NRL 2025 Round 3 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

With most teams in the NRL now having played two games, just five remain undefeated; one is the Storm, who have already had a bye, while three of the other four were all among the Wooden Spoon favourites entering the year. We are, of course, just a couple of weeks into a very long season, but it was always expected to be a tight one and that has proven to be the case so far. Round 3 kicks off in earnest with a Grand Final replay on Thursday night, while elsewhere the Broncos host the Cowboys, the Warriors take on the Roosters and the Sharks face the Rabbitohs. Take a look at our NRL tips and predictions for all eight Round 3 games below.

The Storm and the Panthers were the best two teams in the league by some margin last season, and came into 2025 widely expected to occupy the top spots yet again. The Storm certainly didn’t look to have skipped a beat in their season-opener as they pummelled the Eels by 38 points before enjoying a week off, but the Panthers were well off their best in their second game of the year, going down to the Roosters in a high-scoring affair.

Of course, with a couple of key personnel losses in the off-season, the Panthers were always going to be a little weaker this season, but they still have the cattle to go all the way. But that Round 2 loss was not part of the plan, and with the next challenge a trip to Melbourne for the sternest test in the league, a 1-2 start could very well be on the agenda. If they play like they did last weekend the Storm will put up a half-century and then some on them, and while they should reign it in a little after a poor showing in Round 2, the home side still looks likely to be too good.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Storm to win	$1.35
	Storm 1-12	$3.10
	Over 44.5 total match points	$1.92

Predicted Squads

Melbourne Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eli Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Bronson Garlick 19. Joe Chan 20. Kane Bradley 21. Coby Williamson 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Penrith Panthers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To'o 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali'i 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Blaize Talagi 19. Trent Toelau 20. Matthew Eisenhuth 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Tom Jenkins

The first couple of weeks of the season for these two teams have played out in virtually identical fashion. Both of them were, to put it bluntly, woeful in Round 1, the Warriors losing by 22 points to the Raiders and the Roosters going down by 36 to the Broncos. Each of them subsequently headed into their second round game as relatively comfortable underdogs, and came away with the points – the Warriors pounding the Sea Eagles by 20 points in a huge turnaround from the week before, and the Roosters upsetting the reigning Premiers by six points.

That leaves us with roughly zero idea of what either of them is going to bring this week. The Warriors really should improve on last year’s effort this season and will be hoping to prove Round 1 was just a blip on the radar; hope is a little more subdued for the Roosters after a mass exodus in the off-season, but in beating the Panthers they showed they still have something to offer. But if the Warriors improve as many expect this season they will be formidable at home, as they were last week against a better side than the Roosters. If they can repeat that effort, they should win this in a high-scoring battle.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Warriors to win	$1.85
	Warriors 1-12	$3.30
	Over 48.5 total match points	$1.88

Predicted Squads

New Zealand Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitch Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Jacob Laban 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Rocco Berry

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dom Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Lindsay Collins 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Billy Smith 21. Makahesi Makatoa ​​​​​​​22. Ethan Roberts

Speaking of teams that should be improving this season, the Broncos started 2025 like a house on fire with a 50-piece against the Roosters. Unfortunately, the excitement that prompted quickly wilted as they were beaten by ten points by the Raiders last weekend. That was a really disappointing loss, but this weekend they will head home to Lang Park for the first time all year, and have a great opportunity to make amends against a team which has endured a dreadful start to the year.

The Cowboys find themselves second from last two games in with a points difference of -54 already, having suffered two thumpings at the hands of the Sea Eagles and the Sharks. They went down 42-12 in Round 1 and just barely improved on that last week, a 36-12 loss to the Sharks at home continuing their woes. Based on those performances, it’s hard to see them beating many teams this season, let alone the Broncos in Brisbane. This not only offers the home team a chance to get back on the winners’ list; it gives them an opportunity to notch up their second thumping win in just three weeks to start the year.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Broncos 7+	$1.33
	Broncos 13+	$1.65
	Over 51.5 total match points	$1.88

Predicted Squads

Brisbane Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Billy Smith 21. Makahesi Makatoa ​​​​​​​22. Ethan Roberts

North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O'Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Tom Duffy 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Karl Lawton ​​​​​​​22. Jaxson Paulo

• The Eels conceded the second most points in the league last season and have started dreadfully defensively this year, giving up 56 points to the Storm and then 32 to the reigning Wooden Spooners. With the Bulldogs’ offence humming after 40 points last week, they should put up a big score.
• Storm vs Panthers games have typically been low-scoring in recent years, but the Panthers defence looks likely to be a lot leakier this season. Their two games have seen 50 and 60 total points scored this year, while the Storm’s first had 74 scored.
• The Sea Eagles lost only three games at home last season.

Multi of the Week

The Sharks have an interesting season ahead of them, with a top four finish possible but finals not guaranteed. They have started it in decent enough fashion; they just went down in Vegas to the Panthers, but bounced back in kind last weekend against the Cowboys. They now head home to take on the team that finished second last in 2024, but the Rabbitohs are not your average 16th placed team.

With Wayne Bennett back at the helm, this mishmash of a team always had the potential to improve this season. Two weeks in, they have already won more games than they had through ten last year, though they could just as easily find themselves at 0-2. The Bunnies have had consecutive thrilling wins, beating the Dolphins by 2 points and then the Dragons by 1, but this will be the sternest test they have had yet this year. Those results will have given them a much needed injection of confidence and the line for this game looks too high, but the Sharks should be able to hand the visitors their first loss of the season in Cronulla.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Rabbitohs +16.5	$1.85
	Sharks 1-12	$3.50
	Under 50.5 total match points	$1.85

Predicted Squads

Cronulla Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sam Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Sifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 18. Billy Burns 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Niwhai Puru ​​​​​​​22. Jayden Berrell

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Fletcher Myers 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Tallis Duncan 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Mikaele Ravalawa 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher ​​​​​​​22. Salesi Ataata

The Dolphins have not had the start to their third year in the league that they would have liked. Without the firm guidance of Wayne Bennett for the first time since joining the NRL, they’ve lost to the Rabbitohs and Knights in what should theoretically have been a relatively soft start to the season. On paper that could have continued this week at home against the three-time reigning Wooden Spooners, but the Tigers are officially on the rise.

A couple of handy off-season acquisitions saw expectations finally go beyond, well, finishing on bottom of the ladder, and the early signs for Benji Marshall’s chargers are positive. They very nearly snatched victory in a low-scoring season-opener against the Knights, but left nothing to chance last week when they destroyed the hapless Eels by 26 points. Improvement appears to finally be here for the Tigers, and they can continue to show it with a tight win away from home against the Dolphins.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Tigers to win	$2.50
	Tigers 1-12	$3.50
	Tigers +1.5	$1.90

Predicted Squads

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Oryn Keeley 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Josh Kerr 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Sean O'Sullivan 19. Max Feagai 20. Kenny Bromwich 21. Jack Bostock ​​​​​​​22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To'a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Api Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 19. Heath Mason 20. Charlie Staines 21. Tony Sukkar ​​​​​​​22. Solomona Faataape

The Titans were the last team to get their 2025 season underway after enjoying a not-so-needed bye in Round 1, and the wait was not exactly worth it. A try in literally the first minute of their season to the opposition was the worst start imaginable, and it only got worse as the Bulldogs raced out to a 22-0 lead within 20 minutes. Fortunately they clawed their way back with consecutive Alofiana Khan-Pereira tries in the dying minutes of the first half, but the start they had conceded proved too much to recover from and they ultimately went down 40-24.

The Knights, meanwhile, have had an excellent start to the year! They haven’t exactly been granted the toughest draw in the league, admittedly, but neither the Tigers nor Dolphins are likely to be pushovers this season and they knocked them both off, the latter comfortably. But while their starts to the season have been contrasting, at times last season the Titans were really competitive, and they are certainly capable of winning this one if they can find that fire in the belly. The gap between their best and worst means this result could go in a number of directions, but after fighting back from their dreadful start last week, if they come out with a little more hunger from the first whistle they can get their first win of the season on the board.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Titans to win	$2.10
	Titans 1-12	$3.50
	Titans +1.5	$1.95

Predicted Squads

Gold Coast Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Mo Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 14. Chris Randall 15. David Fifita 16. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui 17. Brock Gray 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Arama Hau 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Tom Weaver ​​​​​​​22. Ken Maumalo

Newcastle Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Brodie Jones 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Thomas Cant 17. Mathew Croker 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Jermaine McEwen 20. Will Pryce 21. Matt Arthur ​​​​​​​22. Tyrone Thompson

It was hard to find a Wooden Spoon favourite entering this season – two weeks in, it’s not anymore. The Eels were already amongst the raft of teams expected to be in the mix in a competitive season, but their start to the season has seen them rapidly fall to bottom spot. They have been utterly woeful in both games; the first was, at least, against the Storm, though they still wouldn’t have been happy to concede 56 points. The second was even worse, with last year’s Wooden Spooners beating them 32-6. Now, they welcome a Bulldogs team with high aspirations to CommBank Stadium as they attempt to turn the tables.

The Bulldogs have won each of their first two games of the season, and the strength of their offence will be a concern to an Eels team which has conceded 88 points in two games. The Bulldogs beat the Dragons 28-20 in Round One, while last weekend they came out of the blocks like a team possessed with four tries in the first 20 minutes, ultimately running out 40-24 winners over the Titans. They were a really good team last year and if they take another step forward this year could easily finish top four, and perhaps the worst team in the league should be easy pickings for them.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Bulldogs over 37.5 total points	$4.10
	Bulldogs 13+	$2.50
	Bulldogs -9.5	$1.88

Predicted Squads

Parramatta Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Will Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jordan Samrani 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jack Williams 13. J'maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Kitione Kautoga 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papalii 20. Dan Keir 21. Josh Addo-Carr ​​​​​​​22. Joey Lussick

Canterbury Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Joseph O'Neill 20. Jack Todd 21. Blake Taaffe ​​​​​​​22. Luke Smith 23. Jonathan Sua

There have been a few teams that have endured an erratic first couple of weeks, and the Sea Eagles are right towards the head of the list. The end result is a 1-1 record with a slightly positive points difference, but it has been a very good and a very bad performance that has seen them get there. They were excellent in Round 1, demolishing a hapless Cowboys team by 30 points, but they were unable to back that up in any way, shape or form last weekend, going down 36-16 to a Warriors team that was itself coming off a really bad loss – to, of all teams, the Raiders.

The team from the nation’s capital will be thrilled with their own start to season 2025. Tipped to tumble down the ladder, they are looking to defy expectations for the third year running and have started in fine style, beating first the Warriors by 22 points in Las Vegas and last week, perhaps even more impressively, the Broncos by ten. But while it has been a great start, it’s a long season, and the Sea Eagles have thus far this season continued the trend from last year which saw them play dramatically better at home than away. Back on their home turf after travelling to New Zealand last week, they can continue their topsy turvy start to the year with a tight win.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Sea Eagles to win	$1.50
	Sea Eagles 1-12	$3.20
	Tom Trbojevic to score a try	$1.80

Predicted Squads

Manly Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolu Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Tommy Talau 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jake Arthur 21. Nathan Brown ​​​​​​​22. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega

Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Seb Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Corey Horsburgh 11. Hudson Young 12. Matty Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Danny Levi 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Jed Stuart ​​​​​​​22. Ethan Sanders

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