The following are previews with betting tips for Round 14 of the 2019 NRL season.
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Raiders v Sharks
Thu, Jun 13, 7.50pm
GIO Stadium |
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Thursday night will see a blockbuster clash between the Raiders and Sharks with both teams looking for their third consecutive win. Canberra last produced a massive 28-0 win over the Tigers last week, despite a bulging injury ward, while the Sharks were equally impressive against Parramatta in their last performance.
Ricky Stuart has unsurprisingly named an unchanged 17 this week, while the Sharks will welcome Josh Morris back in the centres at the expense of Aaron Gray. Shaun Johnson could also be a late inclusion after the boom halfback was named in the reserves.
Canberra will enter the match as narrow favourites but should be wary of a Sharks outfit who are quickly returning to their best, particularly in attack after they produced 42 points against the Eels last week. The Raiders have struggled against quality opposition at times throughout 2019, and without Josh Hodgson – Cronulla should have a major advantage through the ruck. This one could go either way but expect the Sharks to get the points.
Betting Tip: Sharks H2H @ $2.02 (Topbetta)
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Titans v Warriors
Fri, Jun 14, 6.00pm
CBus Super Stadium |
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A rousing upset win over Brisbane did little to ease pressure on embattled Titans coach Garth Brennan as fans and critics alike wait for the findings of a mid-season review of the Gold Coast club’s football department. They will face a Warriors outfit who were blown off the park by the Storm last week as the Kiwis face pressure to avoid their third consecutive loss.
The Titans will be without Kevin Proctor and Keegan Hipgrave as Bryce Cartwright and Tyrone Peachy shift to the second-row. Shannon Boyd will also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Stephen Kearney has named only two changes for the Warriors as Patrick Herbert and Jazz Tevaga join the side at centre and from the bench respectively.
The Titans looked a different squad last week, particularly with Ryley Jacks in the halfback jersey. Both teams have lacked discipline and execution throughout 2019, and will need to find both quickly if they’re a hope of making the top-eight. This match is a tough one to pick given both teams’ inconsistent form but expect a big response from the Kiwis after they were hammered last week. Warriors to get the points.
Betting Tip: Warriors H2H @ $2.00 (Ladbrokes)
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Cowboys v Tigers
Fri, Jun 14, 7.55pm
1300Smiles Stadium |
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The Cowboys were frustrated by a number of controversial penalties in key moments in their narrow loss to Manly last week as the club’s injury crisis only looks to be getting worse. Their opposition in the Tigers were poor in a 28-0 loss to the Raiders with rumours coach Michael Maguire is looking at significant roster changes continuing to circulate.
Injuries to Mitchell Dunn and Jordan McLean will see Kurt Baptiste and Corey Jensen join the Cowboys’ interchange with Javid Bowen also coming onto the wing. For the Tigers, captain Moses Mbye will shift to centre with Robert Jennings also returning on the wing in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Tigers’ recent form will see the Cowboys go into the match as heavy favourites, particularly after the Queensland club was very unlucky in their loss to Manly last week. The Tigers are struggling for form at the moment and likely won’t reach their full potential until Michael Maguire has molded his roster to fit his game-plan, but North Queensland’s injury toll will act as a big leveler between these two teams. Tough one to pick but the Cowboys should get the win.
Betting Tip: Cowboys -2.0 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
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Storm v Knights
Sat, Jun 15, 3.00pm
AAMI Park |
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Six consecutive wins has seen the Knights claw their way into the contest for a top-four berth with the Novacastrians producing some fantastic victories against the highly rated Rabbitohs and Roosters in their last two games. The Hunter Valley club will face the ultimate test against an in-form Melbourne outfit who dismantled the Warriors last week in a dominant performance.
Kayln Ponga will return at fullback for Newcastle with Josh King also joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Melbourne have named the same 17 as last week.
While Newcastle have been impressive – particularly in their last month of football, an in-form Storm outfit is arguably the biggest challenge the resurgent club has faced this year. The competitiveness and discipline produced by the Knights in this match will be a fantastic insight into their finals prospects, but expect the big-game experience of the Storm to give them an edge as the Victorians take the win.
Betting Tip: Knights +8.0 @ $1.95 (Pointsbet)
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Rabbitohs v Panthers
Sat, Jun 15, 5.30pm
ANZ Stadium |
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Consecutive losses have eased expectations on the Rabbitohs as the club looks to limit the impact of Origin and retain their top-four position. The second-placed South Sydney will take on a resurgent Panthers outfit who have posted three consecutive wins, their most recent coming against the reigning premiers in what was a very impressive performance.
Cody Walker and Kyle Turner will return at five-eighth and centre respectively for Souths as Mark Nicholls, Dean Britt and Tom Amone all join the bench in the absence of Tom and Sam Burgess. Penrith have unsurprisingly named an unchanged line-up after their victory over the Roosters.
If Penrith can replicate the form they produced last week, they are a massive chance of winning this game, particularly against a Rabbitohs outfit who are key players. Despite the return of Cody Walker and Kyle Turner, the absence of Adam Reynolds and Sam Burgess will hurt the ‘Bunnies’ with their team lacking valuable big-game experience. Expect Penrith to get the points.
Betting Tip: Panthers +5.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Eels v Broncos
Sat, Jun 15, 7.35pm
Western Sydney Stadium |
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Brisbane came crashing back down to earth with a dismal performance against the Titans last week, albeit missing four first-choice players. The Queensland club will face an inconsistent Eels outfit who were humbled in their last-start loss to Cronulla with this game shaping as a crucial contest for both teams to keep themselves in touch with the top-eight.
Nathan Brown was a late inclusion for the Eels on the bench last week, and the stalwart lock has been promoted to the starting side in a huge boost for Parramatta as Jaeman Salmon and Ray Stone join the squad at five-eighth and interchange respectively. Brisbane will be without Tom Dearden and Alex Glenn due to injury. Matt Gillett and Corey Oates will return after they were rested last week, while Sean O’Sullivan will make his club debut at halfback.
Brisbane looked fragile defensively last week, and coach Anthony Seibold will be hoping the return of Gillett and Oates will stiffen their defensive line. Expect a big response from Parramatta after they were blown off the park last week, particularly coming up against the Broncos. This one could go either way but expect Parramatta to come away with the win.
Betting Tip: Eels H2H @ $1.83 (Unibet)
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Sea Eagles v Dragons
Sun, Jun 16, 2.00pm
Lottoland |
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St George returned to the winner’s circle in style after a dominant 36-12 win over the Bulldogs last week snapped a five-game losing streak for the joint-venture club. The Dragons should be confident coming up against Manly, who have struggled to replicate the fantastic form they produced earlier in the year, even after their narrow last-start victory over North Queensland.
Both teams have named an unchanged line-up from last week in positive signs with each club struggling with injuries at times this year.
The Dragons look a different team with Corey Norman in their squad after the experienced play-maker looked to take an enormous amount of pressure off halfback Ben Hunt. Manly were the beneficiaries of some questionable penalties last week and will need major improvement against a St George outfit desperate to get back into the top-eight. If Manly can get back to their best then this should be a fantastic contest, but expect the Dragons to come away with the points.
Betting Tip: Dragons H2H @ $2.55 (Unibet)
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Roosters v Bulldogs
Sun, Jun 16, 4.05pm
Sydney Cricket Ground |
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The reigning premiers find themselves in the unfamiliar position of playing to avoid their fourth consecutive loss with injuries and Origin impacting the club massively. They will face a Bulldogs outfit who were put to the sword by St George last week as they look to lift themselves from last-place on the competition ladder.
Blues superstars Latrell Mitchell and Angus Crichton will return at centre and second-row respectively as Victor Radley shifts to dummy-half in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Bulldogs, mid-season signing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will make his club debut in the centres in a big boost to the club’s outside-back depth as Corey Harawira-Naera also joins the bench.
Despite the Roosters’ recent form, Canterbury will need to lift if they want to compete in this contest. This is perhaps the best time to face the ‘Chooks’ with Origin fatigue and injuries to key players taking their toll, but expect the reigning premiers to get back to the winner’s circle, particularly with the return of Mitchell and Crichton to their starting line-up.
Betting Tip: Roosters -11.5 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
Best Bet
Dragons H2H @ $2.55 (Unibet)
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