, Dom Young, Fletcher Hunt, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger, Jacob Saifiti, Jayden Brailey, Leo Thompson, Jermaine McEwen, Kai Pearce-Paul, Phoenix Crossland, Tyson Gamble, Mat Croker, Tyson Frizell & Brodie Jones
Wrapping up Round 21, we have the Bulldogs up against the Sea Eagles. Both teams bring a winning streak into this one, with the Bulldogs on the board with a two-game winning streak and the Sea Eagles boasting a three-game winning streak. The back-to-back wins for the Bulldogs haven’t exactly been convincing, winning by a margin of two and four points, but a win is a win.
The Sea Eagles look to be another team that has found form at the right time, and they have moved into the top eight at the moment. Their recent wins have come over the Storm, Rabbitohs and Tigers. Both teams have a 50% win percentage at Allianz Stadium, and while they haven’t played each other yet this season, the last two games have gone the way of the Sea Eagles.
Canterbury Bulldogs - Connor Tracey, Jacob Kiraz, Enari Tuala, Stephen Crichton, Jethro Rinakama, Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin, Max King, Reed Mahoney, Josh Curran, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon, Kurt Mann, Harry Hayes, Sam Hughes & Bailey Hayward
Manly Sea Eagles - Lehi Hopoate, Jason Saab, Tolutau Koula, Tom Trbojevic, Reuben Garrick, Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans, Matthew Lodge, Jazz Tevaga, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Haumole Olakau'atu, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Jake Simpkin, Corey Waddell, Ethan Bullemor & Toafofoa Sipley
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