NRL footy tips Round 18: Peter Sterling and all of Nine's stars give their winners
Rugby league great Mark Carroll has questioned St George Illawarra's decision to rest million-dollar halfback Ben Hunt at a time when the Dragons desperately need a win to keep their finals chances alive.
The Dragons have copped plenty of criticism after an inept performance against the Raiders on Sunday and they head to Penrith tomorrow night needing to win six of their last eight games to be any chance of a playoffs berth.
Check out the tipping leaderboard and the full set of Round 18 tips from Sterlo and our Channel Nine experts below!
The Panthers, meanwhile, have moved into the eight for the first time this season on the back of an unlikely six-match winning streak, which Peter Sterling is adamant will move to seven tomorrow.
“They are resting Ben Hunt. He is on a million dollars and they have got to win six from eight and they are resting him. You’ve got to be kidding me,” Carroll told Triple M Rush Hour with MG.
That was followed by Sterling's take for Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's Tips, with the legendary halfback in no doubt about the winner as the Dragons struggle with fatigue following the Origin period.
"Based on what I saw last week there can only be one winner in this game," Sterling said.
"The Penrith side, what would please Ivan Cleary, especially last week apart from six straight wins, was the fact that they kept their opposition tryless. So defensively that's a great sign for them.
"I think Penrith win this one, the Dragons were poor last week, they didn't turn up to WIN Stadium, we know that they've got some kind of fatigue factor with their Origin players, hence Ben Hunt being sidelined, but I think the confidence in this Penrith camp, especially being at home, would be sky high, I can't see why they won't make it seven in a row."
NRL tipping leaderboard Nine
ROUND 18 TIPS
Peter Sterling
Broncos
Sharks
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Storm
Eels
Danika Mason
Broncos
Sharks
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Storm
Eels
Billy Slater
Broncos
Sharks
Panthers
Raiders
Roosters
Rabbitohs
Storm
Manly
Ruan Sims
Broncos
Warriors
Dragons
Roosters
Raiders
Cowboys
Storm
Sea Eagles
James Bracey
Broncos
Warriors
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Cowboys
Storm
Sea Eagles
Darren Lockyer
Broncos
Warriors
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Storm
Sea Eagles
Phil Gould
Bulldogs
Warriors
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Titans
Sea Eagles
Andrew Johns
Broncos
Warriors
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Cowboys
Storm
Manly
Mat Thompson
Broncos
Warriors
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Cowboys
Storm
Manly
The Mole
Broncos
Sharks
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Titans
Manly
Allana Ferguson
Broncos
Sharks
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Storm
Manly
Ben Glover
Broncos
Sharks
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Storm
Sea Eagles
Tim Elbra
Broncos
Warriors
Panthers
Roosters
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Storm
Sea Eagles
