NRL Round 3 Free Game Previews 2026

Game Tips

Raiders by 4

Panthers by 8

Storm by 10

Warriors by 8

Sharks by 10

Rabbits by 6

Eels by 4

Cowboys by 6

Game Notes

Raiders v Bulldogs

Ricky Stuart milestone of 300 games as Raiders coach. Raiders have a handy head-to-head record here, have won 5 of last 6 H2H when at this ground, and won 7 of their last 9 home games. Also enjoy a good record of covering 10 of the last 14 when at home. Raiders off back to back away games return home, and enjoy a very good record responding in such circumstances when off a loss. They were in the contest for far longer than it looked on paper last week, and that Warriors form line is starting to look ok. Bulldogs off long post Vegas break and prep, attack was very clunky first up, and while they dominated field position, they did not convert. Like the Raiders first up at Home.

Roosters v Panthers

Roosters have found the Panthers a very tough nut to crack for a number of years now, have lost 11 of the last 12 match ups with all 11 of those wins each by margins wider than 4.5. Allianz Stadium has also not been a factor with Panthers having won 6 of their last 7 here. Roosters much better last week, certainly far more physical and committed to their D, and while things got close late then did enough to win, Robson back a key in. Panthers are such a well coached, well oiled machine, conceded just the one try to date and toweled up what we would expect to be top 6 contenders to open the season in Broncos and Sharks. Liam Martin a nice key in for them as well. Can’t be against the Panthers.

Storm v Broncos

Off so many top of list outs through the off season Bellamy once again turns water into wine with the graduation of players like Leo, Chan, Lisati and Clarke as they now get their chance in the starting 17. Not sure yet how these opening two games form strength stands up; the Eels were a walk in the park, while the Dragons compounded late to embarrass themselves. They are tho different gravy at home having won last 9 here, lost the most recent two that mattered to the Broncos but prior did have a very commanding head to head record over them (especially in Melbourne). Maguires mob look rudderless if not careless in defence, leaking 66 off their opening two games (and similar to Hull KR) and are so in and out of moments in each game with horribly high error counts, hard to like or trust at present. Like Storm at home

Knights v Warriors

Such a pity the Knights have been hit so hard and early by the injury stick with Ponga and Brown very key outs off last week's walk through of the Eagles at Brookvale. Sharpe is right a positive in, while Hunt at fullback can also make things happen, but two marquee play outs is major. Finished last season losing their last 6 home games, will be keen off the positive opening two wins to show up at home. Warriors even with their own long list of outs have also won 2 from 2, have a sharp coach who likes to dominate possession and then field position and have offered their opponents little in return to date. Their head to head record is healthy winning 5 of their last 7, but when in Newcastle it has not been as positive losing 5 of their last 5 here. Knights key outs, like the Wahs discipline and control to win out.

Sharks v Dolphins

Sharks were actually not that bad last week, going down 26-6 at Bathurst, it was more a matter of the Panthers just being dam good and very much in control. Sharks return home where they have won their last 8 and 11 of their last 12, clearly they play well here, while the Dolphins travel which has not been a recent strength losing 8 of their last 11 when in Sydney and only covering the line at 40% last 24 distant away games. Dolphins have a major issue at #9 until their first choice top two return (Marshall-King and Donoghoe) and have been ugly and clunky in each of their opening two games, if not very lucky to squeak home late on the back of some Hammer magic last week. Sharks can be better than that last week here, Dolphins while they look a strong list on paper very hard to trust at present, especially when travelling.

Rabbits v Tigers

@ Gosford Rabbits will be disappointed having got themselves back into the contest last second half last week, to have let that go (some poor discipline), they are still without at least 3 significant outs but do get Humphreys back this week at #7. Their Gosford record has been strong, as has their head to head record over the Tigers (winning 9 of the last 11). Tigers up and about early with a very positive win at Leichhardt last week, albeit against another poor Cowboys offering; their key leaders were strong, and they dominated pretty much from the outset. Nice test and clash here, away wins have not been a recent strength, and clearly their match-up record has been poor, but if they can bring many of the positives they offered last week, we have a very good game. Lean to the Rabbits

Eels v Dragons

Looks a tricky match up with some difficulty in who and what to trust. How did the Eels escape a 6-20 position with a win in Brisbane last week, in a 72 point game (never a strong or deep form reference), but they at least did take their chances and will be positive off an unexpected away win to now play first up at home. They get Hopgood back, Pezet found some form last week, I’m still unconvinced with what is happening at #9 (either), and or that it is working. Dragons will be disappointed with a near win in Vegas and then striking back to lead the Storm mid-second half at home last week, compounded by self-error and blowing the result. They’ll have some hunger and desperation to get on the board. Eels have won 13 of the last 17 head to head including the last 4 straight, while the Dragons have now lost their last 8 away games. Looks a tight tussle, small lean to Eels first up at home but looks an arm wrestle.

Cowboys v Titans

5pm on a sunny hot North Queensland afternoon with these two… what could possibly go wrong. Cowboys under some heat and focus, off two away defeats to start the season, get Cotter and Laybutt as ins and potentially one of their stronger line ups, but very hard to trust, in particular, in defence. They have enjoyed a good record vs this opponent, winning 10 of the last 12, and 6 of the last 7 when at this ground. Titans blew an opportunity last week; Campbell is a massive in, he makes things happen and will ignite their attack. Titans face a tough opening to the season with 10 of first 13 games away, off a poor prior travel record, but if they can open this game up and consistently attack this could well turn into last try wins.. Both have a point to prove, Cowboys back at home should have the edge.

Warriors to cover the line looked the best for me this week.

Good luck with yours.

For all up to date team list changes and head to head match ups and game stats, all here >  nrl.com

NRL Expert Tips  – Reading The Play

Gerard Condon and Gerard Barton combine to present our NRL tips content.

MrG

Having coached at a senior level for 16 years, including 3 years on the coaching staff of an NRL club, Gerard Condon is a long-term avid student of the game. He’s coached sides to win titles at a senior level, run the football arm of a successful district club, managed professional players and worked in various development roles, so it’s fair to say the game of Rugby League is certainly in his blood and supports an experienced and unique offering.

Mr G’s NRL previews and betting tips combine this knowledge and ‘read’ of the current weekly form with a statistical and betting analysis to provide his followers with a unique and successful approach. He spends hours each week watching and reviewing each and every game, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the form to then weigh against that of the betting markets. His previews and betting tips have been published on the internet via two sports forums for 7 years prior to his public offering through Reading The Play.

MrGB

Gerard Barton started his rugby league story when playing at the age of six, running around in the bush for the Forbes Magpies before eventually landing at Dubbo CYMS. The highlight? Captaining the Dubbo CYMS Under 18s to a premiership – with a young bloke named Andrew Ryan watching on from the bench. 

Like any mad Eels supporter, he went from screaming at the TV to putting his money where his mouth was. What began as casual NRL punting slowly evolved into something much deeper – a full-blown obsession with data analysis. A love for the game then grew into a love for what the play and stats can and can't tell you about the outcome. But here's what matters: GB is a footy headfirst, and self-taught maths and data nerd second. You've got to know the game before you crunch the numbers. Stats don't play football – blokes do. Understanding that distinction is everything.

These days, GB is deep into modelling the key performance areas that actually influence outcomes. Pre-game team forecasts, AI-assisted analysis, the works. It's about finding the edge where footy knowledge meets data science.

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