Whether you're into flutters, fantasy footy or anything inbetween, here are six predictions you ought to consider for this weekend's action.
Storm v Sharks (Friday, 7:50pm AEST)
After securing a week off with a hard-fought and attritional qualifying final win over Canterbury, Melbourne Storm return to AAMI Park where they have forged a commanding 10-2 record this year, losing only to Manly by two points before that horrific showing against the Roosters that ruined Craig Bellamy’s 600th celebrations.
That shows that it has for the most part been a fortress in 2025 and that includes a very comfortable 30-6 win over Cronulla in Round 17, one of a staggering 14 times this season that they kept an opposition to less than 20 points in a game.
But that chastening loss in Melbourne seemed to have awoken a beast within the Sharks camp and they transformed their fortunes immediately, storming into a 12th finals campaign in 14 years and realising the promising potential of last year’s run to the prelims under Craig Fitzgibbon.
The Sharks are averaging an excellent 28.5 points for and just 13 against since they last met Melbourne, and on that basis alone the total points handicap of 41.5 looks pretty accurate.
But we’re expecting Melbourne to be too classy on home soil now that they have welcomed back key playmakers Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen, particularly as depth players such as Will Warbrick, Ativalu Lisati and Tyran Wishart have been playing some excellent rugby.
The Storm should cover -8.5 whilst conceding a few tries along the way, which will help contribute to this match clearing the main total points mark, as six of their last seven home games against Cronulla have done.
Our pick for the ever-popular anytime tryscorer markets is Melbourne second rower Eliesa Katoa, who has scored tries in 12 games this year including his last three and his last one at home to the Sharks.
Match prediction: Storm -8.5 points
Match prediction: Over 41.5 total points
Player prediction: Eliesa Katoa to score a try
Broncos v Panthers (Sunday, 4:05pm AEST)
The Sunday afternoon finals have been proving quite popular on television despite the controversy surrounding rest day discrepancies, and the winner of this clash is going to have a 44-hour disadvantage heading into next Sunday.
But one would be foolish to discount either of these two teams to lift the shield at Accor Stadium at the end of next weekend and they’re promising an epic contest with the bookies separating them by just 3.5 points.
Both clubs had been written off as Premiership contenders at some point in 2025 having occupied 11th and 14th places respectively on the ladder at the end of May, but their class shone through with Brisbane winning 11 of 13 games and Penrith 12 of 15 since the beginning of June.
They didn’t meet during that period so this should be a fascinating encounter and, despite the points flowing freely at both ends in their previous victories, the trends point towards a total points mark of 49.5 being too high.
64% of the Panthers’ games this season finished ‘unders’ thanks to a lowly total points average of just 43, whilst this has been a typically low scoring matchup with only two of the last 11 matches seeing 50+ points scored.
Speaking of trends, Brisbane are one of the premier starters of the competition with the opening try of 16 separate games, second only to Canterbury’s 17. Penrith have just 11, so there could be some value in the Broncos landing the first punch at even money.
There will be tries regardless and one could come from Broncos fullback Reece Walsh, who has a point to prove here having lost all seven of his personal games against Brisbane. He’s in stellar form with tries in each of his last five games.
Match prediction: Broncos to score the opening try
Match prediction: Under 49.5 total points
Player prediction: Reece Walsh to score a try