Round 7 Preview

Fresh off inking a new contract with rugby union at the start of 2025 and breaking the record for most running metres in a single game, Joseph Manu is in the best form of his life, and it would be hard not to bet on him.

The Roosters will welcome back fullback and skipper James Tedesco this week, and their remaining backs – Joseph Manu, Joseph Suaalii and Daniel Tupou – are playing some of their best football. Add the home advantage, and the club should have the upper hand.

The Warriors are the most consistent team in the competition, and despite the Dragons registering wins over the Tigers and Sea Eagles in recent weeks, the away team will be too much to handle.

With the Warriors expected to win, the Warriors will be looking to be dominant right out of the door and get off to a good start from the opening kick-off.

With no Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (hamstring injury) in the team, a member of the Dolphins backline needs to stand up in his place. Look no further than new recruit and former Bulldogs back Jake Averillo.

The Eels love to begin the game in the middle of the ruck and will head straight to their forwards in the opening minutes of the contest and close to the line. While named on the interchange bench, Joe Ofahengaue has nearly started in every game this season and is a shout to score first.

While unlikely, the last time the two teams played in Bathurst, the Wests Tigers produced a stunning victory in wet and rainy conditions. The Panthers are out-and-out favourites, but a surprise upset from the Tigers shouldn’t be off the table.

While a Tigers win is unlikely, they are a completely different team that hat of the previous seasons. Improving in defence, the club under Benji Marshall, will keep the game tight in the middle of the ruck.

No stranger to the try-line, winger Jason Saab will return this weekend and is an easy choice to add four points to the total scoreline.

Yet to win a game, the Gold Coast Titans are arguably the worst team in the NRL at the moment. They have had major struggles on the defensive end of the field, and this can be expected to continue with the Sea Eagles regaining five-star players.

It’s impossible to go past James Schiller to cross the line. In three games this season, the winger has scored an impressive five tries and even managed to keep Albert Hopoate out of the team.

The Raiders are one of the most under-rated teams at the moment and could produce yet another upset this week against an under-manned Brisbane Broncos line-up.

The Canterbury Bulldogs will be outsiders heading into the match, but after a string of close performances, they are finally due to earn the two points and move up the ladder.

The Bulldogs have one of the most dangerous left-edge with Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton and Josh Addo-Carr. Kikau is in career-best form and is leading the Dally M tally, so the club will be looking to their superstars to begin the game.

Games played at ‘Shark Park’ are notoriously high-scoring. Expect no different when two of the best attacking teams go head-to-head against one another.

Currently sitting on top of the NRL ladder, the Cronulla Sharks are unbeatable at the moment and will add more depth to the forwards with the inclusion of Braden Hamlin-Uele.