After a week off from the 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership to enjoy some representative showdowns, including the Aussie’s loss to NZ in the upset ANZAC Test result, we’re back this weekend for Round 9.
The Brisbane Broncos have charged to the top of the ladder again after an all-too-easy 28 – 16 win over the Eels a fortnight ago and will kick off the action on Friday night when they host the eighth-ranked Panthers.
Round 9 NRL Cash Back if your team scores 20+ points and lose up to $100!
Also on Friday night the Roosters are shorties in our markets at Ladbrokes to beat the Tigers despite the teams sitting 12th and 5th on the table respectively.
A few dud matches ladder-wise but one of the highlights is the North Queensland Cowboys playing at home on Saturday night up at Townsville, the boys from NQ now fourth on the ladder after fighting their way back from an early slump.
The Cowboys have now won five on the trot, their last defeat being to the Broncos back in Round 3 when going down 44 – 22, and now they play last year’s Grand Final runners-up the Doggies who have slipped to 11th.
We then have to wait until the round’s closer on Monday night at ANZ Stadium for a Top 8 clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs (6th) and the Dragons (2nd).
The Bunnies haven’t done much of note over the past few weeks, but we still have them installed at the top of our NRL Premiership markets at $6 now equal with the Cowboys and the Chooks.
So who are the genuine NRL Round 9 contenders and who are the pretenders? What are the facts and stats behind the odds this week? Read on to find out, then head to our Rugby League markets and cash in on our NRL Cash Back Offer: Money back if your team scores 20+ points and lose!
Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers
Friday, May 8 – 7:35pm (AEST) – Suncorp Stadium
After Suncorp Stadium was a washout due to heavy rain and flooding a week earlier, which saw the Australian v New Zealand clash rescheduled to the Sunday afternoon, Brisbane is home to the opening showdown of Round 9. In arguably one of the better matches in a ‘flat’ weekend of footy, the Broncos will continue their charge towards the finals and hope to hang on to the number one spot on the ladder they’ve secured after a winning streak ended in Round 7 with a two point loss to the Dragons, which they atoned for in Round 8 beating the Eels. St George’s defense this season has been simply brilliant and to go down by only two when your completion rate was shocking was a feat in itself, so no surprise Parra couldn’t stop them from bouncing back. Brisbane will have it easier against Penrith, even after the Panthers beat the Sharks 26 – 18 last time out, so expecting all the money on the home side for this with Alex Glenn also returning from his fractured eye socket.
Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers
Friday, May 8 – 7:35pm (AEST) – Allianz Stadium
The Tri-Colours are still one of our hot picks for the Premiership based more on what they pull out at the pointy end of a season than what they’ve shown in the opening two months of play this time in. Two rounds ago they went down by a point to the Storm in Melbourne before the Dragons beat them by two. With a week off and facing the Tigers it’s hard to tip against the Roosters despite their 12th vs 5th scenario for this and despite Wests’ big win over the Dogs on the eve of ANZAC Day. This should be a cracking Sydney derby and the Chooks welcome back Aidan Guerra and Mitchell Aubusson as they finally look to come good and break a four game losing streak. Back for Tigers is Keith Galloway (shoulder), but that’s unlikely to be enough.
Canberra Raiders vs Gold Coast Titans
Saturday, May 9 – 3:00pm (AEST) – GIO Stadium
Always capable of throwing up an upset, but never a consistent season, Canberra beat the Bunnies in the last Round of the NRL and get a chance at winning at home this weekend when they play the Titans. The Gold Coast has lost Greg Bird for eight weeks after his stupid dangerous throw on Jason Nightingale in the ANZAC Test, and they’ll feel that. If the Green Machine could beat Souths by eight, think the Titans will struggle to hold them out. Both these teams were Wooden Spoon favourites pre-season but have shown they are much, much better than that. Canberra had 11 in representative camps last week and all come back without injury. The Gold Coast meanwhile welcome back Dave Taylor, Daniel Mortimer and Mark Ioane to help with the loss of Bird, which sees Taylor shift to the back row.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors
Saturday, May 9 – 5:30pm (AEST) – Remondis Stadium
14th vs 13th, who really cares? Well Sharkies fans will as they get a home game to back their boys again after Cronulla beat the Bunnies by a full eight points back on April 20 before their loss to Penrith in Round 8. The Rabbitohs were considered the benchmark team of the season at the start, but now? New Zealand will feel the hit of a host of their stars having played in the Test last Sunday so could be a bit bruised and battered, plus they lost their Round 8 match to the Titans by four and those close games can be a confidence killer sometimes. The Sharks will be boosted with Ben Barba getting his first start as fullback here, but the team loses Sosaia Feki to injury as well as Chris Heighington to suspension. Andrew Fifta is back and that will aid Cronulla in winning their third from six played at home this season.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Saturday, May 9 – 7:30pm (AEST) – 1300 Smiles Stadium
Don’t bother tipping the Doggies our markets say this is all about the Cowboys and deservedly so. North Queensland were a bit of a laughing stock at the start of the season but JT and his boys are in full swing now and looking down the barrel of their sixth straight win. Canterbury played (and lost) in last year’s Grand Final but are 11th currently in 2015 and in danger of missing out on a finals bid if they don’t get things together and put a few wins on the board before Origin depletes them of rep players. Last match played the lost 38 – 14 to the Tigers and played pretty rubbish doing it. The Cowboys meanwhile were two point winners over Newcastle at Hunter Stadium on ANZAC Day and shouldn’t go down just yet, especially with the Knights playing without Josh Reynolds on the one-week suspension.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights
Sunday, May 10 – 2:00pm (AEST) – Brookvale Oval
Manly FINALLY posted their second win of the season last Round when they beat the Storm by two points at AAMI Park. Incredibly 10 weeks ago when the Sea Eagles won their only other match of the season it was beating Melbourne as well. Can they post two on the trot when they play former ladder-leaders the Knights? Newcastle went down by just two to the in-form team getting around at the moment, the Cowboys, last outing so should be able to put Manly back in their place at an underdog price.
Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm
Sunday, May 10 – 4:00pm (AEST) – Pirtek Stadium
The Eels face a tough test at home this Sunday hosting the third-ranked Melbourne, Parra defeated easily by Brisbane in Round 8. This time they get the home game advantage off the back of a trip to Queensland, but Melbourne will be keen to atone for their shock two point loss to the Wooden Spoon favourites Manly last time out.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Monday, May 11 – 7:00pm (AEST) – ANZ Stadium
Finishing off the round the Bunnies are playing in another Monday night match, seemingly having taken over for the Cowboys who were the kings of this timeslot to start the season. Two weeks ago it was the Green Machine showing up Souths in a surprise 30 – 22 result going against the Rabbitohs, and they are going to have to dig deep to atone for that when they play the second-ranked Dragons who defensively are very hard to get past. The Dragons beat the Chooks by two last time out and while it’ll be close they can probably beat the Bunnies here too.