Round 8 NRL Tips 2026 | SGM Bets & Predictions

After a cracking start to the season, the Wests dropped the ball and lost out last week to last year’s premiers. They still showed some grit and nearly turned it around, so I’m happy to call that a mulligan.

Speaking of mulligans, the Raiders’ win over the Storm isn’t enough to make up for their crumby campaign this season. Beating Melbourne is usually a good scalp to have on display, but it’s almost becoming the status quo at the minute.

Last week should’ve stirred the fire in the belly for the Wests a bit more. At home, I think they lock this one down.

The volatility of North Queensland continues after a heavy loss against Manly, where the Cowboys didn’t look threatening whatsoever.

The Sharks will come in with fresh legs after enjoying the week off, and they’ll want to bounce back after the loss to the Roosters slightly derailed their campaign.

After last week’s performance, I think the gap between these teams showed a bit too much for the Cowboys to get the job done here.

Brisbane came out with a statement that they’ve still got a dog in them, after breaking the hearts of the Wests in a one-point win.

The Bulldogs had an absolute mare last week, dropping a sitter against the Eels, who just looked more in control all game.

I think the Broncos are starting to get back on track, while the Bulldogs might be slightly derailed. Should be a good hit-out, but at home I think Brisbane get the job done without too many issues.

The Dragons are still yet to register a win on the board, and it’s hard to know if they’re getting closer or further away. The 18-point loss against the Rabbitohs says pretty much nothing on that front.

After a bit of a scare in the first half at the hands of the Knights, the Roosters decided to pull their finger out in the second, piling on five tries to zip and ending up winning quite comfortably in the end.

The Dragons will get one soon, but I definitely don’t think it’ll be the Roosters coughing it up this time.

The Wahs continue to keep banking the points with a win over the Titans, and it looked like they decided to conserve some energy while Gold Coast put a bit of respect on the scoreboard in the second half.

The Dolphins nearly had a massive win against the Panthers last week, but failed to get it over the line, going down in golden point.

Although there’s plenty to like about the Dolphins, last week would’ve been taxing, and coming across the ditch won’t do them any favours either.

The Storm continue making the rest of the country happy with their fifth loss in a row, this time handed to them by last year’s minor premiers. Which doesn’t mean a whole lot, because the Raiders have been ordinary.

The Rabbitohs continue their solid run after binning the poor Dragons by 18, which if anything you would’ve expected to be more.

Storm can’t keep losing forever, and the Rabbitohs still aren’t looking overly dangerous. At home, I think Melbourne bounce back. And bounce back hard.

The Panthers almost showed that they bleed like the rest of us last week, but as they usually do, they still managed to seal the deal in the end and get over the Dolphins by the smallest margin.

Newcastle had a fair humbling last week against the Roosters. The Knights looked all over it with two tries clear in the first half, but then took a siesta while the Roosters pounded them in the second.

Although the Knights are still on the up, they’re not slaying Goliath any time soon.

Manly gave the Cowboys an almighty beat-up last week, which really showed the actual disparity in the middle of the current ladder and proved they’re sitting on the top end of that pack.

At the other end of the ladder, the Eels managed to pull off a decent upset and rise through the ranks after knocking off the Bulldogs. Everything seemed to click, and they got the win they deserved.

The Eels should at least stop this from turning into a complete blowout, but Manly shouldn’t be too concerned.