The following are previews with betting tips for Round 19 of the 2018 NRL season.
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Eels v BulldogsThu, Jul 19, 7:50pm |
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Parramatta conceded another disappointing loss at the hands of a spirited Newcastle Knights outfit last week with many of the Eels’ squad playing for their position for season 2019. The club will be facing a major overhaul in the off-season after their disappointing campaign and they will face a Bulldogs outfit who are facing similar issues but may find themselves unable to make the required changes with a restricted salary cap.
Canterbury have named and unchanged squad after their last-start loss to the Rabbitohs, while the Eels have made only one change as Kaysa Pritchard joins the squad at hooker to cover the injured Cameron King.
After showing some encouraging signs in recent games, the Eels’ recent form will see them installed as favourites for this game. A number of departures and injuries to key players for the Bulldogs has forced them to rely on a contingent of young, inexperienced players. While the form of these rookies will surely give Canterbury fans hope, expect their lack of experience to prove the difference as Parramatta get the win.
Betting Tip: Eels -2.5 @ $1.93 (Bet365)
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Sharks v RaidersFri, Jul 20, 6:00pm |
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Other teams’ results have breathed life into the Raiders’ season with consecutive wins for the Canberra club further buoying their finals hopes. They will face an in-form Sharks outfit who last disposed of the Panthers in an impressive display. Cronulla have welcomed back key troops onto the field in recent games and look to be peaking at the right time heading into the finals.
The Raiders will welcome Brad Abbey to return at fullback with Michael Oldfield shifting to centre to cover the injured Jarred Croker. Cronulla have named only one change with Jesse Ramien also joining the centres.
The Sharks will enter the match as favourites with the form they have displayed in the last month. Despite this, Canberra will be confident after producing a massive 38-12 win over the Cowboys in their last game and will bring form and momentum into the contest. While the Raiders have a lot of potential, they still struggle to consistently perform across 80 minutes. Whichever team wins the contest in the middle of the field will have a big advantage but expect the experience and composure of the Sharks to earn them the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders +6.0 @ $1.91 (William Hill)
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Broncos v PanthersFri, Jul 20, 7:50pm |
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The Broncos are backing up from a lackluster performance against the Warriors last week that put a major dent in their top-four hopes in concerning signs for the Brisbane club. They will face a Penrith outfit who are also struggling, having won only one match from their last four outings with their last defeat coming against a resurgent Sharks outfit.
Both teams featured heavily in the mid-year representative period and will be glad to have their full team consistently available for selection once again. The Panthers will draft in reinforcements in a massive boost with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, Josh Mansour and Tyrone Peachey all returning to their squad. Brisbane will welcome back James Roberts and Tevita Pangai Jnr to return in place of David Fifita and the injured Jaydn Su’a.
The Broncos will enter the contest as narrow favourites but with so many returning players, this contest could go either way. Expect both teams to be fired up with this result potentially informing the make-up of the top four. It will be a tight contest across the park but expect the form of the Panthers’ spine to prove the difference as Penrith get the win.
Betting Tip: Panthers +1.5 @ $1.92 (Ladbrokes)
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Knights v TitansSat, Jul 21, 3:00pm |
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While the Knights are not in finals contention for 2018, there have been major improvements to their form and roster this year that will leave fans hopeful for their 2019 season. They will face a Titans outfit who have consistently underperformed throughout the year under new coach Garth Brennan with their last result coming as a disappointing loss to the Roosters.
Newcastle will welcome back Nathan Ross and Lachlan Fitzgibbon at centre and interchange respectively in an otherwise unchanged squad. The Titans have named only two changes as Jai Arrow and Keegan Hipgrave join the forward rotation in a big boost for the Gold Coast club.
With both teams possessing enormous potential but producing inconsistent form, this contest could go either way. The return of Arrow and Hipgrave will be a big boost for the Titans whose forward rotation struggles to dominate the ruck at times. Newcastle certainly will not make it easy but expect the Titans to get the win in a see-sawing contest.
Betting Tip: Titans +1.5 @ $2.00 (Bet365)
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Tigers v RabbitohsSat, Jul 21, 5:30pm |
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The Tigers are planning a late-season surge into finals contention with mid-season recruits Robbie Farah and Moses Mbye proving their worth in an impressive 20-16 win over the Dragons last week. They will be facing the competition leading Rabbitohs in a massive test for the young Wests outfit after South Sydney notched their ninth consecutive victory against the Bulldogs last week.
Wests have been forced into one change with injury as Michael Chee Kam shifts to the second-row and Alex Twal joins the interchange. The Rabbitohs will similarly make only one change with Jason Clark joining the bench.
South Sydney have surged into premiership favoritism, but the club should be on high alert against a Wests Tigers outfit who are playing themselves into form. It was a disappointing mid-season slump from the Tigers after encouraging form in their early season but coach Ivan Cleary will be pushing his troops to perform against the competition leaders. The Rabbitohs should get the win but expect Wests to push them to their limit.
Betting Tip: Tigers +9.5 @ $1.93 (Bet365)
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Cowboys v DragonsSat, Jul 21, 7:30pm |
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After conceding a 38-12 drubbing at the hands of the Raiders last week, the Cowboys will face an even bigger test in a Dragons outfit who have been knocked-off their perch as the team to beat. Suffering from an Origin slump, consecutive defeats to the Storm and Tigers has seen St George drop to third on the competition ladder but with the representative period finished, coach Paul McGregor will be pushing his troops to recreate the fantastic form that saw them lead the competition earlier in the year.
Francis Molo will join the North Queenslanders’ bench as Justin O’Neill also comes onto the wing. The Dragons have named an unchanged squad in a good sign that their top-squad will settle back into form.
St George will enter the contest as heavy favourites and will be eager to produce a dominant performance against an out-of-form Cowboys outfit. The North Queenslanders are struggling for confidence and while they will be eager to get the win for the retiring Jonathan Thurston, expect the Dragons to spoil their party.
Betting Tip: Dragons -4.0 @ $1.90 (Palmerbet)
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Warriors v StormSun, Jul 22, 2:00pm |
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The Warriors produced a dominant performance against the Broncos last week but will be on high-alert against a Melbourne outfit searching for their seventh consecutive win. The Origin period is typically a struggle for the Storm, but the representative retirement of Cameron Smith has enabled the Victorian club to climb the competition ladder to now sit in second position.
The Kiwis will welcome Ken Maumalo to return on the wing as Gerard Beale shifts to centre. After an impressive last-round win over Manly, Melbourne will welcome their full representative contingent as Billy Slater, Will Chambers, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi all return to the starting side.
Despite their victory last week, the Warriors still displayed some concerning signs in their consistency across 80 minutes of football. Melbourne will be eager to consolidate their top-four position with a win and unless the Warriors can produce a massive form turnaround, expect the Victorians to get the points.
Betting Tip: Storm -3.5 @ $1.92 (Sportsbet)
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Sea Eagles v RoostersSun, Jul 22, 4:10pm |
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Manly’s disappointing season was typified by their field-goal loss to the Storm last week, but they will have no reprieve facing the Roosters with the tri-colours fighting hard to retain their top-four position. The ‘Chooks’ produced a solid victory over the Titans last round but should be wary of a Sea Eagles squad who have displayed devastating form at times this season.
The Roosters will welcome back their full representative contingent as James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell and Boyd Cordner join their squad. Cooper Cronk, Victor Radley and Mitchell Aubusson will also join the team in a massive boost for the club. Meanwhile, Manly have elected to name an unchanged outfit for the clash.
The tri-colours will enter this contest as heavy favourites but should be wary of a Manly outfit who pushed the Storm to their limit last week, albeit without their Origin stars. While they boast a potent backline, the Sea Eagles will be at a significant disadvantage in the middle of the field. Expect the Roosters to dominate the ruck to come away with the win.
Betting Tip: Roosters -5.5 @ $1.93 (Bet365)
Best Bet
Panthers +1.5 @ $1.92 (Ladbrokes)