Injuries and suspensions cloud several NRL Round 6 clashes, while a couple of under pressure coaches have swung the selection axe on high-profile stars. 

Let’s see where the value lies in a fascinating weekend of footy. 

Newcastle Knights and Sydney Roosters meet on Thursday night at an intriguing juncture, both 2-3 and eager to stay in touch with the leading pack. 

The Knights have won two of their last three, bookending a tough away loss to the Warriors with home wins over the Storm and Dragons.

Kalyn Ponga was superb in the Newcastle downpour as they put the Saints to the sword 30-10. 

The Roosters followed up a disappointing performance against under-strength Penrith in Round 4 with a 30-26 defeat to Canterbury – inexplicably falling behind 18-0 early before staging a remarkable fightback despite the first-half send-off of Dom Young and late sin-binning of Victor Radley. 

Amid the carnage, James Tedesco and Sam Walker failed HIAs and have been ruled out this week. Joey Manu shifts to fullback, Connor Watson comes into the halves, Michael Jennings starts as centre and Junior Pauga comes onto the wing for the suspended Young. 

Nat Butcher is also back and Zach Dockar-Clay joins the bench, with Egan Butcher dropping out of the 17. 

The Knights have won just three of their last 19 against the Roosters, going down at home in sole clashes in 2022 (42-18) and 2023 (18-16).

Daniel Tupou boasts 11 tries in his last 13 games against Newcastle – including eight from his last seven. 

The Knights are $1.53 favourites at home, where they have won eight of their last nine, but they’ve been largely unconvincing so far in 2024, while the Roosters’ insane depth covers more than adequately for their absentees. 

This shapes as a tight one if Luke Keary and Brandon Smith step up for the visitors. 

Tip: Back the Roosters to Cover the Line (+5.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / OVER 40.5 TOTAL POINTS / DANIEL TUPOU ANYTIME TRYSCORER / BRADMAN BEST ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $17.53 

Melbourne Storm are flying under the radar – as much as any team that has been the most dominant of the past 20 years can, at least – and are looking to consolidate their spot among the NRL’s front-runners in this home clash with Canterbury Bulldogs. 

The 3-1 Storm’s only loss was by two points to Newcastle with Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster missing.

They came off the Round 4 bye with a thrilling 34-32 eclipse of the Broncos spearheaded by Hughes’ virtuoso performance. 

The Bulldogs have won two of their last three, following up a 32-0 rout of the Titans and a gallant 20-16 defeat to Souths with a 30-26 win over the Roosters. 

Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Blake Taafe led an early 18-0 assault, before the Bulldogs almost threw the match away against a 12-man Roosters side. 

The win came at a cost with Taafe, Kurt Mann and Harrison Edwards all ruled out. Stephen Crichton moves to fullback, while Josh Addo-Carr’s return allows Jacob Kiraz to go to centre. 

Jaeman Salmon goes to lock and Josh Curran starts in the second-row, while debutant Bailey Hayward and Poasa Faamausili come onto the interchange. 

The Storm’s only changes sees Tepai Moeroa replace Jack Howarth on the bench, though Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Joe Chan are in the reserves after successful second-grade returns last weekend. 

The Bulldogs will look to channel last year’s side that went to Melbourne and overwhelmed the Storm 26-12 in Round 2, halting a seven-match losing streak in the rivalry, the Storm won the previous four encounters by 22-plus margins. 

The Storm have won 12 straight at AAMI Park since that 2023 defeat to the Bulldogs, but Craig Bellamy will be emphasising a tighter defensive display after they leaked 58 points in their last two home games against the Warriors and Broncos. 

The Bulldogs appear to be making significant strides on both sides of the ball (last week’s second-half collapse notwithstanding). And while there’s still weaknesses in their line-up, it’s hard to justify an 18.5-point start based on the on-field evidence so far this season. 

Tip: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (+18.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: STORM BY 1-12 POINTS / UNDER 45.5 TOTAL POINTS / HARRY GRANT ANYTIME TRYSCORER / CONNOR TRACEY ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $61.15 

The third instalment of this already-fiery southeast Queensland derby is overshadowed by who’s in and out of the Broncos’ line-up, while the ladder-leading Dolphins also have a clutch of enforced changes ahead of this Friday night blockbuster. 

The injury-hit Broncos were valiant in going down to the Storm in a high-scoring epic last Thursday, but the defensive frailties exposed by Penrith and Melbourne – who both put 34 points on them – in the past three rounds can’t be overlooked. 

The 2-3 Broncos have now lost Adam Reynolds again and Deine Mariner – with Jock Madden to slot into the No.7 and Corey Oates to start on the wing – but they’ve been boosted by the early return of Reece Walsh, but Payne Haas is being sorely missed in the forwards. 

Tristan Sailor has been named on the bench, along with Xavier Willison, who returns at the expense of tryscoring debutant Ben Te Kura. 

The Dolphins have capitalised on a soft start to their schedule, bouncing back from a heavy opening-round defeat to the Cowboys with three straight wins over the Dragons (38-0), Titans (30-14) and Tigers (26-16), as well as a bye, to nab top spot on the table. 

It’s hard to get a true gauge on their form given the questionable standard of the opponents they’ve put away, but young playmaker Isaiya Katoa’s display against the Tigers indicated he is the key ingredient to a sophomore-season finals appearance. 

Herbie Farnworth and Felise Kaufusi have been ruled out, but the Dolphins get a slight reprieve with Tom Flegler named to play. Tesi Niu comes in at centre, while Jarrod Wallace and Anthony Milford join the bench. 

The fledgling derby delivered big time in 2023: the Dolphins were gallant in an 18-12 loss at Suncorp in Round 4 and were more than competitive in a 24-16 defeat to the Broncos at The Gabba.

Selwyn Cobbo scored four tries across the two Brisbane victories. 

The Broncos have won nine of their last 10 matches in Queensland – all by margins of eight or more, while the Dolphins have pieced together a 5-5 record at Suncorp Stadium. 

The Dolphins aren’t without hope here, but their depth is being strenuously tested this week. Walsh’s inclusion is huge and should be enough for the Reynolds-less Broncos to get up – but backing their trend of points-heavy matches continuing may be the best option. 

Tip: Back Over 45.5 Total Points @ $1.90 

SGM: BRONCOS BY 1-12 POINTS / DOLPHINS OVER 16.5 TOTAL POINTS / SELWYN COBBO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $19.75 

After big statements last weekend from the Warriors and Manly, this Auckland-hosted showdown to kick off Saturday’s schedule shapes as the match of the round.

The 3-2 rivals are both on the fifth line of premiership betting at $15 and are staking an early top-four claim. 

The Warriors were impressive overall in splitting their first four matches, without being able to piece together an 80-minute performance or convert field-position dominance into a pointscoring spree. 

It all clicked at Accor Stadium last Saturday, however, riding out the first-half arm-wrestle before obliterating South Sydney 34-4 on the back of virtuoso displays from Wayde Egan, Shaun Johnson and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, and another superb defensive effort. 

The Warriors – on a three-match winning streak with the best defensive record in the NRL – get Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Kurt Capewell back, with Adam Pompey dropping out and Bunty Afoa suffering a hamstring injury, Mitch Barnett reverts to prop. 

The Sea Eagles have been a bit patchier, but they bounced back from blowing a 14-point lead to Parramatta and a dismal 20-12 defeat to St George Illawarra with a fast-finishing 32-18 victory over Cleary-less Penrith at home. 

Daly Cherry-Evans was sensational in his record-breaking game, Nathan Brown was the best forward on the field and Tom Trbojevic looks back to near his best. 

Ben Trbojevic shifts to centre for Reuben Garrick (concussion), with Corey Waddell moving into the starting pack and Ethan Bullemor joining the bench. 

The Warriors’ overall record against Manly (13 wins, 27 losses) is their worst against any current club (as is their 5-11 Mt Smart record), but the last eight encounters have been split. 

They came from behind to beat the also-ran Sea Eagles 29-22 at home in Round 25 last year; DWZ and the currently-injured Jason Saab both scored hat-tricks. 

The Warriors have won eight of their last nine on New Zealand soil, while Manly has won just three of its last 14 outside Sydney. 

DCE has been a constant thorn in the Warriors’ side – and tormented their left edge in last year’s clash – but it will be a big ask to pull off an upset at Mt Smart with the full house sign up yet again. 

The Warriors have struggled with injuries but this is arguably the strongest side they have fielded all year; expect them to again set the tone defensively during the first half before powering away to a comfortable W. 

Tip: Back the Warriors to Cover the Line (-6.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: WARRIORS BY 13+ POINTS / OVER 41.5 TOTAL POINTS / DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / ROCCO BERRY ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TOM TRBOJEVIC ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $76.24 

Back-to-back defeats since Mitchell Moses’ injury setback has backed Parramatta coach Brad Arthur into a corner ahead of a critical home clash with freewheeling North Queensland. 

The Eels were run down 17-16 by the Tigers on Easter Monday, before being exposed badly on both sides of the ball in a 41-8 loss in Canberra in Round 5. 

Arthur has cut Maika Sivo, Wiremu Greig and Blaize Talagi. Morgan Harper is back at centre with Bailey Simonsson shifting to the wing, Daejarn Asi comes into the halves and Bryce Cartwright (ribs) is a big in. 

Asi should ease the kicking load on Brown – a glaring area of deficiency in the past fortnight. They went 5-5 with the Kiwi filling in for Moses and Brown at various stages during the second half of 2023. 

The 4-1 Cowboys have a share of the competition lead but remain unconvincing, with the ‘flat-track bully’ tag lingering nearby. 

In their only outing as an underdog, they were pumped 38-12 by an under-strength Broncos, while they ultimately made hard work of a Scott Drinkwater-inspired 35-22 win over the Titans last Sunday.

The Cowboys boast the NRL’s best attack but are ranked 13th defensively. 

Zac Laybutt’s season-ending injury gives Tom Chester an opportunity at centre but is unquestionably a blow for the Cowboys. 

The Eels have won four of the teams’ last six encounters, including the 2022 preliminary final in Townsville.

But last season’s two clashes were won by the home team by identical 24-16 scorelines, the Cowboys’ last win over the Eels in Sydney was during the 2017 finals. 

The Cowboys venture out of Queensland for just the second time in 2024, their 46-24 comeback against the Dragons in Wollongong was only their third win from nine interstate games since the start of last year. 

The Eels are looking to avoid consecutive defeats at CommBank Stadium for just the second time, boasting a 41-15 all-time record at the venue.

Those trends and Arthur’s hard-line selections are reason enough to get behind the hosts as an underdog against a largely unproven opponent. 

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

SGM: EELS WIN / OVER 46.5 TOTAL POINTS / SHAUN LANE ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SCOTT DRINKWATER ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $31.11 

South Sydney Rabbitohs and their coach Jason Demetriou are under white-hot pressure as they approach Saturday night’s home clash with Cronulla Sharks desperate for their second win of the season. 

The season has been a trainwreck so far, bookending an unconvincing Good Friday win over the Bulldogs with horrendous losses to the Roosters (48-6) and Warriors (34-4). 

Souths looked a shadow of a team spruiked as title contenders last Saturday, while Latrell Mitchell’s campaign spiralled courtesy of a three-match ban for a reckless forearm. 

Damien Cook is a shock scapegoat for the loss, along with Tallis Duncan, Sean Keppie and Izaac Thompson. Jye Gray replaces Mitchell at fullback, Peter Mamouzelos starts at hooker, Tyrone Munro returns from injury on a wing, and Shaq Mitchell, Siliva Havili and Davvy Moale rejoin the bench. 

The 3-1 Sharks come off the bye still looking to prove their worth, with their last two outings encompassing a woeful 32-6 loss to the Tigers and a comeback from 18-0 down to beat the Raiders 36-22 at home. 

The only change to the Sharks’ Round 4 side sees Briton Nikora return from suspension, forcing Siosifa Talakai to the bench with Kayal Iro retained at centre. Daniel Atkinson drops out. 

Souths have won four of their last six against Cronulla, but honours were shared in 2023: the Rabbitohs won a season opener in the Shire 27-18 before the Sharks prevailed 26-16 in Perth in Round 23. 

The Rabbitohs are on a seven-match winning run against the Sharks at Accor Stadium dating back 15 years. I’m not confident Souths’ shake-up can inspire an upset, but expect an improved performance that renders their 9.5-point start good value. 

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

SGM: RABBITOHS +9.5 / OVER 43.5 TOTAL POINTS / JACK WIGHTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER / BRITON NIKORA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $25.75 

Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra have both notched two wins in 2024 and appear considerably improved versions of the teams that occupied the bottom two spots on the NRL ladder at the end of last year. 

The Tigers carved out excellent back-to-back wins over Cronulla and Parramatta, before showing admirable fight in a 26-16 road loss to the Dolphins last weekend with rookie sensation Lachie Galvin out suspended.

Aidan Sezer has been a revelation in the No.7 

The Dragons are much harder to get a read on. Impressive wins over Gold Coast and Manly have been offset by losses by 20-plus margins to the Dolphins, North Queensland and Newcastle.

Fullback Tyrell Sloan continues to epitomise the team’s rocks-or-diamonds inconsistency. 

John Bateman, Samuela Fainu and Latu Fainu have all been ruled out for the Tigers. Alex Seyfarth starts in the second-row, with Justin Matamua, Asu Kepaoa and Jake Simpkin coming onto the bench.

Hame Sele (calf) returns at Michael Molo’s expense this week in the Saints’ only change. 

The Dragons have had the better of the merger derby over the past two seasons, winning three of the four encounters.

Last season the Tigers got up 18-16 in Magic Round, while the Saints held on 18-14 in Wollongong. 

The Tigers have a home hoodoo to overcome, losing all eight games at Campbelltown since the start of 2021, the growing list of unavailable players is a concern, too. 

But they have turned a corner resilience-wise under Benji Marshall, which is not something you could say about the Dragons – who have also won just one of their last 16 away games – with a great deal of confidence. 

Tip: Back the Tigers to Win @ $1.78 

SGM: TIGERS BY 1-12 POINTS / UNDER 43.5 TOTAL POINTS / TYRELL SLOAN ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JUSTIN OLAM ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $44.23 

Round 6 concludes with the most obvious head-to-head pick of the weekend as in-form Canberra Raiders host Des Hasler’s hapless, winless Gold Coast Titans. 

After starting 2-0, the Raiders went down in a torrid contest against the Warriors and gave up a big lead at Cronulla. But back at home, they trounced Parramatta 41-8, playing with speed and enterprise as Matt Timoko, James Schiller, Xavier Savage and Ethan Strange made the Eels look second-rate. 

Jordan Rapana’s knee injury gives Chevy Stewart a debut at fullback this week, while Zac Hosking is back from concussion. Corey Horsburgh (groin) and Simi Sasagi drop off the bench. 

The 0-4 Titans have been awful, losing all four games so far by 13-plus. There was a slightly encouraging second-half fightback in a 35-22 loss to the Cowboys last week, but it came on the back of a dubious sin-binning. 

The Titans are scoring the least (10) and conceding the second-most (31.3) points per game in the NRL. 

Kieran Foran has been named despite limping off against the Cowboys. Issac Liu returns from concussion at Joe Stimson’s expense in the Titans’ only change. But with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui gone for the year the pack has a decidedly subpar look about it and there’s little spark from the halves. 

This has not been a kind match-up for the Titans, winning just one of their last nine clashes with the Raiders – a 44-6 beatdown in Canberra in 2021. Last season’s sole encounter saw the Raiders grab a critical 26-22 home win in Round 18 with ex-Titan Jamal Fogarty scooping six Dally M votes. 

Matt Timoko and Seb Kris have both scored in each of the last three Raiders-Titans encounters. 

The Titans are being given far too much credit in this market and the Raiders should breeze past the line again on Sunday night. 

Tip: Back the Raiders to Cover the Line (-9.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: RAIDERS BY 21-30 POINTS / OVER 43.5 TOTAL POINTS / XAVIER SAVAGE ANYTIME TRYSCORER / SEBASTIAN KRIS ANYTIME TRYSCORER / MATT TIMOKO ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $48.65 

2022

The NRL’s Round 6 schedule sees the struggling Canterbury Bulldogs and Wests Tigers aiming to bust out of the doldrums in traditional Easter showdowns against high-profile rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs and Parramatta Eels, respectively.

Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks lock horns in a mouth-watering Saturday night barnburner, while New Zealand Warriors face a tough task in keeping their winning streak alive against Sydney Roosters, and St George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights are out to arrest losing runs in a pair of intriguing Sunday match-ups.

Hunt out the Easter footy value with the Round 6 preview.

Canberra gets an early opportunity to atone for its rude Round 2 awakening in Townsville, while North Queensland take a psychological edge into this road trip after steamrolling the Raiders 26-6 at home.

The Raiders had just 41 percent possession and completed just 18 of 32 sets. Their back-five all made under 85 metres; their Cowboys counterparts all posted 110-plus and young playmaker Tom Dearden and veteran halves partner Chad Townsend shone.

There hasn’t been too much since to suggest the 2-3 Raiders are a Top 8-quality unit, particularly in losses to Manly (25-6) and Melbourne (30-16) in the past fortnight.

The Cowboys are also 2-3 and on a two-match losing streak. After a 28-4 home losses to Roosters tarnished by three sin-binnings, they went down 25-24 to the Warriors in golden point last Friday – a match they probably should have iced after leading by 12 and dominating the middle battle.

Fill-in fullback Scott Drinkwater gave the Cowboys another dimension and Todd Payten some food for thought with a dynamic display; he’ll get another chance in the No.1 this week. Griffin Neame and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are out due to concussion, with Coen Hess returning and Connelly Lemuelu promoted.

The Cowboys have won three of their last five matches in Canberra. But the Raiders have won both of their games at GIO Stadium in 2022 – both via late tries against the Sharks and Titans.

A pivotal game for both teams and a real flip of the coin. But with Ricky Stuart coming under some heat, expect a response from the Green Machine. Their big-name pack is underperforming and should stand up to be counted, laying a platform for in-form ball-runners Jack Wighton and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Tip: Back the Raiders to Win by 1-12 Points @ $2.75

SGM: RAIDERS WIN / OVER 40.5 POINTS / JACK WIGHTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER / MURRAY TAULAGI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $11.37

Often formlines can go out the window when the heightened atmosphere of a big occasion is added into the mix. Whether that is enough for Canterbury to halt a four-game slide in its traditional Good Friday clash with South Sydney is debatable, however.

The Rabbitohs – after getting their second win over the season 24-12 against the Dragons in relatively comfortable circumstances – are reeling from an eight-week layoff diagnosis for Latrell Mitchell. Grand final fullback Blake Taaffe will step back into the No.1 hotseat.

Strike weapon Mitchell’s absence is a concern with Cody Walker struggling for consistency and drifting out of games for long periods as rookie Lachlan Ilias finds his way as an NRL No.7.

The Bulldogs’ gritty start to the season has given way to heavy losses to big guns Melbourne (44-0) and Penrith (32-12), though it may be unfair to use those scorelines as a barometer for how Trent Barrett’s side is travelling.

Kyle Flanagan shut out the noise to put in a reasonable performance in his first NRL outing of 2022. But the bare facts are the Bulldogs are averaging eight points per game.

Canterbury has managed two wins from the teams’ last three encounters at Homebush. But Souths obliterated the Bulldogs 38-0 on Good Friday last season and prevailed 32-24 on the Gold Coast in Round 18.

The Bulldogs just don’t have enough points in them to beat a Rabbitohs side which has only leaked more than 16 to Penrith. But there’s some genuine headaches for Souths coach Jason Demetriou and the underdogs are getting plenty of points at the line.

Tip: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (+10.5 Points) @ $2.00

SGM: RABBITOHS 1-12 / UNDER 39.5 POINTS / CAMPBELL GRAHAM ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $10.74

Penrith has barely raised a sweat in powering to a 5-0 record. The defending premiers have won their matches by an average margin of 15.6 points and cruised to a 32-12 victory over Canterbury last Sunday.

Unsung fullback Dylan Edwards scooped three richly-deserved Dally M votes, but the Panthers have been outstanding 1-17 all season.

Brisbane responded to dismal back-to-back losses to North Queensland and the Warriors with a gutsy 24-20 loss to the Roosters – a game they easily could have won. Kotoni Staggs, Corey Oates

and Adam Reynolds turned a corner, while Payne Haas overcame a week of controversy with another monster showing.

But in a bitter blow, Haas has been ruled out this week by the NRL for his off-field scuffle with teammate Albert Kelly.

Penrith has won its last three against Brisbane, though both 2021 clashes between the eventual champs and the cellar dwellers were hard-fought. The Panthers won 20-12 in Round 6 and 18-12 in Round 19 – both at Suncorp Stadium. The clubs’ last four clashes all produced 37 points or less.

The Panthers are on a 19-match winning streak at home and it’s very difficult to see them getting tripped up here. The Broncos showed enough last week to suggest they can avoid a blowout loss – but Haas’ absence is a monumental hurdle to overcome.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Win by 11-20 Points @ $3.20

SGM: BRONCOS +21.5 / UNDER 40.5 POINTS / JAROME LUAI ANYTIME TRYSCORER / PANTHERS/PANTHERS HALF-TIME/FULLTIME @ $15.63

At this stage last season Manly only had an ugly win over the Warriors to its credit, so a 3-2 record courtesy of three increasingly encouraging wins is a solid result after opening their campaign with losses to a pair of heavyweights.

The Sea Eagles produced a professional performance in the Newcastle wet without Tom Trbojevic in Round 5, taking their chances with a superb short kicking game to beat the Knights 30-6 and concede just one try for the second straight game. Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atau were excellent.

COVID absentee Morgan Harper is replaced by rookie Tolutau Koula, while Reuben Garrick stays at fullback.

Gold Coast is one of the more difficult teams to get a read on after a 2-3 start. The Titans were on course for a landslide loss when they trailed the Eels 20-0 soon after halftime but rallied to force a grandstand finish in a 26-20 defeat to one of the competition’s better teams.

The Titans’ spine remains a work in progress, while getting consistent value out of David Fifita is still a conundrum for Justin Holbrook – though he was arguably their most dangerous player last week.

Manly put the hurt on Gold Coast twice in 2021, winning 36-0 in Mudgee in Round 6 and 56-24 at Robina in Round 15. Tom Trbojevic (4), Jason Saab (4) and Garrick (6) scored 14 tries between them across the two blowouts.

The Sea Eagles haven’t exactly made Brookvale a fortress in recent times – they are just 4-8 at home since the start of 2020, with only a 13-12 win over the Bulldogs there this season – but the Titans have won only three of their last nine outside Queensland.

Manly is on a nice roll and look likely to put a few points on the patchy visitors.

Tip: Back Manly to Score Over 21.5 Points @ $1.83

SGM: SEA EAGLES WIN / HALF-TIME HANDICAP SEA EAGLES -2.5 / SEA EAGLES OVER 22.5 POINTS / TOLUTAU KOULA ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $6.05

Match of the round alert.

Melbourne continues to coast along comfortably, smashing Canterbury 44-0 and easily outlasting Canberra 30-16 in the past fortnight. Superstar trio Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster are performing at an elite level every week, while Harry Grant and Brandon Smith are an opposition’s nightmare.

But second-placed Cronulla will be hellbent on making a statement against one of the NRL’s benchmarks after racking up four straight impressive wins. The Sharks conceded just 16 points in wiping the floor with the Dragons, Knights and Tigers by an average margin of 22.7 points.

Barely required to get out of second gear in a 30-4 rout of the Tigers, the Sharks’ backline is humming with the best in the comp – an irresistible blend of pace, skill and might with Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan probing to give them chances on the back of a rugged pack.

Aiden Tolman returns at Royce Hunt’s expense for Cronulla, while Tyran Wishart replaces fellow rookie Alec MacDonald on the Melbourne bench.

Melbourne has won the four matches between the clubs after finding Cronulla a bit of a bogey opponent, losing six of nine clashes from 2016-19. Reimis Smith scored three tries in a 40-14 Storm victory at home in Round 8 last year and Ryan Papenhuyzen’s hat-trick headlined a 28-16 final-round win in Queensland.

Flair has been the feature of the Sharks’ recent wins, but they’ll know they have to roll up their sleeves at AAMI Park. There is so much to like about this contest from an individual match-up perspective and the style, attitude and form of both teams.

After going down to Parramatta in golden point, the Storm will be keyed up to avoid another home defeat to a second-tier contender. But, boy, does it shape as a titanic challenge – and the Sharks look a solid option with a decent start.

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

SGM: EITHER TEAM WIN BY LESS THAN 10.5 POINTS / UNDER 37.5 POINTS / RYAN PAPENHUYZEN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $10.82

The 3-2 Sydney Roosters are coming off their first back-to-back win of the season, cantering to a 28-4 win in Townsville before digging deep to overhaul a plucky Broncos outfit 24-20 at Suncorp Stadium.

Joey Manu was immense in Brisbane, almost singlehandedly keeping the Roosters in the contest, while Sam Walker showed maturity beyond his years to take control and ice it. The heavyweights are playing well short of their potential overall but it is coming together.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho is back this week and Sam Verrills is set to make his first appearance of 2022.

The Warriors, meanwhile, are chasing four straight wins for the first time since 2018. They have got progressively better with each victory, following up a convincing 20-6 win over a poor Broncos side with a valiant golden point eclipse of the Cowboys.

Shaun Johnson’s innate clutch-ness proved decisive in the end, while Chanel Harris-Tavita had close to a career-best game and Euan Aitken was massive in the second-row. Marcelo Montoya is out after getting referred to the judiciary on a contrary conduct charge but international Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is back on the flank.

The Roosters have won their last four against the Warriors by an average margin of 24 points. The Tricolours won 32-12 in the teams’ only 2021 clash – a Round 4 Easter Sunday encounter at the SCG – after Addin Fonua-Blake’s early injury exit.

Another game where the favouritism is well-placed but the start appears too generous. The Warriors boast enough confidence and momentum to make a real game of this, even if an upset may be beyond them at this stage with the Roosters’ class advantage out wide set to prove vital.

Tip: Back the Warriors to Cover the Line (+14.5 Points) @ $1.90

SGM: ROOSTERS 1-12 / ANYTIME TRYSCORER REECE WALSH / ANYTIME TRYSCORER DANIEL TUPOU @ $14.93

An enormous clash in the context of these teams’ seasons with both slumping significantly after promising starts.

St George Illawarra has lost four on the trot – culminating in a listless 24-12 defeat to Souths last week – as pressure intensifies on coach Anthony Griffin’s selections and recruitment. They are struggling for ideas in attack and have conceded more points than any team in the competition (28.8 per game).

The Saints’ pack is bolstered by the return of Josh McGuire and Tyrell Fuimaono from long suspensions, but the retention of Moses Mbye and Jack Bird in the spine will likely see their offence continue to struggle.

Newcastle has followed up two dominant wins with three increasingly heavy losses with injury and suspension biting hard. After going down to Penrith and Cronulla by 18-point margins, the Knights faded late in a 24-point defeat to the Sea Eagles and have mustered just one try in their last two games.

David Klemmer is back in a timely boost for the Knights’ engine-room – replacing injured Jirah Momoisea – while Edrick Lee returns from 18 months on the sidelines with fellow wing beanpole Dominic Young out injured.

The Dragons have won 13 of their last 17 against the Knights, including a 22-13 victory in Newcastle in Round 4 last year.

This showdown will say plenty about the character of both sides. The Saints’ marquee man, Ben Hunt, is in better touch than Knights go-to Kalyn Ponga, but the visitors have shown more as a collective in 2022. ‘Hook’ is on the ropes and opposite Adam O’Brien should be able to lift his charges for an upset.

Tip: Back Newcastle to Win @ $2.50

SGM: KNIGHTS +4.5 / BRADMAN BEST ANYTIME TRYSCORER / OVER 37.5 POINTS @ $7.64

All signs point to an Easter Monday massacre in the traditional clash between the western Sydney rivals.

Parramatta is 4-1 and has been scintillating at times in 2022, though they let Gold Coast back into a game for the second time already this season in a 26-20 win at Cbus Super Stadium last Saturday.

In Mitch Moses, Dylan Brown and Clint Gutherson, the Eels boast one of the most dynamic and in-sync playmaking, game-breaking trios in the business. Reagan Campbell-Gillard is among the NRL’s form forwards, among a host of standout Eels forwards.

Waqa Blake is set for a long stint on the sidelines in a blow to an already-depleted backline contingent, but second-row specialist Marata Niukore is a handy replacement at centre. Oregon Kaufusi comes into the starting pack for suspended Junior Paulo and Shaun Lane is back from injury.

How do hapless Wests Tigers dig their way out of the quagmire? Arguably unlucky to lose to the Warriors and Titans in matches of the lowest quality, the Tigers were blown away 30-4 by Cronulla last Sunday. Michael Maguire’s embattled ensemble is averaging a measly 8.5 points per game.

‘Madge’ won’t die wondering, however, and has rung the changes this week. Ken Maumalo, Oliver Gildart, Tyrone Peachey and Jacob Liddle have been dropped, while Luke Brooks moves to five-eighth with Jackson Hastings returning from suspension at halfback.

Daine Laine and James Roberts are also back, Starford To’a shifts to the wing and Jock Madden will wear the No.14.

Parramatta is on a seven-match winning streak against the Tigers, averaging 33.6 points in the process. Last season the Eels prevailed 36-22 on Easter Monday and 46-14 in Round 14, Clint Gutherson scoring three tries across the two wins.

The Eels are giving away the biggest start of the weekend and are as close to a sure thing as punters will find in Round 6. Don’t be surprised to see the blue-and-golds threaten the half-century mark on a dry Monday afternoon track at CommBank Stadium.

Tip: Back the Eels to Cover the -32.5 Points Alternate Handicap @ $3.90

SGM: EELS OVER 29.5 POINTS / TIGERS UNDER 9.5 POINTS / CLINT GUTHERSON ANYTIME TRYSCORER / DYLAN BROWN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $18.71

2021

The NRL ladder tells you all you need to know heading into another crucial round of footy.

Still undefeated, the Panthers kick things off on Thursday night when they take on the struggling Broncos, followed by a scintillating doubleheader on Friday headlined by the Storm and the Roosters from Melbourne.

Saturday features another cracking top eight battle as the Raiders and the Eels both look to bounce-back in Canberra, while the Dragons can also make it five wins on the trot with a win over the Warriors on Sunday.

With only four points separating eighth from first, be sure to find out who we’re backing in our 2021 NRL Round 6 Preview.

The Broncos have another difficult Thursday night on their hands following last week’s 29-point drubbing against the Rabbitohs.

Now at 1-4, Kevin Walters’ side will sense the importance of this game with the Tigers, Cowboys and Sea Eagles all sitting with equal records beneath them on the ladder.

Unfortunately, a win appears unlikely against the premiership favourites.

Things looked ominous for the Panthers early on last week against the Raiders before Charlie Staines kicked things into gear with a crucial try in the 26^th minute.

From there, it was all one-way traffic as Penrith cruised to a comfortable 30-10 win to remain unbeaten on the season.

While there have been some signs of improvement about the Broncos this year, it’s still difficult to imagine Brisbane’s defence giving them much of a chance.

The Broncos have allowed 24 points or more in all five of their games so far, which spells obvious trouble against a top-five scoring side like Penrith.

With a near-perfect 7-3 record at the line as the away favourite over the last 12 months, this one is a bit of a no brainer.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-26.5 Points) @ $2.00

Friday afternoon shapes as a crucial contest for the Knights and the Sharks as both sides look to move one step closer to rejoining the eight.

Newcastle comes in on the back of three straight losses, which really comes as no surprise when you take a look at their long list of injuries.

The absence of Kurt Mann, Edrick Lee and Mitchell Pearce was felt enormously last week in a blowout loss to the Titans, but there is some good news on the Bradman Best front with the star forward set to return this week.

Cronulla, meanwhile, is looking to improve on their honorable eight-point loss to the Roosters last week.

The Sharks gave the Chooks a good scare in the first half by scoring two unanswered tries, only for a complete lack of possession and some sloppy missed tackles to get in the way.

That performance alone leaves the Sharks as deserving favourites in betting, but things might even up a little if Wade Graham and Josh Dugan are both ruled out due to the HIA protocol.

Still, the Sharks do have enough talent left on the park to get the job done against this understrength Knights side.

Newcastle gave up two tries inside the opening 10 minutes last week on the Gold Coast – a worrying sign after the Sharks started fast against the Roosters.

Factoring in their 8-4 record on the back of a loss, the Sharks should bounce back.

Tip: Back the Sharks 1-12 @ $3.35

The Storm will go into Friday’s blockbuster as heavy favourites against the battered and bruised Roosters.

Despite picking up a crucial win over the Sharks last week, the tri-colours were still dealt a loss on the front lines with hooker Freddy Lussick now set to miss up to eight weeks with a broken arm.

The Storm, on the other hand, have combined to score over 100 points in their last two games.

After throttling the Broncos two weeks ago, Craig Bellamy’s crew picked up right where it left off last week with a thorough 52-18 beatdown over the Bulldogs in Sydney.

To add further cause to Trent Robinson’s concern, the Storm could also welcome back Brenko Lee and Dale Finucane from injury this week.

The Storm won both meetings over the Roosters last year, but if you’re looking to add some value, it might be worth throwing in the Over.

Melbourne and Sydney both rank first and second respectively in tries scored this year.

Tip: Back the Storm to Cover the Line (-8.5 Points) & Over 39.5 Total Points @ $3.10

The Sea Eagles and the Titans both take to the field on Saturday in search of back-to-back wins.

The Titans recorded a famous 42-24 win over Manly last year at Brookvale and based on everything we saw from Justin Holbrook’s side last week; a similar margin wouldn’t surprise.

Unsurprisingly, the Gold Coast hammered a half-strength Knights 42-16 thanks to hat-trick from David Fifita, while the defence also did enormously well to force 10 errors.

Manly has every right to feel confident following a thrilling one-point win over the Warriors, but their track record against the Gold Coast does make another upset seem unlikely.

The Sea Eagles have lost four of their last five against the Titans, while the fact Jack Gosiewski and Dylan Walker are now set for an extended stint on the sidelines only complicates matters.

With a chance to really cement their spot in the top eight, the Titans look good value to win big.

Tip: Back the Titans 13+ @ $2.55

The Rabbitohs are shooting for five in a row on Saturday afternoon when they take on a Tigers outfit that just handed the Cowboys their first win of the season.

Ranked top five in points and tries, the Bunnies have made short work of their opponents over the last month holding Manly, the Roosters, Bulldogs and Broncos to a combined 34 points.

On attack, Souths have been just as dominant scoring over 30 points in their last two games.

The Tigers were one of the better tackling sides in the competition heading into last week, but after giving up four unanswered tries to the Cowboys, it’s safe to say the cracks are beginning to appear.

A year ago the Rabbitohs had trouble against lesser opponents, but it’s become pretty clear that Wayne Bennett’s side is locked in.

With a pretty convincing 6-2 record as the line favourite at home against the Tigers, the Bunnies are hard to argue against.

Tip: Back the Rabbitohs to Cover the Line (-17.5 Points) @ $1.90

The importance of this game cannot be overstated as the Raiders and Eels both look to return to the winner’s circle on Saturday night.

Canberra lost convincingly to the Panthers last week in Penrith, but there was a lot to like about the way the Raiders opened proceedings with a 6-0 start nice and early.

The Eels were perhaps the most surprising loser of Round 5 after suffering a 26-12 defeat against the Dragons.

St George managed to hold Parramatta to a scoreless first half at Bankwest, although it is fair to say the Eels were their own worst enemy committing 14 errors across the 80 minutes.

Last week may have been the wakeup call both sides needed as we head towards the midway point, but as far as this one goes, the Raiders do look the safer bet.

Canberra has won 10 straight over Parramatta at home dating back to 2006, while they’ve also been an outstanding bet following a previous loss going 7-1 over the last 12 months.

If the Panthers can control possession and force mistakes, much like the Dragons did last week, they should go a long way to remaining in the eight.

Tip: Back the Raiders 1-12 @ $2.70

The Warriors will be desperate to avoid a third straight loss on Sunday when they meet the red-hot Dragons at Jubilee.

Injuries and some awful luck played a large part in last week’s agonizing one-point loss to Manly, but head coach Nathan Brown does have reason to feel confident considering his side has won four straight over St George dating back to 2018.

Of course, a lot has changed since then.

The Red V has been dominant over the last month with four straight wins over the Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Knights and Eels.

Last week’s victory largely boiled down to another big game from the forward line, but it’s also worth noting the Dragons’ defence has held their last four opponents to under 20 points.

Speaking of the forward line, the Warriors look to be at a severe disadvantage going forward now that Addin Fonua-Blake has been ruled out with a fractured patella.

That can only spell bad news against a Dragons side that now ranks top five in points scored.

Having also covered the line in four of their five games so far, the Saints should keep on marching this week.

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

North Queensland’s win over the Tigers last week has only added further spice to this year’s battle for the wooden spoon.

With their first win now in hand, the Dogs remain the only winless side in the competition following a 52-18 blowout at the hands of the Storm last week.

These two sides have played out some thrillers in recent years and it is very tough to feel overly confident in either team.

On one hand, the Cowboys nearly managed to blow their 28-6 half-time lead last week against the Tigers, while on the other, the Dogs have allowed over 170 points to their opponents already this season.

The Cowboys have won their last two meetings against the Dogs and they should be adding to that record if Jason Taumalolo and Josh McGuire suit up.

With the Dogs low on points, defence, and morale, this looks like North Queensland’s game to lose.

Tip: Back the Cowboys 13+ @ $2.70

2020

A backlog of teams are currently fighting it out for finals contention as we begin to sort the contenders from the pretenders on the NRL ladder.

Friday features another top eight blockbuster between the Panthers and Storm, while we’ve got another potential Grand Final preview on our hands between the Roosters and the Eels on Saturday night.

We’ve previewed both key games as well as every other matchup in our complete 2020 NRL Round 6 Preview below.

The importance of a win can’t be stressed enough on Thursday night as the Broncos and Knights do battle from Gosford.

Brisbane looked well on their way to pulling off an impressive bounce-back win last week against Manly before all hell broke loose in the second half.

With an 18-4 lead heading into the sheds, the Broncos allowed the Sea Eagles to score two unanswered tries, right before Reuben Garrick cemented the win with a pair of clutch penalty goals with 10-minutes remaining.

The Knights weren’t quite as unfortunate against the Storm on Saturday night where a slow start and some sloppy errors cost them a chance.

Newcastle can at least rest easy though knowing they’ve won two straight over Brisbane dating back to 2017, while the absence of Katoni Staggs is another big plus in their favour.

There are obvious signs of life in Brisbane, but it’s difficult to see Newcastle squandering this chance to remain in the top four.

Despite all the ball-handling errors last week, Newcastle still managed to put up a fight in the second half thanks to Bradman Best and Edrick Lee. If those two are on their game again, the Knights should prove tough to beat.

Tip: Back the Knights 1-12 @ $2.60

This shapes up as a fascinating battle on Friday night between two sides that have so far struggled to string together back-to-back wins.

The Bunnies had it easy last week against the Titans where Dane Gagai, Latrell Mitchell and Adam Reynolds had their way, but this is a much tougher task against a Warriors side that looks more than capable of piling on points whenever and wherever.

New Zealand, or should we say, Peta Hiku, made short work of the Cowboys last week in Gosford, and you could certainly argue the visitors are well over the odds for the second week in a row.

The Kiwis are looking to snap a three-game losing streak against the Bunnies, but there is one very quirky trend that has suddenly emerged about this Warriors team that you might want to pay attention to.

Following their win over North Queensland last week, the Warriors have now covered the line in seven of their last eight night matches played in Australia.

With a full-strength side and a chance to leapfrog the Bunnies on the ladder, the +6.5 insurance is too good to pass up.

Tip: Back the Warriors to Cover the Line (+6.5 Points) @ $2.00

We should learn plenty about the Panthers this week as they face another gut-check against a serious premiership contender.

Ivan Cleary’s side looked home and hosed last week against Parramatta before the momentum swung back in the Eels’ favour during the second half.

How the Panthers respond to such a crushing defeat will be on full display on Friday night as they now tackle a Storm side shooting for three in a row.

Melbourne, for the most part, looked back to their old selves last week against the Knights.

The Storm came out firing with a try inside the opening five minutes before putting the foot down in an impressive defensive display from Cam Smith and Ryan Papenhuyzen.

The trends, just like the odds, are well in favour of the men in purple this week.

Craig Bellamy’s side has won 18 of their last 20-games against Penrith, while the Storm are also an impressive 3-1 as the away underdog at the line against the Panthers.

Dylan Edwards returning at fullback is a plus for Penrith, but after struggling to play a full 80-minutes against a loaded Parramatta side last week, it’s tough to see the Panthers keeping the Storm down with an equal number of offensive weapons at their disposal.

Tip: Back the Storm to Cover the Line (-5.5 Points) @ $2.00

After a 14-point victory over the rival Sharks last week, the Dragons are now looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since Rounds 5 and 6 last year.

St George’s first win of the season has altered the wooden spoon race dramatically with the Dragons now sitting 14th on the ladder.

The luckless Titans, meanwhile, find themselves back in the driver’s seat for the wooden spoon after a 20-point thumping at the hands of the Rabbitohs last week.

The Dragons have had the wood over the Titans dating back to 2017, so they should feel good about their chances this week at Suncorp.

St George has won four straight over the Gold Coast, while they’ve also won two of their last three games played at Suncorp.

Tip: Back the Dragons 1-12 @ $2.80

Two sides desperate for a victory meet on Saturday in what should be a fascinating battle between eighth and ninth.

The Cowboys have battled through injuries in successive losses to Cronulla and New Zealand, but they somehow find themselves still sitting inside the eight ahead of their trip to Campbelltown.

Unfortunately, the news on the injury front only gets worse with Valentine Holmes and Jordan McLean already ruled out, leaving the Tigers as the top value play heading into Round 6.

Wests battled hard against Canberra last week and actually managed to lead 4-0 heading into the sheds.

Sloppy penalties and ill discipline eventually cost Michael Maguire’s side in the end, but there was plenty of merit in the performance – especially with Benji Marshall on the sidelines.

The Tigers are also looking a little worse for wear with Luciano Leilua less than 100%, but the good news is Robert Jennings is returning to the wing, while Marshall will play a small role from the bench.

Also in the Tigers’ favour is the fact they’ve won three straight over the Cowboys dating back to 2017, so with injuries mounting even further up in North Queensland, you have to like Wests at the $1.80 quote.

Tip: Back the Tigers to Win @ $1.80

Blockbuster of the round, maybe even the season – let’s just hope it lives up to the hype.

Sydney’s 0-2 start feels like a lifetime ago following their dominant 42-6 win over the Bulldogs last week.

Just when questions were starting to be asked of Trent Robinson’s side, the Roosters have suddenly clicked into gear.

There’s also plenty to be said of the Eels, who remain undefeated despite a huge first half scare last week against the Panthers.

They say good teams find a way to win, and after trailing 10-0 at half time, there was certainly plenty to like about the way Parramatta dug deep to pull off a huge comeback win.

To say Saturday’s game is a test for both sides would be an understatement.

A win for the Roosters confirms what we already know, but a win for the Eels likely banishes any doubt as to whether they are a Grand Final caliber team.

If you’ve been keeping count, you’ll already know the Roosters have won three straight over the Eels, but times have certainly changed since these two sides last met way back in Round 3 last year.

Perhaps the one constant you can hang your hat on though, is the Over.

The Total has gone Over in each of the last five meetings between these two sides, so with both naming full-strength lists at time of publish, it’s hard to see envision anything other than a high-scoring contest.

Tip: Over 36.5 Total Points @ $1.90

The Raiders and Manly will both be looking to put last week’s sloppy first half performances behind them when they meet on Sunday.

Manly fought back from the brink of annihilation last week against the Broncos to pull out a stunning 20-18 victory at the final siren.

Canberra also trailed 4-0 at half time against the Tigers before Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric and Jarrod Croker stepped up in the second half.

Although you could make a case for both of these sides as serious premiership contenders, it’s stilldifficult to know what to expect from them week-to-week.

Out of the two, Manly fans can rest easier knowing they’ve won four of their last five games against Canberra, and although the loss of Marty Taupau and Moses Suli might prove difficult to overcome, the fact the Sea Eagles are 3-1 as the away underdog at the line against the Raiders is a trend worth factoring in.

Tip: Back Manly to Cover the Line (+4.5 Points) @ $2.00

The Sharks and the Bulldogs were both on the receiving end of blowout losses last week as they look to earn just their second win of the season on Sunday.

Despite a gallant performance a week earlier against the Cowboys, the Sharks failed to show up in their rivalry game against the Dragons last week.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, were faced with a much tougher task against the reigning premiers, one they could learn from as they continue to rebuild.

Canterbury welcomes back Reimis Smith into the backline, while Jack Williams returns for the Sharks at lock.

The last six games between these two sides have been decided by 1-12 points, and while you could make a case for either team, you have to like the Sharks to get things back on track with the season quickly slipping through their fingers.

Tip: Back the Sharks 1-12 @ $2.65

2019

The NRL sure knows how to treat its fans. As if an Easter long weekend wasn’t enough, there’s a Friday night Grand Final rematch to enjoy this week as the Storm and Roosters kick off from Melbourne.

It’s also a big week for the Broncos as they head south to Canberra, while the up and about Sea Eagles look to make it four in a row.

There are big odds and plenty of upsets on offer, so be sure to check out our entire 2019  NRL Round 6 Preview below.

https://youtu.be/dDoIIpLW5d4

A pair of gut-wrenching losses sees the Sharks and the Panthers duel on Thursday night with a potential spot in the top eight up for grabs.

Cronulla’s miserable 30-16 loss to the Roosters has seen the Sharks drop all the way down to ninth on the ladder, while the Panthers’ shortcoming against the Titans leaves Penrith sitting 11^th with just two wins from five.

Last year these sides met on three separate occasions with Cronulla adding to their impressive seven game winning streak. Sharks fans will hold fond memories of last year’s narrow one-point win in week two of the finals, but as the stats show, a lot needs to change on defence.

The Sharks were caught flat footed for most of the game as the Roosters picked apart their back line with clever kicks. A 30-0 deficit was made a little more respectable with a trio of late tries, but really, Cronulla’s defence in the dying stages of the first half cost them the game.

As for the Panthers, luck just wasn’t on their side. The Titans stretched apart Penrith’s goal line defence for two early tries before Michael Gordon added another right before the half.

The good news for the Panthers is the Sharks don’t possess quite the same explosive forward line. Speaking of forwards, Penrith’s played exceptionally well last week despite the loss, particularly Vilioame Kikau and halfback Nathan Cleary.

With the Panthers possessing a lot more attacking talent compared to the Sharks, they are worth backing this weekend. With a 2-2 record as the line underdog on the road against Cronulla, the Panthers forward line should keep this close.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (+2.5 Points)

https://youtu.be/RWcp2lpF6AU

A Friday night primetime match up against the Rabbitohs is the last thing the Bulldogs need right now. Canterbury were embarrassed by the Dragons last week, while the Rabbitohs withstood an early surge from the Warriors to earn their fourth win of the season.

The great thing about Souths win was their ability to weather the storm. New Zealand kept pace in the first half, but explosive runs (and tries) from Cody Walker ultimately wore the Warriors defence down.

A peak at the market suggests the Rabbitohs should have no trouble with the Dogs this week. Not only do South Sydney rank top five in points and tries so far, they’ve also won three straight over the Bulldogs dating back to 2017.

Canterbury’s biggest problem last week was lack of possession mixed with sloppy missed tackles and handling errors. It’s become a common theme for Dean Pay’s side over the last few weeks, and with an ugly 4-5 record as the underdog at home over the last 12 months, it’s hard to foresee an upset.

Tip: Back the Rabbitohs 1-12 @ $2.90

https://youtu.be/cZn8RkpWk1s

It’s the headline act of Round 6, and if it’s anything like last year’s Grand Final, we should be in for a real thriller.

The Storm remain unbeaten following last week’s 18-12 win over the Cowboys. It wasn’t the most convincing performance we’ve seen from Craig Bellamy’s side, but Storm fans had to like what they saw from Josh Addo-Carr, who chipped in with two key tries in the second half.

Sydney, meanwhile, polished off the Sharks 30-16 at Shark Park in another huge game for all the Roosters’ stars. Cooper Cronk, Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco all crossed the line, but perhaps the most impressive part was the way the Roosters manhandled the Sharks on their own line.

Last year’s Grand Final wasn’t the most thrilling game, but it certainly highlighted just how dangerous the Roosters are on the wing. Latrell Mitchell dominated in the middle of the field, while Daniel Tupou made life tough for Suliasi Vunivalu out wide.

The Roosters won’t try anything drastically different this week, which could cause a few problems for the Storm after two casual weeks against the Bulldogs and Cowboys in succession.

Of course, the Storm do hold home-field advantage, but with Sydney holding a 5-1 record as the away underdog at the line, it’s worth backing the Roosters to keep this one close.

Tip: Back the Roosters to Cover the Line (+1.5 Points)

https://youtu.be/ELBipVnSC44

The Cowboys are desperate to snap their four-game losing streak with a win this week, but they’ll have their hands full with an equally hungry Warriors side looking to bounce-back from last week’s loss to Souths.

Stephen Kearney’s side didn’t do a whole lot wrong against the Bunnies, and the coach surely has to find faith in the fact his side matched the Rabbitohs with two tries in the first half.

The Cowboys also have to be proud of their effort against the Storm last week. North Queensland dominated possession at home and caught the Storm off guard with an opening Te Maire Martin try in the 11^th minute. Still, North Queensland’s thin line up cost them in the end, and it’s hard to see them weathering a full 80-minutes of football against the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Sam Lisone.

The Cowboys have lost two straight to the Warriors, while their last win in Christchurch came way back in 2015. The Warriors have been a nervous play at home over the last 18 months, but with a 4-1 record as the home favourite against North Queensland, the Warriors should help their top eight cause this weekend.

Tip: Back the Warriors 13+ @ $2.25

https://youtu.be/MD8-1O2xtOI

No Tom Trbojevic? No worries for Manly.

The Sea Eagles got to work with the chips down last week to pile on three unanswered tries against a woeful Knights side. Manly went on to win 26-18, and not only earned their third-straight win of the season, but also a spot in the top eight.

Things also went well for St. George at home to the Bulldogs. The Dragons beat up on Canterbury 40-4 in a performance headlined by Timoteo Lafai and Ben Hunt’s efforts on attack.

Recent history shows the Dragons have won three-straight over Manly, but the Sea Eagles still look a little over the odds at this price. Manly are 4-6 straight-up as the away underdog over the last 12 months, but more impressively, are 7-3 in the same scenario against the line.

Manly’s attacking runs were brilliant last week, albeit against a desperate Knights side. Quick passing has set up some speedy bursts for the likes of Reuben Garrick and Manase Fainu in recent weeks, and with a gritty win over the Rabbitohs a fortnight ago, Manly are well and truly up to the task.

Tip: Back Manly to Cover the Line (+6.5 Points) @ $1.90

https://youtu.be/TJLY4xrn9B8

Gold Coast’s forward line dug deep last week to pull out an impressive 30-24 home win over the Panthers – their first of the season.

The Titans dominated possession, largely due to Michael Gordon. The star fullback was also a perfect 5/5 in front of the posts, which spells plenty of bad news for Newcastle as they look to bounce-back from a horror showing against Manly last week.

Newcastle have won only two of their last five games against the Titans, and after last week’s hit and miss display, it’s tough to trust the Knights going forward. On paper, the talent is there for Nathan Brown’s side, but getting everybody on the same page to develop some form of chemistry is an entirely different story.

The Titans found themselves in a similar position earlier in the season, and although they could go without Jarrod Wallace who’s facing suspension for a shoulder charge, Gold Coast’s forward line should do the talking after fighting back twice last week against Penrith.

Tip: Back the Titans to Cover the Line (-1.5 Points) @ $1.90

https://youtu.be/119KPNYhLTI

The Broncos circus heads south on Sunday to face a lethal Raiders side riding a serious three game winning streak.

To say Canberra’s shutout win over the Eels last week was impressive would be an understatement. The Green Machine lead the league in possession and dummy half runs, highlighting just how dangerous their fast-pace attack has become.

For the Broncos, that only spells bad news after last week’s epic defensive meltdown against the Tigers. It’s been a rough week for Anthony Seibold’s side, and the long list of critics could only grow larger if Brisbane fail to show up in Canberra.

Fortunately for Brisbane though, GIO Stadium has typically been a bit of a stomping ground. The Broncos have won their last four games in Canberra, and despite last week’s shortcomings, the defensive play of Andrew McCullogh could certainly be enough to shutdown the Raiders’ attack.

Brisbane will need a full team effort if they are to silence the critics, and that starts with Darius Boyd, Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima. With their backs against the wall, this could be a season defining game for the Broncos, and with a 3-2 record as the away underdog against Canberra, they are worth taking on.

Tip: Back the Broncos To Win @ $2.14

https://youtu.be/QshqJS4aedA

The NRL might have saved the best ‘till last for this Easter Monday clash.

Parramatta enter this game as the home favourite despite last week’s 19-0 shutout loss to the Raiders. The Eels were on the back foot early as they scrambled to cover their own line in the first half, while penalties and errors stifled any chance of possession on attack.

The Tigers fared a little better last week in Brisbane, largely due to the Broncos’ lack of interest in playing defence. Wests pulled off an unthinkable 22-16 win thanks to a late Michael Chee-Kam try, while Esan Marsters also finished a perfect 5/5 in front of the posts.

These two sides split their two-game series one win apiece last year, both of which were decided by 10-points or less. The Eels have won three of the last five meetings, but if their attack fails to see much of the ball, it could be a long night against a very powerful Tigers side.

Wests continue to be a bipolar bet for punters, but they do lead the league in runs whilst also ranking top five in tackles. With a strong 3-2 record as the away underdog against Paramatta, the upset is on.

Tip: Back the Tigers to Win @ $2.00

2018

The upsets continued in the NRL this weekend and punters that have backed underdogs in the first five rounds of the season have made plenty of cash.

There are a number of short-priced favourites in the NRL this weekend and there are a number of outsiders that do appeal at their current price.

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our complete 2018 NRL Round 6 tips can be found below.

https://vimeo.com/264167459

The Sydney Roosters returned to their best with a big win over the Cronulla Sharks and they will go into this clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs as clear favourites.

The Roosters have struggled for consistency so far this season, but their best has been excellent and the combination between Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary is developing nicely.

They have won 16 of their past 21 games as favourites, but they are still only 8-13 against the line in this scenario.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs were not disgraced against the St George Illawarra Dragons last weekend and they are a better side than their current record suggests.

They have won only three of their past 13 games as underdogs, but they are an excellent 9-4 against the line when being given a start.

There is not as much between these two sides as the current betting market suggests and the Rabbitohs can cover the line with a healthy start.

Back South Sydney To Cover The Line (+8.5 Points)

https://vimeo.com/264167468

The Melbourne Storm have suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2015, but they will still go into this clash with the Newcastle Knights as dominant favourites.

Melbourne have now lost to the Wests Tigers on two occasions this season and they are simply not the close to unbeatable force that they were 12 months ago.

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

Newcastle returned to winning form with a fighting victory over the Brisbane Broncos, but this is obviously a much tougher assignment.

Melbourne have definitely had the wood over the Knights in recent seasons and Newcastle have covered the line in only five of their past 12 games as away underdogs.

It is tough to imagine the Storm losing three games on the trot and they are a good bet to bounce back to winning ways in impressive fashion.

Back Melbourne To Cover The Line (-10.5 Points)

https://vimeo.com/264167480

There is no love lost between these two sides and it is set to be the game of the weekend.

The St George Illawarra Dragons improved their record to 5-0 with a narrow win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs and this has been their best start to a season since 1993.

St George Illawarra came from behind to beat the Sharks earlier this season and they have now won eight of their past ten games as home favourites, but they are 4-6 against the line in this scenario.

The Cronulla Sharks produced a flat effort against the Sydney Roosters last weekend and they are a better side than that effort suggests.

Winning away from home has not been an issue for the Sharks over the past 12 months and they have won eight of their past 11 games on the road for as big profit, while they are 3-2 against the line as away underdogs.

The past three games between these sides have been decided by six points or less and this is set to be another close one, so the Dragons are a great bet to cover the line with a start of 5.5 points.

Back Cronulla To Cover The Line (+5.5 Points)

https://vimeo.com/264167489

The New Zealand Warriors continued their stunning start to the season with a win over the North Queensland Cowboys and they will go into this clash with the Brisbane Broncos as clear favourites.

It is impossible to overstate just how well the Warriors have started this season and there was plenty of professionalism about their win against the Cowboys.

New Zealand have won four of their past six games as home favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins, while the home side has won ten of the past 12 games played between these two sides.

The Brisbane Broncos produced another flat effort against the Newcastle Knights last season and they are lucky not to be 0-5.

The halves combination of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima simply hasn’t worked and Wayne Bennett is going to need to make some serious changes if the Broncos are going to make the NRL Finals.

Brisbane have won only one of their past six games as away underdogs and they are 3-3 against the line in this scenario.

I never thought I would say this, but you can actually back the Warriors with some confidence this weekend!

Back New Zealand To Cover The Line (-5.5 Points)

https://vimeo.com/264167505

The North Queensland Cowboys have lost four games on the trot, but they will still go into this clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs as clear favourites.

North Queensland went into the 2018 NRL season as one of the competition favourites, but they have been extremely poor and there is worrying signs right across the field.

Their attack inside their own 20 has been nothing short of disgraceful and Johnathan Thurston does not look fit.

The Cowboys have still won four of their past six games as home favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins, but it is tough to back them with any confidence.

Things really aren’t going any better at Canterbury and the Bulldogs have won only one game so far this season.

The Bulldogs have won only two of their past 11 games as away underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario isn’t much better.

North Queensland have won their past five games against the Bulldogs and they will never have a better chance to return to winning form.

Back North Queensland To Cover The Line (-8.5 Points)

https://vimeo.com/264167537

The Canberra Raiders were finally able to record their first win of the season and they will start this clash with the struggling Parramatta Eels as favourites.

The Raiders produced a professional performance to beat the Canterbury Bulldogs and they should take plenty of confidence from the fact they were actually able to get the job done.

In saying that, it is still tough to beat the Raiders with any real confidence and they have won only five of their past 11 games as home favourites, while they are 3-8 against the line in this scenario.

Parramatta suffered their fifth straight loss and they haven’t started a season 0-6 since 1991.

Scoring points has proven to be a massive issue for the Eels and Brad Arthur doesn’t seem to have any solutions for his sides woes.

It is impossible to back either of these teams with any real confidence and this is a clash that I am more than happy to stay out of.

No Bet

https://vimeo.com/264167561

The Gold Coast Titans recorded an impressive win over the Manly Sea Eagles last weekend, but they will still start this clash as clear underdogs.

Gold Coast have shown plenty of character to follow-up their drubbing at the hands of the St George Illawarra Dragons with back-to-back wins over the Brisbane Broncos and the Sea Eagles.

The Titans have won three of their past ten games as away underdogs and their record against the line isn’t much better.

The Penrith Panthers made it two wins on the trot with a fighting win over the Parramatta Eels and they have suffered only the on defeat so far this season.

Penrith have won eight of their past ten games as home favourites and even more impressive is the fact that they have covered the line in seven of those eight wins.

This is a game that Penrith really should be able to win fairly comfortably and the line of 7.5 points will not be enough.

Back Penrith To Cover The Line (-7.5 Points)

https://vimeo.com/264167574

The Wests Tigers’ incredible start to the season continued with another upset win over the Melbourne Storm, but they will still go into this clash as underdogs.

Ivan Cleary has done a simply outstanding job with the Tigers in 2018 and toughness they showed to beat the Storm, is an incredible testament to the character of this outfit.

The Tigers have won three of their past ten games as away underdogs and they are 7-1-2 against the line in this scenario, but their record at Brookvale Oval is very poor and they have won only one of their past 11 games at the venue.

The Manly Sea Eagles continue to struggle for consistency and they were poor against the Gold Coast Titans last weekend.

A positive fact for the Sea Eagles is the fact that they are 7-3 on the back of a loss over the past 12 months and they have won seven of their past eight games as home favourites.

The Brookvale Oval factor does give Manly the edge and they can make a return to winning form this weekend.

Back Manly To Win @ $1.80

2017

It has been an extremely entertaining start to the 2017 NRL season and we are set for another big weekend of action.

Our 2017 NRL Round 6 tips can be found below and there is plenty of betting interest in all eight matches.

Can the Melbourne Storm maintain their unbeaten start to the season or will the Cronulla Sharks score another big win over their Grand Final rivals?

This is a genuine Thursday night blockbuster between two teams that are both coming off disappointing defeats.

The Brisbane Broncos could hardly have been more disappointing against the Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend, but they will still go into this clash as narrow favourites.

Brisbane have won nine of their past 13 games at Suncorp Stadium, but they have still proven to be a losing betting play as home favourites over the past 12 months.

The Sydney Roosters showed the first chink in their armour against the Manly Sea Eagles last Friday afternoon and they face another tough assignment against the Broncos this weekend.

Winning away from home has proven to be somewhat of an issue for the Roosters over the past 12 months and they have won only one of their past seven games as away underdogs, while they are 3-4 against the line.

The Broncos continue to be strong starters and they have now scored the first points in 24 of their past 31 games – mainly due to their strategy of taking the two points when it is on offer in the early stages of games.

Back Brisbane To Score The First Points @ $1.90

The Canterbury Bulldogs took the pressure off Des Hasler with their fighting victory over the Brisbane Broncos and they will go into this clash with the Newcastle Knights as clear favourites.

Canterbury were still not overly impressive against Brisbane, but they showed a defensive toughness that has been missing during the early stages of the season.

The Bulldogs have won four of their past five games as away favourites for a clear profit and they have an identical record against the line.

Newcastle almost came from behind to score a massive upset win over the Cronulla Sharks and there is no doubt that they are playing much better football in 2017.

The Knights remain a tough team to trust from a betting perspective and they have won only two of their past 13 games as home underdogs, while they are 4-9 against the line in this scenario.

Canterbury are sure to have taken plenty of confidence from their win over the Broncos and they are a safe bet to comfortably account for the Knights.

Back Canterbury To Beat The Line (-6.5 Points)

The Penrith Panthers were no match for the Melbourne Storm last weekend, but they will still start this clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs as clear favourites.

Penrith lacked composure against the Storm and consistency continues to elude them in the early stages of the season.

The return to Pepper Stadium will help the Panthers – they have won nine of their past 11 games as home favourites and they are 6-5 against the line in this scenario.

For the second week in a row South Sydney went down 20-6, but they did have their opportunities against the North Queensland Cowboys and it was execution that let them down.

The Rabbitohs have won four of their past nine games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they are an excellent 6-3 against the line in this scenario.

I really don’t think that there is as much between these two teams as the current betting market indicates and the Rabbitohs are a great bet to beat the line with a very healthy start.

Back South Sydney To Beat The Line (+9.5 Points)

This is one of the most interesting games of the round between two of the form teams in the competition.

Manly have been a completely different team since their poor loss against South Sydney in round two and they followed up their wins over North Queensland and Canterbury with a fighting victory over the Sydney Roosters.

The Sea Eagles will go into this clash as clear favourites and this is a position in which they have performed well over the past 12 months – they have won three of their past four games as home favourites and they have the same record against the line.

St George made it three wins on the trot with their comfortable victory over the Wests Tigers and they now sit in second position on the NRL ladder.

It is fair to say that the Dragons have had a fairly easy start to the year in terms of the draw, but they have still been getting the job done.

In saying that, most of their best form has been in front of their home fans and they have won just two of their past seven games as away underdogs.

This really looks like another very winnable clash for Manly and they should be able to cover the line of 4.5 points.

Back Manly To Beat The Line (-4.5 Points)

It has been a tough start to the NRL season for the Gold Coast Titans and they will go into this clash with the Canberra Raiders as clear underdogs.

The Titans had a big lead against the New Zealand Warriors, but they threw it away in the second half and defence continues to be an issue.

Gold Coast have won two of their past seven games as home underdogs for a very small profit, but they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

Canberra produced a complete performance to comfortably account for the Parramatta Eels and this is their chance to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

The Raiders have actually won four of their past five games as home favourites for a clear profit and they have an identical record against the line.

Canberra have actually played better than their record suggests so far this season and they should comfortably account for the struggling Titans.

Back Canberra To Beat The Line (-6.5 Points)

The North Queensland Cowboys are the shortest-priced favourites in the NRL this weekend and the market suggests that they should have no trouble dispatching the struggling Wests Tigers.

North Queensland were not at their best against South Sydney last weekend, but they were always in control and cruised to a fairly comfortable victory.

They have now won 11 of their past 12 games as home favourites and they are 7-1-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Wests Tigers produced another poor effort against the St George Illawarra Dragons last weekend and their round one win over South Sydney now seems like an eternity ago.

It is likely that Ivan Cleary will be named the new Wests Tigers coach before this game gets underway and that should give the Tigers some boost, while they have won four of their past ten games as away underdogs for a clear profit.

There is no doubt that North Queensland should win this game comfortably, but the line is a massive 16.5 points and that means this is a clash that I would rather stay out of from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The New Zealand Warriors started the Kieran Foran era with a win over the Gold Coast Titans and they will start this clash as favourites.

New Zealand were slow out of the blocks against the Titans, but they did show some mental toughness to come from behind to win.

The Warriors have still proven to be a losing betting proposition as home favourites – they have won only five of their past nine games in this scenario and they are yet to cover the line in this scenario.

Parramatta suffered their third loss on the trot with a fairly uninspiring performance against the Canberra Raiders and it really is tough to get excited about their prospects this season.

The Eels have struggled away from home over the past 12 months and they have won only one of their past eight games as away underdogs, while they are 3-5 against the line in this scenario.

The betting market that does stand out in this clash is the Total Points betting market and the Over really does look like value.

The Over has saluted in eight of the past 12 games played at Mt Smart Stadium and backing the Over in games involving both these sides has been highly profitable over the past 12 months.

Back Over 41.5 Points

This is a Sunday afternoon blockbuster as the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks do battle in a rematch of the 2016 NRL Grand Final.

Cronulla beat Melbourne to claim their maiden premiership, but they have made a slow start to the 2017 NRL season.

They have won their past two games against the Parramatta Eels and the Newcastle Knights, but it is fair to say that their performances have not been particularly impressive.

The Sharks will start this clash as underdogs and this is a position in which they have thrived over the past 12 months – they have won five of their past six games as away underdogs for a massive profit and always seem to outperform market expectations on the road.

Melbourne consolidated their positions as premiership favourites with an excellent effort against the Penrith Panthers and they really have made a scintillating start to the season.

They are clearly deserving of their position as premiership favourites and already look like a fairly safe bet to claim the minor premiership.

The Storm have won ten of their past 13 games as home favourites for a clear profit, but they are only 6-7 against the line in this scenario.

It really would not surprise to see Cronulla go to another level against a side like the Melbourne Storm and they are a great bet to cover the line with a start of 7.5 points.

Back Cronulla To Beat The Line (+7.5 Points)

2016

The fiercest rivalry in the NRL continues this weekend when the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters do battle in Friday Night Football.

The rest of the round is highlighted by Grand Final rematches, with the New Zealand Warriors set to host the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday night before the Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs replicate the 2013 Premiership decider in Monday Night Football.

The Brisbane Broncos were always in control against the Gold Coast Titans last weekend and they are clear favourites to continue their winning streak against a struggling St George Illawarra Dragons.

The Broncos continue to be a very consistent betting side and they have lost just three of their past ten games as home favourites, while they are 8-5 against the line in the same scenario.

St George Illawarra were extremely poor against the North Queensland Cowboys last weekend and they will need to improve significantly in both offense and defense to have any chance this weekend.

The Dragons are 6-9 against the line as underdogs in the past 12 months and that record does not improve when they travel away from Sydney.

The data suggests that the Broncos should have no problems covering the line of 14 points and their is also another betting play that stands out here.

The under has saluted in two of the past 13 Dragons games and the Broncos have been a perennial unders team since the return of Wayne Bennett.

Recommended Bets: Back The Brisbane Broncos To Beat The Line (-14 Points) And Under (38.5 Points)

The rivalry between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters is one of the fiercest in all of Australian sport, but neither side is taking a great deal of form into this fixture.

South Sydney got the win against Manly last Thursday Night, but they were still far from convincing and they will be without Adam Reynolds again this weekend.

The Roosters are still chasing their first win of the season after a heart-breaking golden point defeat at the hands of the New Zealand Warriors, but they continue to show improvement.

The Rabbitohs have proven a safe betting play as favourites in the past 12 months and they are 7-2 as favourites in front of their home fans in this period, but their record against the line is far from convincing in this scenario.

Sydney are 2-2 as away underdogs in the past 12 months and their record against the line is 3-1, which makes them an interesting betting proposition again this weekend.

They might not be able to score their first win of the season, but this should be a closer game than the betting suggests and I am keen to back the Roosters with the start of a converted try.

Recommended Bet: Back The Sydney Roosters To Beat The Line (+6 Points)

The Parramatta Eels have come back to earth with a thud following their last minute loss to the Parramatta Eels, while the Canberra Raiders returned to winning form with an excellent performance against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

The Eels are clear favourites again here and this has been a position in which they have really struggled in the past 12 months – they are 3-9 as favourites and 0-4 at Pirtek Stadium.

In contrast, Canberra have been a clear winning proposition as underdogs in the past 12 months and they have won five of their last eight games as away underdogs.

They are 6-2 against the line in the same scenario and I am keen to really get behind the Raiders this weekend, who I believe have just as much talent in their side as the Eels.

Recommended Bets: Back The Canberra Raiders To Win @ $2.55 And To Beat The Line (+4.5 Points)

The New Zealand Warriors historically have a very poor record against the Manly Sea Eagles and have won just two of the past 14 games played between the two sides, but will start this game as clear favourites.

The Warriors survived a scare against the Roosters last weekend and they still look far from impressive, while the Sea Eagles were the better team against the Rabbitohs, but were unable to walk away with the two points.

It still staggers me that the Warriors are such short-priced favourites here as they have been a losing betting proposition in just about every metric in the past 12 months and they are 4-8 against the line in front of their home fans.

Manly have not been overly impressive in the past 12 months, but they have still been a strong betting side and they have won five of their past 11 games as underdogs.

They will be without Daly Cherry-Evans again, but Dylan Walker and Apisai Koroisau will have benefited from the game against the Rabbitohs and can lead their team to an upset victory.

Recommended Bet: Back Manly Sea Eagles To Win @ $3.15

The North Queensland Cowboys have won five of their last six games against the Penrith Panthers and are favourites to beat their rivals against this weekend.

The Cowboys played at their brilliant best against the Dragons last weekend and if they produce a similar performance this weekend they will prove too good for the Panthers, while they been a strong betting proposition as away favourites in the past 12 months.

Penrith have performed well this season and their record against the line as away favourites is 5-2 and they have to be respected, but the Cowboys simply have too many weapons for their rivals and are well over the odds at their current quote of $1.70.

Recommended Bet: Back The North Queensland Cowboys To Win @ $1.70

The Cronulla Sharks made it two wins on the trot when they scored a controversial win over the Wests Tigers last weekend, while the Gold Coast Titans were gallant in defeat against the Brisbane Broncos.

Cronulla have opened as clear favourites and they have been a very safe bet in this scenario in the past 12 months – they are 5-3 in head to head betting as home favourites and they have the exact same record against the lie.

The Titans have defied expectations during this season to date and they covered the line against the Broncos last weekend, but their record away from home has not been particularly convincing and they are 5-7 as away favourites.

The Sharks have developed into a professional football outfit and I am confident that they can put away the Titans to beat the line of 10.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Cronulla Sharks To Beat The Line (-10.5 Points)

The Newcastle Knights are still yet to win a game this season, but they have produced improved performances in recent weeks and they were gallant in defeat against the Melbourne Storm last weekend.

Expectations were very high for the Wests Tigers when they started the season with back-to-back wins, but they have now lost three games on the trot and they appear to be a worse outfit with Robbie Farah on the park.

The Tigers are very narrow favourites here and this will be the first time in the past 12 months that they have started an away game as favourite, but their record as favourites in recent times is a truly putrid 1-5.

The only problem here is that the Knights have been an awful betting proposition across a number of different metrics in the past 12 months and they really can’t be trusted.

There really aren’t any betting markets here and I am happy to let these two struggling outfits battle it out.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Melbourne Storm keep grinding away this season and they have lost just the one game, but they haven’t really looked particularly good in the process.

Canterbury have looked liker premiership contenders at times in 2016, but they have also thrown in a number of absolute stinkers and they were very poor against the Raiders last Monday night.

The Storm as favourites at AAMI Park is one of the safest bets in the NRL and they have lost only two of their past ten games in this scenario, but their record against the line at home is only middling.

The Bulldogs have covered the line in five of their last eight games as away favourites, but the line of 2.5 points is not particularly generous and I have turned to the total points betting markets for the value.

The Under has saluted in 17 of the last 25 games played bu the Storm and 15 of the last 24 games involving the Bulldogs, so it clearly the play on Monday night.

Recommended Bet: Back Under 38.5 Points