Blink and you’ll miss it. The weekend of Rugby League has come and gone, and round three brought us some tremendous games. Melbourne fought off a rampant Penrith attack, the Wahs held strong at Mount Smart, the Wests Tigers have gone back to back, and the prowess of the Bulldogs' defence proved too strong for a hard-fighting Parramatta outfit. We now turn our attention to the weekend ahead, with a handful of games that have the potential to be absolute blowouts. Is your team going to be one of them? Let’s dive in and take a look.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Penrith Panthers:
The first cab off the rank will be the South Sydney Rabbitohs playing host to the Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium on Thursday night. The Panthers are likely going to be without all-star halfback Nathan Cleary due to HIA protocols, after an ugly accidental collision with Jarome Hughes on Friday night. I don’t expect that to be much of a problem for the men from the foot of the mountain. Jack Cole has proven to be the latest apprentice of the next-man-up mentality and very nearly led his side to a win over the competition favourites. Despite valiant efforts from Jamie Humphreys and the bunnies on Saturday, they weren’t quite good enough to take down another competition heavyweight in Cronulla. They seem to be moving further and further in the right direction every week under Wayne Bennett, and while I think that will continue, I don’t think it will be enough to take down the might of Penrith. I’m tipping the Panthers by 14 points.
Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast Titans:
The first of the Friday night games will be the Sydney Roosters taking on the Gold Coast Titans. The Titans were exceptional against the Newcastle Knights over the weekend, as they stormed home to win by 20 points. The Chooks on the other hand were valiantly held at arm’s length by the Wahs, and restricted to a single try; an extraordinary difference to the effort that nearly put 40 on the Panthers the week before. The Roosters looked lost in attack under the leadership of Chad Townsend, and the expected wet weather may play into the Titans favor, as the Roosters struggled in similar conditions last Friday night, in particular fullback James Tedesco, who has developed a significant slipping problem. If the elite forward pack of the Titans can step up the way I’m expecting them to, I’m tipping the Titans by 10 points.
Dolphins v Brisbane Broncos:
The Dolphins will be the home side as they take on the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium for Friday’s main event. The Dolphins started strong against the Wests Tigers last weekend but were ultimately run down in the second half. The Broncos on the other hand, trusted their processes and, through remarkable games by Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas, fought off a brave Cowboys attack. I can’t help but see an absolute touch-up coming in this game, as the Broncos start to really find their groove. If Reece Walsh can return to a ball-running game over his current ball-playing game, the errors will reduce significantly and that will only play into Brisbane’s hand. Brisbane have the best front row in the comp in Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, and as they continue to lay the platform for their elite backline, this has the potential to become a fifty-jobber. I’m tipping the Broncos by 36+ points.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm:
Still without a win in 2025, the St George Illawarra Dragons will be hard-pressed this week as they take on the Melbourne Storm. Lachlan Illias and Kyle Flannagan have looked to be the most mediocre halves pairing in 2025 so far, and the losses of Zac Lomax and Ben Hunt look to be really hurting them. Damien Cook and Val Holmes are yet to step up, and once again in his career, the pressure falls to Clint Gutherson to put the side on his back. While he is doing an admirable job, I think this week may be a tall order even for him. The spine of the Melbourne Storm is starting to really hit their stride in attack, and while their edge defence is currently leaving them a tad vulnerable, it’s hard to foresee anyone outscoring them in 2025. I’d expect Craig Bellamy to really hammer out the defensive weaknesses this week, to increase that winning margin. This one could potentially be the other fifty-jobber of the week. I’m tipping the Storm by 36+ points.
North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders:
If not for a woeful ten minutes against the Sea Eagles on Sunday, the Canberra Raiders could have been going home with a very different result against a competition heavyweight. It will be a true test of character and their ability to put the loss behind them when they travel north to take on the North Queensland Cowboys this Saturday. The Cowboys looked like an improved side against the Broncos on the weekend, but always seemed to be held at arm’s length. The Raiders will be coming with a point to prove after their last round loss, wanting to establish themselves as contenders in 2025. Afterall, they did manage to go toe to toe with Manly for 70 minutes of last week’s game. Ricky Stuart will no doubt want to get a leg-up on his old teammate Todd Payten. I’ll be tipping the Raiders by 16 points.
Cronulla Sharks v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs:
The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs despite being the only 3 and 0 team in the NRL, will face their first major test of the season when they take on the Cronulla Sharks. The Dog’s defence was incredible last week, conceding only 8 points. However their attack was sorely lacking, as they missed Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Jacob Kiraz. They will need to find a more fluid attacking style this week if they want to compete with the might of the Sharks. Cronulla decimated Souths last week, and will need to be at their best if they are to get through the defensive line of Canterbury. Last time these two sides met, only a point separated them. I’d expect this game to be a close one too, however, without their usual experience and strike power, it’s hard to see the Dogs getting home here. I’m tipping the Sharks by 2 points.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Parramatta Eels:
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have a scary ability to put points on a side quickly, and the Parramatta Eels have a scary ability to concede points quickly this year. Zac Lomax was heroic for Parramatta last week, as he put the side on his back and tried to drag them across the line. If only the Eels had a 13 million dollar halfback to steer them home… The Parra forward pack seems to lack hunger and aggression in 2025, and it’s scary to think how this game may get away from them. This is my last fifty-jobber prediction of the week, as I’m tipping Manly by 40+ points.
Wests Tigers v New Zealand Warriors:
The potential match of the round as two seriously in-form sides go head to head to close out Round 4 of the NRL in 2025. The Wests Tigers have gone back-to-back, but as have the New Zealand Warriors. The Tigers seem to be really gelling as a team, which has been impressive considering Jarome Luai is yet to make a significant impact on a game for them yet. Whereas the Wahs have knocked off two very strong sides in Manly and the Roosters in the last two weeks. The travelling Warriors can sometimes be a very different side to the at-home Warriors and you can never be sure which side is going to turn up. I expect the Tigers, in front of their home crowd, to be desperate for three straight wins, but I think the might of the Wahs may be too much for them this time around. It’ll be a nail-biter that may even go to Golden Point. I’m tipping the Warriors by 1 point.
Round 4 of the NRL 2025 season is shaping up to be an absolute thriller, with high-stakes matchups, fierce rivalries, and potential blowouts on the horizon. Whether you're backing the Broncos to dominate, the Storm to continue their point scoring frenzy, or the Warriors to edge out the Tigers in a nail-biter, one thing is for sure—this weekend will deliver top-tier rugby league action. Make sure you're game-day ready by checking out Jersey’s Megastore for the latest NRL jerseys, fan gear, and exclusive merchandise. Stay ahead of the competition and represent your team in style. Jersey’s Megastore, for all things footy!
