NRL round 13: Panthers v Warriors betting tips
The NRL games immediately after a State of Origin clash can always be difficult to judge because of doubts over the availability and fitness of many of the games’s best players.
NRL round 13 kicks off on Friday night, just 48 hours after Wednesday night’s brutal Origin clash, won in controversial circumstances by the Blues. That is is why we recommend all punters considering betting on NRL matches this weekend wait until just before kick-off to place their bets, as late withdrawals or inclusions can have a marked influence on the outcome.
The week’s NRL match of the round is quite clearly the Sunday night clash between the top two teams on the NRL ladder, Penrith and the New Zealand Warriors.
Penrith have lost just one match this season, against the Bulldogs, while the surprise packet Warriors have lost only two despite missing a handful of star players at various times.
This will certainly be a great test of the Warriors’ bona fides as they have won just one of their past 11 matches against the powerhouse Panthers. Australian betting sites have made the Panthers strong favourites at around $1.67 but they would be a lot shorter if they were not expected to rest their Origin stars from the match.
Adding a little extra spice to this clash is that Penrith ended the Wahs’ season in the first week of the finals last year.
Panthers v Warriors team news
Penrith are coming off the bye but had four players, superstar Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Casey McLean and Brian To’o, take part in Origin. They have all been named among the reserves for this clash and we should know an hour before kick-off if some or all of them line up on Sunday.
The Panthers do regain Origin regular and powerful back-rower Liam Martin after recovering from a knee injury. Jack Cogger is named at halfback in case Nathan Cleary does not back up from Origin.
The Warriors have already said they will likely Origin duo Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell, who were on opposite sides in Origin. No surprise given their veteran status.
The Wahs were also dealt a sad blow last weekend with veteran star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suffering a season-ending knee injury. Adam Pompey comes into the centres.
They could have some good news with rising star Luke Metcalf closing in on a first game since round five.
Read on for our Panthers v Warriors tips and winner prediction for their round-13 NRL clash.
Panthers v Warriors match information
- Kick-off: 6.10pm AEDT, Sunday, May 31
- Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
- Head to head odds: Raiders $1.67, Dolphins $2.20
- Line betting: Raiders (-3.5 points) $1.90, Dolphins (+3.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 46.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$2.60 Penrith Panthers
$8 Sydney Roosters
$8.25 New Zealand Warriors
$13 Brisbane Broncos, Manly Sea Eagles
$15 South Sydney Rabbitohs, Redcliffe Dolphins
$21 Cronulla Sharks
$23 North Queensland Cowboys, Newcastle Knights
$41 Melbourne Storm
$51 Wests Tigers, Canterbury Bulldogs
$67 Canberra Raiders
$251 Parramatta Eels
$1001 Gold Coast Titans
$2501 St George Illawarra Dragons
Panthers v Warriors betting tips
The last time these teams met the Panthers won 24-8 in New Zealand last NRL season in the first week of the finals. Penrith have a dominant record against the Kiwis and they also boast a great record at this stadium.
Of course, they are not the same without Nathan Cleary pulling the strings, so whether he plays or not will have a huge bearing on the outcome. Even without him though, the Panthers are stacked with talent and should be able to get the job done.
Panthers by 8 points.
- Panthers -3.5 points/match total under 46.5 points at $3.60 with Australian betting sites.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score a try at $1.85 and double it up with Brian To’o to score if he backs after a poor Origin by his standards.
NRL round 13, 2026
- Friday, May 29: Sharks v Sea Eagles, Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney | 8pm
- Saturday, May 30: Knights v Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 3pm
Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, CommBank Stadium, Sydney | 5.30pm
Storm v Roosters, AAMI Park, Melbourne | 7.35pm - Sunday, May 31: Broncos v Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 2pm
Raiders v Cowboys, GIO Stadium, Canberra | 4.05pm
Panthers v Warriors, CommBank Stadium, Sydney | 6.15pm
* Dolphins, Rabbitohs, Titans have the bye
