Raiders vs Dragons Prediction & NRL Betting Preview

The St George Illawarra Dragons’ nightmare 2026 journey makes a stop in the capital on Sunday when the NRL Premiership’s basement side take on the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium (2pm local, 5am BST, Watch NRL).

The Red V are 1-13 this season, but Canberra haven’t fared much better and sit second-bottom on the ladder. My Raiders vs Dragons predictions won’t envisage a stack of silky play. They are below, with Betfred’s match odds and full team news.

Raiders vs Dragons Betting Tips

Raiders by 1-12 @ 11/5
Valentine Holmes Anytime Tryscorer @ 5/4

*odds correct at time of publishing

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Raiders vs Dragons Odds

The bookies seem convinced that the Green Machine will win this with a bit to spare. The Raiders are 4/11 for the win with Betfred, implying a 73.3% probability.

The Dragons are 23/10, and the draw in 80 minutes is 16/1. The home side give up 10 points on the regular three-way handicap and sit at 20/21, with the Dragons 10/11 and the handicap tie 14/1.

Team News

Ricky Stuart has decided against ringing the changes despite being furious at his side blowing a 16-0 lead in the eventual 42-20 loss to the Storm last week.

In comes Simi Sasagi after recovering from the shoulder injury that kept him out for over a month, so Seb Kris is moved to the bench. There’s no Daine Laurie among the interchanges, with Chevy Stewart and Jake Clydsdale included in the 19.

Rugby League Odds

There’s only a single positional change for the Dragons after the narrow 22-20 loss to the Knights.

Dean Young switches Mat Feagai to centre, with Tyrell Sloan making the opposite move to take up a spot on the wing.

Blake Lawrie is not included on the bench, with Emre Guler, Jacob Halangahu and Nick Tsougranis among the interchange options.

Raiders by 1-12 @ 11/5

This might be far closer than the 4/11 price against Canberra’s name might have you believe.

Yes, they have five times as many wins to their name as the Dragons in 2026. But the mental fragility evident in so much of the Raiders’ play this season just doesn’t fill me with confidence that they will make this easy on themselves.

There’s simply no backing St George at the moment, so I do think the Green Machine get the points. But it might be pretty much by coach Stuart’s force of will alone so devoid are his side of belief these days.

Valentine Holmes Anytime Tryscorer @ 5/4

Although I still expect him to be on the losing side for the 14th time in 15 games, Val Holmes remains one of the big-shot finishers in the sport.

Sure, this is a 30-year-old version rather than the 22-year-old Holmes who lit up the 2017 World Cup and followed it up with a 22-try final season in Cronulla.

But he’s still got that knack about him when he has the chance, with his four tries in three games going into this one saying much about his mini rejuvenation.

I like the 5/4 about him crossing again as it seems big for a guy of his proven quality with a bit of form in the back pocket.

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