The last five-match, Origin-impacted round of NRL matches features crucial opportunities for the Dolphins, Sharks and Broncos to bust out of form slumps.  

Meanwhile, the Titans and Sea Eagles will look to keep their momentum going in pivotal home assignments. 

The Dolphins have struggled through the middle part of the season and are clinging to their Top 8 spot, while South Sydney Rabbitohs have surged back into NRL finals contention – but an injury setback threatens to halt their resurgence.  

Wayne Bennett’s return to Redfern next year adds another fascinating element to this crucial encounter. 

The sixth-placed Dolphins have lost five of their last six, succumbing 26-6 in meek fashion away to St George Illawarra before last week’s bye.  

Trai Fuller gets another chance in the No.1 with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on Origin duty, while Max Plath replaces Jeremy Marshall-King (foot) at hooker. Felise Kaufusi is also in the Queensland team. 

Jack Bostock returns on the wing, Kenny Bromwich and Tevita Pangai Jr start in the pack, and Josh Kerr, Ray Stone and Sean O’Sullivan join the bench.  

Souths are on a five-match winning streak in a remarkable recovery from a 1-9 start and the sacking of Jason Demetriou. But Latrell Mitchell’s injury soured an impressive 32-16 victory over Parramatta last Thursday, where he and two-try Jack Wighton starred.  

Mitchell would have been absent on Origin duty this week anyway, but the psychological blow of his injury could impact the Rabbitohs. Jye Gray lines up at fullback – and he’ll have a few weeks in the role – while Michael Chee-Kam starts for NSW back-rower Cam Murray with Liam Le Blanc is on the bench. 

The teams have only met once, with Souths harshing the Dolphins’ early-2023 buzz with a 36-14 romp at Suncorp Stadium.  

More responsibility falls on the shoulders of Wighton, Cody Walker and Damien Cook this week, but the Rabbitohs’ current momentum is appealing against a Dolphins side that has hit a wall and is missing two first-choice spine players.  

Souths’ defensive turnaround – conceding 16 or less in their last four games – shapes as the key factor here, with the Dolphins leaking 24-plus in their past five.  

Tip: Back the Rabbitohs to Cover the Line (+3.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: RABBITOHS WIN / OVER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / CODY WALKER ANYTIME TRYSCORER / EUAN AITKEN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $35.73 

Cronulla may still be sitting pretty in the top four, but its season is teetering on the brink amid a form slump and a devastating injury blow. Friday’s home clash with last-placed West Tigers has a make-or-break feel about it.  

The Sharks have lost five of their last six, including three straight to the Dolphins at home (30-28), the Bulldogs away in golden point (15-14) and the Titans in Coffs Harbour (20-16). All three were characterised by haemorrhaging early tries before launching second-half fight-backs.  

Their woes are compounded by a serious injury to out-of-sorts talisman Nicho Hynes, who could struggle to be back in time for the finals…if the Sharks make it.  

Daniel Atkinson and Braydon Trindall – the combination that steered the Sharks to a win in Melbourne – will take the reins with Hynes out. Sione Katoa is back on the wing, Teig Wilton starts for the suspended Siosifa Talakai, and Jesse Colqhoun and Braden Hamlin-Uele come onto the bench.  

The Tigers remain favourites for a third straight wooden spoon, their two-game spike – wins over the Titans and Raiders – giving way to a pair of defence-shy losses to heavyweights the Roosters (40-6) and Storm (40-28) in the past fortnight.  

Putting five tries on the Storm was a positive for a team that had scored more than 18 points on just two other occasions this season.  

Alexander Lobb comes onto the Tigers’ wing for Solomona Faataape, who goes into injury centre Justin Olam’s spot. Reuben Porter has been given a bench call-up.  

The Sharks will be out to avenge an embarrassing 32-6 loss at Leichhardt Oval in Round 3, just their second loss from 12 games against the Tigers. The Tigers have not won at Shark Park since 2014. 

There are few angles around either team to get excited about here, but with nine of the teams’ last 10 clashes producing less than 49 points the under is a decent play. 

Tip: Back Under 49.5 Total Points @ $1.90 

SGM: SHARKS WIN / TIGERS +7.5 / RONALDO MULITALO TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / JAHREAM BULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $52.73 

This bottom-four showdown provides an opportunity for the in-form Gold Coast Titans to stay alive in the finals race, hosting a battling Parramatta Eels outfit missing their key player.  

The Titans have won five of their last nine after an 0-6 start and bookended their Round 17 bye with an astonishing 66-6 rout of the Warriors and a gritty 20-16 upset of Cronulla in Coffs Harbour. Kieran Foran is in vintage touch, while Keano Kini has been one of the finds of 2024 at fullback.  

Jayden Campbell is a big in at five-eighth; AJ Brimson is 18th man. Josiah Pahulu starts at prop for with Moeaki Fotuaika in the Maroons’ squad. Phil Sami returns on the bench and Klese Haas comes straight into the back-row.  

Parramatta’s search for a 2025 coach has wrapped up – and this team looks to be marking time until the merciful end of a shocking campaign. The second-last Eels have lost nine of their last 10, went down 32-16 to Souths last week and haven’t conceded less than 20 points since Round 4.  

Blues saviour Mitch Moses is unavailable this week.  

Daejarn Asi fills the No.7 hotseat, while Lorenzo Mulitalo will make his NRL debut on the wing with Blaize Talagi going to centre ad Sean Russell dropping out. Charlie Guymer is promoted to lock in his second NRL game and Luca Moretti replaces the injured Junior Paulo on the bench.  

The Eels have won eight of their last nine against the Titans, though last year’s two clashes were split: Gold Coast won 26-24 in Magic Round, while Parramatta prevailed 25-24 at home in Round 20. The Eels have won their last four at Cbus Super Stadium by an average margin of 22 points.  

The teams’ last four matches were decided by a converted try or less, but Campbell boosting an in-form Titans spine spells trouble for a Moses-less Eels side.  

Tip: Back the Titans to Cover the Line (-7.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: TITANS BY 11-20 / UNDER 52.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA TO SCORE A HAT-TRICK @ $123.90 

Another highly-rated team whose season is in danger of slipping away, Brisbane is striving to avoid six straight losses for the first time since its 2020 wooden spoon season – without four Origin superstars.  

The Broncos’ 14-6 loss to Penrith at home last Friday was their best performance in a couple of months. But an inability to cope with the Origin drain – along with Adam Reynolds’ long-term injury – has threatened the finals prospects of a team most considered top-four certainties.  

Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas and Selwyn Cobbo are out ahead of next week’s decider.  

Tristan Sailor gets another shot at fullback while Josh Rogers replaces injured No.7 Jock Madden. Tyson Smooty starts at lock, Xavier Willison at prop, Jordan Riki returns from suspension in the back-row and Kotoni Staggs is back after missing last week for personal reasons. Blake Mozer joins the bench.  

St George Illawarra is in a share of eighth spot but the search for elusive consistency continues. After a comprehensive 26-6 win over the Dolphins in Round 17, the Dragons were blown off the park by the Roosters 42-12 last Sunday.  

Representative pair Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax are huge outs, but the Saints pulled off a 22-10 away upset of the Panthers (who were similarly depleted) prior to the series opener.  

Mikaele Ravalawa takes Lomax’s spot on the wing while Jesse Marschke steps in for Hunt at halfback. Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Hame Sele are both back from injury. 

After losing five straight to the Saints, the Broncos have won two of the last three – including a fast-finishing 40-18 result in their sole 2023 encounter that saw Walsh and Staggs both notch doubles.  

In the form of Ezra Mam and Sailor, the Broncos can create more than enough scoring opportunities, but direction has been lacking since Reynolds’ injury and that will only be made harder without Haas and Carrigan laying the forward platform.  

A crunch game for both teams but the Saints are attractive $2.50 underdogs.  

Tip: Back the Dragons to Cover the Line (+6) @ $1.90 

SGM: DRAGONS WIN / UNDER 50.5 TOTAL POINTS / KOTONI STAGGS & MOSESE SULI TO HAVE 1+ TRIES COMBINED / JESSE ARTHARS & MIKAELE RAVALAWA TO HAVE 2+ TRIES COMBINED @ $33.48 

Round 19 wraps up with another pivotal contest featuring two teams coming off gutsy away wins but hampered this week by Origin absentees. The seventh-placed Manly Sea Eagles are just one competition point in front of the ninth-placed Newcastle Knights.  

Manly showed outstanding resolve to pip North Queensland in golden point last week, getting out to a lead in Townsville with Jason Saab scoring a hat-trick. The Sea Eagles grimly hung on as the Cowboys surged, before Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans iced it in golden point.  

After a successful injury return in the centres, Tom Trbojevic reverts to fullback with Tolu Koula injury, while Lehi Hopoate will start on the wing. Jamie Humphreys is at halfback for DCE, while Nathan Brown and Karl Lawton are in the back-row for Jake (Origin) and Ben (head knock) Trbojevic.  

Haumole Olakau’atu’s Origin axing is Manly’s gain, and Corey Waddell, Gordon Chan Kum Tong and Clayton Faulalo come onto the bench. 

After losing three straight between their Round 12 and 16 byes, the Knights have chalked up back-to-back wins – a fast-finishing 34-26 home defeat of the Eels and a 16-12 victory in Canberra in Kalyn Ponga’s first appearance since Round 7.  

Ponga, Bradman Best and Dane Gagai have all received Origin call-ups, while sees Fletcher Sharpe come in at fullback, Krystian Mamapalangi slot in on the wing, and Dylan Lucas and Thomas Cant line up in the centres.  

Phoenix Crossland returns at hooker and Adam Elliott at lock.  

The Knights have won four and drawn one of their last seven against the Sea Eagles. Last year the teams played out a 32-all draw, before the Knights prevailed 28-18 at home on the back of a Greg Marzhew hat-trick.  

The Sea Eagles have not won consecutive games since Round 8, while a 14-0 loss to Souths when Cherry-Evans was last on Origin duty does not bode well – though ‘Turbo’ was still sidelined then.  

The Knights have won four of their last five away from Newcastle and are getting far too many points at the line here.  

Tip: Back the Knights to Cover the Line (+8.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: KNIGHTS WIN / OVER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / GREG MARZHEW TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / HAUMOLE OLAKAU’ATU ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $51.84 

2023

It’s another truncated five-match, pre-State of Origin schedule for NRL Round 19 – with significant line-up permutations caused by the much-publicised selections for game three.  

But there’s still valuable competition points up for grabs with Cronulla, Canberra and Souths striving to maintain their positions with wins over struggling teams, the Warriors aiming to take advantage of depleted Parramatta and the Dolphins looking to do the same against Gold Coast.  

Coming off the biggest loss suffered by any team in 88 years, Wests Tigers host the third-placed Cronulla Sharks – who are unencumbered by Origin selection – at CommBank Stadium on Thursday.  

The last-placed Tigers’ 74-0 loss to North Queensland was an abomination and puts the Tim Sheens-led coaching setup under a harsh microscope after just 16 games. There’s not much that can be said about their fourth straight defeat that the scoreline doesn’t already illustrate.  

It doesn’t get any easier for a Tigers side already down on troops. Alex Twal is out suspended, while shoulder injuries have sidelined backs David Nofoaluma and Brent Naden. Aitasi James, Asu Kepoa and Tommy Talau come into the 17.  

Chastened by their back-to-back losses to Brisbane (20-12) and Melbourne (54-10), the 9-6 Sharks have maintained their ability to put the NRL’s lower lights to the sword with dominant wins over Canterbury (48-10) and St George Illawarra (52-16) since.  

Cameron McInnes will start for the suspended Dale Fincuane with Jesse Colquhoun joining the bench. Toby Rudolf returns from injury for the first time since Round 5, coming in for Braden Hamlin-Uele (rib). 

Cronulla has won nine of its last 10 against Wests Tigers, including convincing results at home (30-4) and in Tamworth (36-12) last season.  

The Sharks still have plenty to prove against their fellow heavyweights, but this shapes as another training run for Nicho Hynes and co. with the Tigers installed as the biggest outsiders of the season ($9.25).

Tip: Back the Sharks Over 34.5 Total Points @ $1.88 

SGM: SHARKS -21.5 / RONALDO MULITALO TO SCORE A HAT-TRICK / NICHO HYNES ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JESSE RAMIEN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $52.79 

Canberra gets a gift-wrapped opportunity to consolidate its position on the fringe of the top four with a road trip to take on battling St George Illawarra.  

In the wake of Anthony Griffin’s sacking and the Ben Hunt saga, the drained Dragons look to have put the cue in the rack for 2023 if their 48-18 loss to the Warriors in Wollongong and 52-16 away defeat to Cronulla in the past fortnight is any gauge.  

The Dragons’ spine is stripped of Queensland star Hunt and injured Tyrell Sloan. Talatau Amone joins Jayden Sullivan in the halves, while Paul Turner will make his club debut at fullback and Daniel Russell makes his first NRL appearance off the bench. Moses Suli (head knock) is back in the centres. 

The Raiders keep racking up the wins – nine from their last 11 matches – but in rather unconvincing style. All nine wins were by eight points or less, while they were made to sweat it out against the Roosters (20-18) and Gold Coast (26-22) despite seemingly building match-winning leads in both.  

Big performances from the likes of Kiwis Matt Timoko and Joe Tapine were highlights as they held off the Titans.  

It’s one in, one out of the Raiders’ pack in the Origin selection stakes. Ricky Stuart will have the services of Blues discard Hudson Young (who scored a vital try against Gold Coast), while Corey Horsburgh is absent on Maroons debut.  

Emre Guler comes into the starting side, while Trey Mooney and Peter Hola are new faces on the bench with Pasami Saulo out after last week’s concussion.   

Canberra held on for an unnecessarily (but typically) nervy 20-14 home win over St George Illawarra in Round 7, while the Raiders have lost their last two at Wollongong. The average margin in the teams’ last five clashes is just four points.  

But even if the Raiders again fail to put in anything close to an 80-minute performance, their biggest win of the season beckons. The Dragons’ defence has the resilience of wet tissue paper at present, while their attack is missing its two most creative and dynamic players.

Tip: Back the Raiders to Win by 13+ @ $2.05 

SGM: RAIDERS -11.5 / OVER 45.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALBERT HOPOATE TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / MATT TIMOKO ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $21.66 

The State of Origin dead-rubber and an impending baby arrival has flipped what shaped as a blockbuster – but remains a pivotal clash – on its head. Sixth-placed Parramatta and the eighth-placed Warriors arrive in Round 19 with 9-7 records, locked on 22 points.  

The Eels are on a five-match winning streak, with four of those coming by 20-plus margins. They went on a first-half rampage in a 48-20 victory over the Dolphins in Round 17 before last weekend’s bye.  

The blue-and-golds have lost Mitch Moses, Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard to NSW duty, but Junior Paulo is available after being dumped by the Blues and Queensland’s 19th man J’Maine Hopgood has been named at lock.  

Daejarn Asi and Ryan Matterson will pair up in the halves again after steering the Moses-less Eels to a 34-4 win over Manly before game two. Meanwhile, Sean Russell will fill the fullback void and Isaac Lumelume comes in on the wing. 

Ofahiki Ogden starts in the front-row and Luca Moretti joins the bench, while Shaun Lane also returns from an eight-week absence.  

The Warriors were riding high on a three-match winning run after thrashing the Dolphins, Raiders and Dragons by 22-plus points, but they snapped back to reality in an ordinary 28-6 loss in the wet at home to a depleted and previously out-of-sorts South Sydney.  

Andrew Webster’s side strayed from the gameplan and played the conditions poorly after leading 6-0 with 20 minutes gone.  

The Warriors have named an unchanged 17 with Freddy Lussick – unused last week – staying on the bench after Josh Curran to miss the game through a breach notice suspension. Shaun Johnson’s availability is up in the air, however, as he awaits the birth of his second child.  

Ronald Volkman will come into the halves if linchpin Johnson misses the trip to Sydney.  

Parramatta has won its last four against the Warriors. A late flurry flattered the Warriors in a 28-18 loss at CommBank last season. But the Warriors’ overall formline in 2023 and the absence of the Eels’ entire first-choice spine negates any history trends here.  

Johnson’s availability is a huge factor, but either way the Warriors should be able to grind out a key result with Addin Fonua-Blake, Tohu Harris, Wayde Egan and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad leading the way. The Warriors have won their last three in Australia and are 5-4 across the Tasman in 2023.  

Tip: Back the Warriors to Win by 1-12 @ $2.85 

SGM: WARRIORS -4.5 / UNDER 43.5 POINTS / MAIKA SIVO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $35.20 

South Sydney spectacularly returned to form last week, but the premiership contenders face up to a form-stricken Canterbury side without four Origin players on top of injured trio Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham and Jai Arrow. 

The Rabbitohs had slid to eighth on a 1-4 run while conceding 28-plus points in five straight games. But they looked every bit the heavyweight again as the overturned an early deficit to dominate the Warriors 28-6 in front of a soaked full house at Mt Smart Stadium.  

NSW has added Souths stars Cody Walker and debutant Keaon Koloamatangi to its game three squad alongside clubmates Cameron Murray and Damien Cook.  

Consequently, Dean Hawkins, Siliva Havili, Ben Lovett and Shaquai Mitchell come into the starting line-up, and Peter Mamouzelos and Tallis Duncan join the bench. Isaiah Tass’ return at centre bumps Richie Kennar to 18th man.  

Canterbury’s rebuild looks to have some shaky foundations, winning just two of its last 11 games and being outscored 148 points to 22 in their last three by Parramatta, Cronulla and Newcastle. The 66-0 loss to a Knights side only one spot ahead of them on the ladder was as jarring as it gets.  

The Bulldogs have picked up Gold Coast half Toby Sexton and he comes straight into the No.7 jersey, with Matt Burton shifting to five-eighth.  

Josh Addo-Carr is on Origin duty while Hayze Perham and Paul Alamoti have been dropped. A new-look backline sees Jake Averillo at fullback, Blake Wilson return on the wing and Braidon Burns and Jackson Topine line up in the centres. Kyle Flanagan is recalled on the bench.  

Souths have won their last five against Canterbury, including a 50-16 blowout on Good Friday. It’s quite feasible to make a case for a Bulldogs win when comparing the line-ups on paper, but the depleted Rabbitohs should still find a way to get the two points here.  

Plenty rests of Lachlan Ilias’ young shoulders, though, and a big margin would surprise despite the Bulldogs’ non-compulsory attitude towards defending last week.  

Tip: Back Either Team to Win by Less than 10.5 Points @ $1.91 

SGM: SOUTHS WIN / UNDER 43.5 POINTS / TYRONE MUNRO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JACOB KIRAZ ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $24.40 

Plenty has changed for both clubs since their inaugural meeting, where the Dolphins equalled the premiership record by overturning a 26-point deficit in a 28-26 defeat of Gold Coast.  

The debuting Dolphins have won only two of eight games since to slide to 12th on the ladder. But after leaking 136 points in losses to the Warriors, Sea Eagles and Eels, Wayne Bennett’s charges regained some respect in a 24-16 loss to the Broncos at The Gabba last Saturday.  

The Dolphins fought their way into the lead before conceding two tries in the last 12 minutes to the heavyweights.  

The Titans are 4-4 since last meeting the Dolphins, but it’s been a tumultuous period marked by more second-half collapses and the sacking of coach Justin Holbrook only a fortnight ago, as well as a momentous upset of the Broncos in caretaker Jim Lenihan’s maiden match in charge.  

Gold Coast took it to the wire in Canberra last weekend, ultimately going down 26-22. The 7-8 Titans are 10th on the ladder, two points adrift of the Top 8.  

The Titans will be without Queensland quartet AJ Brimson, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika and David Fifita.  

Jayden Campbell is a valuable fullback replacement and Jaiman Joliffe, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui and Klese Haas come into the starting pack. Late Round 18 scratching Phil Sami returns for Jojo Fifita.  

Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow – switched to that position in clubland last week – is replaced by Euan Aitken. Felise Kaufusi (concussion) is sidelined again, but Jarrod Wallace and Anthony Milford both return from suspension on the bench.  

The Titans’ backline is dripping with creativity and strike even without Brimson, but the decimation of their pack is hard to overlook here. The Dolphins boast a hardened, vastly experienced engine room and enough class in the spine to get the job done as an underdog and stay alive in the finals race.  

The over may be the more astute play here, though, between two of the flightier outfits in the NRL. 

Tip: Back Over 49.5 Total Points @ $1.90 

SGM: DOLPHINS +2.5 / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / JAMAYNE ISAAKO TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES @ $27.78 

2022

The couch will be shouldering a heavy load this weekend courtesy of a slew of can’t-miss matches on the NRL Round 19 docket.

There are three mouth-watering Top 8 showdowns – one on Thursday and two on Saturday – that could shake up the look of the ladder, while a mid-table clash on Friday may prove season-defining for both clubs.

Value abounds in Round 19 – here’s where to find it:

A crunch game to kick off the round between two 11-6 teams. Fifth-placed Brisbane and sixth-placed Parramatta sit just a win off second.

After back-to-back losses to heavyweights Melbourne and North Queensland, the Adam Reynolds-led Broncos showed real grit to knock over St George Illawarra (32-18) and Gold Coast (16-12) without their Origin contingent and several other injured front-liners.

Queensland heroes Patrick Carrigan, Kurt Capewell and Corey Oates return, as does injured NSW prop Payne Haas. But Selwyn Cobb (concussion) remains out with Jordan Pereira holding a wing spot. Jake Turpin will start at hooker with Billy Walters (hip) sidelined.

Since their woeful Round 16 loss to Souths, the enigmatic Eels have negotiated a couple of banana skins against the Tigers (28-20) and Warriors (28-18) with relative comfort. They get Ryan Matterson back from injury this week with Marata Niukore slipping back to the bench.

The blue-and-golds played well within themselves and will be looking to lift a gear as their schedule gets tougher in coming weeks.

Parramatta is on a five-game winning streak against Brisbane. The Eels’ 46-6 romp in Darwin last years was their third victory over the Broncos during the current run by a 28-plus margin.

Both teams are dripping with firepower across the park, boasting dynamic halves and mobile, metre-eating forwards (the Eels are second in the NRL for post-contact metres, the Broncos fifth).

Whoever can tighten up defensively will gain a massive edge on Thursday: the Eels have the worst defence of any team in the top 10, conceding less than 16 points just twice. Last week was the first time the Broncos have leaked less than 18 in their past six games.

Parramatta, $1.60 favourites, is an outstanding 28-9 at CommBank Stadium (5-1 this season). The Broncos are 4-4 away from Suncorp in 2022 but all signs point to this one going down to the wire as both teams strive to confirm they’re the real deal.

Tip: Back Either Team to Win by Less Than 6.5 Points @ $2.65

SGM: BRONCOS +3.5 / OVER 42.5 POINTS / MAIKA SIVO ANYTIME TRY SCORER / COREY OATES ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $10.78

The mid-table logjam has been a fascinating, ever-changing beast with eighth spot being handed around on a weekly basis. But it’s been a disastrous fortnight for St George Illawarra Dragons since they last sat in eighth after a 4-1 run.

The Saints were woeful in a 32-18 loss to a severely depleted Broncos side and capitulated 54-26 to the Roosters after grabbing a 20-all share of the lead at the 50-minute mark. Ranked 11th defensively, the Dragons have slipped to 11th on the ladder – and now coach Anthony Griffin is reportedly under the pump.

Manly is only two points ahead but returned to the Top 8 for the first time since Round 9 with a 42-12 thumping of Newcastle, piling on five second-half tries to record their fourth win in five games. As Ben Hunt was for the Saints, Daly Cherry-Evans was sublime for the Sea Eagles just 72 hours after a gruelling SOO decider.

Moses Suli is a big out for the Dragons, with Moses Mbye to slot in at centre. Tariq Sims is back from suspension at Aaron Woods’ expense. Manly lose Jake Trbojevic to COVID but can call upon giant Taniela Paseka, with Toafofoa Sipley moving into the starting side.

St George Illawarra has won six of its last eight against Manly, though honours were shared in 2021: Saints prevailed 38-12 in Wollongong in Round 3 but the Sea Eagles carved out a 32-18 victory on the Gold Coast in Round 18.

The clash between inspirational, in-form captains and halfbacks and Origin teammates Hunt and Cherry-Evans is the headline attraction here. But DCE has much more accomplished, cohesive and dangerous support cast around him. The Sea Eagles are just 3-7 away from Brookvale I can’t them blowing this opportunity against an out-of-sorts host.

Tip: Back the Sea Eagles to Cover the Line (-4) @ $2.00

SGM: MANLY WIN / MANLY 31-40 TOTAL POINTS / CHRISTIAN TUIPULOTU ANYTIME TRY SCORER / ZAC LOMAX ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $29.35

Newcastle is in an uncomfortable limbo: far enough ahead of the cellar dwellers to not be nervous about the spoon (yet), but well out of the Top 8 picture and in poor form.

The 5-12 Knights slipped to 13th after leaking 40-plus points in consecutive weeks to Souths and Manly, and are only a converted try and a field goal conceded away from having the worst defensive record in the NRL. The gulf in class between Kalyn Ponga and his teammates is a huge concern for the club.

The 8-9 Sydney Roosters remain outside the Top 8 but snapped a four-match losing streak – which was nowhere near as bad as that sounds – with a 54-26 demolition of the Dragons last Saturday. Joey Manu was in mind-blowing touch at five-eighth, while James Tedesco backed up from Origin with a double.

Manu reverts to centre this week with Luke Keary returning from a five-week layoff. Matt Lodge’s recent arrival becomes even more crucial with Siosiua Taukeiaho and Sitili Tupouniua succumbing to injury, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is back from a hamstring complaint.

Brodie Jones and Kurt Mann join the bench for Simi Sasagi and Leo Thompson. In-form Dominic Young is listed in the reserves after picking up an injury last week, with Hymel Hunt named on the flank.

The Knights’ season-opening upset – carving out a stunning 20-6 result at the SCG – was just their third win in their last 17 clashes with the Roosters. But 2022 has completely unravelled for the Novocastrians since that point.

The Tricolours came away from Newcastle with a 38-4 victory last season. This could get ugly for the hosts with the Roosters doing a good job of putting the hurt on also-rans in 2022 and the Knights haemorrhaging points.

Tip: Back the Roosters to Win by 13+ @ $2.05

SGM: ROOSTERS BY 31-40 / JOSEPH SUAALII ANYTIME TRY SCORER / JOSEPH MANU ANYTIME TRY SCORER / NAT BUTCHER ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $72.73

The Warriors have been a bit of a bogey side for Canberra in recent years, but this is an opportunity the 10th-placed Raiders simply must take to stay in the finals hunt.

In a diabolical Round 8 performance in Redcliffe, the Raiders bottled a big lead before being scuppered by a controversial late penalty and a Shaun Johnson golden point field goal. The season looked forlorn for Ricky Stuart and co. at that point but they have won six of nine since. The Warriors subsequently lost seven straight and axed their coach.

After an agonising 12-10 defeat to the Dragons prior to their Round 17 bye, the reshuffled Raiders nabbed a clutch 20-16 victory in Melbourne with their youthful backline contingent – headlined by two-try rookie James Schiller – standing tall.

On the back of their stirring 22-2 homecoming drought-breaking against the Tigers, the Warriors produced one of their most promising performances of the season in a 28-18 loss to Parramatta. An inability to defuse bombs in a crucial period midway through the second half proved decisive.

Schiller (ankle) and Jordan Rapana (suspension) are both are for Canberra, with Nick Cotric and Albert Hopoate coming in on the wings. Elliott Whitehead also returns.

Some TLT surprises from the Warriors, who have dropped Reece Walsh to the bench, moving Chanel Harris-Tavita to fullback and recalling Daejarn Asi at five-eighth. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (COVID) returns for Ed Kosi.

The Warriors have won three of their last four in Canberra, including a club-record comeback from 21 points down to edge the Raiders 34-31 in a remarkable victory that had Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s fingerprints all over it.

The Warriors have the capacity to prove a real nuisance over the closing rounds for some finals aspirants. They still lack attacking strike and have the worst defensive record in the comp – the Raiders should get up, but the line looks far too big here to load up on the hosts.

Tip: Back the Warriors to Cover the Line (+10.5 Points) @ $1.90

SGM: RAIDERS BY 1-12 / UNDER 41.5 POINTS / SEBASTIAN KRIS ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $11.97

A huge top-four showdown headlines the Saturday schedule as streaking Cronulla Sharks get an opportunity to prove their premiership credentials against the 16-1 Penrith Panthers.

The Sharks endured a patchy couple of months but have now pieced together five straight wins. They shocked the Storm 28-6 in Round 17 despite the absence of their linchpin Nicho Hynes, before outlasting an Origin-depleted Cowboys 26-12 last Friday.

Jesse Ramien has emerged as a huge X-factor in the run home for the third-placed Sharks with five tries in his past two games. NSW rep Siosifa Talakai returns in the centres with Connor Tracey moving to the wing, with Sione Katoa receiving a devastating season-ending injury diagnosis. Briton Nikora is back from suspension.

Ivan Cleary’s second-stringers did the job again last weekend, coming away with a gutsy 18-16 win over the Tigers with their Origin contingent resting. The Panthers’ seven Blues all return for this blockbuster.

The defending premiers boast the best attack (29.4 points per game) and defence (11.3) in the NRL by a decent margin and are now just $2 to go back-to-back.

The Panthers have won four of its last five against the Sharks, including the last two at Penrith by a combined 86 points to 12. Count on this one being much closer, though – the Panthers will have to dig deep to ward of a Sharks side far less burdened by the rep schedule and may struggle cover this big line.

Tip: Back the Sharks to Cover the Line (+12.5 Points) @ $1.90

SGM: PENRITH BY 1-12 / OVER 40.5 POINTS / TAYLAN MAY ANYTIME TRY SCORER / JESSE RAMIEN ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $24.60

Seventh-placed South Sydney has inched to within two points of the Top 4 courtesy of its first three-match winning run of 2022 – a Latrell Mitchell-inspired trio of victories over Parramatta, Newcastle and Canterbury.

The mercurial fullback took Sunday’s clash against the feisty Bulldogs by the scruff of the neck, scoring a dazzling solo try and laying on three more to lead the Rabbitohs to a 36-28 win. The effect Mitchell has had on the form of under-fire halves Cody Walker and Lachlan Ilias has been palpable.

Meanwhile, Melbourne is in unfamiliar territory, slipping to fourth with its first three-match losing streak in seven years and losing gun fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen for the season. The rattled Storm fell just short in a 20-16 thriller at home to the Raiders last Sunday.

Nick Meaney returns to No.1 jumper, with Mr. Fix-it Tyran Wishart named on the wing and Grant Anderson coming back on the bench. NSW duo Cameron Murray and Damien Cook slot back into Souths’ line-up, while Jed Cartwright has been promoted to start at centre for Taane Milne.

The Storm have won their last seven against the Rabbitohs and boast an eye-watering 31-5 overall record in the rivalry. They played out a golden point thriller in Round 2, with Papenhuyzen kicking a golden point field goal for a 15-14 win after Souths had fought back from 14-0 down in the second half.

Despite their slide and horrendous injury toll, the Storm head to Sydney as $1.72 favourites. They have won their last four at Accor Stadium, but the Rabbitohs are 5-1 at the venue in 2022.

It’s vital for Melbourne to make a statement here – and a team containing Munster, Hughes and Grant, along with a rep-stacked forward pack, can’t be taken lightly.

Tip: Back the Storm to Win by 1-12 @ $2.85

SGM: STORM WIN / UNDER 41.5 POINTS / JUSTIN OLAM ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $9.30

On the surface this is an out-and-out cellar-dweller battle as the 14th-placed 4-13 Canterbury Bulldogs host the 15th-placed, 3-14 Gold Coast Titans. But the teams’ recent formlines are miles apart.

Since their stunning routs of the Eels and Tigers, the Bulldogs have held their own in hard-fought losses to the Sharks (18-6) and Rabbitohs (36-28). They were particularly impressive against Souths, taking it down to the wire.

The Titans are on a seven-match losing streak and have won just one of their last 13. Last week they faded 16-12 to an Origin-ravaged Broncos side.

A striking feature of the Titans’ slide this season has been their offensive drop-off, averaging just 15.2 points per game compared to 24.2 in 2021. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have scored 24 points on average in seven games under Mick Potter after managing a measly 9.6 in the first 10 rounds with Trent Barret in charge.

Bulldogs tyro Aaron Schoupp (COVID) is hopeful of a return and Josh Addo-Carr (ankle) has been named. Titans livewire Jayden Campbell is listed on the bench for his first game since Round 13.

The Titans have won their last three against the Bulldogs, including both games in 2021 by double-digit margins. But Gold Coast are a shadow of the effervescent outfit that surged to a drought-breaking finals appearance last year. The Bulldogs are playing with too much desire and enterprise to get rolled here and should cover easily.

Tip: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (-4.5 Points) @ $1.90

SGM: BULLDOGS BY 11-20 / JACOB KIRAZ TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES @ $23.18

North Queensland retained second spot despite their Origin-weakened line-up’s 26-12 loss to in-form Cronulla last Friday. It was a plucky effort from the Cowboys hampered by a rough Bunker call and again underlined their excellent depth.

Queensland reps Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Tualagi are all back this week.

Wests Tigers are still searching for their first win under caretaker Brett Kimmorley, extending their losing streak to six matches with an 18-16 loss to half a Penrith side. The experiment with Jackson Hastings at lock and Adam Doueihi returning to five-eighth didn’t work, but has been persisted with.

Brent Naden (suspension) is back on the wing, Tyrone Peachey and Alex Seyfarth are on the bench, and James Roberts and David Nofoaluma are a chance of returning from illness after being included in the reserves.

The Tigers have won five of their last seven against the Cowboys and their last three in Townsville. But the Cowboys’ 36-12 Magic Round drubbing of the joint venture perfectly encapsulates where both clubs are in 2022.

This is a gift-wrapped two points for the Cowboys and invaluable to their Top 4 bid as the ladder tightens up. Ten of their 12 wins this season have come by 13-plus margins. It’s hard to say anything positive about where the Tigers are going – and it certainly won’t be off the bottom of the ladder with a Townsville boilover.

Tip: Back the Cowboys Over 30.5 Total Points @ $1.87

SGM: COWBOYS -19.5 / OVER 44.5 POINTS / JEREMIAH NANAI ANYTIME TRY SCORER / SCOTT DRINKWATER ANYTIME TRY SCORER @ $11.14

2021

Seven rounds remain on the 2021 NRL schedule and there is plenty of drama still yet to unfold.

With every team now stationed in QLD, the Eels and the Raiders kick us off on Thursday night in a crucial battle between 4^th and 9^th on the Gold Coast.

Friday’s game between the Roosters and Knights on the Sunshine Coast could go a long way to determining the eight, while there’s also plenty on the line on Sunday between the Dragons and Titans.

We’ve officially reached the pointy end of the home and away season, and with plenty of value on offer, be sure to read our entire Round 19 Preview below!

Plenty is up for grabs on Thursday night as the Eels and the Raiders both look to advance up the ladder.

The Eels will have their sights set on leapfrogging the third placed Bunnies after bouncing back from the bye last week with a punishing 26-8 win over the Titans.

Canberra, meanwhile, has rediscovered some form with back-to-back wins over Manly and Cronulla, results that have left the Green Machine just win one away from rejoining the eight.

Both teams head to CBUS in strong form, but like the market suggests, the Eels should be adding to their record if they can dominate possession like they did last week against the Titans.

After a season that has already been marred by injury, the Raiders now hold concern for Jack Wighton after the star five-eighth suffered a rib injury last week.

Casualties cost Canberra dearly when these sides met back in April, and it’s fair to say Wighton’s absence would make this very tough against one of the top scoring sides in the competition.

Tip: Back the Eels to Cover the Line (-11.5 Points) @ $1.90

Roosters head coach Trent Robinson will be hoping his side can turn in a performance similar to last week’s dominant display against the Cowboys on Friday night.

Sam Walker was the star of the show, but there was a lot to like about Sydney’s pressure from start to finish as the tri-colours now set their sights on rejoining the top four.

The Knights, on the other hand, left CBUS with their tale between their legs after suffering a demoralizing 48-4 loss to the Storm.

Newcastle still has enough time left to make a late finals push, but the fact they own only one win over a top eight side this season is obviously reason for concern.

The Roosters already own an impressive 38-4 win over the Knights this year and it really wouldn’t surprise if we see a similar result unfold this time around.

Newcastle’s defence was downright awful at times last week, while there’s also concern for David Klemmer and Kalyn Ponga are both players failed to pass their HIA’s in the loss to the Storm.

With the Roosters really starting to find their mojo now, this could get ugly.

Tip: Back the Roosters to Cover the Line (-8.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Storm have opened -24 point favourites at the line as they hope to extend their impressive winning streak to 15 games against the Cowboys.

Melbourne dished out the punishment last week in a 48-4 beatdown over the Knights, a result Craig Bellamy will be hoping his side can replicate against a Cowboys team that has now lost five in a row.

North Queensland appeared in the finals hunt a month ago, but a few nasty injuries – including one to centre Javid Bowen last week – has made life very tough.

To make matters worse, the Storm have won 11 straight games over the Cowboys dating back to 2016 – a record they’ll more than likely add to on Friday night.

Playing up in Townsville can be tough for some teams, but the fact the Storm have played to a 6-2 record on the road this year cancels out any home-field advantage.

Not surprisingly, Melbourne also leads the league in points scored by a wide margin this year, which doesn’t bode well particularly well against a Cowboys outfit that has conceded 30+ points in their last three games.

Since value is a little scarce head-to-head, it’s worth noting that the Cowboys and Storm have both seen 11 of their 17 games go Over the Total this year, so the line/points double does look a nice option.

Tip: Back the Storm to Cover the Line (-24.5) & Over 50.5 Total Points @ $2.75

The Rabbitohs could really cement themselves in the top four this week with a win over the Warriors, but head coach Wayne Bennett will be calling for more consistency after his side just managed to just scrape home against the bottom feeding Bulldogs last week.

The Bunnies trailed by two at half-time before roaring home in the final 20 minutes with Canterbury down a man. A win is a win, but Souths will need to ensure they play much tighter defensively with a tough run home over the final few weeks.

Fortunately, a game against the wounded Warriors couldn’t have come at a better time.

New Zealand has lost six straight heading into Saturday’s contest, and things have only gotten worse on the injury front with Tohu Harris tearing his ACL in last week’s loss to Penrith.

Souths have won three of their last four games over the Warriors by more than 20 points, while they’ve also been one of the toughest teams to score against ranking fourth in fewest points conceded.

On the betting front, the Bunnies have played to an impressive 5-2 record as the home favourite at the line over New Zealand, and they should have no trouble adding to that number with the Warriors missing so many faces.

Tip: Back the Rabbitohs to Cover the Line (-14.5 Points) @ $1.90

No Turbo proved no problem last week for Manly in their 14-point win over St George.

A top four spot is still up for grabs with seven games remaining, and it is no surprise to find the Sea Eagles as heavy -16.5 point favourites heading into Saturday’s game at Suncorp.

The Tigers proved to everyone last week that they can be a tough out, but it’s hard to read too much into a come-from-behind win over the lowly Broncos.

Manly obliterated Wests by a score of 40-6 when they got together back in April as Turbo and Daly Cherry-Evans both had their own way from start to finish.

The Tigers are one of the healthiest sides in the competition right now, but it’s hard to ignore the fact they own only one win over a current top eight side on the year.

With Turbo back in action and Jake likely to return from a hip injury, this appears Manly’s to lose.

Tip: Back Manly to Win & Over 50.5 Total Points @ $2.15

It was a case of the same old story last week for the Broncos as they managed to squander an 18-10 half-time lead in their double-digit loss to the Tigers.

Putting together two consistent halves has been a problem all year for head coach Kevin Walters, and things certainly aren’t about to get any easier with the red-hot Panthers in town.

Penrith has carved out another tidy three-game winning streak after downing the Warriors 30-16 last week.

It only took Viliame Kikau a minute to find the scoreboard, while Charlie Staines spent most of the game toying with New Zealand out wide.

Brisbane fans can find some confidence in the fact their side put up a fight against the Panthers when they met back in Round 6, but this still remains an enormous challenge for a defence that has conceded 35+ points in three of their last four games.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-16 Points) @ $1.90

The Dragons will head out as the home team on Sunday afternoon in what shapes as a pivotal game for both clubs.

St George remains in the eight despite last week’s capitulation against Manly, while the Titans are still fighting for life after suffering their own blowout defeat at the hands of the Eels.

The market is firmly in favour of the Dragons heading into this clash, but it’s tough to feel confident in either side after what has so far been a very inconsistent season.

The Dragons are set to welcome Matt Dufty back to the side this week, but Zac Lomax remains a week away as he continues to go through the COVID protocols.

The Titans, meanwhile, could be without Phillip Sami after the winger suffered an ankle injury last week.

Really, this is a tricky game to try and bet on, but with a couple of key playmakers missing, it wouldn’t be surprising if we get a low-scoring contest.

The last three games between these two sides have also gone Under the Total, so there’s a chance this one turns out to be a bit of a stalemate.

Tip: Under 50.5 Total Points @ $1.90

The Bulldogs are now into $1.10 to finish with the wooden spoon after squandering a perfect opportunity to draw level with the Broncos last week against South Sydney.

Canterbury took a slim lead into the sheds at half-time before Lachlan Lewis was sin-binned for rough housing after the siren, a decision that ultimately led to the Rabbitohs coming from behind to snatch a win.

Costly mistakes have been the story of the season for the Dogs so far, and that was certainly the case for the Sharks last week in their 34-18 loss to the Raiders.

Cronulla committed 10 errors and a whopping 61 missed tackles against Canberra, a performance Josh Hannay’s side will be looking to put behind them as they cling to a spot in the eight.

The Dogs picked up their first win of the season against the Sharks back in Round 7 and there’s nothing stopping them from repeating that performance.

Canterbury showed in the first half last week that they are capable of stringing together some dangerous sets, while they also did well defensively to hold a star-studded Rabbitohs team to just 10 points in the first 40 minutes.

A similar effort should see the Bulldogs keep this close and there is no question they are a better chance than the current line suggests.

Tip: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (+12.5 Points) @ $1.90

2020

The top eight is locked and loaded, but we still have the not-so small matter of finals seeding to attend to.

With a three-point lead atop the table, the Storm remain the only side capable of catching the Panthers, while there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the makeup of the top four, as well as who might miss out on a home final.

Saturday’s blockbuster between the Roosters and Sharks should help clear things up, followed by an interesting battle on Sunday between the Raiders and Warriors from Canberra.

With just two weeks remaining before finals, now is the perfect time to build yourself a bank, so be sure to read our entire 2020 NRL Round 19 Preview below.

A win on Thursday night is crucial for the Rabbitohs with the top four still in sight.

The Bunnies bounced back from a previous defeat to the Storm a fortnight ago to win by two against the Tigers, although coach Wayne Bennett will be asking for a much more complete performance after penalties and a sin bin nearly got in the way.

A win and a Raiders loss could potentially see the Rabbitohs into fifth – a very realistic scenario with Souths playing a Bulldogs side that hasn’t tasted a win since July.

The Dogs came up well short of Manly last week in a 32-20 defeat and they won’t hold particularly fond memories of the Bunnies after losing by a similar margin back in Round 8.

Souths have lost only once all year at ANZ and have also covered in six of their last seven games as the line favourite at home.

The last five games between these two sides have also gone Under the Total, so don’t be afraid to combine the two for some added value.

Tip: Back the Rabbitohs to Win & Under 45.5 Total Points @ $2.10

The Panthers have a very enviable run home after locking up home-field advantage in the finals last week with a big win over the Eels.

Penrith can now set their sights firmly on the minor premiership now with two handy games against the Cowboys and Bulldogs to close out the home/away season.

To their credit, North Queensland did put up somewhat of a fight against the Storm last week, but their long list of outs ultimately left them a little short in the end.

Jason Taumalolo and Michael Morgan both appear to be at least another week away from returning, while the Panthers are playing wait-and-see with Api Koroisau following last week’s head knock.

Penrith cruised to a 22-10 win over the Cowboys back in Round 10 and it’s very difficult to see this game going any other way.

The Panthers have lost only once on the road all year and are also a perfect 2-0 in Queensland so far.

After the way the Storm tore the Cowboys up through the middle, Penrith should have no problem doing the same.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-14.5 Points) @ $2.00

The Eels find themselves firmly in the danger zone with two rounds remaining as they desperately cling to their spot inside the top four.

After shutting out the Storm four weeks ago, the last three weeks have been largely forgettable for head coach Brad Arthur.

The Eels backed up their performance against Melbourne with a shutout loss to the Rabbitohs, followed by a less than convincing performance two weeks against the Warriors on the Central Coast.

The worst was yet to come though as the Eels failed to score a try in their 20-2 loss to the Panthers in Penrith.

Fortunately, Parramatta has been afforded a huge opportunity to steer the ship back in the right direction against a Broncos side that has now lost nine in a row.

Brisbane showed some signs of life last week in the Queensland Derby but still failed to come away with the chocolates against the rival Titans.

These two sides are well familiar with one another after meeting in two very forgettable games over the last 12 months.

The Broncos infamously lost 58-0 to the Eels in the finals last year, before losing 34-6 in Round 3 back in May.

With Reed Mahoney likely returning this week for Parramatta, we might see a similar story unfold at Bankwest.

Tip: Back the Eels to Cover the Line (-14.5 Points) @ $2.00

A win would be a massive scalp for either of these two clubs on Saturday.

Manly finally returned to the winner’s circle last week with a well-deserved victory over the Bulldogs, while the Titans were equally as impressive in their season sweep over the Broncos on the Gold Coast.

To add to the excitement, Dylan Walker, Tom Trobjevic, Reuben Garrick and Addin Fonua-Blake are all a chance at returning this week for Manly, which largely explains the short price on offer for the Sea Eagles in the market.

These two clubs haven’t met this year, which probably plays into Manly’s hands with the game being played at Brookvale.

That said, the Titans recorded a famous victory over the Sea Eagles in Manly last year, while you might be surprised to learn that Gold Coast has won three of the last five games between these two sides.

Even with a handful of Manly’s stars a chance at returning, there really isn’t as much separating these two sides as the betting suggests.

The Titans have shown real heart over the last six weeks and they should be hungry to record what could be a season-defining win.

Tip: Back the Titans to Cover the Line (+5.5 Points) @ $2.00

The Storm are the only team that can spoil Penrith’s party as they prepare for a very comfortable final two weeks of the regular season.

Melbourne has now won 17 straight games up in Queensland and it is no real surprise to find them as the odds-on favourites against the Tigers.

Wests season officially came to a close last week with a loss to the Rabbitohs, and it doesn’t appear the Tigers are about to end 2020 on a high note with games against the Storm and Eels to wrap things up.

Ryan Panenhuyzen is set to return this week for the Storm, while the Tigers will receive an added boost in the form of Zane Musgrove, should they choose to play him.

The Sunshine Coast has been mighty kind to the Storm this year and it is impossible to tip against them on Saturday.

Josh Addo-Carr and Cameron Munster clearly love playing in Queensland, so it’s safe to say this one has all the makings of a very one-sided blowout.

Tip: Back the Storm to Cover the Line (-16.5 Points) @ $2.00

The Sharks are about to receive a taste of what October life will be like against the Roosters on Saturday night.

The reigning champs were relentless last week against the Knights in their comprehensive 42-12 victory – a result that has seen the Roosters back into Premiership favouritism in the market.

Sydney are clearly firing on all cylinders right now and all accounts suggest they should have no trouble maintaining that pace against Cronulla.

The Roosters have now scored 40+ points in their last two games at the SCG, which spells potential disaster against a Sharks outfit that has proven very vulnerable on the wing this season.

To make matters worse, Matt Ikuvalu is a chance at returning this week for the Chooks.

Sydney has won four straight games over the Sharks dating back to 2017, and with home-field advantage, they should extend that record to five.

Tip: Back the Roosters to Cover the Line (-18 Points) @ $2.00

The Raiders have plenty at stake over the coming two weeks if they wish to secure the double-chance in the finals.

Still sitting two points behind the Eels, the Green Machine must ensure they win this week at home – which is easier said than done against a Warriors side well known for causing upsets this season.

New Zealand’s 2020 campaign is now over after losing to the Sharks last week, but they’ve shown time and time again that they are capable of hanging tight with just about anyone.

Canberra, meanwhile, got back to basics last week with a huge win over the Dragons in Wollongong.

The result should inspire some confidence back into the side following a flat performance against the Roosters the week before, but with a 5-4 record at home this year, it’s fair to say the Raiders aren’t always the safest bet in the nation’s capital.

New Zealand lost 20-6 when they met the Warriors back in Round 2, but a lot has changed since then.

The Kiwis are also 4-1 in their last five games as the away underdog against Canberra, so there’s a bit to like about the Warriors keeping this respectable.

Tip: Back the Warriors to Cover the Line (+14.5 Points) @ $2.00

A win this week is crucial for the Knights if they hold any hope of moving back into the top six.

Currently sitting seventh, Newcastle find themselves with plenty of work to do after suffering a crushing 42-12 defeat at the hands of the Roosters last week.

Fortunately, the Knights run in to a Dragons side down on their luck after also suffering a blowout defeat last Saturday against the Raiders.

The Knights are set to welcome back Kalyn Ponga, Hymel Hunt and potentially even Bradman Best into the side – three huge additions that should make a world of difference on both sides of the ball.

Newcastle has been an outstanding betting play on the back of a loss over the last two seasons, playing to a 6-1 record head-to-head and a perfect 7-0 record at the line.

With a chance to still play a home final in three weeks’ time, take the Knights to cover what is a very generous line.

Tip: Back the Knights to Cover the Line (-6.5 Points) @ $2.00

2019

It was a weekend for punters in Round 189 of the NRL season, as favourites were able to win every single game.

Will the favourites continue their winning ways or will underdogs bounce back?

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our complete 2019 NRL Round 19 tips can be found below.

https://youtu.be/ViOtEr_slPU

This is close to a must-win game for both these sides.

The Cronulla Sharks have now lost four games on the trot, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

Their inability to close out games has become a huge problem and a number of their highly-paid, senior players continue to disappoint.

The Sharks have won six of their past nine games as home favourites and they are 4-1-4 against the line in this scenario.

North Queensland had control of last Saturday’s clash with South Sydney, but they were unable to put the game to bed and ran out of gas late.

In saying that, there has been some promising signs for the Cowboys in recent weeks and they are set to be buoyed by the return of captain Michael Morgan.

The Cowboys have won four of their past ten games as away underdogs for a profit and their past three wins have actually come on the road.

There is not as much between these two teams as the current betting market suggests and they are over the odds at $2.70.

Back The Cowboys To Win @ $2.70

https://youtu.be/MQP8DaOcpV8

Both these teams head into this clash on the back of three straight wins.

The Newcastle Knights were particularly poor against the Sydney Roosters last weekend, but they will still start this clash as clear favourites.

Newcastle have now won only two of their past six games as home favourites and the away team has won the past three games between these two sides.

The Tigers were not disgraced against the Canberra Raiders last weekend and it should be noted that they have won three of their past four matches against the Knights.

They have won only three of their past nine games as away underdogs, but they are 6-3 against the line in this scenario.

This is another game where there isn’t as much between the two sides as the market suggests and the Tigers are a great bet to cover the line with a start of 6.5 points.

Back Tigers To Cover The Line (+6.5 Points) @ $1.91

https://youtu.be/Yj7TOqpFHqE

The South Sydney Rabbitohs got out of jail late against the North Queensland Cowboys and they will start this clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons as clear favourites.

It is fair to say that the final score flattered the Rabbitohs and their recent form continues to be on the inconsistent side.

They have now won nine of their past 12 games as home favourites, but they are a poor 4-8 against the line in this scenario.

St George Illawarra produced their worst effort of the season to date against the Penrith Panthers last weekend and the wheels look to have well and truly fallen off.

They have won four of their past 11 games as away underdogs for a small profit, but they are 5-6 against the line in this scenario and tough to trust from a betting perspective.

It is the Over in Total Points betting that appeals in this clash.

The over has saluted in the past five games played by the Dragons away from home and backing the Over in games involving either of these sides has been a winning play all season.

Back Over 40.5 Points @ $1.88

https://youtu.be/0CYe6H_-RL8

This is a crucial game for both these sides.

The Parramatta Eels had their winning streak ended at the hands of the Manly Sea Eagles last weekend, but they will still start this clash as clear favourites.

The Eels have proven tough to beat at BankWest Stadium this season and they have won five of their past six games as home favourites, while they have covered the line in each of these wins.

New Zealand have played five extremely tight games in a row and they held their nerve to beat the Cronulla Sharks last weekend.

They have won only two of their past seven games as away underdogs, but they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario.

This is another game where the Over in Total points betting appeals.

The Over has saluted in 15 of the past 23 games played by the Eels as well as 15 of the past 24 games played by the Warriors.

There should be plenty of points in this one.

Back Over 41.5 Points

https://youtu.be/PVbnDSvEw0U

The Gold Coast Titans scored a stunning upset win over the Brisbane Broncos earlier this season, but it is the Broncos that will start this game as clear favourites.

The Broncos impressed in the second half to put away the Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend and a repeat of that effort would make them tough to beat in this clash.

Winning away from home has been an issue for the Broncos this season and they have won only four of their eight games on the road, while their record against the line in this scenario is even poorer.

The Titans were not helped by the new-coach bounce and they have now lost four games on the trot.

They have lost three of their past 13 games in front of their home fans at CBus Super Stadium, but they are 5-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Titans have beaten the Broncos in two of their past three games and it would not surprise to see them give their rivals a scare in this contest.

Back The Titans To Cover The Line (+6.5 Points)

https://youtu.be/_Ka8kHGoFEY

The Melbourne Storm just keep on winning and they are looking ominous ahead of the NRL Finals.

They have now won nine games on the trot and they have been nothing short of dominant over the past fortnight.

Melbourne have now won 11 of their past 13 games as home favourites and they are 7-6 against the line in this scenario.

The Manly Sea Eagles continue to impressive themselves and they returned to winning form with an emphatic win over the Parramatta Eels last weekend.

Manly have won three of their past nine games as away underdogs, but they have covered the line in six of their past nine games in this scenario.

This is a market that looks just about right and the value may lie in exotic betting options.

Back Tom Trbojevic Anytime Tryscorer

https://youtu.be/_1s6wNcySuE

The Sydney Roosters are the shortest-priced favourites in the NRL this weekend and it is easy to see why.

Sydney returned to their brilliant best with a dominant win over the Newcastle Knights and it could get ugly if they repeat that effort against the Bulldogs.

The Roosters have won only five of their past nine games as away favourites, but they have covered the line in each of those wins.

The Canterbury Bulldogs ran out of legs late against the Brisbane Broncos last weekend and it doesn’t get any easier for them against the Roosters.

Sydney beat the Bulldogs by 26 points when they met earlier this season and it would not surprise to see a repeat in this clash.

Back The Roosters To Cover The Line (-14.5 Points) @ $1.91

https://youtu.be/HoLzjfCbM3I

The market can’t split the Penrith Panthers and the Canberra Raiders ahead of this intriguing Sunday afternoon clash.

Penrith made it seven wins on the trot with a dominant performance against the St George Illawarra Dragons and they really have found excellent form.

The home side has won seven of the past nine matches between these two sides and the Panthers have won seven of their past 12 games in front of their home fans.

Canberra made it two wins on the trot with a professional performance against the Panthers, but this is a much tougher challenge.

The Raiders have won only five of their past ten matches away from home and they have not won at Panthers Stadium since 2015.

Home ground advantage does give the Panthers the edge here and it would not surprise if they are well-backed.

Back The Panthers To Win @ $2

2018

With seven rounds left to play, things are really starting to heat up on the NRL ladder.

Last weekends upsets have caused chaos inside and outside the Top 8, and with another blockbuster eight game slate in store, this roller coaster doesn’t look like it’s going to end in a hurry.

Finding themselves slipping down the ladder is the Dragons, while the Storm slide back inside the top two following a close shave last week.

Who’s moving and who’s staying put?

Be sure to check out our entire NRL Round 19 tips below!

It’s hardly a Thursday night thriller, but despite their position on the ladder, the Eels and the Bulldogs could still turn out to be quite the close and lively affair.

These two last met back in Round 10, a game the Bulldogs stole in the dying stages 20-12.

Moses Mbye was the star for the Dogs that night, but the Bulldogs will now have to find attacking chances elsewhere after their star halfback departed for greener pastures.

On the heels of a loss, the Eels are still well on their way towards the wooden spoon, but they’ll take a lot from last week’s close call against the Knights.

The Eels were arguably the better team on the day, with the loss coming down to one missed conversion from Clint Gutherson.

The Dogs on the other hand, well they lost a game they probably had no chance of winning.

The Rabbitohs pounced all over Canterbury in the first half, scoring three unanswered tries before the Bulldogs finally crossed the line in the 52nd minute.

On-field production and consistency has been hard to come by for these two, and it reflects in the odds.

The Eels are 2-5 as the home favourites, while the Dogs are a miserable 4-10 in away games as the underdog.

Flip a coin, toss a dart, this one is tough to call.

The Eels have had a much easier time scoring as of late compared to the Dogs though, and given Canterbury’s 2-7 record in away games, Parramatta should earn their fourth win of the season.

Back the Eels To Win 1-12 @ $2.90

Two straight wins sees the Sharks right back in the thick of the action, but more importantly, sitting sixth on the ladder.

Canberra’s season has been up and down, but there’s something to be said for the green machine.

The Raiders have strung together two straight themselves, and a win over the Cowboys in freezing conditions last week has Canberra right back in the hunt for a finals spot.

Friday nights meeting should be a high scoring affair – the Raiders rank second in the league in tries scored, while the Sharks are one of the top possession teams in the competition.

Picking a winner, though, well things aren’t quite as straightforward.

The Sharks have won three of their last five over the Raiders, but are a shocking 2-5 as the home favourites in games against Canberra.

The Raiders, meanwhile, well they’ve made a name for themselves in away games against the Sharks, holding an impressive 5-2 record as the underdogs at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

Much of this game will come down to the early possession battle, an area both sides have dominated in recent weeks.

The Raiders and the Sharks have shown a knack for cracking the scoreboard early, but there’s also something to be said for each side late in games.

Like any good finals team should, the Raiders and the Sharks have found a way to hang in games right until the final minutes.

Cronulla in particular have showed plenty of surge in the second half, and with a talented lineup led by Matt Moylan last week, they more often than not crack opposing defences.

This should be one of the games of the round, but given Canberra’s sloppy 3-5 record on the road this year, the Sharks at home looks like the safest bet.

Back the Sharks 1-12 @ $2.75

It’s been one step forward, two steps backwards for the Broncos and Panthers this season, with both sides on the back of two disappointing losses last weekend.

The Broncos played in front of a large crowd at Suncorp Stadium, except they failed to actually show up ready for the game.

The Warriors pounced on Brisbane in the opening ten minutes, going on to score five unanswered tries.

New Zealand’s 26-6 victory wasn’t the only headline from the weekend, though.

The Panthers miserable efforts at home against the Sharks on Friday night was nothing short of unconvincing, and with finals right around the corner, it’s hard to know what to make of this fifth placed Penrith side.

Fortunately for each team, Friday nights game is a chance for redemption, and with both teams holding impressive home and away records, this should be a pretty even fight.

The Broncos haven’t played the Panthers since last season, winning both games by comfortable margins.

Prior to last week’s disappointment Brisbane had won three straight, and given they are somewhat the “in form” side, the Broncos enter at the shorter odds.

At home the Broncos are 6-3 as the head-to-head favourites, while the Panthers’ 2-6 record as the away underdog against Brisbane isn’t quite as flattering.

With Wayne Bennett still seeking career win No. 500, the Broncos have yet to rise to the occasion.

The thought of Brisbane losing two straight home games seems unlikely, though, and as we’ve said so often, if the Broncos can limit the damage early and actually hit the scoreboard themselves, they should get back to winning ways.

Back the Broncos 1-12 @ $3.10

The thought of Newcastle potentially playing finals seems completely outrageous, but believe it or not, mathematically the Knights are still half a chance.

A win over the Eels last week helped, and with a game in hand against an unpredictable Titans team, we could certainly see Newcastle jump further up the ladder.

The scoreboard doesn’t do the Titans any justice, but they actually played rather well last week against the Roosters.

Gold Coast did well to answer back after Sydney cracked the scoreboard in the opening 20 minutes, but sloppy missed tackles and errors ultimately cost the Titans a chance.

Looking forward, it’s hard to see this game being a clean and well thought out affair, but with the Titans holding a 2-1 record as the favourite in away games against the Knights, they’re the team to back this weekend.

Gold Coast on their day are capable of anything, and this Knights team has been cruising along in third gear for most of the season.

Last week’s narrow win over the Eels was nice, but there’s a lot more attacking weapons on the Titans’ roster that can hurt.

Back the Titans to Beat The Line (+1.5 Points) @ $1.91

You couldn’t hold down this talented Tigers lineup for long, as the Dragons found out the hard way last week.

South Sydney on the other hand, well they almost look unstoppable.

The ladder leaders have now won eight straight games, not only making the Bunnies the premiership favourites, but also placing the Rabbits at very short odds this weekend.

Surprisingly enough, the Tigers have won four of their last five against the Rabbitohs, but last seasons 28-8 loss will still be fresh in the mind of Wests coach Ivan Cleary.

If last weeks win over the Dragons taught us anything though, it’s that the Tigers are pretty tough to beat when they run away with possession.

Wests held the footy nearly 60% of the time last week, resulting in an early try in the 10th minute.

It also helps when Esan Masters slots all four of his conversions, valuable points the Tigers will need to rely on if they are to make it two straight wins this week.

At home Wests have been so-so this season, holding a 5-4 record in front of the Tigers faithful. Souths, meanwhile, are 6-0 as the away favourites over the last 12 months.

With their season almost in do-or-die mode, the Tigers will need a big time performance if they are to win this one.

Things are really starting to click for this rejuvenated side though, making Wests another good upset chance beaming with confidence following last weeks win over the Dragons.

Back the Tigers 1-12 @ $5.00

All of a sudden the Cowboys look like they might just take the wooden spoon.

Last weeks loss to the Raiders was nothing short of disheartening for a team that opened the game so well, but in the end, the usual errors cost North Queensland a victory away from home.

Luckily for the Cowboys, the Dragons also looked underdone last week against the Tigers.

Robbie Farah ran all over St. George during the 20-16 loss, but don’t let the scoreline fool you, the Dragons trailed 20-6 with just 15 minutes left to play.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen the Dragons leave the scoring ’till late, famously pulling off a come from behind victory over the Eels just two weeks prior.

St. George looked like a NRL Grand Final certainty six weeks ago, but after three weeks of half-baked efforts and sloppy defensive performances, there’s plenty of question marks surrounding this Dragons squad.

So is another loss right around the corner?

The Dragons were no doubt flat and fatigued last week, but they do have an excuse.

Five players were returning from Origin duty against the Tigers, but with the rest of the squad backing up following the bye week, coach Paul McGregor had every reason to be mad.

A game on the road against North Queensland is never a ‘gimme’ and as St. George’s away record suggests, away stadiums aren’t exactly their forte.

This one has plenty of upset potential, but given the Dragons horror fortnight, it’s a market you’re best staying away from.

No Bet

Would it be wrong to say the Warriors would prefer to play this game away from home?

New Zealand hold one of the best records on the road this season, and after a big win over the Broncos at Suncorp last week, the Warriors will be keen to continue their climb up the ladder.

Up next, the Storm, a team who has now won five straight. Melbourne’s 6-2 record at home speaks for itself, but the Storm have been almost equally as impressive on the road, having last beaten the Warriors in Auckland last season.

As the favourites, the Storm are 8-2 in away games, while the Warriros are 1-4 as the home underdog.

This game should feature plenty of speed and attack, but the biggest question now surrounds New Zealand’s defence.

We’ve seen the Storm hold opponents to very minor scorelines in recent weeks, a scary thought for the Warriors this week.

New Zealand have lost their last three homes games, and unless they can find a way to stop Josh Addo-Carr, something they failed to do on more than one occasion back in Round 8, the Warriors might be in for a long day.

Back the Storm to Beat The Line (-3.5 Points) @ $1.91

The Roosters have won three of their last four, and against a Manly side that’s sliding down the ladder, this is a game Sydney should lap up away from home.

These two last met back in May, playing out an instant classic that saw the Roosters hold on for a 22-20 victory.

Manly have still won three of the last five meetings though, but as we saw last week, even Sydney’s backups are capable of destroying an opponent.

Sydney’s were expected to win against the Titans, but without Latrell Mitchell, James Tedesco, Boyd Cordner and Cooper Cronk, no one expected the Roosters to win quite so easily.

Since Trent Robinson is set to welcome all of his stars back this week, the Roosters march towards the finals can continue, and given Sydney’s 5-2 record as the away favourite over the last 12 months, they should have no trouble on Sunday.

Back the Roosters 13+ @ $2.90

2017

State Of Origin is in the books for another year and attention now turns back to the NRL and the charge to the Finals.

There is now a four point gap between the Parramatta Eels in 8th and the Penrith Panthers in 9th, but there is very little between the teams in the top eight and every game is vital in the battle for the top four.

This weekend is packed full of intriguing fixtures and our complete 2017 NRL round 19 tips can be found below.

This a crucial game for both these sides as they attempt to edge their way closer to the top eight.

The New Zealand Warriors have the home-ground advantage in this clash and they will start as favourites, but they have been tough to trust in this scenario.

They have won six of their past ten games as home favourites for a loss and they are a poor 3-7 against the line in this scenario.

The Penrith Panthers returned to winning form with a much-needed win over the Manly Sea Eagles and they have won four of the past five games played between these two sides.

Penrith have won two of their past six games as away underdogs for a narrow profit and they are a middling 3-3 against the line in this situation.

There really is not a great deal between these two teams and the Panthers really do represent value at their current price.

Back The Penrith Panthers To Win @ $2.10

The Canberra Raiders have lost four games on the trot, but they will still start this clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons as clear favourites.

Canberra were no match for the North Queensland Cowboys in their final game before the bye and they are a team that is playing like there are a number of internal issues.

They have won only seven of their past 12 games as home favourites for a clear loss and they are a poor 4-8 against the line in this scenario.

There is no doubt that the St George Illawarra Dragons have fallen in a hole in the second half of the season and they have won only one of their past four games.

St George Illawarra have won three of their past eight games as away underdogs for a narrow profit and they are 5-3 against the line, while they have won their past four games against the Raiders.

Both these teams are tough to trust from a betting perspective, but the Dragons do look a good bet to cover the line with a start of 3.5 points.

Back St George Illawarra Dragons To Beat The Line (+6.5 Points)

The Brisbane Broncos have recorded some massive wins over the Newcastle Knights in recent seasons and they are dominant favourites to maintain that record.

The bye could not have come at a better time for the Broncos following their big loss to the Melbourne Storm and there really will be no excuses if they are unable to get the job done this weekend.

Brisbane have won five of their past seven games as away favourites for a profit, but they are only 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

Newcastle lost the unloseable against the Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend and the pressure is now really on Nathan Brown to show whether this team actually has improved under his watch.

The Knights have won only two of their past 11 games as home underdogs and they are a poor 4-7 against the line in this scenario.

The betting play that really does standout in this clash is the Over in the Total Points betting market.

Over 50 points have been scored in the past four games played between these two sides and the current line of 42.5 points does not look like anywhere near enough.

Back Over 42.5 Points

The Gold Coast Titans upset the Cronulla Sharks earlier this season, but it is the Sharks that are the favourites to win this clash.

Cronulla went into the bye on the back of a most impressive win over the Sydney Roosters and they are one team that really should be able to improve with State Of Origin behind them.

The Sharks have won only three of their past six games as away favourites for a narrow loss and they are a poor 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

Gold Coast went into the bye on the back of wins over the Wests Tigers and the Dragons, but this obviously represents a much tougher challenge.

The Titans have won two of their past six games as home underdogs for a narrow profit and they are a middling 3-3 against the line in this situation.

The last game played between these two sides was a low-scoring affair and it is the Under in Total Points betting markets that represents the value in this clash.

The Under has saluted in nine of the past 14 away games played by the Sharks and has also been a profitable betting play in games involving the Titans.

Back Under 40 Points

The Manly Sea Eagles are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend in the NRL and they are dominant favourites to account for the Wests Tigers.

Manly had their winning run ended by Penrith last weekend and they did lost the most recent clash between these two sides last year.

The Sea Eagles have won four of their past six games as home favourites for a loss and they are a lacklustre 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Wests Tigers ended a lengthy losing streak with a victory over the Newcastle Knights, but the Sea Eagles obviously represent a much tougher challenge.

Wests have actually won four of their past ten games as away underdogs for a big profit and they are 6-1-3 against the line in this scenario.

There is nowhere near as much between these two teams as the current betting market suggests and the Tigers are an outstanding bet to beat the line with such a huge start.

Back Wests To Beat The Line (+15.5 Points)

This is a South Sydney Rabbitohs home-game, but they have taken it to Cairns and that obviously gives the North Queensland Cowboys the advantage.

The Cowboys have won both their games since Johnathan Thurston was ruled out for the rest of the season and their most recent win over the Canberra Raiders was particularly impressive.

North Queensland have won seven of their past eight games against South Sydney and they have won won 11 of their past 17 games as favourites, while they are 9-1-7 as the punter’s elect.

South Sydney looked to be building towards a late run to the NRL finals, but they were very poor against an undermanned Sydney Roosters last weekend and were unable to get the job done.

The Rabbitohs proven to be a profitable side as underdogs so far this season, but they are very tough to trust on the back of their most recent performance.

This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am more than happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

2016

State Of Origin is now in the books for another season and attention turns to the run up to the 2016 NRL Finals.

Round 19 of the NRL season is highlighted by the Saturday night fixture between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Brisbane Broncos before the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers do battle in the Western Sydney Derby on Sunday.

The round concludes on Monday night when premiership contenders the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks face off at Allianz Stadium.

This is a crucial game for both sides as the Gold Coast Titans can leapfrog the St George Illawarra Dragons with a victory.

St George Illawarra went into the bye on the back of a very poor performance against Manly, but they are still set to start this contest as favourites.

The Dragons have an excellent record as home favourites and they have won their past five games in this scenario, while they are a profitable 3-2 against the line.

The Titans went into their bye after suffering back-to-back losses at the hands of the Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors and they need to win this clash to keep in touch with the top eight.

The Gold Coast generally produced their best performances in front of their home fans and they have won just three out of their past 12 games as away underdogs, with a 6-6 record against the line in this situation.

St George Illawarra are a very safe bet at home favourites and they should be able to get the job done in a rare Friday night football appearance.

Recommended Bet: St George Illawarra To Win @ $1.70

The Manly Sea Eagles have dominated the New Zealand Warriors in recent years and have won nine of the last ten games played between the two sides, but it is the Warriors that will go into this game as favourites.

New Zealand went into the bye with a victory over the Gold Coast Titans and they have now won four out of their past five games to put themselves into the top eight.

The Warriors have struggled with favourtism in the past 12 months, but their record as away favourites is a profitable 3-1 and they have an identical record against the line.

Manly finally ended their losing streak with an impressive performance against St George Illawarra, but they dace a tough assignment making it two wins on the trot this weekend.

The Sea Eagles have won five of their past 14 games as underdogs for a loss, but they are 7-16 against the line in this scenario for a very narrow profit.

There has been plenty to like about the football that the New Zealand Warriors have played in recent weeks and they are a good bet to get the job done against Manly this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back New Zealand Warriors To Win @ $1.82

This is a crucial game for both sides as they head into this clash in thoroughly average form.

The Brisbane Broncos have won just one of their past five games and they were particularly poor against both the Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm, but they will still start this game as clear favourites.

The Broncos have been particularly poor on the back of the past two State Of Origin fixtures and their record as away favourites is a poor 4-4, while they are 3-5 against the line in this scenario.

It is fair to say that South Sydney have been nothing short of woeful in recent weeks and they could not hold on to the football in their 20-0 loss at the hands of the North Queensland Cowboys in Cairns.

They have now lost five games on the trot and their record as home underdogs is particularly poor – they have failed to win a single game or beat the line in this scenario in the past 12 months.

It is very tough to have any faith whatsoever in these two sides and I am happy to stay out of this clash from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

This is the mismatch of the weekend as the Melbourne Storm are extremely short-priced favourites to beat the Newcastle Knights this weekend.

Along with the Cronulla Sharks, the Storm have been the form team in the NRL for the past couple of months and they went into the bye on the back of a simply outstanding performance against the Brisbane Broncos.

It is very easy to see the Storm putting up another big score against the Knights and they have won five out of their past six games as away favourites, while they are 4-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Newcastle Knights raced out to a big 22 point lead against the Canberra Raiders in their final game before the bye, but they fell apart in the second half and lost the game in golden point.

They still have just the one win on their record this season and their form as home underdogs is very poor – they have won just one of their past nine games in this scenario and they are 4-5 against the line.

The line of 18.5 points does not look like it will be anywhere near enough and the Melbourne Storm should be able to cover that margin very easily.

Recommended Bet: Back The Melbourne Storm To Beat The Line (-18.5 Points)

There is no love lost between the two teams and the Western Sydney Derby is one of the fiercest in the NRL.

The Penrith Panthers scored a thrilling victory over the Parramatta Eels when the two sides met earlier this season and they have opened as clear favourites to record another victory over their rivals this weekend.

Penrith blew a golden opportunity to beat a depleted Cronulla Sharks outfit last weekend and their record as home favourites is now a non-profitable 4-3, while they are a very poor 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

Off-field controversy continues to haunt the Parramatta Eels week after week, but it has not affected their performance on the field and they recorded a very tough 22-18 victory over the Sydney Roosters last weekend.

The Eels have proven to be a profitable side as away underdogs in head to head betting, but their record against the line is a lackluster 3-4.

Opposing the Panthers as favourites has proven to be a profitable betting play all season long and the Eels are great value to overcome the controversy and record yet another upset win.

Recommended Bet: Back The Parramatta Eels To Win @ $2.45

The absence of their State Of Origin players did not stop the Cronulla Sharks last weekend against the Penrith Panthers last weekend and they are clear favourites to record their 14th straight victory.

There is no team that has been more reliable from a betting perspective in the past 12 months and they have won their past five games as away favourites, while they are 4-1 against the line in this scenario.

The Sydney Roosters have not had the mid season resurgence that a number of experts expected and they suffered their fourth loss in a row at the hands of the Parramatta Eels last weekend.

The Roosters have been almost the opposite of the Sharks from a betting perspective – they have lost their past five games as home underdogs and their record against the line in this situation is 1-1-3.

Backing the Sharks has been profitable all season long and they are a great bet once again to cover the line of six points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Cronulla Sharks To Beat The Line (-6 Points)