NRL 2026 – Round 20 preview, predictions and tips
It’s Round 20 in the NRL this week, which means just eight games to go of the regular season.
There were a couple of big shocks last weekend, including the Dolphins being walloped 66-0 at home by the Sharks, and the Bulldogs going down 40-16 at home to the Raiders.
Still, Round 20 offers another chance for everyone to reset, and it starts with a mouthwatering clash on Thursday night, as ladder leaders Penrith take on fallen Premiership holders, Brisbane…
*All odds are taken from Paddy Power and correct at time of writing on 14th July 2026.
- Thursday 16th July – Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos
- Friday 17th July – Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights
- Friday 17th July – Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm
- Saturday 18th July – Canberra Raiders vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Saturday 18th July – New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons
- Saturday 18th July – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers
- Sunday 19th July – Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles
- Sunday 19th July – The Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys
Thursday 16th July – Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos
Form guide
The Panthers had a bye last weekend, but their 36-14 win over the Rabbitohs the previous week made it 13 wins from 16 games. They have a four point cushion at the top of the ladder to the 2nd-placed Warriors.
The Broncos also had a bye last weekend, which would have come as a welcome relief. Their 28-16 loss to the Sharks in Round 18 was their eighth in a row, and a Finals spot looks virtually impossible now for last year’s Premiership winners.
Team news
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cole 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Liam Henry 17. Billy Phillips 18. Izack Tago 19. Billy Scott 20. Sione Fonua 21. Kalani Leuluai-going 22. Luron Patea
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Xavier Willison 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ben Hunt 15. Ben Talty 16. Preston Riki 17. Grant Anderson 18. Va’a Semu 19. Hayze Perham 20. Billy Walters 21. Luke Gale 22. Thomas Duffy
My prediction – Penrith Panthers 30-18 Brisbane Broncos
With almost a full-strength squad to choose from, it’s hard to see anything other than a Penrith win here. The Broncos have some big names of their own back in the squad, but eight straight losses tells its own story, and this should be the week their season is put to a premature end once and for all.
Betting tips
I’m backing Paul Alamoti for an anytime try for the Panthers, at 7/5. I like the look of the head to head/totoal points double market in this one as well. Penrith and over 44.5 is 6/5, which looks better value than a lot of the other markets.
Friday 17th July – Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights
Form guide
The Sharks turned on the style last week to humilate the Dolphins in a 66-0 victory, which has lifted them up to 4th. The’ve won six of their last seven games.
It’s the Knights who have dropped to 5th as a result, after their 26-24 defeat to the Rabbitohs last weekend. That ended a run of three straight victories for Newcastle.
Team news
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Tom Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Addin Fonua-Blake 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Billy Burns 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Samuel Stonestreet 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Jayden Berrell
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Dylan Brown 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker 14. Sandon Smith 15. Lachlan Crouch 16. Thomas Cant 17. Brodie Jones 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Harrison Graham 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Elijah Leaumoana 22. Tyson Gamble
My prediction – Cronulla Sharks 28-20 Newcastle Knights
The Knights should offer far more resistance than the Dolphins did last week, but I can still see Cronulla getting the two points here. Newcastle were poor for 70 minutes last week and it was only a late flurry of tries that made their defeat more respectable. I can’t see the Sharks letting them get away with it here.
Betting tips
The Sharks should be safe with a -4 handicap at 10/11. I can see this being fairly close, so I’m backing the 1-12 winning margin as well, which is 21/10.
Friday 17th July – Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm
Form guide
The Roosters eased past the Eels in a 28-12 win last weekend to make it four wins in five games. They remain 3rd on the ladder.
Melbourne squeezed past the Titans in a 22-18 win. It was their fourth victory in their last five, but they remain four points shy of the top eight with time running out.
Team news
Roosters team: 1. Cody Ramsey 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Hugo Savala 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Nat Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Egan Butcher 17. Taylor Losalu 18. Rex Bassingthwaighte 19. Tommy Talau 20. Toby Rodwell 21. Benaiah Ioelu 22. Robert Toia
Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Moses Leo 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Trent Toelau 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Cooper Clarke 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Trent Loiero 14. Gabriel Satrick 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Josiah Pahulu 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Stanley Huen 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 20. Davvy Moale 21. Manaia Waitere 22. Hayden Watson
My prediction – Sydney Roosters 24-12 Melbourne Storm
This would be a tough test at the best of times, but with Melbourne missing both of their halves, it’ll be a real uphill struggle. I can see the Chooks putting a nail in their coffin this week, and cementing their own top four spot in the process.
Betting tips
Hugo Savala s back in the centres this week, and he looks the best-priced for an anytime try at 7/5. In the match winner/tryscorer double market, I’m also backing Daniel Tupou and the Roosters at 5/6.
Saturday 18th July – Canberra Raiders vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Form guide
The Raiders had a magnificent 40-16 win over the Bulldogs last week to make it back-to-back victories. They’ve moced up to 12th, but with a six-point gap to the top eight, last year’s Minor Premiers look like they’ve left it too late for a Finals run.
The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, scraped past the Knights, 26-24, in Round 19. That lifted them to 6th, but they’re just two points clear of 9th-placed Manly.
Team news
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Owen Pattie 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Zac Hosking 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Daine Laurie 18. Savelio Tamale 19. Morgan Smithies 20. Coby Black 21. Joseph Roddy 22. Sione Finau
Rabbitohs team: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Alex Johnston 3. Tallis Duncan 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Cameron Murray 14. Jye Gray 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Jamie Humphreys 18. Latrell Siegwalt 19. Bronson Garlick 20. John Radel 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Edward Kosi
My prediction – Canberra Raiders 14-26 South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Rabbitohs will surely be looking at this as a must-win if they’re to cement their place in the top eight. Yes, the Raiders had a great win last week, but a Finals spot looks a real stretch, and I can see the Bunnies getting the job done here, especially with Cody Walker back in the side after suspension.
Betting tips
It’s neck and neck in the betting market here, so I’m jumping straight on the Rabbitohs to win at 10/11. Cody Walker owes his teammates as well after his ridiculous suspension last week for kicking out, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a big game. He’s 23/10 for an anytime try, which looks pretty good to me.
Saturday 18th July – New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Form guide
The Warriors were comfortable winners over the Tigers in Round 19 as they picked up a 32-6 victory on the road. They remain 2nd, four points behind Penrith.
The Dragons had a bye after their 24-10 win over the Tigers in Round 18. They remain rock bottom though, as that was only their second win of the season.
Team news
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 20. Marata Niukore 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 22. Luke Metcalf 23. Makaia Tafua
Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Setu Tu 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Dylan Egan 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Ryan Couchman 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Josh Kerr 17. Jacob Halangahu 18. Moses Suli 19. Lyhkan King-Togia 20. Emre Guler 21. Christian Tuipulotu 22. Jacob Webster
My prediction – New Zealand Warriors 40-10 St George Illawarra Dragons
Anything other than a comfortable home win would be a huge shock here. The Dragons have definitely improved in recent weeks, but two wins in 16 games is nothing to write home about and the wooden spoon looks a near-certainty.
Betting tips
I’m not seeing loads of value in this one, so I’m going slightly risky by backing Alofiana Khan-Pereira to score 2+ tries at 21/10. I’ll also back the Warriors with a -15 handicap at 10/11, which should be safe.
Saturday 18th July – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers
Form guide
The Bulldogs suffered a surprise 40-16 loss to the Raiders last week, which followed a run of three straight wins. They’ve dropped to 11th and are four points outside the top eight.
The Tigers were crushed at home, 32-6, by the Warriors as their season continues to unravel. That made it four straight losses for Wests, who are down in 13th.
Team news
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Matt Burton 4. Enari Tuala 5. Jethro Rinakama 6. Sean O’Sullivan 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jaeman Salmon 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harry Hayes 14. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Jack Underhill 17. Lipoi Hopoi 19. Marcelo Montoya 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Viliame Kikau 22. Jed Reardon 23. Stephen Crichton
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Heamasi Makasini 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Jared Haywood 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal 14. Latu Fainu 15. Ethan Roberts 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Josese Lanyon 18. Faaletino Tavana 19. Kit Laulilii 20. Junior Tupou 21. Javon Andrews 22. Apisai Koroisau
My prediction – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22-14 Wests Tigers
The Bulldogs really are entering last chance saloon territory now, and I expect a response after last week’s loss. The Tigers will be revved up for this clash woth their rivals, but surely the Dogs will get the job done here agaisnt a struggling side.
Betting tips
I’m backing the Bulldogs in the half-time/full-time market at 5/6. Jethro Rinakama came through for me last week, so I’m tipping him for an anytime try again here at 5/6.
Sunday 19th July – Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles
Form guide
The Titans were desperately unlucky to go down 22-18 to Melbourne last week. Ultimately though, their 12th loss of the season saw them drop to 16th.
Manly were edged out 19-18 by the Cowboys for their second-straight defeat. They’ve dropped to 9th as a result, but a victory this week could see them climb back into the top eight.
Team news
Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Zane Harrison 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Oliver Pascoe 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Josh Patston 16. Klese Haas 17. Cooper Bai 18. Sam Verrills 19. Lachlan Ilias 20. Michael Molo 21. Jaylan De Groot 22. Sialetili Faeamani
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Joey Walsh 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Simione Laiafi 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ethan Bullemor 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Josh Feledy 15. Nathan Brown 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Jackson Shereb 18. Nicholas Lenaz 19. Blake Wilson 20. Aaron Schoupp 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Onitoni Large
My prediction – Gold Coast Titans 10-36 Manly Sea Eagles
I’m expecting Manly to bounce back with a victory here. The Titans will be buoyed by last week’s performance against the Storm, but they have nothing to play for and Manly can’t afford many more slip-ups if they’re going to be playing into September.
Betting tips
I expect the Sea Eagles to be safe with a -4 handicap at 10/11. At 15/8, the 13+ winning margin looks way too good to pass up as well.
Sunday 19th July – The Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys
Form guide
The Dolphins were humiliated 66-0 by the Sharks last week, and after a record-breaking winning run, it was their second straight loss. They’ve dropped to 7th.
The Cowboys are level on points with them in 8th after their 19-18 win over Manly last weekend. That made it back-to-back victories for North Queensland after two straight losses.
Team news
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Brad Schneider 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Max Plath 16. Tom Gilbert 17. Felise Kaufusi 18. Tevita Naufahu 19. Sebastian Su’a 20. Brian Pouniu 21. Trai Fuller 22. John Fineanganofo
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Jake Clifford 8. Griffin Neame 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Matthew Lodge 17. Coen Hess 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Kaiden Lahrs 20. Liam Sutton 21. Ethan King 22. Tom Dearden
My prediction – The Dolphins 20-18 North Queensland Cowboys
This one’s too close to call, but I’m backing the Dolphins to bounce back with a narrow victory. All their Origin stars are back, which could make a big difference this week.
Betting tips
As I’m expecting a close game, I’m backing the Dolphins to win by 1-12 points, at 2/1. Herbie Farnworth looks the best priced for an anytime try as well, at 6/5.
