Looking for a way to get into this weekend’s NRL action, but don’t have the time to examine the form guide, Facebook pages, Fox Sports website, or watch the Channel Nein Sports news to help with your selections? Of course you can always try the excellent NRL Tipping Club and you should. But if none of those work for you The Gurgler website is here and nothing if not helpful, so to help the keen NRL punter we offer up our 2026 NRL Round 20 Bets Analysis with Best Bets.
We’ve done the math and the homework of all our stats and offer up just our favourite suggested bet in each game. Then roll them up in a mega multi at the end.
2026 NRL Round 20 Bets & Best Bets
Here is our one betting special for every game this weekend.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet and correct at time of use (15/7). The Gurgler takes no responsibility for changing odds, or if you are silly enough to follow all of our selections.
THU 8PM – PENRITH v BRISBANE @ CommBank Stadium
Best Bet: Broncos +16.5 Points Start @ $1.82
It’s hard to imagine any scenario where a team that has lost eight games in a row and hasn’t won since April will beat Penrith away, even the Broncos. But Brisbane have a number of players returning this week and their side looks as strong as it can get. And Penrith has a weak spot – the Panthers have lost seven of their last eight Thursday games. But they have also won ten of the last 12 v Broncos.
FRI 6PM – CRONULLA v NEWCASTLE
Best Bet: Cronulla to win @ $1.58
Cronulla’s record against Newcastle is good – Cronulla have won three in a row and 6/7 v Newcastle and the Sharks have also won seven in a row v Newcastle at Shark Park. Plus playing on a Friday seems to be a Cronulla advantage too – going back to 2016, Cronulla’s Friday home record is an impressive W19 L3. Newcastle are W2 L8 from their last ten Friday games away from home.
FRI 8PM – ROOSTERS v MELBOURNE
Best Bet: Melbourne Points Start +11.5 Start @ $1.95
At full strength you’d be tempted to pick the Storm given the Roosters poor record against them – Melbourne have won 13/15 games v Roosters going back to 2020 and Melbourne have won 6 in a row as the away side v Roosters. But with both Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes out it makes it hard to tip them outright. Not that the Roosters are going that much better than the Storm – since R11 the Roosters are W3 L3 while Storm are W5 L2 and James Tedesco is still out.
SAT 3PM – CANBERRA v SOUTH SYDNEY
Best Bet: Canberra Total Points – Over 29.5 Points @ $2.76
Canberra have cleared 30 points in their last five games v South Sydney – all wins. They did score 40 points last weekend too. Souths have conceded 30 points or more 6 times this season too. Canberra have
SAT 5:30PM – WAHS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Best Bet: Warriors to win @ $1.18
You could find an obscure bet here but why not take the Warriors win and enjoy the game. The Warriors have won the last three v Dragons are W6 L2 at home this season. The Dragons have won two games this season and are terrible away recently having won just one game in 16 away from home
SAT 7:30PM – BULLDOGS v WESTS TIGERS @ Accor Stadium
Best Bet: Bulldogs to score between 11-20 Points @ $3.20
Bulldogs have scored between 11 and 20 points on 13 occasions this season from 16 games. Bulldogs have scored 16, 13 and 14 points in their last three game at the Olympic Stadium. They have also scored in that range in the last four games v any team anywhere on a Saturday. Plus the Bulldogs have scored in that range of 11-20 for their last two games v Wests Tigers, which they lost.
SUN 2PM – GOLD COAST v MANLY
Best Bet: Gold Coast to win @ $2.39
Why not an upset, the Titans aren’t playing as bad as their ladder position says and pushed Melbourne all the way last weekend. The Gold Coast have decent record at home – they have won two of their last three at home to Manly and have won three of their last four at home to Sydney clubs. Not super great but good enough. Both teams aren’t very good on a Sunday, so that sort-of cancels each other out – Gold Coast have won only two of their last 20 Sunday games, Manly have lost 6 of their last 7 games on a Sunday and they have lost four games in a row away on a Sunday.
SUN 4PM – DOLPHINS v NORTH QUEENSLAND @ Suncorp Stadium
Best Bet: Total Points Over 50.5 @ $1.98
6/7 matches between the sides have cleared the 50.5, and three have passed 60 points. Dolphins did concede 66 last weekend, although the Cowboys were low key and won.
2026 NRL Round 20 Bets Mega Multi
Add all the specials together for turning $1 into plenty. But gamble responsibly, by betting within your limits and ignoring our tips all together.
$1 for $277
All odds correct from Sportsbet as of Thursday 9th July
2026 NRL Round 20 Betting Stats
TRYSCORING STATS
To help with picking a first or last try scorer.
