2025 NRL Round 3

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Dolphins vs Wests Tigers NRL Tips - Tigers to condemn Dolphins to 0-3 start

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: 20 Mar 2025

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Andrew Hendrie 20 Mar 2025

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Dolphins vs Wests Tigers expert predictions for Saturday's NRL Round 3 game
Kick off is at 5.30pm AEDT at Kayo Stadium
Dolphins set for 0-3 start to the season
Sunia Turuva can find success down vulnerable Dolphins' left wing
Preview, expert analysis, stats, team news & best bets

Saturday's round 3 NRL Tips.

Dolphins vs Wests Tigers, Round 3 2025 - Expert Prediction

The Dolphins are staring down the barrel of their first 0-3 start to a season as a new-look Tigers side target back-to-back victories up north.

Dolphins vs Wests Tigers, Round 3 2025 - Expert Prediction
Head To Head
Dolphins Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
Dolphins Team News
Dolphins Team List
Wests Tigers Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
Wests Tigers Team News
Wests Tigers Team List

Is the Wayne Bennett curse set to continue? Clubs have a history of struggling once the master coach departs and early signs don't look good for the Dolphins, who have gone 0-2 against two teams not expected to make the top eight in 2025.

Kristian Woolf has a lot of work to do in order to get his Dolphins side competitive for this season after they were blown off the park early by the Knights last week and never recovered. The Tigers meanwhile got their season up and running with a 32-6 demolition of the Eels, with new recruits Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva and Terrell May running riot, alongside the returning Api Koroisau.

I expect the Dolphins to offer more resistance in their first home game of the season, but the Tigers were all class last week and if they maintain that level, they are the superior side here. Turuva was on fire as he crossed for a hat-trick of tries last week - and with the Dolphins leaking two early tries to Knights winger James Schiller in Round 2, the Tigers flyer will be relishing the opportunity for more four-pointers here.

Dolphins are 0-2 to start the season
Tigers are coming off a big 32-6 victory over Eels
All three previous meetings have been decided by a 1-12 margin
Sunia Turuva scored three tries vs Eels last week
Dolphins conceded two tries down their left wing in the first 14 minutes last week vs Knights

Head To Head

The Tigers won the first meeting between the teams 24-23 in 2023 before the Dolphins did the double in 2024, prevailing by 26-16 and 24-12 scores.

Dolphins Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
0-2	1-1	0-2

It's been a poor start to the season for the Dolphins and it's already looking like a big mountain to climb for them to make the finals.

Granted, they weren't done any favours by Cyclone Alfred in the opening round as they were forced to take a home game to CommBank as they went down 16-14 to the Rabbitohs without various key players.

However, the Dolphins were extremely disappointing agains the Knights last week, struggling in attack and getting punished through the middle and out wide in a 26-12 loss that easily could have been much heavier. Herbie Farnworth and Junior Tupou looked all over the place in defence and Luai will be sure to target that left edge in this clash.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
1-1	0-2	0-1	0-1

Dolphins Team News

The 2024 Dally M Rookie of the Year Jack Bostock has been named on the extended bench alongside Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, with both a chance to come into the 17. Kenny Bromwich is also nearing a return.

Dolphins Team List

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

2. Jamayne Isaako

3. Jake Averillo

4. Herbie Farnworth

5. Junior Tupou

6. Kodi Nikorima

7. Isaiya Katoa

8. Daniel Saifiti

9. Jeremy Marshall-King

10. Felise Kaufusi

11. Oryn Keeley

12. Max Plath

13. Tom Gilbert

Interchange

14. Kurt Donoghoe

15. Josh Kerr

16. Mark Nicholls

17. Ray Stone

Reserves

18. Sean O’Sullivan

19. Max Feagai

20. Kenny Bromwich

21. Jack Bostock

22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Wests Tigers Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
1-1	2-0	0-2

The Tigers were slow to get going in an opening round 10-8 defeat against the Knights, but their new signings started to click as the joint-venture dismantled Parramatta 32-6 last week at CommBank.

Truth be told, it was a bludger of an opening 20 minutes, but the Tigers put their foot down midway through the opening half and didn't let up, only conceding in the final minute.

Terrell May might prove to be one of the signings of the season as the former Roosters prop wreaked havoc through the middle, while Luai and boom playmaker Lachlan Galvin combined nicely to open up space on the wing for Turuva, who crossed for his first three tries as a Tiger.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
2-0	0-2	0-1	1-0

Wests Tigers Team News

Benji Marshall has named the same 17 players that toppled the Eels last week, but Heath Mason might come into the fullback spot for Jahreem Bula, who is battling a foot injury.

Wests Tigers Team List

1. Jahream Bula

2. Sunia Turuva

3. Adam Doueihi

4. Starford To’a

5. Jeral Skelton

6. Lachlan Galvin

7. Jarome Luai

8. Terrell May

9. Apisai Koroisau

10. Fonua Pole

11. Samuela Fainu

12. Alex Seyfarth

13. Alex Twal

Interchange

14. Tallyn Da Silva

15. Royce Hunt

16. Jack Bird

17. Sione Fainu

Reserves

18. Latu Fainu

19. Heath Mason

20. Charlie Staines

21. Tony Sukkar

22. Solomona Faataape

Verdict

Dolphins v Wests Tigers

The Tigers are good value as slight underdogs to condemn the struggling Dolphins to a 0-3 start - although the hosts can keep it close in their first home game of 2025.

Sunia Turuva is tipped to be amongst the action again as he looks to build on a hat-trick from last week.