It’s another shortened week in the haphazard NRL mid-season schedule for Round 15.
The Origin stars are all tucked away in their respective pre-game camps with Queensland plotting revenge after their 12-point loss in Game 1 a couple of weeks ago.
There will be just one player absent on representative duty when the round kicks off on Thursday night at Shark Park with Valentine Homes missing from the St George Illawarra side when they try to take down their derby enemies after a 50-point flogging from the Dolphins last week.
The only way is surely up for Shane Flanagan’s mob.
Friday night’s only game will not exactly have viewers rushing to Cbus Super Stadium or their TVs with the struggling Titans hosting a Manly side which has been wildly inconsistent.
Saturday’s double header kicks off with Newcastle at home to a Roosters team missing five Origin stars but regaining Sam Walker from his long-term knee injury.
The nightcap is a clash between a Cowboys team missing six regular first-graders due to rep duty and suspension up against a Dolphins squad aiming for a third straight victory.
The round finishes on Sunday with South Sydney against a depleted Bulldogs line-up at Accor Stadium.
Here’s how the experts see Round 15 unfolding.
Stuart Thomas
Sharks, Sea Eagles, Knights, Cowboys, Rabbitohs
The Dragons are five wins and seven losses for the season and destined to miss the eight. The Sharks are decent. Enough said.
Surely the Sea Eagles have too many weapons for a weakened Titans on Friday night? Logic says yes but this looks an upset on the cards despite my tip.
A Ponga-less Knights faces a Roosters team struggling to hang on to the shirt tails of the top eight. A big crowd might get the locals home and the loser, whichever way it goes, will be done for season 2025. Cowboys and Dolphins looms as a beauty on Saturday night. North Queensland are building well and should have this one in the bag.
With a few Bulldogs involved in Origin and that creating a problem for them, the big question is whether a Latrell-less Souths can muster a challenge against a much more consistent team on Sunday afternoon. The Bunnies will be a little more settled, especially with Jacob Kiraz now called into Origin camp.
Jack Bostock catches the ball before scoring. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Nick Wasiliev
Sharks, Sea Eagles, Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs
Gee whiz, what a way to start the round. Both these teams were god awful last week, to the point where you couldn’t use Origin stars being away as an excuse. Redemption is a regular part of this crazy competition, and with them being back in the Shire and having less injury concerns, I’m backing Cronulla.
Titans are in a tough spot right now, and the losses of Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to Origin duty doesn’t help. Add to the fact that the Sea Eagles have more folks available – especially Tom Trbojevic back from injury – and they should have enough to make amends for their Newcastle trip up.
Speaking of Newcastle, they should get up against the Chooks, even with Sam Walker back. Five players out for Origin is huge for Sydney, and even with Kalyn Ponga absent the men from the Steel City should be good enough at home.
It might be the match of the round in Townsville, to be honest. Murray Taulagi and Jason Taumalolo are handy returns for the hosts, especially with several Origin stars out. The Dolphins have lost Daniel Saifiti, who I think will have a bigger impact than most expect. I’m backing the hosts, but it should be a good match.
The Doggies look good, what else can I say? Both sides have been whacked by Origin duties, but the boys are humming in Canterbury – and I can’t see the Bunnies stopping them at Homebush.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Sharks, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Dolphins, Bulldogs
The Sharks do not do well when there is pressure on them and at the moment the pressure is on. I am still tipping them though because they should have the class to beat a Dragons team that was decimated by the Dolphins last weekend. The Sharks don’t have any Origin players and go into this game near full strength. It is an important one for them to win.
I have a new rule, I am not tipping the Titans. Manly to get the win on the Gold Coast.
The Knights may have got a good win last week, but their team does not fill me with any confidence at all. Both teams are missing key players due to Origin, but the enthusiasm and talent of the next generation of Roosters players has me feeling confident this weekend. The return of Sam Walker is big for the Roosters and I’m curious how they configure their spine over the next couple of weeks.
After last week’s attacking masterclass, I’m tipping the Phins to beat a hot and cold North Queensland side who will be missing plenty of star power due to State of Origin and the Bulldogs to continue their winning streak with a win over the Bunnies.
Dylan Edwards passes. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Paul Suttor
Cronulla have been extremely disappointing in the past two weeks while the Dragons were even worse last week against Redcliffe. Sharks by four.
No matter who’s in or out, there’s no point in tipping the Titans so Manly should get this one. Sea Eagles by 16.
Newcastle don’t inspire confidence at the best of times and even though the Roosters have a bunch of players missing, they are much more reliable. Roosters by eight.
The Cowboys are starting to look like a side that will flatter to deceive all season long whereas the Phins are on the up. Dolphins by 10.
South Sydney would ordinarily be a decent hope of upsetting Canterbury in the week before Origin but the absence of Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker is arguably worse for them. Bulldogs by 12.
Lachlan Galvin. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
AJ Mithen
Sharks, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Dolphins, Bulldogs
I’m moving house this week so have paid less than zero attention to selections, controversies and all else.
Cronulla win against bad teams, the Bulldogs are better than the Bunnies, Dolphins are dinged up but should do the business, Newcastle can’t outscore the Roosters and who really cares about the Gold Coast and Manly?
I’m only tipping this game because Suttor told me I had to.
Mike Meehall Wood
Sharks, Manly, Roosters, Dolphins, Bulldogs
Cronulla weren’t great last week but St George Illawarra aren’t great a lot of the time. With no Origin outs, I’d expect the Sharkies to get the better of their rivals.
Manly weren’t great last week (at least in the second half) but the Titans aren’t great all of the time, and they’ve got Origin outs too. If my Beaches Boys can’t win this we should fold the club.
The Roosters are nightmarish to tip with their missing list, but the residual strength should be plenty against a Knights side who continually underwhelm (even when Manly make them look good).
The Phins trip to Townsville is a tough one – normally I’d be all over the hosts, but I can’t with the number of players missing. Redcliffe can cover their losses more easily, I think, but honestly this could be anything. Phins Up, I suppose.
Canterbury are must-tips at the moment, even with a few missing. Souths are back to something like decent strength but it won’t be enough.
David Shilovsky
Sharks, Manly, Roosters, Dolphins, Bulldogs
Cronulla needed a response last week, it’s not must-win territory but they are at risk of spiralling if they can’t get the chocolates in the local derby to kick off Round 15. It feels like the Titans’ spirit was broken last week, a Manly win could end their finals hopes.
Saturday’s doubleheader begins in the Hunter as the Knights host the Roosters, needing another win to stay not too far behind the finals teams. I think the well-rested Chooks will be too good. Then it’s off to Townsville for Cowboys-Dolphins, I’ll back Kristian Woolf’s side.
The Rabbitohs were competitive against the Raiders but it’s hard to see them being the side to halt the Canterbury freight train at Accor.
| Round 15 | Stuart Thomas | Nick Wasiliev | Mary K |
Paul Suttor | AJ Mithen | Mike Meehall Wood | David Shilovsky |
| CSS vs SGI | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| GCT vs MSE | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly |
| NEW vs SYD | Knights | Knights | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters |
| NQC vs DOL | Cowboys | Cowboys | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| SSR vs CBB | Rabbitohs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs |
| Last week | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 2025 tally | 57 | 57 | 53 | 56 | 53 | 59 | 56 |
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