NRL 2026 – Round 13 preview, predictions and tips
After the excitement of Origin yesterday, it’s back to a reduced round of NRL this weekend.
There are a couple of absolute crackers to look forward to, including 1st vs 2nd on Sunday, but before we get to that Panthers vs Warriors blockbuster, there are six other big games to take a look at…
*All odds are taken from Paddy Power and correct at time of writing on 28th May 2026.
- Friday 29th May – Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles
- Saturday 30th May – Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels
- Saturday 30th May – Wests Tigers vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Saturday 30th May – Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters
- Sunday 31st May – Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons
- Sunday 31st May – Canberra Raiders vs North Queensland Cowboys
- Sunday 31st May – Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors
Friday 29th May – Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles
Form guide
The Sharks had a bye last weekend, but the two points from that, plus their 38-16 win over the Bulldogs at Magic Round, means they’re 9th heading into this one.
Manly edged past the Titans last weekend in a scrappy 12-10 victory. That made it seven wins from eight games under Kieran Foran, and they’re fixed in 4th.
Team news
Nicho Hynes is ruled out for the Sharks, so Niwhai Puru comes in for his NRL debut. Blayke Brailey, Addin Fonrua-Blake and Briton Nikora have been named to back up from Origin.
Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jesse Colquhoun 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Billy Burns 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Oregon Kaufusi 20. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Riley Jones 23. Mawene Hiroti
Manly have named their Origin stars – Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula – on the extended bench, but they could come into the starting side on gameday. Ben Trbojevic is back in the team too after a concussion, and Lehi Hopoate returns from suspension.
My prediction – Cronulla Sharks 14-20 Manly Sea Eagles
With the form they’re in, I just can’t see past the Sea Eagles in this one. You never know which Cronulla will turn up, but Manly have been consistently excellent for the past few weeks, and I don’t see why that’ll change this week.
Betting tips
The Sharks are slight favourites, so I’m straight on a Manly win at 1/1. 9/5 is too good to ignore for a Clayton Faulalo try as well.
Saturday 30th May – Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels
Form guide
The Knights had a bye last weekend, but they’ve won three in a row before that to climb to 5th.
The Eels also had a bye, which followed on from a 34-8 loss to Melbourne at Magic Round. They’re down in 14th on the ladder.
Team news
The Knights have gone with the same starting side that beat the Titans at Magic Round, so Kalyn Ponga and Jacob Saifiti are named to back up from Origin. Thomas Cant joins the six-man bench this week.
Isaiah Iongi returns from injury for the Eels, so Joash Papali’i moves into the halves. He’ll be partnered by Ronald Volkman, who replaces the injured Mitch Moses. Kitione Kautoga is also back from injury, but Junior Paulo is ruled out.
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 14. Dylan Walker 15. Charlie Guymer 16. Toni Mataele 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Apa Twidle 19. Teancum Brown 20. Sam Tuivaiti 21. Lorenzo Talataina 22. Araz Nanva
My prediction – Newcastle Knights 30-14 Parramatta Eels
I can see the Knights making it four wins in a row this week against a struggling Parra side missing their influential playmaker. Anything other than a Newcastle win would be a surprise.
Betting tips
Greg Marzhew’s anytime try price is way too low, so I’m backing him to score the 1st, 2nd or 3rd try instead, which is 9/5. I’m backing the Knights to win and under 52.5 points in total as well, which is a 13/10 double.
Saturday 30th May – Wests Tigers vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Form guide
The Tigers are on a slippery slope, with three straight losses and 142 points conceded in that time. Their two points for the bye last week has them sitting in 10th though.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, finally ended their five-game losing run with a 30-20 win over Melbourne last weekend. They’ve climbed to 13th with that victory.
Team news
Jahream Bula, Api Koroisau, Alex Twal and Heamasi Makasini are all back for the Tigers this week. Faaletino Tavana replaces Luke Laulilii on the wing, while Taylan May and Patrick Herbert are both missing too.
Jacob Preston drops out through injury for the Bulldogs, so Harry Hayes comes into the starting side. Josh Curran is back on the bench after a spell in NSW Cup, while Stephen Crichton and Connor Tracey are named on the extended bench. Crichton’s hoping to back up after Origin, while Tracey’s eyeing a return from injury.
My prediction – Wests Tigers 18-24 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
This one could go either way, but the Tigers are on a poor run of form and the Bulldogs will be boosted by last week’s win over Melbourne. A home win wouldn’t shock me, but I’m edging towards the Dogs.
Betting tips
Unsurprisingly, the Tigers are slight favourites, so I’m straight on a Bulldogs win at 6/4. Marcelo Montoya is a tempting 11/10 for an anytime try as well.
Saturday 30th May – Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters
Form guide
After turning a corner in Rounds 10 and 11 with back-to-back wins, Melbourne suffered their eighth loss of the season last weekend to drop to 15th. They were beaten 30-10 by the Bulldogs.
The Roosters had a bye last weekend, but their 18-12 loss to the Cowboys at Magic Round the previous week, ended their six-game winning run. They remain 3rd on the ladder.
Team news
Melbourne have named their Origin stars Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Trent Loiero in the starting side, but they may drop out come matchday. In the only non-Origin related change, Shawn Blore is replaced by Alec Macdonald after failing his HIA last week.
Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Fa’alogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Moses Leo 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Alec MacDonald 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Trent Loiero 14. Trent Toelau 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Davvy Moale 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Joe Chan 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Jack Hetherington 21. Angus Hinchey 22. Gabriel Satrick 23. Keagan Russell-Smith
Just one change for the Roosters, who welcome Billy Smith back. He replaces Daniel Tupou, who picked up an injury at Magic Round. Origin stars James Tedesco, Victor Radley, Reece Robson, Rob Toia, Lindsay Collins and Sam Walker have all been named to back up.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Billy Smith 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Cody Ramsey 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Reece Foley 19. Egan Butcher 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Taylor Losalu 22. Tom Rodwell 23. Rex Bassingthwaighte 24. Junior Tupou
My prediction – Melbourne Storm 14-22 Sydney Roosters
I can see the Roosters getting back to winning ways here against a struggling Storm side. Granted, they’ve picked up a couple of wins recently, but I make the Chooks favourites here.
Betting tips
I’m happy to back the Roosters with a -2 handicap at 10/11. I’m on the 1-12 winning margin as well, which is 2/1.
Sunday 31st May – Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Form guide
The Broncos had a bye last weekend, but they’ve lost their last three games to sit 11th on the ladder.
As for the Dragons, they’re still winless with last week’s 30-12 loss to the Warriors making it 11 in a row to start the year.
Team news
The Broncos are boosted by the return of Payne Haas and Brendan Piakura this week. Kotoni Staggs, Ezra Mam, Gehamat Shibasaki and Pat Carrigan have all been named to back up after Origin. Jack Gosiewski and Grant Anderson return on the bench.
Moses Suli and Jacob Liddle are back for the Dragons this week. Hayden Buchanan, Jaydn Su’A and Christian Tuipulotu are all ruled out.
My prediction – Brisbane Broncos 42-10 St George Illawarra Dragons
The Broncos couldn’t have handpicked a better team and venue this weekend after three straight losses. The Dragons have been abysmal this year, and a routine home win should be a formality.
Betting tips
The Broncos should be safe with a -20 handicap at 10/11. I can see Reece Walsh having a big game after his Origin snub as well, so I’m backing him for 2+ tries at 15/8.
Sunday 31st May – Canberra Raiders vs North Queensland Cowboys
Form guide
The Raiders were beaten 30-22 by the Dolphins last weekend, which means they remain in 12th.
The Cowboys were 30-18 winners over the Rabbitohs, which made it four wins out of five and saw them climb to 6th.
Team news
Ethan Strange and Hudson Young have been named to back up for the Raiders after their Origin exploits. Seb Kris is back from injury, but Jayden Brailey misses out with concussion.
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Daine Laurie 14. Owen Pattie 15. Ata Mariota 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Jed Stuart 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Jordan Uta 20. Coby Black 21. Vena Patuki-Case 22. Ethan Alaia
The Cowboys have named Reuben Cotter to back up from Origin, while Murray Taulagi is back from concussion. Robert Derby drops to the bench to make way.
My prediction – Canberra Raiders 18-30 North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys have been in great form this year and there’s no reason to think they can’t carry on here. The Raiders have been inconsistent and it wouldn’t be a huge shock if they win, but I’m backing the away side in this one.
Betting tips
The Raiders are favourites for this one, so I’m straight on the Cowboys to win at 6/5. I haven’t tipped Jaxon Purdue for an anytime try recently, but he was one of my trusty go-tos last year, so I’m backing him at 6/4.
Sunday 31st May – Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors
Form guide
The Panthers had a bye last weekend, but it’s 10/11 wins so far this year as they lead the ladder by two points.
Hot on their heels are the Warriors, who have 9/11 wins. They beat the Dragons 30-12 last week to tighten their grip on 2nd.
Team news
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has gone against the grain by naming his Origin stars (Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Casey McLean and Brian To’o) on the extended bench. Liam Martin is back after injury in the back row.
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Liam Henry 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Jack Cole 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Billy Phillips 17. Luron Patea 18. Billy Scott 19. Sione Fonua 20. Kalani Going 21. Casey McLean 22. Isaah Yeo 23. Nathan Cleary 24. Brian To’o
The Warriors have lost Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to an ACL injury, so Adam Pompey comes into the centres. Marata Niukore replaces Eddie Ieremia-Toeava on the bench, and there’s a spot on the extended bench for recently exiled playmaker Luke Metcalf. Origin stars Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell are left out entirely.
My prediction – Penrith Panthers 20-16 New Zealand Warriors
Until we see the lineups on matchday, this one’s very difficult to predict. I have a strong suspicion Penrith will play their Origin stars, or at least two of them. On that basis, I’m going for them to edge this one, but if all four are rested I’ll be leaning towards the Wahs.
Betting tips
I’m not committing to anything in this one until matchday, but if you get on it before that, the Warriors are 7/5 for the win. If Penrith’s Origin stars don’t make it, that price will come down, so get in quick if you think they’ll stick with the named lineup.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira wil start for the Warriors, and I’m tipping him for an anytime try at 5/6.
