NRL round 23 tips: The two legends backing an upset in surprise game of the weekend
Updated . First published at
If you told rugby league fans that the game of the round this close to the finals would be between the Dragons and Bulldogs, you might have received some strange looks.
But heading into round 23, two of the NRL's sleeping giants have now awoken and will do battle in front of a sold-out Kogarah Oval on Saturday night.
Fresh off a monumental upset against the Storm, Shane Flanagan's men are closing in on their first finals berth in six years, while Canterbury are pushing for a top-four spot.
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Earlier in the year, the Dogs belted the Red V in comprehensive fashion - but two rugby league legends are tipping a reversal of fortunes.
Josh Addo-Carr and Dragons player celebrate their respective wins. Getty
Andrew Johns and Paul Gallen both reckon the Dragons will get the chocolates against Cameron Ciraldo's troops.
Elsewhere, the typical heavyweights of the competition - Melbourne and Penrith - have easy games on paper but will want to stamp their authority on the minor premiership race.
Cronulla, North Queensland and Manly will be eager to keep their top-four hopes alive, while it's the last chance for the Broncos and Warriors to stay in the hunt for finals.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 23 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
NRL tipping leaderboard after round 22. Nine
Andrew Johns: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Dragons, Dolphins, Knights
Darren Lockyer: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Raiders, Broncos, Bulldogs, Warriors, Knights
Brad Fittler: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
Wally Lewis: Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
Paul Gallen: Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys, Dragons, Warriors, Knights
Ruan Sims: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
Allana Ferguson: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Warriors, Knights
Michael Chammas: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Bulldogs, Warriors, Knights
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Peter Psaltis: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
Danika Mason: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
David Middleton: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
The Mole: Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
Mat Thompson: Storm, Titans, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
Ben Glover: Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights
