Been too distracting by various politicians calling each other liars? Or the Galvin-Tigers saga? Need some last-minute NRL tipping advice? Want something else to blame when the tips go wrong? Well then saddle up for The Gurgler’s NRL Magic Round Ratings and Late Mail.
In a new additional to our stable of NRL stats and tipping products, we have used all the stats we have, smashed them against each other like atoms, and come up with a H2H rating.
It includes this year’s form with a bias because it is this year, but we don’t forget historic stats of the H2H against this week’s opponents, and the ground and day the teams are playing on. Then slice up the scores out of 100% between the two sides. The bigger the percentage, the more likely to win.
2025 NRL Magic Round Ratings
Here are the H2H ratings and winner for Magic Round of the NRL.
Our ratings picked a lot of home teams last weekend except for the first and last game, where the home side won……
2025 NRL Magic Round Late Mail
CRONULLA v PARRAMATTA
The fact that a Cronulla player’s first name change to KL is the most interesting thing leading into this game isn’t a good sign for the opening match of Magic Round. Fun fact, only one team listed as the home side has won the opening game of Magic Round.
ROOSTERS v DOLPHINS
Some welcome returns from injury for the Dolphins who now have their first and second string hookers back. Felise Kaufusi is back and good for a hard tackle or two. Just ask the Roosters from the Dolphins first ever game at the same venue against the same team. Roosters looked good on Anzac Day, and so did the Dolphins for 40 minutes last weekend.
SOUTHS v NEWCASTLE
Souths already have the first choice five eighth and halfback out, and now the backup Jack Wighton is out it’s a choice between the mystery of Josh Schuster and the UK halfback Lewis Dodd that Wayne Bennett doesn’t seem to like. Souths tend to grind out wins when they do, which is good as Newcastle don’t score too many points. Both sides are on losing streaks – Souths three and the Knights five. One for the diehards.
WARRIORS v COWBOYS
Should be the most entertaining game of the Magic Round. Both teams are in form too. Cowboys have won four straight and the Warriors have won five of their last six. The Warriors are currently fourth but have a negative points difference. Warriors have won three in a row v Cowboys, but North Qld have won five games in a row v non-Broncos sides at Suncorp Stadium. A coin flip, and an entertaining one.
WESTS TIGERS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Lachlan Galvin’s return may not be fully responsible for the Tigers win on Sunday, but at least we’re no longer talking about him. Sadly Lachlan Ilias has been blamed for another club’s problems and been dropped for the Dragons. Neither team’s form a Suncorp Stadium is great, but at least the Tigers have won a Magic Round game.
GOLD COAST v BULLDOGS
David Fifita has been dropped to outside the top 17, but surely a team looking to break a four game losing run will want some impact, so guessing he’ll play. Bulldogs ended up doing well against Broncos in the second half last weekend, setting up some good momentum for this weekend. But some stats are against the Bulldogs. They are the team with the worst recent record at Suncorp Stadium and are yet to win in Magic Round in five attempts. Gold Coast are also pretty handy at Suncorp Stadium.
PENRITH v BRISBANE
Still requires a rubbing of the eyes looking at an NRL ladder with the Panthers last. You’d think the game being at Suncorp Stadium is a big help to Brisbane. Problem is, that they have a poor record against Penrith, a bad record for day games (they lost all of them last season), and not great there on a Sunday (Broncos have won just four of their last 12 at Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday). But the Broncos do have a good Magic Round record (W4 L1) and have won five of their last six as the away team at Suncorp Stadium.
MELBOURNE v CANBERRA
Bit unfortunate that this game is in Brisbane as the Raiders have a good record v the Storm in Melbourne. Also, Canberra have a poor record at Suncorp Stadium, unlike Melbourne who have a better win % than the Broncos. Canberra are in form though, with four wins in a row, and a stunning second half comeback v Dolphins last week. The Storm better be in front at half time as the Raiders’ second half record is W7 L1 this season. Melbourne’s is W3 L4.
2025 NRL Season Stats So Far
And if you don’t believe our ratings, then help yourself to a bunch of stats from the 2025 NRL season.
Here’s the best of the NRL Team Stats from last weekend.
2025 NRL Round 8 Review + Round 9 Preview
Here’s the best of our wrap ups of Round 5 and the best look forward to Round 6.
NRL MAGIC ROUND TIPS AND STATS
NRL MAGIC ROUND – NRL DONKEY EXPERT TIPS AND OPINION
NRL STATS EXTRA – MAGIC ROUND STATS
NRL ROUND 8 TEAM OF THE WEEK
NRL ROUND 8 STATS n STUFF
2025 NRL Season Preview Stuff
We’ve done a lot of stuff ahead of the new NRL season, and here it all is.
READ MORE: THE GURGLER’S 2025 NRL SEASON SPECIALS
NRL 2025 SEASON LADDER PREDICTIONS
WOODEN SPOONERS 2025 NRL HEADLINES
WHY YOUR TEAM CAN’T WIN THE NRL 2025 PREMIERSHIP
