There is a familiar feel to the 2016 NRL season with the Broncos and Cowboys up the top end of the table and producing a far more consistent standard of football than those below them.
Already, I have been seduced by several other sides in the opening six weeks of the season only to realise they are akin to many profile pictures on social media where the very best is striking but ultimately fleeting. The Broncos and Cowboys are the Jen Hawkins and Megan Gayle. Am I showing my age with that one? Ah well, it’s not like I was referencing Angel from Home and Away.
THE BIG FIVE
- $20k on Brisbane (v Newcastle) @ $1.15
- $10k on Brisbane -16 line (v Newcastle) @ $1.92
- $7k on Manly (v Parramatta) @ $2.15
- $5k on Manly +2.5 line (v Parramatta) @ $1.92
- $5k on Parramatta (v Manly) $1.75
KICKOFF
The best backed outsider of the round last week, the Sea Eagles travelled across the ditch and continued their good record against the Warriors and they’ve been well supported to continue on their winning ways this round. Having stormed home to narrowly miss against Souths in round five and then win last week, their form reads fairly well. The Eels are a different proposition though and have also been the subject of strong support. While we pride ourselves here at the Ladbrokes League Lowdown to help you follow the money, in terms of this contest, it is heading equally in both directions. Punters simply don’t know which way to go. My advice is to go with your gut. Or, if you’d rather go with mine, I’m on the Eels.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Speaking of form lines, it’s not a pretty one for the Bunnies heading in to this one. Scoreless in the second half when (just) holding off a determined Manly a fortnight ago, they allowed the Roosters a maiden win of the season last round. So, when taking on the reigning premier on their home patch is the follow up, it spells stage five danger levels for Souths; and the punters are well aware. It has been complete one way traffic in this one with the home side the best backed team of the round firming $1.36 in to $1.33 while the line has drifted from nine points out to ten.
SUNSHINE STATE SHUT OUT
The Dragons complete their Sunshine State sojourn with a trip down the Gold Coast to take on the Titans. And it has been a literal sojourn for the team’s scorers, with St George Illawarra shut out against both North Queensland and Brisbane in the past two rounds. Punters certainly don’t feel this one will follow suit with the Dragons, amazingly, the best backed outsider of the round. Perhaps they’ll win 2-0 with a late penalty sealing the win. They’re $2.20 in to $2.10, while the Titans, who have been far better than expected this year, have eased from $1.70 to $1.75.
BULLY BOY BRONCOS
They destroyed the Dragons last week and this week come up against yet another cellar dweller to have their way with, and punters are more than happy to take the shorts for the ladder leaders further cementing their place at the top of the table. Having opened $1.15, the stream of money for Broncos has seen them firm in to $1.11. Many punters have also been happy to couple up the NRL’s top two teams getting it done with a potential bank building $1.50 odd for the Broncos and Cowboys to salute.