It’s time for Magic Round, where 16 teams descend on Brisbane and Manly are this year’s team that will do a vanishing act.
With the women’s State of Origin opener kicking off this week’s schedule on Thursday, there are no NRL games until Friday, but we’re still giving you the tips nice and early so that you can finally beat your nemesis in your “friendly” tipping comp.
The magic in the air kicks off at 6pm on Friday with the Sharks looking to make amends after their golden point loss to the Tigers up against an Eels team fresh off the bye before the Roosters and Dolphins lock horns in the late fixture.
Saturday’s schedule starts with South Sydney up against the equally unpredictable Knights at 3pm followed by the Warriors taking on the Cowboys in what could be the low-key match of the round with the Tigers and Dragons at the evening affair.
Sunday is also a triple header with the Titans rank outsiders even though the Bulldogs are without a trio of suspended stars. Penrith will take on Brisbane in the middle match before the Storm host the Raiders in the final installment of the round.
With wet weather predicted for the weekend the surface could be a quagmire by the time the six teams take to the field on Sunday.
Here’s how the experts see Round 9 unfolding.
Stuart Thomas
Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Tigers, Titans, Broncos, Storm
The Sharks will get Magic Round underway with a win against the Eels and after a big Anzac Day win, the Roosters might have the edge over a Dolphin team that fell away badly against the Raiders last weekend.
The Rabbitohs were decent against the Storm last time out, after being awful against the Dogs a week earlier. The Knights are far from firing. The Bunnies in a good game of football on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors are humming along well and the Cowboys still a little hard to read. This should be the match of the round.
Look out if the Tigers beat the Dragons, they could well be inside the top eight. There is still much to be done and the Red V collapsed against the Chooks last Friday. I’ll tip the Tigers again, they have served me well thus far this season.
Form says the Bulldogs beat the Titans, yet suspension and injury will make it tougher for them.
It is impossible to tip the Panthers in their current form. Brisbane demolished ladder leaders Canterbury and will make a real statement with a win against the champs.
The final match of the round between the Storm and Raiders is a beauty and the smart money will be with Melbourne. Canberra to push them in the first half before Bellamy’s boys put the foot down in the second.
Nick Wasiliev
Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Dragons, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Thought you could get rid of me that easily, could you? Sharks will be furious with their performance last week, so this might do them good despite the short turnaround. Eels will be rested, but Cronulla’s ceiling is much higher right now.
So where exactly are the Chooks right now? They’re hard to get a read on – but last week was a strong performance (arguably the best of the year), and maybe it might galvanise them to win another. Having the inconsistent Phins is coming at a good time.
The last fortnight has been far from ideal for the Bunnies, but I back them here to turn their fortunes around, even with Latrell Mitchell out. The Knights have a bunch of changes that’ll help, but the Rabbitohs’ form earlier this year gives an indication as to what they could do, and that is higher intensity than what the Knights are delivering right now.
A real switch has been flicked on with the Cowboys! With the Wahs having more spotty form on the road, with Magic Round, it throws more spanners as to who will show up. I’m backing North Queensland.
No, not falling for this. I know they gave me hope last week, but I’m not falling for it yet. Dragons should win.
Ahh well, the Bulldogs are human, it’s hard to stop an at-home Broncos side in full flight. Their discipline certainly didn’t help. The Titans, though? They should bounce back well here.
Broncos at home against a Penrith side that is as fire from firing as they have ever been so far this decade. Should be cut and dry.
The Raiders on a four-match winning streak? I mean, hell yeah! However, this fixture will prove as to whether this is just a purple patch or if they are really a contender. Should be a good game regardless, the Storm side is class so I’m – very tentatively – sticking with them.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Eels, Roosters, Souths, Warriors, Dragons, Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders
I’m tipping the Eels in the first game of Magic Round, but I think this one could go either way (like every other game this year). The Sharks should have beaten the Tigers last week and how they respond to that will dictate how they go against an Eels team still finding their feet. The Sharks halves may have bruised egos and are coming up against one of the best halves pairings in the competition. Mitch Moses was outstanding against the Tigers and his presence made all the difference for the Eels attack. I think he will make the difference again. Where the Sharks have the advantage though is coming off the bench with players like Siosifa Talakai, Tom Hazleton and Bradin Hamlin-Uele being a tough match up for Luca Moretti, Matt Doorey and the rookie Sam Tuivati.
I feel for the Dolphins who were missing several key players last week and just ran out of steam against the Raiders. If the version of the Roosters that fleeced the Dragons last week shows up, they will be tough to beat. The inclusion of Jeremy Marshall-King is big for the Phins though and I have no doubt we will see some entertaining tries scored in this one.
Even without Latrell Mitchell, Souths should beat a Knights team that looks just looks putrid in attack.
The next game will be a cracker, but the Warriors, who continue to fly under the radar are getting my tip in front of a raucous crowd at Suncorp. There are players in both teams in sensational form including Erin Clark and Jeremiah Nanai for the Cowboys, who has responded really well since being dropped earlier this year.
St George Illawarra’s toughness and grittiness will benefit them against a Tigers outfit who were lucky to get the win last week, the Bulldogs will beat the Panthers and I think the Broncos may win big over the Panthers.
I’m going to have some fun and tip the Raiders in the next game. The Storm have been winning, but haven’t been convincing and the Raiders continue to average over 30 points a game. This is an opportunity for the Raiders to step up and show whether they can be a contender this year. Finalising the Jamal Fogarty situation should settle them as well.
Paul Suttor
Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Beware the five-day turnaround. Cronulla have had only four days to lick their wounds after their 89-minute loss to the Tigers and Parramatta are well rested after having the bye last weekend. Even so, Sharks in a close one perhaps by just one.
Roosters and Dolphins are both unpredictable and just when you think each of them is getting their act together they drop a dud performance. Roosters Dolphins by four.
South Sydney have been hot and cold but Newcastle have been icy. Rabbitohs by 10.
Warriors and Cowboys should be a humdinger. The question is whether the Warriors can keep punching above their weight while they have several of their stars unavailable. Cowboys by 6.
It was hard not to get caught up in the emotion of Wests Tigers’ win over the Sharks in extra time at Lecihhardt on Sunday night with Lachie Galvin back in the squad. There could be a come down factor when they take on the Dragons but they should be able to get their measure. Tigers by 6.
Gold Coast are woeful and even though they can’t really have a few players out they’ll win by plenty. Bulldogs by 18.
Penrith are getting the red line through them until further notice. The last thing they need right now is to be playing a home game against the Boncos in Brisbane. Boncos by 10.
Melbourne have an up and down time of things against the Raiders but on even a neutral turf the Storm should have too much ammunition for the game machine. Storm by 14.
AJ Mithen
Sharks, Roosters, Knights, Warriors, Dragons, Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders
My magical tipping season continues at the aptly named Magic Round. Sharks to win but zero confidence in the tip.
Parra are a big chance to roll them. Roosters over Dolphins and Knights over bunnies cos the opposition is badly affected by injury. If the knights can’t win this week, they’re not winning again in 2025.
Warriors will win solidly but unspectacularly again, Dragons will play their horrible style of game and drag the Tigers down with them. Canterbury should mush the Titans lest we start questioning their premiership bona fides, and Brisbane will beat Penrith but I’m wary on this tip. Tip Brisbane, but gamble on Penrith.
Magic Round wraps with your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders laying a casual yet predictable 56 on the hapless Storm.
Mike Meehall Wood
Sharks, Dolphins, Souths, Warriors, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
The most magical time of the year for the NRL is the first time I don’t have to stress about the Manly Sea Eagles – Happy Bye Round, everyone!
With all the rest of the dross decanted upon Brisbane, here goes nothing.
The Sharks weren’t great against the Tigers, but the Eels aren’t great in general, so Up Up and away to start us off.
The Roosters were alright against the Dragons, but Manly nearly beat them while playing like they’d met half an hour before kick-off. Redcliffe, on (sort of) home turf, will take this one.
Newcastle are just that bad. At least Albanese will win the election (do I get a tipping point for that) and not have to watch his Souths side stink out the place in front of a national TV audience en route to a 20-8 win over the Knights.
Where was I? Err, the Wahs are probably, on balance, better than the Cowboys so let’s say they’ll win.
The Tigers are much better than the Dragons – honestly, who knows, but I can’t back any St George Illawarra side at the moment.
Dogs good, Titans awful, next.
The Broncos remain fools good – one win on a night where Canterbury kamikazed their own chances notwithstanding – but I can’t believe that a side that just lost comfortably to Manly is about to turn around and beat Brisbane in Brisbane.
Never back against the Storm, even when they’re playing the Raiders.
