Looking for a way to get into this weekend’s NRL Finals 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 options work for you The Gurgler website is here and nothing if not helpful, so to help the keen NRL punter we offer up our NRL Finals Week 3 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.
Related
- NRL Finals Week 3 Tips Predictions & Stats
- NRL Donkey Expert Finals Week 3 Tips Predictions & Rant
- NRL Finals Week 2 Team of the Week
- NRL Finals Week 2 Weekly Stats & One Minute Match Review
- Ray Stone Comics – Ray Stone vs Retirement
NRL Finals Week 3 Bets & Advice
Normally we offer one betting special for every game every round. But given there’s only two games, we’ll offer up a Same Game Multi for each game.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet and correct at time of use.
FRIDAY 8PM – DOLPHINS v ROOSTERS @ Suncorp Stadium
Mega Multi:
Roosters to score first ($2.06)
Total Match Points Over 45.5 ($1.87)
Mark Nawaqanitawasse to score anytime ($2.00)
Selwyn Cobbo to score anytime ($1.93)
Highest Scoring Half – 2nd Half ($1.90)
@ $17.50
Roosters lead the competition for scoring first try along with Manly with 17 for the 2026 season, the Dolphins have ten fewer first tries scored (7) and are notorious slow starters. That’s a good thing for the last leg of Highest Scoring Half – Second Half – as both teams on average increase their point scoring in the second half this season. Roosters go from 11.9 average first half points to 14.2, and the Dolphins even better from 11.3 to 16.2.
As for Anytime try scorers, the Roosters leak a lot through the wings, and who better than Selwyn Cobbo at the moment to grab at least one try. The Dolphins aren’t quite as bad for wingers tries, but who could not see some kind of magic from Marky Mark. Especially in a game where there might be some points.
Talking of points, while finals football leads to quieter games for points scored, the Roosters-Dolphins games in general bring a lot of points. The last match between the sides had a finals atmosphere and did only produce 38 points, but also worth noting that the Dolphins were down to 11 players at one stage, and the Roosters bombed a few tries in that period. The previous four games between the sides saw an average of 67.5 points scored. The other two games were 44 and 46, so the Overs looks good.
And yes, no result pick, head says Roosters, heart says Dolphins. Ray Stone says pick Dolphins or else.
SUNDAY 4PM – PENRITH v NEWCASTLE @ CommBank Stadium
Same Game Multi:
PENRITH to win ($1.28)
Total Match Points Under 42.5 ($1.81)
Casey McLean to score anytime ($2.30)
@ $5.25
Despite two great finals performances in a row, the Knights hit a wall of final experience in Penrith this Sunday. And being a Sunday there are some super stats on the Panthers side that are hard to overlook. Penrith have won eight of their last nine on a Sunday v Newcastle. Plus, Penrith have won 18 of their last 19 home games on a Sunday, and won all five home games on a Sunday at CommBank Stadium. Plus all five away on a Sunday too. Throw in the H2H of Penrith having won nine of their last ten games v Newcastle, with the last two games seeing the Panthers score 40+ points and concede exactly 12 points.
Total points looks like it could be low. In general as below, the finals sees lower scoring, so the Total Points of Under 42.5 looks ok. Then look at the Penrith v Newcastle H2H for a Penrith home game, 17 of the 23 meetings has seen 46 or less points scored, often well under the 46 point mark. So combining the fixture and finals point squeeze, the Unders looks good.
As for an anytime try scorer, there’s so many weapons on the field you could pick many. But since we’ve said point scoring may be at a premium, we’ll go for one – Casey McLean. Not just because he’s good and offers more value than others, but Newcastle have one of the higher % for centers scoring tries against them.
NRL Finals Week 3 Helpful Betting Stats
GENERAL FINALS v REGULAR SEASON STATS
FINALS RECORD
FIRST & LAST TRY SCORER AND TRIES SCORED
POINTS
