NRL Tips Round 25: Betting preview, odds and predictions

It's do-or-die for a host of sides now as they all jostle for position on the NRL ladder in the final few weeks of the regular season.

The Cowboys and Sharks start the round in Townsville with Cronulla having won the past nine meetings between the two.

Nicho Hynes has rediscovered his mojo and will be looking to propel his side towards another top four finish against a North Queensland outfit who had their six-game winning streak at home snapped last time out against the Broncos.

Elsewhere, the Eels and Roosters clash with the loser's hopes of playing finals officially over, while the Dragons face the unenviable task of trying to stop the Storm juggernaut. 

On Sunday, the match of the round awaits between Newcastle and South Sydney. The Rabbitohs have won 12 of their last 14 matches against the Knights, but the home side are in red-hot form and will be looking to make it seven victories in a row. 

Below are The Sporting News’ betting predictions and best bets for Round 25.

New Zealand Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles prediction, tip, best bet

The Warriors will be gunning for back-to-back wins against the Sea Eagles on home soil for the first time in the NRL, after beating Manly in their last encounter in New Zealand back in 2019.

Andrew Webster's side have won five matches on the bounce, posting plenty of points in that time against the likes of Parramatta, Cronulla and the Gold Coast. 

Manly's forward stocks are in disarray with a number of injuries leaving them light up front and unable to match it with opponents through the middle.

According to Opta, they have recorded just 44 per cent of territory since early July, which is the lowest rate of any team in the competition during that time. 

This is where the Warriors do some of their best work before Shaun Johnson gets his hands on the ball in good field position and lays it on a platter for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. 

The winger is in a rich vein of try-scoring form and could become the fourth Warriors player to bag 20+ tries in a campaign if he scores just two more four-pointers this season. 

BEST BET: Home team first try-scorer - Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($4.33) 

Wests Tigers vs Dolphins prediction, tip, best bet 

The Tigers have lost their last 10 matches but head into their first ever clash with the Dolphins as betting favourites.

They have also lost their past four games at CommBank Stadium but face off against a side which has been on their own downward swing in recent months - lost eight of their last nine - and are plagued by injuries. 

Yet Wayne Bennett loves nothing more than a backs-against-the-walls effort and his side shouldn't be written off quite so easily. 

Most of the responsibility in attack will fall on the shoulders of Kodi Nikorima, but the diminutive playmaker will also have Jamayne Isaako on hand who has scored five tries in his last three matches. 

With the upheaval around Concord this week with reported news of Tim Sheens' early departure and both sides well-documented struggles on the pitch, this one may go right down to the wire. 

BEST BET: Match result - Dolphins to win ($3) 

Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers prediction, tip, best bet 

The Panthers will try to make it five wins in a row against the Titans and maintain their place at the top of the ladder with the Broncos on the bye this weekend. 

Penrith have actually won eight of their last nine meetings with the Gold Coast but in their most recent four-game winning streak they have conceded an average of just eight points per match. 

The Titans have been hit hard by injuries in their spine with Sam Verrills and Tanah Boyd gone for the season and Kieran Foran a certainty to miss this match. 

Meanwhile, the Panthers are hitting form at precisely the right moment as they have notched seven wins on the bounce. 

In that time, they have consistently posted at least 24 points, while letting in more than two tries in a game twice. 

Nathan Cleary has often had the wood over the Titans and will fancy his chances once again against a weakened outfit with nothing but pride to play for. 

The halfback has scored four tries and laid on four assists in his past two appearances against the Gold Coast. 

BEST BET: Player points scored - Nathan Cleary 14+ ($2.75)