It’s the last round of the season where State of Origin players are ineligible for selection but that doesn’t make tipping any easier.
There are only five matches on the schedule with seven teams getting the weekend off and no Thursday night action this time around to give the NRLW some free to air space to launch.
The NRL for round 18 kicks off with the Bulldogs at home to the Broncos in what should be the match of the round but both teams have key players away on Origin camp.
Saturday’s double-header begins in the chilly national capital when Canberra are overwhelming favorites to conquer an injury-depleted St George-Illawarra side before the later game in a much more tropical climate when the Storm fly north to lock horns with the Cowboys with both teams missing millions of dollars in salary cap talent to state commitments.
The Roosters return after their bye on Sunday to host Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium before the round is complete when South Sydney cross the Harbour Bridge to Brookvale to face Manly.
A special shout-out to The Roar expert tipster Stuart Thomas, who tipped a perfect round last week and has guaranteed to do so again this time around.
Here’s how The Roar experts see Round 18 unfolding.
Stuart Thomas
Bulldogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles
Off the back of a perfect round, I’m hopeful of another. The Dogs and Broncos face off on Friday night in a match seriously affected by Origin. The better system will stand up and that looks like being the Bulldogs, despite Brisbane’s resurgence.
The Raiders should be far too strong for the Dragons playing without a few regular starters. The Cowboys and Storm should boycott their match-up on Saturday night, with the NRL clowning around when it comes to playing matches during Origin time and making some of them pointless. The points will be gold for the team that wins it.
I haven’t been picking the Tigers and won’t be starting now. The Chooks too good at Allianz. The final match of the round is a bit of a dud on Sunday afternoon.
The Bunnies are miles off what is required to play finals and the Sea Eagles have not been that much better. Brookvale looks the difference and no Latrell Mitchell spells a tough day out for the Bunnies.
Tigers players look dejected. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
Nick Wasiliev
Bulldogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles
The Bulldogs will be without several players due to Origin commitments, but then again, so will the Broncos. On probability compared to Origin matches of the past, I back the Bulldogs to win here.
Raiders at the top of the ladder. Raiders with one person out due to Origin. Raiders at home. Raiders will win.
Both sides have quite a lot of players out with Origin duties, so it’s really who manages those losses the best. In that situation, I back the Storm.
You know how this is going to go. Add in the Roosters are coming in fresh off the bye too, which only tips this further in their favour.
I don’t know where to begin with Souths’ injury woes. The Sea Eagles aren’t firing on all cylinders, but they are the side that is coming into this match by far in the best form. Manly should take the chocolates.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Bulldogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles
The Bulldogs and the Broncos have both been hit hard by SOO, but without Reece Walsh I worry about the Broncos ability to find the energy and enthusiasm needed to win this game. The Bulldogs will be desperate to bounce back after their loss to Penrith last week and should win this game at home.
The Raiders will beat the Dragons and even without their Origin stars the Storm will beat a Cowboys team who just seems to be getting pummelled up the middle right now.
The Roosters youngsters will have too many points in them for a struggling Tigers side and the Sea Eagles, largely unimpacted by SOO will beat the Bunnies.
Eliesa Katoa celebrates scoring a try with Storm teammates. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Paul Suttor
Bulldogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Rabbitohs
The Bulldogs have hunted as a pack this year whereas the Broncos have been heavily reliant on Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas. Bulldogs by 10.
Canberra could rack up a big score against the Dragons, a team that they have historically had the wood on. Raiders by 14.
North Queensland are at home, they’ve got Melbourne without their Origin stars but on the flip side they’re missing four of their better players to state duty and they have been playing like a rabble all season. Storm by 8.
The Roosters are refreshed after having a week off while the Tigers are looking to avoid a seventh straight loss. They won’t avoid that fate. Roosters by 12.
Manly are the kings of rocks and diamonds for 2025 whereas South Sydney don’t vary too much from their best to their worst. Bunnies in a boilover by 2.
Reece Walsh runs with the ball. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
AJ Mithen
Bulldogs, Raiders, Cowboys, Roosters, Sea Eagles
Right now I’m high in the air on my way to Canberra, the best city in the world. So let’s get these Origin-affected tips done fast so I can get back to enjoying myself…
Dogs to win but not by much. Cowboys to beat the Storm in a result too many people will think too deeply about.
Your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders will celebrate my attendance at Saturday’s game by laying a casual 56 on the hapless, banged up Dragons.
Roosters east over the tigers and Manly will beat Souths in a decent game (hopefully)
Mike Meehall Wood
Bulldogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Manly
No controversies in the picking this week, slim as they are. That starts with a Dogs win over the Broncos in the latest edition of a game ruined by Origin callups.
The Dragons might have won last week but won’t this time around as the still largely Origin-free Raiders take them to the ground in the capital.
Both the Storm and the Cowboys are missing talent, but the Storm can do better without theirs. Melbourne take in on the road.
You could put just about anyone up against the Tigers and I’d tip them – the Roosters will have plenty too much.
Manly v Souths is hardly enthralling stuff, but with the Sea Eagles lacking call-ups and Latrell not playing, my Beaches Boys will give us undue hope with a win.
David Shilovsky
Bulldogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles
| Round 18 | Stuart Thomas | Nick Wasiliev | Mary K |
Paul Suttor | AJ Mithen | Mike Meehall Wood | David Shilovsky |
| CBB vs BRS | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs |
| CBR vs SGI | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| NQC vs MEL | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm | Cowboys | Storm | Storm |
| SYD vs WST | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters |
| MSE vs SSR | Manly | Manly | Manly | Rabbitohs | Manly | Manly | Manly |
| Last week | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| 2025 tally | 71 | 71 | 66 | 70 | 67 | 73 | 72 |
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