NRL 2024 Round 12 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

Round 11 of the NRL season, AKA Magic Round, saw a remarkable run of close games take place, with each of the first six of the weekend being decided by eight points or less, before a couple of slightly more lopsided affairs rounded things out on Sunday. Difficult though that will be to repeat, Round 12 looks like another really tight one, with five of the weekend’s eight games having lines of 3.5 or less. Normal programming will resume after every game took place at Suncorp Stadium last weekend, kicking off with a Bulldogs vs Dragons clash on Thursday night at Accor Stadium. As always, take a look at our previews for every game set to take this weekend below. 

The Bulldogs must be getting pretty sick of close losses. After a poor start to the season they have been consistently very competitive, but they have now lost two games in a row and three of their last five by six points or less, the latest of which was a four-point defeat at the hands of the Raiders last weekend. They extended a slim half-time lead to eight points just after the break in that game, but a failure on their own part to score for the rest of the game and two tries in quick succession to Hudson Young saw them fall to their sixth defeat of the season. This weekend, however, back on their home turf, they have a good chance to notch up a fifth win of the year. But while they will head in as favourites, the Bulldogs certainly can’t afford to take the Dragons lightly. Despite entering the year as one of the Wooden Spoon favourites they have split their first ten games at five apiece, and last week were much too strong for the hapless Rabbitohs as they picked up a solid 28-14 victory. The Dragons don’t have the ability to compete with the better teams in the league, as they have shown on multiple occasions already this year, but so far they have been doing what they need to do against the teams below them. The Bulldogs are neither, though while they do sit slightly below their visitors this weekend, they have been the more consistent performer for the past couple of months. What’s more, they have had vastly different results on their home turf compared to away, winning every game so far this season at Accor Stadium and losing every game away from it. The Dragons will give this a run, but the Bulldogs should be able to get back on the winners’ list. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Bulldogs to win	$1.60
	Bulldogs -3.5	$1.91
	Bulldogs 7+	$2.25

Predicted Squads

Canterbury Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey  2. Jacob Kiraz  3. Bronson Xerri  4. Stephen Crichton  5. Josh Addo-Carr  6. Matt Burton  7. Drew Hutchison  8. Max King  9. Reed Mahoney  10. Sam Hughes  11. Viliame Kikau  12. Jacob Preston  13. Kurt Mann  14. Bailey Hayward  15. Josh Curran  16. Kurtis Morrin  17. Poasa Faamausili 

St. George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan  2. Zac Lomax  3. Moses Suli  4. Jack Bird  5. Mikaele Ravalawa  6. Kyle Flanagan  7. Ben Hunt   8. Francis Molo  9. Jacob Liddle  10. Hame Sele  11. Tom Eisenhuth  12. Jaydn Su'A  13. Jack de Belin 14. Fa'amanu Brown 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Luciano Leilua

The Cowboys finally got back on the winners’ last weekend, and this Thursday will get a great chance to make it two in a row when they host the Tigers up in Townsville on Friday. Though the Tigers have been somewhat competitive in most games in their first season under Benji Marshall, their 12-point loss to the Dolphins last weekend was their seventh in succession and sent their record to an uninspiring 2-8. It’s not often that they have been completely blown out, but they just don’t have the cattle to get the chocolates particularly often, and that’s likely to be the case once again this weekend against a Cowboys side which really needs another win to get their season back on track. After a blistering start to the season they notched up loss after loss after loss through April and the beginning of May, though with most of those coming in very tight games things could easily have been different. And last weekend, they were finally on the winning end of one of those, though a six-point win over the Rabbitohs was nothing to write home about given how the Bunnies have fared against virtually everyone else. Still, though the Cowboys have demonstrated that they are not as good as their start to the season might have suggested, they should be able to relatively easily dispose of the Tigers up in Townsville on Friday night. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Cowboys to win	$1.29
	Cowboys -9.5	$1.91
	Cowboys 13+	$2.05

Predicted Squads

North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater  2. Braidon Burns  3. Valentine Holmes  4. Villiami Vailea  5. Murray Taulagi  6. Tom Dearden  7. Chad Townsend  8. Jordan McLean  9. Reece Robson  10. Griffin Neame  11. Heilum Luki  12. Jeremiah Nanai  13. Reuben Cotter  14. Sam McIntyre  15. Thomas Mikaele  16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki  17. Jason Taumalolo

Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula  2. Charlie Staines  3. Asu Kepaoa  4. Josh Feledy  5. Solomon Alaimalo  6. Lachlan Galvin  7. Bud Sullivan  8. Stefano Utoikamanu  9. Api Koroisau  10. David Klemmer  11. Samuela Fainu  12. Alex Seyfarth  13. Isaiah Papali'i   14. Jake Simpkin  15. Fonua Pole  16. Alex Twal  17. Sione Fainu

Speaking of teams being sick of tight losses, the Sea Eagles’ one-point loss to the Broncos last weekend meant that in their last three games, they have now lost by a combined total of just nine points. Their start to the latest of those defeats could hardly have been worse as they conceded 12 points in the opening 12 minutes, but they locked down in a really impressive display for the rest of the game, and two second half tries saw them lock the scores at 12-12 with ten minutes to go. Unfortunately, a Jock Madden field goal in the 75th minute – the Broncos’ first points for more than an hour of game time – gave the Broncos an all important 13th point, resigning the Sea Eagles to a third consecutive loss. And things don’t get a whole lot easier for them this week as they welcome a Storm team coming off a commanding win against the Eels in Round 11. The Storm, after having a five-game winning streak broken by the Sharks the week prior, opened up a 16-10 half time lead, but it was in the second half that they really flexed their collective muscle, stringing together five consecutive tries en route to a 48-16 win. Unfortunately for them, however, the win came at a cost, with Cam Munster suffering a groin injury. He’ll have to await scans to assess the severity, but while the early signs were not particularly positive it now appears likely that he won’t require surgery. Still, he’ll likely miss this game regardless, joining Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes on what is now a star-studded sideline. The absence of those two is a big blow for the Storm, but they’re not alone, with Tom Trbojevic also out for the Sea Eagles. Both of these teams have shown a penchant for close games so far this year, and this game doesn’t look likely to be different. In a really tight one, the Storm can just sneak over the line to maintain their hold on a top two spot. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Storm to win	$1.80
	Storm -1.5	$1.91
	Storm 1-12	$3.00

Predicted Squads

Manly Sea Eagles: 1. Tolu Koula  2. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega  3. Tommy Talau  4. Reuben Garrick  5. Jaxson Paulo  6. Luke Brooks  7. Daly Cherry-Evans  8. Taniela Paseka  9. Lachlan Croker  10. Josh Aloiai  11. Haumole Olakau'atu  12. Ben Trbojevic  13. Jake Trbojevic  14. Karl Lawton  15. Corey Waddell  16. Ethan Bullemor  17. Nathan Brown 

Melbourne Storm: 1. Sua Fa'alogo  2. Will Warbrick  3. Reimis Smith  4. Nick Meaney  5. Xavier Coates  6. Tyran Wishart  7. Jahrome Hughes  8. Christian Welch  9. Harry Grant  10. Josh King  11. Shawn Blore  12. Eli Katoa  13. Trent Loiero  14. Bronson Garlick  15. Tui Kamikamica  16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona  17. Alec MacDonald 

• The lowest scoring Roosters’ game in the past month still saw 56 points scored, and their average game total in that time is 65 points.  
• The Panthers have had the wood over the Sharks for some time now – as they have against most teams – having won six of the last seven games between the two. 
• The Bulldogs are yet to lose a game at home all year, and yet to win one away. 

Multi of the Week

The Raiders were widely expected to tumble down the ladder this season after finishing eighth last year on the back of a huge bunch of close wins, but so far they are repeating their efforts from 2024. In the last five weeks, they’ve won three games and lost two; the three wins have come by a combined total of seven points, while the two losses have been by a combined total of 64 points. It’s not a particularly sustainable model and they will likely fall, potentially significantly, from the sixth position that they currently occupy on the ladder, and based on how they’ve fared against the really good teams so far this year – those two aforementioned recent losses came against the Broncos and the Sharks – the Roosters should really be winning this game. Though their record sits at just 6-5 they have been really solid this year, and three consecutive wins prior to last week by an average of 28 points – two of those wins coming against top four teams from last year – was hugely impressive. Their offensive dominance continued against the Sharks last week as they put up 30 points, but unfortunately that was offset by the Sharks’ own scoring prowess, with six tries of their own leading to a 38-30 win. The Roosters are easily the highest scoring team in the league but they give up a little more than they would like, and this week they’ll no doubt be looking to rein that in against the Raiders. Though the home team sits just ahead of the visitors in this game, the Roosters should be able to put up another big score and secure a solid win. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Roosters 13+	$2.08
	Roosters -11.5	$1.91
	Over 43.5 total match points	$1.90

Predicted Squads

Canberra Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana  2. Nick Cotric  3. Matt Timoko  4. Seb Kris  5. Xavier Savage  6. Ethan Strange  7. Kaeo Weekes   8. Emre Guler  9. Danny Levi  10. Joseph Tapine  11. Hudson Young  12. Elliott Whitehead  13. Morgan Smithies    14. Tom Starling  15. Ata Mariota  16. Trey Mooney  17. Corey Horsburgh 

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco  2. Daniel Tupou  3. Joseph Suaalii  4. Joey Manu  5. Dom Young  6. Luke Keary  7. Sam Walker  8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves  9. Brandon Smith  10. Lindsay Collins  11. Angus Crichton  12. Nat Butcher  13. Victor Radley  14. Connor Watson  15. Egan Butcher  16. Spencer Leniu  17. Terrell May

Saturday evening will see the attention of the NRL world turn to Cronulla for the game of the round, the top of the table Sharks hosting the three-time reigning Premiers in the Panthers. Neither of these teams have lost a whole lot this year, with the Sharks having won their last six to take their record to 9-1, while the Panthers’ tight defeat at the hands of the Warriors last weekend was just their third of the season. This will be the third game in a really tough stretch for the Sharks having just taken on first the Storm and then the Roosters, but so far they have handled those challenges with aplomb, beating a couple of their fellow prospective contenders in tight, high-quality games. The Panthers have been humming along pretty nicely even in the absence of Nathan Cleary, too, but their loss against the Warriors was their first in over a month. They snatched the lead in the 66th minute of that game, but a Taine Tuaupiki try just a couple of minutes later gave the Warriors a two-point lead that they wouldn’t yield. Disappointing though such a loss invariably is, the Panthers’ season has by and large gone to plan to date. Another loss, however, would see them fall a little back to the pack in what is a congested ladder, with just a solitary game separating them from the Knights in eighth. This will be a high intensity clash between two of the best teams in the leagues, and one which will likely go down to the wire. But the Panthers don’t often lose two games in a row. The Sharks have done little wrong all year and could easily win this game, but in a thriller the visitors can come away with the points.  

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Panthers to win	$2.30
	Panthers +3.5	$1.91
	Panthers 1-12	$3.30

Predicted Squads

Cronulla Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy  2. Sione Katoa  3. Jesse Ramien  4. Kayal Iro  5. Ronaldo Mulitalo  6. Daniel Atkinson  7. Nicho Hynes  8. Thomas Hazelton  9. Blayke Brailey  10. Oregon Kaufusi  11. Briton Nikora  12. Teig Wilton  13. Cam McInnes  14. Jack Williams  15. Sifa Talakai  16. Royce Hunt  17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 

Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards  2. Sunia Turuva  3. Izack Tago  4. Paul Alamoti  5. Brian To'o  6. Jack Cole  7. Jarome Luai  8. Moses Leota  9. Mitch Kenny  10. James Fisher-Harris  11. Luke Garner  12. Liam Martin  13. Isaah Yeo  14. Tyrone Peachey  15. Lindsay Smith  16. Liam Henry  17. Scott Sorensen 

After two of the best teams in the league go at it, two of the biggest stragglers will take centre stage on Saturday night when the Rabbitohs host the Eels. Granted the Eels aren’t quite in the dire straits that their opponent is, but it’s been a pretty grim month for them – and ignoring their seven-point win over Cowboys a few weeks ago, that grim streak extends even longer. They’ve lost four in a row by an average of more than 22 points, and last weekend’s 48-16 defeat at the hands of the Storm was the worst of the lot. But this Saturday, they get the best chance they will have for some time to notch up another win. The Rabbitohs are in the midst of a disastrous season, though they were a little better last weekend when they went down by just six points to the Cowboys. It still took their record to just 1-9 and was their sixth consecutive defeat, but in such a difficult year, positives aren’t exactly jumping off the page and a six-point loss is a hell of a lot better than what they have been dishing up for most of the season. In the same vein that this is a great opportunity for the Eels to get back into winning form, it also offers the Bunnies a chance for what is clearly going to be fairly rare for them this season – a win. In a game which won’t likely reach any spectacular heights, the Rabbitohs may be able to at long last find their way back onto the winners’ list against a struggling Eels team.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Rabbitohs to win	$2.25
	Rabbitohs +3.5	$1.91
	Rabbitohs 1-12	$3.50

Predicted Squads

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell  2. Alex Johnston  3. Jack Wighton  4. Izaac Thompson  5. Jacob Gagai  6. Cody Walker  7. Dion Teaupa  8. Davvy Moale  9. Damien Cook  10. Sean Keppie  11. Keaon Koloamatangi  12. Jacob Host  13. Jai Arrow  14. Peter Mamouzelos  15. Tallis Duncan  16. Tom Burgess  17. Siliva Havili

Parramatta Eels: 1. Blaize Talagi  2. Maika Sivo  3. Will Penisini  4. Sean Russell  5. Bailey Simonsson  6. Daejarn Asi  7. Dylan Brown  8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard  9. Joey Lussick  10. Junior Paulo  11. Shaun Lane  12. Ryan Matterson  13. J’maine Hopgood  14. Bryce Cartwright  15. Makahesi Makatoa  16. Joe Ofahengaue  17. Kelma Tuilagi 

The Broncos weren’t at their best last Friday night, failing to score after a scintillating first 11 minutes in which they scored two against the Sea Eagles, but as good teams do they found a way to win nonetheless. A 75th minute field goal gave them a 13-12 win which made it five in their last six games, and after a slow start to the year, last year’s runners-up have already nearly made their way into the top four. A win this weekend may very well get them there, and they will be expecting to secure exactly that against the Titans – though their intrastate rivals won’t make it quite as easy as it might have been a few weeks ago. The Titans continued their competitive run of form last weekend but were unfortunately on the wrong end of yet another close game, their four-point loss for the Knights their fourth by that margin or less in the past six weeks. The other two games, incidentally, were also tight ones, with victories over the Warriors and Cowboys coming by just three and two points respectively. That means that, remarkably, they have now played six consecutive games which have been decided by four points or less, but as solid as they have been during that stretch it’s hard to imagine them continuing it this weekend. They will make the Broncos work for their spoils and should be able to avoid a blowout, but the home side won’t likely have too many troubles notching up a sixth win in seven games. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Broncos to win	$1.24
	Broncos/Broncos half-time/full-time double	$1.60
	Broncos 1-12	$3.10

Predicted Squads

Brisbane Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh  2. Corey Oates  3. Kotoni Staggs  4. Selwyn Cobbo  5. Deine Mariner  6. Ezra Mam  7. Jock Madden  8. Corey Jensen  9. Billy Walters  10. Payne Haas  11. Brendan Piakura  12. Jordan Riki  13. Patrick Carrigan  14. Tyson Smoothy  15. Xavier Willison  16. Kobe Hetherington  17. Jack Gosiewski 

Gold Coast Titans: 1. Keano Kini  2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira  3. Brian Kelly  4. Aaron Schoupp  5. Jojo Fifita  6. Jayden Campbell  7. Kieran Foran  8. Moeaki Fotuaika  9. Chris Randall  10. Keenan Palasia  11. David Fifita  12. Beau Fermor  13. Klese Haas  14. Erin Clark  15. Joe Stimson  16. Isaac Liu  17. Josiah Pahulu 

After nearly a month and a half without a win, the Warriors desperately needed a win heading into last weekend, and coming up against the Panthers it didn’t look likely to come in Round 11. But last year’s Preliminary Finalists secured a rousing two-point victory over the reigning Premiers, and it couldn’t have come a week too soon. That win took their record to 4-1-6, and with a couple of winnable games to come over the next fortnight they could very easily even the ledger at six wins and six losses within a couple of weeks. But while this Sunday’s game is very winnable, they certainly won’t have it all their own way. The Dolphins continue to establish themselves as a genuine finals contender against all odds, and though not too much can be made of their 12-point win over the Tigers last weekend, it was their third in a row and keeps them right up the top of the ladder as we near the halfway point of the season. They now share a 7-3 record with both of last year’s Grand Finalists, and will head across the Pacific looking to further solidify their spot in the top four. But the Warriors looked to have found something last week that has been decidedly lacking for much of the first two or three months of the season, and they’ll be looking to use that victory as a catalyst to begin their march up the ladder. This should be a thrilling game to conclude Round 11 between two teams whose fortunes this season could still head in vastly different directions. The Dolphins should give it a serious shake, but over in New Zealand and after a stirring defeat of the Panthers, the Warriors can make it two wins in as many weeks. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Warriors to win	$2.00
	Warriors +1.5	$1.91
	Warriors 1-12	$3.20

Predicted Squads

New Zealand Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki  2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak  3. Ali Leiataua  4. Adam Pompey  5. Marcelo Montoya  6. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad  7. Te Maire Martin  8. Addin Fonua-Blake  9. Joey Lussick  10. Bunty Afoa  11. Jackson Ford  12. Mitch Barnett  13. Tohu Harris    14. Dylan Walker  15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga  17. Jacob Laban 

The Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow  2. Jamayne Isaako  3. Jake Averillo  4. Herbie Farnworth  5. Jack Bostock  6. Kodi Nikorima  7. Isaiya Katoa  8. Jesse Bromwich  9. Jeremy Marshall-King  10. Mark Nicholls  11. Felise Kaufusi  12. Euan Aitken  13. Max Plath  14. Josh Kerr  15. Kenny Bromwich  16. Ray Stone  17. Connelly Lemuelu

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