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 12 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 12 Bets & Best Bets
Here is our one betting special for every game this weekend.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet and correct at time of use.
THURSDAY 7:50PM – CANBERRA v DOLPHINS
Best Bet: Dolphins to win @ $1.89
We were going to select the Over 51.5 points, and lord knows the Dolphins are good for points, they have averaged 35 over the last three games with only glimpses of their best. Problem is those three games were all at Suncorp Stadium. Canberra are averaging only 19 points at home this season so far. So it would be higher than the 51.5 but can you risk it. As for picking the Dolphins, somehow Origin selections have seen them remove one problem in Selwyn Cobbo (can’t catch – not living up to the hype) and keep the massively in-form Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. While Canberra lose two of their best in Hudson Young and Ethan Strange and Simi Sasagi is injured. Plus Canberra’s recent home form (won once in last six games) is weak, and home form on a Thursday isn’t much better (lost four of their last five games at home on Thursday). Meanwhile Dolphins are in the top 8 and going nicely. Plus a good Thursday record so far. Dolphins are W9 L3 on a Thursday. They are W3 L1 away on a Thursday.
FRI0DAY 8PM – BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE
Best Bet: Melbourne to win 1-12 @ $3.20
Both of these teams have been ordinary the last few months, but at least the Storm appear to have turned it around a bit. Melbourne’s recent record v Bulldogs is hard to beat (won 10 of the last 11) but they’ve had lots of good records broken recently. Plus Melbourne are W5 L1 v Bulldogs at Olympic Stadium. But the Storm have a few players out for Origin, with Harry Grant the only one who has been selected on form. But the Bulldogs don’t have Stephen Crichton either. And the Bulldogs have such bad recent form – they have lost their last five games and seven of their last eight, plus lost five of their last six games at the Olympic Stadium and lost eight Friday games in a row. So Melbourne to win then, but a smaller margin? The last three wins by Melbourne, which coincide with the Bulldogs turning around their bottom of the table form, were by 8, 6 and 2 points. And the Storm aren’t gong that well. Just well enough to beat the Bulldogs.
SATURDAY 5:30PM – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v WAHS @ Kogarah
Best Bet: Second Half Handicap – Warriors -6.5 start @ $1.92
It’s pretty obvious that the Warriors are going to win this, given St George Illawarra have lost 14 games in a row and all ten this season. The Wahs are second and have won five games in a row heading into this clash plus won four of their last five v St George Illawarra. Although, the first of these bullsh!t five game Origin rounds can often see all the favourites go down. But the outsider is usually not this bad. So for creativity, we’ll go for the Warriors to cover -6.5 start in the second half. This at least prolongs the best and interest in case the game is terrible. The Wahs are W7 D1 L2 in the second half this season, the Dragons are W1 L9. The Warriors average second half points outscores the Dragons by 16 to 5, so they should cover 6.5.
SATURDAY 7:30PM – MANLY v GOLD COAST
Best Bet: Total Match Points Band – 51 to 60 Points @ $3.50
Manly are in form, having lost just once under Kieran Foran, Manly would be leading the competition ladder on points difference since Kieran Foran took over, meanwhile the Gold Coast have won twice all season. Manly have good Saturday and home stats, but the best is Manly have won seven in a row v Queensland sides on a Saturday. The Gold Coast aren’t hopeless and can win, we’re just not backing them with our money. So something a little creative is above, and why not. Of the five home games for Manly this season, their total points scored has been inside the 51-60 total point three times. The Gold Coast’s three adventures to play Sydney teams this season have seen the average total points score land at 54 points.
SUNDAY 4PM – NORTH QUEENSLAND v SOUTH SYDNEY
Best Bet: Total Match Points – Over 53.5 @ $1.90
The Cowboys should win this, which is why they probably won’t, so hard to tip. So let’s go with points and hope Souths aren’t as bad as they were last week. Prior to Magic Round the Rabbitohs had scored 30 points or more in six straight games. The Cowboys last two home games have seen 183 points, so should cover the 53.5. Three of the Rabbitohs last seven away games have seen 70+ points scored. The last two away on a Sunday for Souths average 75 points per game.
2026 NRL Magic Round 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 $77
All odds correct from Sportsbet as of Monday 4 May.
PREVIEW & REVIEW GEAR
NRL ROUND 12 BEST BETS
NRL ROUND 12 NRL DONKEY OPINION AND EXPERT TIPS
NRL ROUND 12 TIPS
NRL ROUND 12 RATINGS
NRL ROUND 11 TEAM OF THE WEEK
NRL ROUND 11 STATS AND ONE MINUTE MATCH REPORTS
