NRL 2026 – Round 18 preview, predictions and tips
Sincere apologies that I wasn’t around last week with predictions. I was busy (not exactly) sunning myself in Rhodes and didn’t have time to put an update together.
Still, I’m back now and ready to go again with this week’s NRL preview. Due to the Origin decider next week, it’s another reduced round, but there are still five crackers to look forward to…
*All odds are taken from Paddy Power and correct at time of writing on 2nd July 2026.
Friday 3rd July – Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Form guide
After 12 wins in their opening 13 games, the Panthers have lost their last two. They were beaten 26-12 by the Cowboys last week, but thanks to the Warriors’ slight drop off, they remain four points clear at the top of the ladder.
After three straight losses, the Rabbitohs have bounced back to pick up back-to-back wins in their last two games. Their 32-12 win at the Eels in Round 17 leaves them sitting in 7th.
Team news
The Panthers are missing Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin to Origin, while Isaiah Papali’i is ruled out with concussion. Jack Cogger replaces Cleary in the halves, while Jack Cole, John Fonua and Luron Patea have all been added to the six-man bench.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Luke Garner 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Billy Scott 15. Kalani Going 16. Billy Phillips 17. Luron Patea 18. Jack Cole 19. Sione Fonua 20. Zakauri Clarke 21. Jaxen Edgar 23. Tom Ale
The Rabbitohs are boosted by the return of Jack Wighton this week. Dayne Jennings makes his first start in place of the injured Alex Johnston, while Cam Murray misses out through Origin. Matt Dufty joins the six-man bench.
Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray 2. Dayne Jennings 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Jack Wighton 5. Edward Kosi 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jamie Humphreys 15. Euan Aitken 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. John Radel 18. Matthew Dufty 19. Jayden Sullivan 20. Moala Graham-Taufa 21. Peter Mamouzelos 22. Thomas Fletcher
My prediction – Penrith Panthers 12-20 South Sydney Rabbitohs
This is a tough one to call, but with the Bunnies in form and Penrith missing three players to Origin, I’m leaning towards the away side.
Betting tips
The Panthers are favourites in this one, so I’m straight on a Rabbioths win, which is 6/4. Cody Walker is also pretty big at 23/10 for an anytime try.
Saturday 4th July – St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers
Form guide
There’s not much to say about the Dragons, who lost 24-16 to the Raiders last week. That made it 14 defeats in 15 games this year.
The Tigers were edged out 12-6 by the Knights in Round 17. It was a second straight loss, which has seen them drop to 11th.
Team news
The Dragons are unchanged from last week’s loss in Canberra.
Dragons: 1. Clint 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. Emre Guler 18. Jacob Halangahu 19. Lyhkan King-Togia 20. Hame Sele 21. Moses Suli 22. Christian Tuipulotu
The Tigers have lost skipper Jarome Luai to concussion, so Jock Madden returns from a head knock of his own. Taylan May is injured, so Heamasi Makasini starts in the centres. Alex Twal returns from injury for Alex Seyfarth, while Charlie Murray replaces Mavrik Geyer on the six-man bench.
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Heamasi Makasini 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jock Madden 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Latu Fainu 18. Faaletino Tavana 19. Charlie Murray 20. Javon Andrews 21. Heath Mason 22. Mavrik Geyer
My prediction – St George Illawarra Dragons 10-22 Wests Tigers
It’s almost impossible to back the Dragons in any game this year. The Tigers aren’t exactly flying, but they’ll expect to win this.
Betting tips
I’m happy to back the Tigers with a -4 handicap at 10/11. They’re also 1/1 in the half-time/full-time market, which looks tempting.
Saturday 4th July – Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks
Form guide
Last week’s 24-18 loss to the Roosters was a seventh defeat in a row for the Broncos. Last year’s Premiers are down in 13th, eight points off the top eight, and very unlikely to make the Finals now.
The Sharks had a bye in Round 17, and they’re the team Brisbane are trying to hunt down right now. They sit 8th on 22 points.
Team news
The Broncos are without Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas on Origin duty this week. Aublix Tawha and Jack Gosiewski also drop out through injury, while Josiah Karapani has been dropped for an off-field incident. In better news, Gehamat Shibasaki and Deine Mariner are back from injury. Hayze Perham and Vaa Semu come in for Walsh and Haas, Jaiyden Hunt and Luke Gale join the bench. If Gale comes on, it’ll be his NRL debut.
Broncos: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Grant Anderson 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Thomas Duffy 7. Ben Hunt 8. Va’a Semu 9. Cory Paix 10. Preston Riki 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison 14. Blake Mozer 15. Ben Talty 16. Jaiyden Hunt 17. Jesse Arthars 18. Josh Rogers 19. Luke Gale 20. Joshua Coric 21. Kane Bradley 22. Tupou Francis
The Sharks have also lost three players to Origin – Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey and Briton Nikora. Tom Hazelton, Jayden Berrell and Billy Burns come into the starting team with Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha and Harrison Hassett joining the bench.
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Harrison Hassett 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Liam Ison
My prediction – Brisbane Broncos 12-26 Cronulla Sharks
This could be another painful night for Brisbane. They’re missing a host of big names and the Sharks should be sniffing blood here. It’ll take an almighty effort for the Broncos to pick up a win here.
Betting tips
With the Broncos struggling, I’m getting straight on them to score under 20.5 points, which is 4/5. The Sharks are also too tempting at 11/8 to score first, lead at half-time and win.
Sunday 5th July – Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles
Form guide
The Eels were beaten 32-12 by the Rabbitohs last week, which made it four defeats in five. They’ve dropped to 15th on the ladder.
Manly picked up a big 30-4 win over Melbourne in Round 17 to remain 6th.
Team news
The Eels make just one change from last week. Jonah Pezet’s return from injury is timely, as he comes straight in for Origin star Mitch Moses.
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Teancum Brown 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Charlie Guymer 20. Apa Twidle 21. Ryley Smith 22. Toni Mataele
Manly’s Luke Brooks suffered a season-ending ACL injury last week, so Joey Walsh comes into the team. Clayton Faulalo and Reuben Garrick are available again, and they replace Origin-bound Tolu Koula and Josh Feledy, who has dropped to the bench. Haumole Olakau’atu is also on Origin duty, so Corey Waddell comes in. Kobe Hetherington is also back from concussion, while Zaidas Muagututia joins the extended bench and will make his NRL debut if he plays.
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Clayton Faulalo 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Joey Walsh 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Kobe Hetherington 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Josh Feledy 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Simione Laiafi 18. Aaron Schoupp 19. Zaidas Muagututia 20. Hugo Hart 21. Blake Wilson 22. Fletcher Baker
My prediction – Parramatta Eels 14-30 Manly Sea Eagles
Manly should be winning this one. The Eels are floundering near the bottom of the ladder and with Mitch Moses missing, I can’t see where the spark will come from.
Betting tips
Manly should be safe with a -8 handicap at 10/11. Reuben Garrick also looks a good price for an anytime try, at 7/5.
Sunday 5th July – Newcastle Knights vs The Dolphins
Form guide
The Knights made it back-to-back wins with their 12-6 win over the Tigers last week. They remain 5th, just four points behind ladder leaders Penrith.
The Dolphins are level on points with Newcastle in 3rd, and their 26-24 win over the Warriors last week extended their record run to eight straight wins.
Team news
Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best are missing for the Knights due to Origin, so Fletcher Sharpe moves to fullback, Fletcher Hunt goes into the centres and Sandon Smith goes into the starting side in the halves. Harrison Graham and Francis Manuleleua join the six-man bench.
Knights: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Fletcher Hunt 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Thomas Cant 18. Lachlan Crouch 19. Francis Manuleleua 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Tyson Gamble 22. Elijah Leaumoana
The Dolphins are hit by Origin again with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler and Jack Bostock all missing. Trai Fuller, Tevita Naufahu and Felise Kaufusi come into the starting side. Isaiya Katoa is ruled out through injury, so Brad Schneider comes into the halves as well. Tom Gilbert and Jake Averillo are both back from injury, while Brian Pouniu and Sebastian Su’a join the bench.
Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Brad Schneider 8. Felise Kaufusi 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Ray Stone 17. Brian Pouniu 18. Sebastian Su’a 19. John Fineanganofo 20. Sam Elliott 21. LJ Nonu 22. Zac Garton
My prediction – Newcastle Knights 20-16 The Dolphins
I was all set to back the Dolphins in this one, but they’re missing so many players, Newcastle will see this as a missed opportunity if they don’t win. I still expect it to be close though.
Betting tips
The Dolphins are slight favourites, so I’m backing Newcastle to win, at 1/1. I expect it to be tight, so I’m also backing the 1-12 winning margin at 23/10.
