The 2024 NRL season is tight, with plenty of players injured or in and out of form. As the run to the finals heats up, tipping a perfect round is nearly impossible, so each week we'll give you some extra help with three standout games.
The sure thing
Canberra Raiders vs. Penrith Panthers - GIO Stadium, Friday August 24, 3pm AEST
This could have almost been the roughie of the week game, with the Raiders reeling from a classic Ricky Stuart dressing down and the Panthers to be without star halfback Nathan Cleary. But the Panthers are still the Panthers and they have coped for a large part of the season without Cleary.
Brad Schneider steps into the No.6 jersey while Jarome Luai takes Cleary's jersey and his job of controlling the play for the reigning premiers. We have seen on multiple occasions this year, including during the State of Origin series, that Luai can shine with the added responsibility, stepping out of Cleary's shadow.
The Raiders will still have Stuart's words ringing in their ears and will want to finish the season strongly, proving that they can compete with the top teams. But against the Panthers, they will eventually be overrun out wide.
The round 25 sure thing is: Panthers.
The toss of the coin
St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Cronulla Sharks - WIN Stadium, Sunday August 25, 4:05pm AEST
The jury is still out on the Sharks after they really struggled to defeat the Knights last weekend. Are they really premiership contenders or just finals pretenders?
The Dragons overpowered the Titans to maintain their grip on eighth position. When they are switched on they look impressive, but they are still prone to mental lapses.
Both teams are desperate for the two points here, with the Sharks in danger of dropping out of the Top 4, while the Dragons can still miss out of the finals completely. WIN Stadium is a real advantage for the Dragons and they will be pumped up for a good showing against their neighbours and bitter rivals. This game is going to tell everyone a lot about how the rest of the season will pan out for both of these teams.
Toss of the coin game winner: Dragons
The roughie
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Newcastle Knights - Accor Stadium - Saturday August 24, 7:35pm
Last week I tipped the Tigers to upset the Rabbitohs, as the Bunnies look like they have lost all interest in the rest of the season. This week I feel that the loss of interest factor could hit the Knights, after they lost a game they should have won last week against the Sharks. With their finals chances all but over, where will they find their motivation?
The Rabbitohs could be jolted into showing some pride in their jerseys as they run out in front of their home crowd. If the Knights take their feet off the pedals, the Bunnies could sneak a victory here.
Round 25 roughie: Rabbitohs
Click here for a full guide to Round 25 of the 2024 NRL season