The following are previews with betting tips for Round 12 of the 2017 NRL season.
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Rabbitohs v EelsFri May 26, 7:50 pm, ANZ Stadium |
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The South Sydney Rabbitohs will play the Parramatta Eels this Friday night with both clubs producing disappointing but encouraging losses last week. While they failed to break down the Storm’s defensive wall, the Rabbitohs displayed impressive composure to keep the score-line so low, while the Eels were close to victory against the Raiders in the debut of new signing Mitchell Moses.
George Burgess will make his return from suspension from the interchange, while Brad Takairangi will replace the injured Michael Jennings in the centres for the Eels in the only change for both clubs.
Both squads have been underperforming despite their potential, but with minimal Origin representation for each team, both coaches will be keenly aware of the need to capitalise during the Origin period to make the top eight. The Rabbitohs will go into the match as favourites, but expect the Eels to go one better after an encouraging performance against the Raiders last week. Parramatta to get the points.
Betting Tip: Eels Head to Head @ $2.11 (Pinnacle)
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Warriors v BroncosSat May 27, 5:30 pm, Mt Smart Stadium |
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The New Zealand Warriors will host the Brisbane Broncos this Saturday night in the Brisbane club’s first match without their Origin stars. Brisbane have a heavy Origin representation this year with six players called into the Queensland Origin team. Brisbane were impressive in their 36-nil win over the Tigers last week, while their opposition were poor against the Dragons.
Corey Oates, Sam Thaiday, Darius Boyd, Anthony Milford, Matt Gillett and Josh McGuire are all absent for the Broncos, with Andrew McCullough also unnamed due to a head injury. Jonus Pearson will come onto the wing as David Mead and Jordan Kahu shift to wing and fullback respectively. Jaydn Su’a and Travis Waddell will join the starting forward pack as George Fai and Jai Arrow join the interchange. The Warriors will lose only Jacob Lillyman to Origin, as Simon Mannering and Albert Vete join the Warriors’ side in their only changes.
With such an enormous Origin representation and a completely new halves combination, the Broncos’ prospects of winning look shaky at best. While they have been down on form recently, the Warriors often lift against their Queensland opposition, and the Broncos have traditionally struggled against the Kiwis without the Origin players. The result could go either way but expect the Warriors to get the better of the baby Broncos.
Betting Tip: Warriors 13+ @ $2.50 (Unibet)
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Sharks v BulldogsSat May 27, 7:30 pm, Southern Cross Group Stadium |
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The Cronulla Sharks will take on the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs this Saturday night with both sides fielding a number of players for the NSW Origin team. Expect a scrappy contest with inexperienced players named as cover and with both teams producing a narrow win and loss last week, this game should be an interesting insight into the mental fortitude of each club.
The Sharks will lose Jack Bird, James Maloney, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham in a huge loss in both their forwards and backs, while the Bulldogs will be without Brett Morris, Josh Jackson and David Klemmer. The Sharks will bring in Edrick Lee, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Capewell and Matt Prior into their starting side, while the Bulldogs have named Asipeli Fine, Francis Taulau and Marcelo Montoya as cover.
With both sides missing their most experienced players, it is difficult to predict how each team will respond. It is a tough one to call but expect the Sharks’ winning habits that have seen them win eight of their 11 games make the different with Cronulla to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks Head to Head @ $1.57 (Ladbrokes)
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Raiders v RoostersSun May 28, 4:00 pm, GIO Stadium |
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The Canberra Raiders will take on the Sydney Roosters this Sunday afternoon with the Canberra club looking to capitalise on their relatively limited representative toll during the Origin period to put themselves back into the frame for a top four position. They will face a Roosters outfit currently sitting fourth on the competition ladder and short of troops with Boyd Cordner, Mitchell Pearce, Aidan Guerra and Blake Ferguson all named for their respective states, while the Raiders will lose only one player in Josh Papalii.
Luke Bateman will return on the interchange for the Raiders with the Roosters naming Connor Watson, Zane Tetevano, Isaac Liu and Lindsay Collins joining the side as cover.
The Roosters will struggle without their Origin players, particularly with both halves absent from the team. Expect Jake Friend to take a big leadership role for the Chooks, but the lack of experience in the Roosters team will be a vulnerability against a hungry Raiders outfit. Expect the Raiders to get the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders -6.5 @ $1.91 (William Hill)
Best Bet
Warriors 13+ @ $2.50 (Unibet)