NRL Round 20 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends and Analysis for Week Ahead

The St George Illawarra Dragons' season is in serious danger of slipping into irrelevance ahead of Sunday's crucial NRL clash against the Manly Sea Eagles in Wollongong.

The Dragons were top of the ladder after seven rounds but have since lost seven out of their last 10 matches to slump to eighth, just two points clear of the Penrith Panthers in ninth having lost to two teams outside of finals contention in the past two weeks.

They may have thrashed the Sea Eagles 35-10 at Brookvale back in Round 6, but they go into this match as $2.14 AUD outsiders, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, with a line of 2.5 points in their favour.

Since that last meeting, Manly have won eight of their 11 matches and sit in third, six points clear of the out-of-form Dragons. The Sea Eagles are $1.72 to win their first game in Wollongong since 2003 having lost their past four there by an average of over 20 points.

That match is by far the closest in the round, with none of the other seven matches featuring two teams inside the eight.

The next closest game is expected to be between two teams who are relying on late-season revivals to replace the Dragons inside the eight, the Penrith Panthers and the Gold Coast Titans.

The Panthers host this one at Pepper Stadium and are $1.52 to the Titans' $2.56. The Panthers were second bottom just 10 weeks ago but have won six of their past eight, including victories over the Sea Eagles and the Warriors in the past fortnight.

The Titans have put together three straight wins, including one over reigning premier Cronulla last week to keep their season alive and did win last time they played in Penrith last year.

The round kicks off Thursday night when the Brisbane Broncos welcome the Canterbury Bulldogs to Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos' progress this year has been consistent but unspectacular, and in fourth place, they are well-poised to attack the last six weeks of the season.

They go into this match as $1.30 favourites, but the Bulldogs beat them earlier this year (10-7), one of Canterbury's seven wins of the year. The Dogs are big outsiders at $2.60 with a 9.5-point line in their favour. They have won three of their past four against the Broncos.

The Sydney Roosters come off the bye into what looks a straightforward clash with Newcastle on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.

The Roosters are the shortest-price favourites of the round at $1.15, with the Knights at $5.60 having won just one of their past eight against the Tricolours.

In fact, Newcastle haven't beaten the Roosters at Allianz Stadium in eight years and lost 24-6 when the teams met in Round 7.

Later that night, Cronulla look to bounce back from that shock loss to Gold Coast when they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Shark Park.

The Sharks slumped to fifth with that defeat and desperately need the points in this one to keep in the fight for the top four. They are $1.35 to beat the Rabbitohs, who are $3.25 with their season seemingly over.

Premiership favourites Melbourne Storm are $1.50 favourites to take the two points when they travel to the national capital to take on the Canberra Raiders ($2.62) on Saturday evening.

Later that night, North Queensland Cowboys, whose only defeat in their past six came via golden-point against the Storm, host the New Zealand Warriors. The Cowboys are $1.35 to win that one, with the Warriors at $3.25.

The round finishes off on Sunday when Wests Tigers host Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium. The Eels, currently eighth, are $1.33 favourites for that game, with the struggling Tigers at $3.40.