NRL Tips & Predictions - Round 27

💬 FormPicks Commentary

The Dogs have found another gear lately and this shapes as their game to lose. They're at home with fine weather locked in, they defend tighter than Brisbane's leaky outfit, and they've got ice in close finishes. The real risk is that slow start habit of theirs, though. If Brisbane stay within arm's reach at halftime, this gets properly interesting.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

Dolphins are the clear play here. They're red-hot on a five-game winning streak while the Titans are stuck in a rut, losing five straight and looking sluggish early. The Dolphins outscore sides by 7.5 points after half-time on average, and they've got the tighter defence. Home ground is the only genuine edge Gold Coast has got.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

We were on the Roosters last time, we're off them now. Gray and Mitchell back for Souths changes the maths here, especially with Duncan out for the Chooks in the centres. This matchup hinges on whether Souths' fullback and centre can create enough for their attack to trouble a Roosters defence giving up just 19.6 a game. Fine conditions suit both, but Souths at home with fresher bodies gets the nod in what's genuinely line-ball. Watch whether the Chooks' finisher mentality overrides it.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

Sea Eagles have tightened up lately after looking ordinary, but the Warriors' five-game tear is the real thing. They're outsourcing Manly by 7.8 points after the break and building early leads at home, where conditions favour their attacking game. Problem is they've only won one of four tight finishes, and Manly's playing for their finals life.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

Form's telling a story this week. Raiders have hit their straps lately and they're fresher, but that road trip to North Queensland is brutal and they tend to leak points after half time. Cowboys thrive in tight finishes at home, though a shorter turnaround could dull them. Raiders' fade pattern in the second half is the real worry here.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

We were on Sharks, we're off them now. Hughes back for Storm and Hynes out for Sharks shifts the halfback equation enough to flip this. Storm's fighting for finals while Sharks' spine is depleted, and that's the lever. Tempo control swings to the visitors if they can get on top early, but Storm's only 3-8 away from home - that travel weariness is the thing that could sink them here.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

Tempo control wins this one. Dragons are slow starters, outscored 5.9 points a half before the break, but the Eels travel poorly and fade hard in second halves. Fine conditions suit both, yet Parramatta's hotter form and superior rating edge out a home side that's been leaky at the back and only 2-10 away. Watch whether Parra's shorter turnaround bites them late when the Dragons inevitably tighten.

💬 FormPicks Commentary

Panthers start fast and finish faster, which is exactly what you want when you're playing at home against a side that leaks 28.7 a game. Wests Tigers are desperately fighting for finals footy and that'll sharpen them up, but they're 3-8 on the road and concede over 5 points more in the second half than the first. Fine conditions mean no excuses. Panthers should run away with it, though a desperate Tigers outfit playing for their season is the one thing that could make this closer than the stats suggest.