The NRL finally returns for 2026, and in the biggest gambling location on earth. No, we’re not talking about the Rooty Hill RSL, as good as that place is and even though it is also known as the Vegas of the West, it doesn’t have giant spheres, nor big name musical acts and not tributes, and mile long strips, and this weekend’s opening NRL fixtures. Talking of gambling, our 2026 NRL Round 1 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview is a sure bet for NRL fans who need and want NRL stats. With no added Slats.
Each week this season we will offer up a quick preview glance for each match, throw in a bunch of barely interesting stats, and mix in a pinch of opinion, plus throw in our weekly predictions like chicken salt on hot chips and you have something that seagulls and humans will fight over.
2026 NRL Round 1 Tips
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
NORTH QUEENSLAND by 14
BULLDOGS by 16
2026 NRL Round 1 Tips Weekly H2H Stats Summary Cheat Sheets
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one size fits all visual.
Plus our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
2026 NRL Round 1 Tips Weekly Barely Interesting Stats
Our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for you convenience and arguments.
Note: the game in the US is on a Saturday, so we have stat-ed accordingly.
GAME 1 – NEWCASTLE v NORTH QUEENSLAND
- The Cowboys have won five straight v Newcastle. All five of those games were in Townsville.
- The home side (either side) has won the last 13 games in a row with a last loss in 2015.
- Newcastle’s neutral ground record since 1998 is a 46% win rate. North Queensland’s is 37%.
- Newcastle were W1 L2 v Qld teams away last season. Which is better than their run of 19 straight losses between June 2015 and June 2023.
- North Queensland have won one of their last four Round 1 fixtures v non Qld teams.
- North Queensland were W4 D1 L8 on a Saturday last season, and ten of those games were at home. They also lost their last four Saturday games to finish the season. Newcastle were W3 L3 on a Saturday last season, with a record of W3 L1 away.
- North Queensland were W8 D1 L2 v lower half teams (at time of fixture) last season. Newcastle were W6 L4 v lower half. Not that both of these teams can’t rise to the upper half this season.
GAME 2 – BULLDOGS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
- These two teams played each other in Round last season, and the Bulldogs won 28-20.
- Bulldogs have won five straight v St George Illawarra.
- Bulldogs have won nine of the last ten games v Dragons on a Saturday.
- Bulldogs were 6/7 on a Saturday last season. St George Illawarra were W4 L10 on a Saturday in 2025.
- St George Illawarra were W2 L10 away from home last season, with a run of seven straight losses to end the season. Bulldogs won six of their first seven away games in 2025, then lost five of the last six away.
- Bulldogs were W12 L2 v lower half teams (at time of fixture) in 2025. Not saying that Dragons will be lower half, but still.
Bonus Las Vegas Stats
A few choice cuts of stats from previous season of Las Vegas Round 1 action.
- Every team that has won their Las Vegas match have gone on to make the finals.
- In 2024 both losing teams failed to make the finals, while last season both losing teams still made the finals.
- There’s no definitive form line after Vegas games, but the below table has captured the next six games after arriving home.
| Team | Year | Las Vegas Result | Next Game | Next 6 PPG | W | L | D |
| Manly | 2024 | W | W | 1.17 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Souths | 2024 | L | L | 0.33 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Roosters | 2024 | W | L | 0.67 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Bronx | 2024 | L | W | 1.33 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Canberra | 2025 | W | W | 1.33 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Warriors | 2025 | L | W | 1.67 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Penrith | 2025 | W | L | 0.33 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Cronulla | 2025 | L | W | 1.33 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Bonus Round 1 Stats
Some key stats ahead of the first two games of the NRL season.
- Both Newcastle and the Bulldogs won their Round 1 games last season, both of them away too. Which technically these games are.
READ MORE: THE GURGLER’S FULL NRL 2026 GEAR
We’ve been working hard for you to bring you the 2026 NRL Season Previews from every angle and angel possible. But never Jo Angel.
NRL DONKEY’S 2026 SEASON PREVIEW
BOLD NRL 2026 SEASON PREDICTIONS
CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT’S SENSIBLE NRL 2026 SEASON PREDICTIONS
WHY YOUR TEAM CAN’T WIN THE 2026 NRL PREMIERSHIP
NRL 2026 RATINGS PREDICTIONS
2026 NRL JERSEY RATINGS WITH AI GREK NORMAN
2026 NRL DRAW ANALYSIS
2026 NRL DRAW ANALYSIS – TEAM BY TEAM
THE A TO Z OF THE 2025 NRL SEASON
