Magic Round opens tonight at Suncorp Stadium with two milestone games in the 6pm opener and the biggest individual return of the round in the 8.05pm late. Sharks v Bulldogs is the curtain-raiser, Stephen Crichton playing his 150th NRL game and Matt Burton playing his 100th for the Bulldogs. Rabbitohs v Dolphins follows. Latrell Mitchell is back for Souths after missing Round 10 with a bulging disc, but Alex Johnston, the all-time NRL tryscoring record holder on 224 career tries, has been ruled out with a knee injury that he played through last Saturday. The two-game double bill is the first 16 hours of a 12-game weekend, and the prices have tightened on the back of two team-list shifts that change both contests.
Sharks v Bulldogs: Two Milestones, One Lopsided Line
Cronulla sit 10th, Canterbury 13th, and the Sharks open as the favourite even with the Bulldogs welcoming back Origin trio Matt Burton, Max King and Kurt Mann. Crichton, the Bulldogs captain and two-time premiership winner who debuted in 2019, plays his 150th. Burton plays his 100th for the club after the 2022 move from Penrith. Cronulla's team news is just as significant for shape, with winger Ronaldo Mulitalo back from the ACL he suffered playing for New Zealand in last October's Pacific Championships, and Jesse Ramien back from four weeks out with a knee. Siosifa Talakai shifts from centre to the bench. Blayke Brailey is out, ending his NRL record of consecutive appearances. The line opened around Cronulla -4.5 and has held there.
Rabbitohs v Dolphins: Latrell In, Johnston Out, Cobbo Loaded Up
Latrell Mitchell's name in the Souths centres reshapes the late game. He missed Round 10 against Cronulla with the bulging disc, has trained without contact through the week, and is on a cortisol course that has him moving freely again. Latrell Siegwalt shifts to the bench. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape comes in on the wing for his first appearance of the season because Alex Johnston has been ruled out with the knee that he played through in last week's 36-12 win at Sharks Stadium. Johnston's run, 224 career tries and counting, pauses on a sour note. Wayne Bennett's Rabbitohs are 4th at 6-3, the Dolphins 9th at 4-5 and chasing their first finals appearance. The historical note that matters in this market is Selwyn Cobbo, with six tries in his four previous Magic Round games, on the Dolphins left wing tonight. Souths have lost five of their last six at Suncorp.
Where the Markets Land
Cronulla sit a slight favourite in the opener, with the line around -4.5 and our reviewed bookmakers dabble, Ladbrokes and Picklebet all within a point of that number heading into kick-off. The Souths v Dolphins game is the live one, with Souths shortening on the back of Latrell's confirmation and the Dolphins drifting now that Johnston is out. Anytime tryscorer is where the team-list moves are reflected most clearly. Cobbo has come in on the back of his Magic Round record of six tries in four games at the venue. Bentley-Hape opened wide and has come in for his recall. Latrell Mitchell holds around the standard back-from-injury price in his first game back. Crichton anytime for the Bulldogs is shaped by the milestone narrative, but the form line favours the Sharks shutting him out. The two Friday games are the only locks of the round, with five more across Saturday and three on Sunday at the same venue. Background on the round and the new 2032 hosting deal via ABC News.