NRL Round 3 2026 Expert Tips & Predictions

The NRL continues this week for Round 3 action, kicking off with the Raiders vs. Bulldogs on Thursday night.

We have NRL betting tips for every game in 2026, including this week’s featured games between the Roosters vs. Panthers, Storm vs. Broncos, and Rabbitohs vs. Wests Tigers.

NRL Round 3 Tips

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Thursday 19/3/26

The Raiders are yet to hit their straps after narrowly beating Manly before being thumped by the Warriors last week. That’s a bad sign for Ricky Stuart’s men, who typically start the year with good form.

The Bulldogs had a bye last week after playing in Las Vegas, and they have a good chance of prevailing as slight underdogs. The $1.95 is a good price, and with top four ambitions in 2026, the Bulldogs should look to make a good start.

Take the odds before money comes for them later in the week.

Bulldogs by 6

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Friday 20/3/26

Punters should expect fireworks between the Roosters and Panthers, and it could come down to the final few minutes at Allianz Stadium.

The Panthers have looked every part of a title favourite, and although the Roosters are underdogs, they played well enough to beat the Rabbitohs last week.

Getting a +6.5 line is generous in what should be a close contest.

Roosters by 2

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The Storm have looked much better than the Broncos, but with pressure on the Broncos after going 0-2, they need to show something on Friday night.

They clocked off when losing to the Eels last week, and a lack of direction has killed them so far. However, we don’t think there are more than 7.5 points between the Broncos and Storm, so we’re taking the underdogs.

If the Broncos turn up with the right attitude, they can beat any team, so they get one more chance.

Broncos by 4

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Saturday 21/3/26

The Warriors have made the perfect start at 2-0, and now they face a Knights team missing their best players.

Kayln Ponga and Dylan Brown went down with injuries last week, and although they won the game, not having them in the team this week should make it too tough. They’re also without Fletcher Sharpe, who went down in Las Vegas.

It should be a comfortable win for the Warriors, who look like potential playoff contenders after only two rounds.

Warriors by 10

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The Dolphins were down 14-0 with only 20 minutes to play against the Titans last Sunday, but they battled back with three unanswered tries to snatch the win.

It wasn’t the most comprehensive performance, but it’s a confidence booster, and they can stick with the Sharks on Friday afternoon. The Sharks were no match for the Panthers last week, which was a disappointing effort.

A close game is expected, so the Dolphins are another good underdog this week.

Dolphins by 4

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The Rabbitohs couldn’t get the job done against the Rooster, but the occasion of Alex Johnston breaking the try-scoring record might have got to them.

The long delay had an adverse effect on their game, but despite the loss, they played well enough to hand the Wests Tigers a loss this week. The Tigers played well in their opening game, but they meet a much harder opponent here.

We recommend taking the –5.5 line before it moves to 6.5 during the week.

Rabbitohs by 6

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Sunday 22/3/26

The Eels did well to score a big upset against the Broncos, but we don’t rate them as a team that can cover a –7.5 spread.

It’s a big number, and despite only playing against the Dragons, it should be a close game to kick off action on Sunday. The Dragons sit 14th on the NRL ladder, but we have seen enough from them to take the line.

We expect a lot of close games in Round 3, so take the underdogs to keep it close.

Eels by 4

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It’s hard to get excited about the Cowboys or Titans, with the teams sitting at the bottom of the NRL ladder. However, based on their current roster, the Cowboys should cover the –5.5 spread.

The Titans had their best chance to post a long overdue win last week, but they couldn’t hold onto a 14-0 lead with only 20 minutes to go. They folded quickly, and it’s disappointing to see this franchise struggle to deliver.

Money should come for the Cowboys, so snap up the line.

Cowboys by 10