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. But if none of those work for you The Gurgler website is nothing if not helpful, so to help the keen NRL punter we offer up our 2026 NRL Round 3 Bets & 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 3 Bets & Best Bets
Here is our one betting special for every game this weekend.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet.
THU 8pm – CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Best Bet: First Half Total Points – Under 22.5 Points @ $2.00
Neither of these teams have great Thursday form, so hard to know where to go from there. Bulldogs weren’t great in Canberra until last season’s big comeback win. Canberra led 20-0 last season before losing 32-20. Since these teams have scored just 24 first half points between them in three attempts so far this season, we’re going for a quiet first 40 minutes. Then let the entertainment run free after we’re counting the money.
FRI 6pm – ROOSTERS v PENRITH
Best Bet: Penrith to win @ $1.57
Tough one here, Roosters record is so bad against Penrith – the Panthers have won 12 of their last 13 clashes with the Roosters and the Roosters have lost five straight as the home side v Penrith. But then going back to 2014, the Roosters have won 17 of their last 18 games at the SFS on a Friday v Sydney teams. But the way Penrith choked Cronulla to sleep last weekend leads me to Go West not East this weekend.
FRI 8pm – MELBOURNE v BRISBANE
Best Bet: Melbourne Win 1-12 @ $3.15
Even without the current underwhelming form it was hard to pick the Broncos, but their record and Queensland teams record in general in Melbourne is an additional reason to stay away from betting on them. Melbourne have won 17 in a row at AAMI Park on any day v Queensland opposition and Melbourne have won nine in a row at AAMI Park vs Brisbane, with a last loss ten years ago in 2016. But keeping within the 1-12 margin as 10 of their last 14 at home on a Friday have been wins by 12 points or less. And surely the Broncos won’t be that bad again.
SAT 3pm – NEWCASTLE v WAHS
Best Bet: Alternative Total Points Under 54.5 @ $1.54
Both sides have key injuries, both sides are out-performing expectations. But perhaps the missing key players will harm the chances of lots of points. Plus Newcastle passed 20 points at home just twice last season in 12 home matches, and the Warriors scored 20 points or less away from home more than not last season.
SAT 5:30pm – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
Best Bet: 1st Half Head to Head – Cronulla to win first half @ $1.57
Sharks are so good at home at the moment, they have won their last eight, and the Dolphins haven’t been great in Sydney since their inception. Cronulla were W10 L3 at home last season and won the first half at home 10-3 also. Dolphins have been slow to start this season and trailed at half time in both games.
SAT 7:30pm – SOUTH SYDNEY v WESTS TIGERS @ Central Coast Stadium
Best Bet: Pick Your Own Line – Wests Tigers +8.5 @ $1.62
So many stats point towards a South Sydney win, in fact most of them point to running away from betting on the Tigers. But there’s just a feeling that the Wests Tigers are a chance of an upset here, but we’ll take the coward’s way out and snap up the points start for Wests Tigers.
SUN 4pm – PARRAMATTA v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Best Bet: Parramatta to Win 1-12 @ $3.00
Four of the last seven clashes between these teams at Commbank Stadium have been decided by six points or less. Two of the other three saw a 14 points margin. Parramatta have a good recent record v Dragons at home, and the Dragons are poor on a Sunday and away, especially against Sydney teams. But they are playing good enough for Parramatta not to flog them.
SUN 6:15pm – NORTH QUEENSLAND v GOLD COAST
Best Bet: North Queensland to win @ $1.60
Gold Coast’s record on a Sunday is so bad there can only be one betting option here. And that’s saying something as the Titans are playing the Cowboys.
2026 NRL Round 3 Bets MMMMMega 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 $186
READ MORE ON THIS WEEKEND’S NRL
The Gurgler’s Round 3 NRL Predictions
The NRL Donkey’s Round 3 Expert Tips and Opinion
NRL Results – R2 One Minute Match Review
