The following are previews with betting tips for Round 5 of the 2019 NRL season.
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Broncos v Tigers
Thu, Apr 11, 7.50pm
Suncorp Stadium |
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Brisbane produced a woeful performance against the reigning premiers for their worst loss ever to the Roosters. Anthony Seibold’s men are under a heap of pressure leading into their clash against a Wests outfit who were pipped by Penrith last week in a thrilling golden-point contest.
Tevita Pangai Jr faces two weeks on the sidelines after a late-hit on Cooper Cronk last week with rookie Patrick Carrigan to make his NRL debut from the bench and David Fifita shifting to the starting side for Brisbane. Payne Haas was also included in the reserves and may yet join the final 17. For the Tigers, Josh Aloiai will join the starting 13, relegating Elijah Taylor to the reserves.
The Broncos made key errors to give the Roosters a massive amount of possession last week and they will be looking to execute in key moments in this game. Meanwhile, the Tigers were very unlucky in their last-start loss to Penrith and will be looking to put more points on the board and back their effective defensive structures to get the job done. Broncos to get the points in a tight game.
Betting Tip: Tigers +6.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Titans v Panthers
Fri, Apr 12, 6.00pm
CBus Super Stadium |
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A desperate Titans outfit will host the Panthers this Friday night after the Penrith club snatched victory from the jaws of defeat via a Nathan Cleary field-goal against the Tigers last week. As the only side in the competition without a win, Gold Coast faithful were left disappointed after their club’s last-start loss to a dominant Warriors outfit, particularly after fielding such a strong squad.
Ivan Cleary has swapped Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Dylan Edwards between fullback and wing as Viliame Kikau shifts to the starting side and Tyrell Fuimano joins the bench. The Titans have named only one change with Max King replacing the suspended Moeaki Fotuaika.
Both teams have had disappointing starts to their respective seasons, with the Panthers unable to meet the expectations placed upon them over the pre-season and the Titans failing to score a win. Penrith will enter the match as favourites but looked far from their best last week. Both teams will need to produce a major turnaround in their form for a win but expect the Panthers to get over the line.
Betting Tip: Panthers -4.0 @ $1.95 (Pointsbet)
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Cowboys v Storm
Fri, Apr 12, 7.55pm
1300Smiles Stadium |
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Despite their two-point victory, the Melbourne Storm were well below their best last week against a Canterbury outfit who pushed them to the edge. The Victorians face a North Queensland outfit who have produced three consecutive losses as Paul Green continues to tinker with his back-line.
Melbourne will welcome back Josh Addo-Carr as Marion Seve shifts to the wing to cover the suspended Suliasi Vunivalu in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Paul Green has drafted rookie Enari Tuala into the centres with Ben Hampton shifting to the wing.
The Cowboys were competitive against the Raiders last week but lacked the execution to close out the game. Melbourne are perhaps the best placed team to capitalize on this vulnerability, and expect a response from Craig Bellamy’s men after their lacklustre performance last week. The Cowboys struggles look set to continue with Melbourne to get the win.
Betting Tip: Storm 13+ @ $2.50 (Unibet)
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Rabbitohs v Warriors
Sat, Apr 13, 3.00pm
Sunshine Coast Stadium |
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South Sydney were handed their first loss of the season through a Daly Cherry-Evans field-goal against Manly last week and they will now face a Warriors outfit who bounced back from a woeful round three loss with a dominant performance against the Titans. The Kiwis look to have unearthed another star with Chanel Harris-Tavita performing admirably in his NRL debut at five-eighth with coach Stephen Kearney sure to be desperate to find a good foil for halfback Blake Green.
Kyle Turner has been named in the centres with Greg Inglis still injured as Liam Knight joins the bench. For the Warriors, Sam Lisone will join the interchange in his return from suspension in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Wayne Bennett’s primary strength as a coach is his ability to get his roster playing to their potential. Souths have been doing exactly that over the opening rounds and expect a big response from the Rabbitohs after their first loss of the season. The Warriors look as though they need to settle their spine combinations and their coach and fans alike will hope Harris-Tavita will stick around for the long-term. Expect Souths to get the win against a Warriors outfit far from their best.
Betting Tip: Tri Bet – Either team by 6.5 or Less @ $3.25 (Pointsbet)
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Knights v Sea Eagles
Sat, Apr 13, 5.30pm
McDonald Jones Stadium |
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A field-goal victory over Souths in extra time handed Manly their second consecutive win, but their form turnaround was soured by another hamstring injury to star fullback Tom Trbojevic – who faces another lengthy stint on the sidelines. Coming up against a Knights outfit who have conceded a number of tight losses in recent weeks, this contest shapes as a big test for two teams desperate to prove themselves genuine finals contenders.
Brendan Elliot will shift to fullback for Manly, with Moses Suli coming into the centres in an otherwise unchanged squad. Newcastle have similarly made only one change with James Gavet starting at prop.
Both teams have endured injury plagued seasons and have been unable to nail down solid spine combinations. The loss of Tom Trbojevic is huge for Manly, while the Knights are still searching for a long-term five-eighth prospect after Kayln Ponga’s shift to fullback. Expect a big response from Newcastle after their field-goal loss to the Dragons last week with the Novacastrians to get the win.
Betting Tip: Knights -4.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Sharks v Roosters
Sat, Apr 13, 7.35pm
Shark Park |
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The reigning premiers flexed their considerable muscle against the Broncos last week with a powerful 32-point victory. They will face an embattled Cronulla outfit who were rolled by the Eels in their last match after a number of key players were ruled out for the Shire club.
Shaun Johnson and Paul Gallen will return after withdrawing late from Cronulla’s last game. Meanwhile, the Roosters’ middle rotation is set for a big boost with the return of Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Roosters will go into this contest as heavy favourites after Trent Robinson’s troops looked slick in top-flight against Brisbane last week. Cronulla will look to bring their trademark physical style to the Roosters in a bid to put their star players off their game, but the class of the reigning premiers should prove too much for the Sharks.
Betting Tip: Halftime/Fulltime – Roosters/Roosters @ $2.08 (Topbetta)
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Dragons v Bulldogs
Sun, Apr 14, 4.05pm
Jubilee Stadium |
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St George have bounced back from a shaky start to the season with consecutive victories, both decided by a Corey Norman field-goal. Their opposition will be the Bulldogs, who pushed the Storm to their limit in a courageous last-start loss. The Dogs’ form has released some of the pressure on rookie coach Dean Pay, but unless his team can convert their form into premiership points they risk slipping from finals contention with a 1-4 start to the year.
Tyson Frizell was a huge inclusion last week and will shift to his preferred position of second-row. St George have also named Luciano Leilua on the bench to cover the injured Korbin Sims. For the Bulldogs, Dylan Napa will be a huge loss after being ruled out with an ankle injury. Ofahiki Ogden will shift to the starting side as cover with Sauaso Sue joining the bench.
St George’s recent wins have been built off the back of powerhouse performances by key forwards. The likes of James Graham, Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell have been leading the way and will look to dominate a Canterbury rotation missing Dylan Napa. The Bulldogs will likely attempt the same ball movement that was so effective against Melbourne in an effort to tire out the Dragons’ massive pack – but the class in the St George spine will prove the difference. Dragons to get the points.
Betting Tip: Dragons -6.0 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
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Raiders v Eels
Sun, Apr 14, 6.10pm
GIO Stadium |
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In a massive turnaround, the Raiders and Eels find themselves vying for a top four position with both clubs dropping only one game over the opening four rounds. Parramatta produced a class performance against the Sharks last week, while the Raiders continued their run of closing out games strongly in a 30-12 win over the Cowboys.
The Eels have named an unchanged squad for the clash, while the Raiders will welcome Joseph Tapine back from injury on the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Eels’ only loss of the season has come against the reigning premiers with the Parramatta club showing enormously encouraging signs early in the year. Similarly, the Raiders look a more mature football side than years past and their recent form will see them enter the match as favourites. This one could go either way but expect Parramatta to match their opposition’s defensive resolve to get the points.
Betting Tip: Eels Head to Head @ $2.55 (Topbetta)
Best Bet
Storm 13+ @ $2.50 (Unibet)
Eels Head to Head @ $2.55 (Topbetta)
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