The following are previews with betting tips for Round 11 of the 2019 NRL season.
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Eels v PanthersThu, May 23, 7.50pm |
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A dismal last-start loss to the Warriors has the Panthers running last on the competition ladder with only two wins from 10 performances this year. Ivan Cleary’s baptism of fire in his Penrith return looks likely to continue with speculation over Origin selection further distracting his playing group. Their opponent in the Eels were disappointed with a 17-10 loss to the Cowboys last week, and will be desperate to avoid their third consecutive loss.
Both teams have named reshuffled squads, with David Gower joining the Eels’ bench and Blake Ferguson shifting to centre. Meanwhile, the Panthers will welcome Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Josh Mansour to their starting line up. Jarome Luai will replace the suspended James Maloney at five-eighth with Liam Martin and Tim Grant joining the interchange.
Parramatta will be looking to return to top form after falling well short of the high early-season standards in their last few performances. It is difficult to back the Panthers given their recent form. Eels to get the win.
Betting Tip: Eels -6.0 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Sea Eagles v TitansFri, May 24, 6.00pm |
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Des Hasler’s Manly outfit are the most improved squad in the competition this year, shown once again by last week’s upset win over the Sharks. Their opposition will be a Titans outfit who have slumped to their worst start to the season in the club’s history after they were held scoreless in the second half by the Bulldogs in a disappointing performance.
Shannon Boyd and Keegan Hipgrave will join the Gold Coast interchange in an otherwise unchanged squad, while Des Hasler has elected to name the same 17 as last week.
Manly’s performance this season has been nothing short of phenomenal, proving Des Hasler still has much to contribute as one of the NRL’s elite coaches. While the Titans will be desperate, their lack of confidence and cohesion is a polar opposite to the composure Hasler’s inexperienced line-up has consistently displayed, particularly impressive in the absence of key players. The Titans will need a big turnaround if they want to win this contest. Sea Eagles to get the points.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles -6.0 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
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Knights v RoostersFri, May 24, 7.55pm |
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Newcastle completed their surge back into form and the top eight with a massive 45-12 win over the Dragons last week, but they will face a Roosters outfit whose eight game winning streak was snapped by Brisbane with the reigning premiers sure to produce a big response. This will be a massive opportunity for the Knights to test themselves against the competition’s best, and should be an interesting insight into their ability to go deep into the finals.
Trent Robinson will welcome Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou to his starting 17 in a massive boost for the Roosters. Their opposition in Newcastle have named an unchanged squad.
Roosters’ superstars Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco were kept uncharacteristically quiet last week by the Broncos, a feat the Knights will be hoping to emulate. The return of Cordner and Tupou is a huge advantage for the Roosters, but the Sydney club should be wary of the Novacastrians, who will be looking for their fifth consecutive win. Newcastle have the talent to push the Roosters to their limit, but may have some development to go before they can match it with the competition’s best. Roosters to get the win.
Betting Tip: Knights +6.5 @ $1.90 (Pointsbet)
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Raiders v CowboysSat, May 25, 3.00pm |
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Consecutive losses to competition heavyweights in the Roosters and South Sydney has not lost the Raiders any fans, but the Canberra club will be eager to return to the winner’s circle having failed to beat a current top-four team this year. Their opposition in the Cowboys produced a controlled performance against the Eels in a 17-10 victory, but the fourth placed Raiders will be a huge test for the North Queenslanders.
Ricky Stuart has named only one change to his Raiders line-up, as Joe Tapine returns on the bench in a welcome boost for the club. For the Cowboys, an injury to Ben Hampton means Gideon Gela-Mosby joins the squad on the wing, while Josh McGuire could also be a late inclusion after the Maroons stalwart was named in the reserves.
Canberra will be desperate to avoid their third consecutive loss but should be confident of producing some form during the Origin period with only a handful of players in the selection conversation, despite the club’s good form. Expect a number of Cowboys players to produce a big game in a bid to break into the Maroons’ 17, but the class of the Raiders should prove too much in what will likely be a tight contest. Canberra to get the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders -6.5 @ $1.91 (Pointsbet)
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Warriors v BroncosSat, May 25, 5.30pm |
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Brisbane produced the form that fans expected from the club over the off-season with a fantastic 15-10 win over the Roosters last week to snap the reigning premiers’ eight game winning streak. The Broncos now face a difficult away trip to New Zealand as the Warriors search for their third consecutive win on the back of some fantastic performances from former Brisbane halfback Kodi Nikorima.
Brisbane mentor Anthony Seibold has named the same 17 in positive signs for the club, while the Warriors will welcome Adam Blair back to their bench to cover the suspended Agnatius Paasi.
The Warriors typically produce a big performance hosting the Broncos at their home-ground, but this should be a particularly big match for the Kiwis, given it is Kodi Nikorima’s first hit-out against his old team. Both squads boast damaging forward rotations and class in the back-line to capitalize on the ruck speed that follows. It will be a massive battle in the forwards, but expect the Warriors home-ground advantage to give them the edge in a close contest.
Betting Tip: Warriors Head to Head @ $1.85 (bet365)
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Rabbitohs v TigersSat, May 25, 7.35pm |
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South Sydney now sit at the top of the competition ladder, clear of other top-four sides having only lost one game so far this year. The club produced yet another classy victory against the Cowboys last week and will be eager to bank premiership points with a number of key players firming for State of Origin selection. Their opposition will be a Tigers outfit who came agonizingly close to victory over Melbourne last week in a heart-breaking two-point loss.
Souths have named the same 17 as last week, while Tigers mentor Michael Maguire has named Paul Momirovski in the centres in an otherwise unchanged line-up.
While Souths will head into this contest as favourites, an upset could be on the cards if the Tigers can produce their best football. However, it is difficult to tip against the Rabbitohs at the moment, particularly given Wests’ inconsistency this season with the club failing to produce consecutive victories since their first two games this year. Rabbitohs to get the win.
Betting Tip: Tigers +8.0 @ $1.91 (Pointsbet)
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Bulldogs v StormSun, May 26, 2.00pm |
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Despite being far from their best, Melbourne snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Tigers last week in an impressive comeback win. The Victorian club will be hosted the Bulldogs, whose last-start win over the Titans proved an encouraging boost for Dean Pay’s inexperienced squad.
Both teams have named only one change to their 17 as Jahrome Hughes returns at fullback for Melbourne and Christian Chrichton joins the Bulldogs’ wing in place of the injured Jayden Okunbor.
Canterbury have produced a number of brave performances against quality opposition this year with the club taking a longer-term view to developing their young roster. Melbourne should be wary against the ‘Dogs’ after an effective game-plan had the Sydney club pushing the Victorians to their limit in round four. If the Storm’s relatively poor form continues, Canterbury are in with a chance – but unless Melbourne produce an uncharacteristically poor performance they should get the win.
Betting Tip: Bulldogs +10.0 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Dragons v SharksSun, May 26, 4.05pm |
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The Dragons will be hoping to arrest a form slump after last week’s woeful loss to the Knights has the joint-venture club desperate to avoid their fifth consecutive loss. Their opposition in Cronulla were humbled by an injury depleted Manly outfit last week as the Shire club looks to break back into the top eight to set themselves up for the representative period.
St George mentor Paul McGregor has named a number of changes to his squad, with Euan Aitken recalled to the centres and Jonus Pearson making his club debut on the wing in place of Matt Dufty and Mikaela Ravalawa. Reece Robson and Korbin Sims will also join the bench. Meanwhile, the Sharks have named an unchanged line-up from last week.
Cronulla will be hurting from last week’s loss to Manly, so expect a big response from the Shire club against a struggling Dragons outfit. If St George can get back to their best, they will go a long way toward winning this match, but the club may struggle with a number of elite players still missing. Sharks to get the points.
Betting Tip: Sharks Head to Head @ $2.02 (Topbetta)
Best Bets
Warriors Head to Head @ $1.85 (bet365)
Tigers +8.0 @ $1.91 (Pointsbet)
Bulldogs +10.0 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)