Allianz Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 8 NRL game between St. George Illawarra Dragons and
Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 4:00 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St. George Illawarra Dragons vs.
Sydney Roosters
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday April 25, 2026 at 4:00 pm

Where: Allianz Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters Odds

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters Preview

The Roosters head into this clash as clear favourites, boasting one of the most potent attacking line-ups in the competition. Their ability to score in bursts was on show again last week, and with multiple playmakers across the park, they pose a constant threat. The Dragons have battled for consistency and face a significant defensive challenge here. Even with a lift in effort, Sydney’s class should prevail.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer continued his incredible chasing record during his side’s Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday. In a high-pressure match-up, with KL Rahul having already made a record-breaking 152*, Iyer exhibited calm in one of the scariest situations, making full use of the platform laid down earlier by openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. He made 71* off 36 balls, with three fours and seven sixes, at a strike rate of over 197.

Since 2024-a season where his stocks as a captain went several notches higher after a title win with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)-Iyer has been sensational in successful run chases, having scored 692 runs in 15 matches and innings at an average of 138.40 and a strike rate of 175.68, including eight fifties.

Only RCB icon Virat Kohli’s 699 runs in 12 innings at an average of 99.85 and a strike rate of 151.95, with nine fifties, are better than Iyer’s record during this period.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan hailed Iyer’s chasing after the match, posting on X that after Kohli, it is Iyer who deserves the chasemaster tag.

“After Virat Kohli, if anyone deserves the “chase master” tag, it’s Shreyas Iyer. Calm, composed, and clutch under pressure every single time,” he posted.

After Virat Kohli, if anyone deserves the “chase master” tag, it’s Shreyas Iyer. Calm, composed, and clutch under pressure every single time.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 25, 2026

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An awed Mohammed Kaid also posted, “Shreyas Iyer, the Sarpanch Leads from the front, keeps compiling match-winning knocks – match after match, year after year.”

Shreyas Iyer, the Sarpanch Leads from the front, keeps compiling match-winning knocks – match after match, year after year.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 25, 2026

With this win, PBKS remain unbeaten with six wins and a no result, giving them 13 points. DC are placed sixth, with three wins and four losses, giving them six points. PBKS broke their own record of chasing down 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2024 season.

Coming to the match, after DC opted to bat first, an entertaining 220-run second-wicket stand between KL Rahul (152* off 67 balls, with 16 fours and nine sixes) and Nitish Rana (91 off 44 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes) took DC to 264/2.

PBKS responded in style as Priyansh Arya (43 off 17 balls, with two fours and five sixes) and Prabhsimran Singh (76 off 26 balls, with nine fours and five sixes) shaved off 116 runs in the powerplay. Later, Shreyas Iyer (71* off 36 balls, with three fours and seven sixes) stitched partnerships with Nehal Wadhera (25) and Shashank Singh (19*), completing the chase in 18.5 overs with six wickets in hand.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Naoya Inoue has been offered another career-defining challenge before even stepping into the ring against Junto Nakatani.

First and foremost, ‘The Monster’ must defend his undisputed super-bantamweight crown against Nakatani on May 2, headlining a blockbuster Japanese event at the Tokyo Dome.

This represents Inoue’s seventh defence of his four major titles at 122lbs, with the hard-hitting sensation having become recognised as a top two pound-for-pound star.

The 33-year-old’s most notable victories have come against the likes of Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas, who both floored the two-division undisputed champion but were ultimately stopped in rounds six and eight, respectively.

Nakatani, meanwhile, is widely regarded as Inoue’s toughest opponent thus far, despite the three-division world champion coming off a debatable points victory against Sebastian Hernandez last December.

But this, in fairness, was his first outing at 122lbs, with many expecting the 28-year-old to raise his level against Inoue.

In a world where Inoue emerges triumphant, though, it has become increasingly likely that he will explore a potential fight with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

The unified super-flyweight champion will move up to 118lbs for his next outing, taking on WBA titlist Antonio Vargas on June 13.

If this next assignment proves successful, then Rodriguez has told Ring Magazine that he would jump up a further weight class to face Inoue.

“I’m ready whenever. If that fight was presented to me right now, I’d definitely go ahead and take it.”

While Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed preliminary talks for the fight, there is equally a chance that ‘Bam’ moves back down to 115lbs in pursuit of undisputed glory.

After the Kansas race, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season heads to Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, for the Jack Link’s 500. The 10th race of the season will go live on FOX and FOX One at 3 pm ET on Sunday, April 26.

The Talladega spring race will be contested on a 2.66-mile-long superspeedway. Forty drivers will compete over 188 laps to drive down Victory Lane. FOX Sports motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass shared the starting lineup for the 2026 Jack Link’s 500.

Who is on pole for 2026 Jack Link’s 500?

Last week’s Kansas race winner, Tyler Reddick, was awarded the pole for Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 after qualifying was canceled due to rain. It marked his fifth pole of the season and 15th career Cup Series pole.

Reddick will be joined by the defending series champion Kyle Larson on the front row.

NASCAR set the starting lineup by the rulebook’s qualifying metric, meaning Reddick will lead the field to the green flag due to his performance at Kansas last weekend. The rulebook for 2026 has changed a bit, as now it’s just an average of the car’s place in the Cup owner standings (30%) and the entry’s finish in the most recent race (70%).

The pair will be followed by Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Chase Briscoe in the top-five. Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Chris Buescher completed the top 10.

The defending winner of the event, Austin Cindric, will start 13th on Sunday.

2026 Jack Link’s 500 starting line-up

Below is the complete starting lineup for the 40-car grid at the Talladega Superspeedway:

1. #45 Tvler Reddick
2. #5 Kvle Larson
3. #11 Denny Hamlin
4. #23 Bubba Wallace
5. #19 Chase Briscoe
6. #6 Brad Keselowski
7. #24 William Byron
8. #9 Chase Elliott
9. #54 Ty Gibbs
10. #17 Chris Buescher
11. #60 Rvan Preece
12. #77 Carson Hocevar
13. #2 Austin Cindric
14. #20 Christopher Bell
15. #12 Rvan Blanev
16. #7 Daniel Suarez
17. #35 – Rilev Herbst
18. #3 Austin Dillon
19. #34 Todd Gilliland
20. #48 Alex Bowman
21. #43 Erik Jones
22. #47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
23. #42 John Hunter Nemech
24. #1 Ross Chastain
25. #22 Joey Logano
26. #21 Josh Berry
27. #41 Cole Custer
28. #16 A.J Allmendinger
29. #4 Noah Gragson
30. #38 Zane Smith
31. #71 Michael McDowell
32. #88 Connor Zilisch
33. #97 Shane Van Gisbergen
34. #8 Kyle Busch
35. #10 Ty Dillon
36. #51 Cody Ware
37. #33 Jesse Lovelin
38. #66 Chad Finchum(i)
39. #44 – Joev Gaseli)
40. #78 – Daniel Dye(i)

Watch all NASCAR Cup Series teams and drivers at the Talladega Superspeedway for Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500.