The best of luck to anyone casting tips this week because the Round 15 draw has eight games where nobody can predict the outcome with total certainty.

Although our experts think they have the good oil – take their advice for what it’s worth because perfect rounds have been thin on the ground this year.

When it comes to the bookmakers’ odds, only the Cronulla vs Dolphins match at Shark Park which opens the round on Thursday night is the only one where there is a heavy favourite.

Cronulla should be safe at home against the Dolphins but the newbies beat them last year in a Magic Round boilover.

The Cowboys could upset the Raiders in Canberra, Souths are improving heading into their home clash with a disappointing Brisbane and the Tigers vs Titans tussle on Saturday is a toss-up.

The Warriors are the slightest of favourites to beat Melbourne, Parra are a chance against the Roosters, St George Illawarra have won two in a row heading into their trip to Manly and Newcstle are hosting a depleted Panthers line-up.

Here’s how the experts see Round 15 unfolding.

Stuart Thomas

Sharks, Raiders, Broncos, Titans, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Panthers

A wobbly Cronulla side needs a reaction against the Dolphins and should produce one at home. The Raiders come off the bye looking to cement a place in the top eight. North Queensland will be no match for the Green Machine at home.

Rabbitohs and Broncos is an interesting one. Surely the visitors find some better form and the Bunnies couldn’t reproduce their Round 14 demolition of the Titans? The Titans travel to Leichhardt in a very unattractive match-up with the Tigers. I won’t be watching.

The Storm will have to play well to topple the Warriors on home soil, but they do have a distinct edge in class. Banana skin game alert. The Eels were decent against the Dogs on Monday yet the Chooks look to be
building to something. I say they win at CommBank.

Two easy wins to round out the weekend, as the Sea Eagles enjoy 4 Pines and a flogging of the Dragons, whilst Penrith have too many weapons for a bumbling Knights team that looks a little outclassed in this one.

Nick Wasiliev

Sharks, Raiders, Broncos, Titans, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Panthers

Will the Dolphins be better for the bye? Probably, but the Sharks are finally back to good form after that Broncos win. I think they’ll get a huge wind in their sails and they should get home well here.

Weirdly, I think this might be the closest game of the round. Raiders should take a lot from that win over the Dolphins, and with a bye as well they’ll be properly refreshed and ready. The Cowboys should make it closer than they did last week, but I back in the Green Machine in the berra. 

Brisbane, by a lot. They’ll be annoyed after last week and will be determined to get a result. Titans, by a reasonable amount too. Don’t ask me about what happened last week in Wollongong. Honestly, no words. 

Match of the round, in my humble opinion. The Wahs are a good side at home and will bring some guts, but the Storm are the top of the ladder for a reason. I’m going the visitors in a thriller.

Well, it was good while it lasted, hey Parramatta? Full credit, they have taken advantage of the Origin period brilliantly, but this is a bridge too far given the Chooks’ form.

Another close one that should be an entertaining clash! The Sea Eagles will be happy to have some Blues stars back, and while Shane Flanagan is picking and sticking, I think this prospect is entirely different to the kittens that came out in the second half in Wollongong. 

This is a tough one to close out the weekend. Panthers are great, but Newcastle at home? I’ll stick with the men from Penrith, because I’m still feeling the burn from my Sharks pick a few weeks back. 

Mary Konstantopoulos

Sharks, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Titans, Warriors, Roosters, Dragons, Panthers

The Sharks bounced back into form with a strong win over the Broncos last week and welcome back Nicho Hynes after a week off following Origin. The Dolphins have struggled away from home this year, so I’ll take the Sharks in this game. 

I can’t get my head around the Cowboys this week, but it seems clear that the coach isn’t getting through to his senior players anymore. After seeing how well some of the Cowboys players played during Origin and watching their limp performance against the Warriors, I have real concerns. The Raiders can be chaotic and I’m tipping the chaos this week. 

The Rabbitohs have put together a strong couple of weeks with Latrell Mitchell returning to form and players returning from injury. The Broncos are still yet to reach the heights of their 2023 season consistently but their attack will still be strong enough to overcome the Bunnies. 

The Tigers have a lot of players out and are fielding a very young team. Even thought this one is a Leichhardt Oval, I’m tipping the Titans. 

I’ve not tipped many upsets correctly this year, but I think the Warriors can do it this week. The team seems to have really found something since that win against the Panthers and are riding high on confidence. With the Storm still missing a couple of key players and the game being in New Zealand I think the Wahs will get the win. 

The Roosters to beat the Eels and speaking of upsets I’m tipping another one, with the Dragons to beat the Sea Eagles. 

Penrith keep showing us why they have been the best team for the better part of four years and they’ll beat a Knights side that has been inconsistent for most of 2024.

Paul Suttor

Sharks, Raiders, Broncos, Titans, Warriors, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Panthers

The Sharks were sunk by the Dolphins at Magic Round last year but they will restore the natural order of the ocean’s food chain at Cronulla. 

Canberra are a tough out on home turf while the Cowboys couldn’t shoot fish in a barrel at the moment. 

A banana skin awaits Brisbane at Accor Stadium with Cameron Murray back to press his Origin claims and Latrell Mitchell also out to impress Michael Maguire. Broncos in a nail-biter. 

The first major trophy of 2024 could be decided with a wooden implement on the line at Leichhardt. The Titans should have enough to outlast the Tigers in a match where defence won’t be a feature. 

Gold Coast did have a win on Wednesday with Carter Gordon signing with them. Anyone who needs convincing that rugby union is on its knees in this country, this is surely a new low – the Wallabies five-eighth has turned his back on them to play for the Titans.

The Warriors will beat the Storm. You possibly heard it here first. They’re on a roll and Melbourne look vulnerable. 

Parramatta are getting desperate and that will only worsen with a loss to the Roosters who are coming off the bye while the Eels have a five-day turnaround. 

Manly to beat the Dragons because the Sea Eagles are due for an up and the visitors are scheduled for a down in their respective hot-and-cold campaigns. 

Newcastle will fire up against the Panthers and be in the contest for 50-60 minutes before falling away. 

AJ Mithen

Sharks, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Tigers, Warriors, Roosters, Dragons, Panthers

A full slate of games! Feels weird, doesn’t it. Here’s the winners, starting with the now ‘reliable’ Sharks who should knock over the Dolphins. 

The pub game sees your presumptive champions, the people’s team the Canberra Raiders further consolidate a top four run by laying a casual 56 on the hapless Cowboys. Friday night I’ve got the ‘rejuvenated’ bunnies making a mess of the Broncos. 

The horrendous Wests will beat the more horrendous Titans, Wahs will eke out a win over the Storm and the Roosters will murderise the Eels. 

Speaking of murderising, the Dragons will get past Manly in a game that is such low quality it’ll be a disgrace to rugby league. Then Penrith will squash Newcastle, who have been valiant but just ain’t good enough. 

Mike Meehall Wood

Sharks, Raiders, Broncos, Titans, Warriors, Roosters, Manly, Panthers

Cronulla impressed last weekend and, at home, it’s hard to see past them. Up up.

The Raiders are off the bye and the Cows just got thrashed on their own patch. NQ also can’t tackle, so it’s an easy call for Canberra.

There’s plenty to like about Souths at the moment but it’ll take a fair bit before I have anywhere near the confidence required to tip them. Bronx take it.

The Tigers have half a team available and they’re rubbish even when everyone is on deck. At home at Leichhardt I’d usually go for them but I can’t see it here. With zero confidence, the Titans to win.

NZ impressed last week and welcome back Shaun Johnson. Though Melbourne are good, the pure vibes will see the Wahs through.

Parramatta are rubbish, the Roosters – despite wobbles – aren’t. They’ll put a score on the Eels.

Reverse psychology has worked great guns for my Manly tipping but given I’ll be on the hill on Sunday, my Beaches Boys will show up and dispose of the Dragons.

Newcastle can’t score against most teams and Penrith aren’t most teams. This could be a smash up for the Panthers.

Round 15Stuart ThomasNick WasilievMary KonstantopoulosPaul SuttorAJ MithenMike Meehall WoodThe CrowdCRO v DOLSharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks?CBR v NQCRaiders RaidersRaidersRaiders RaidersRaiders?SSR v BRSBroncosBroncos Rabbitohs Broncos Rabbitohs Broncos ?WST v GCT Titans TitansTitans Titans Tigers Titans ?NZW v MELStormStorm Warriors Warriors Warriors Warriors ?PAR v SYDRoostersRoosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters ? MSE v SGI Manly Manly Dragons Manly DragonsManly ? NEW v PEN Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers ? Last Round4 3 354512024 tally6668 58 6863 70 67