The following are previews with betting tips for Round 15 of the 2019 NRL season.
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Tigers v Rabbitohs
Thu, Jun 27, 7.50pm
Western Sydney Stadium |
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Despite a three-game losing streak, South Sydney have remained in second-place on the competition ladder but will be looking to avoid their fourth consecutive loss against a Wests team who produced a field-goal victory over a depleted North Queensland last week. The Tigers will be desperate for a win to break into the top-eight with the joint-venture club sitting just outside the top-eight on points differential.
Souths will welcome back Adam Reynolds, Braidon Burns and George Burgess in a massive boost for the club, particularly coming towards the tail-end of the representative period. Origin stars Damien Cook, Cameron Murry and Dane Gagai are also all set to back-up from Origin II. The Tigers have named only one change from their last match with Elijah Taylor joining the bench with captain Moses Mbye to back up from Origin at centre.
Wayne Bennett’s squad will be eager to draw a line in the sand to halt their losing streak and with so many crucial players returning to their side, they should head into this match as firm favourites. While a number of Rabbitohs may take some time to warm into their return from injury, expect South Sydney to get the win.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -6.0 @ $1.95 (Pointsbet)
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Dragons v Cowboys
Fri, Jun 28, 6.00pm
WIN Stadium |
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The Dragons’ rousing 36-12 victory over Canterbury failed to become the catalyst for a form resurgence after the club slumped to a 34-14 loss to Manly in round 14 as the joint-venture now sits 13th on the competition ladder. They will face a depleted North Queensland outfit who have conceded narrow losses over their last two games but have produced solid form in the face of an injury crisis.
Mid-season Melbourne import Scott Drinkwater will make his club debut for the Cowboys in a massive boost to the Queensland club’s attack. Jordan McLean will return in the front-row with Shane Wright replacing the injured Coen Hess in the second-row. Corey Jensen and Reuben Cotter will also be the new faces on the Cowboys’ bench. Meanwhile, St George have named only two changes as Tim Lafai returns at centre and Jeremy Latimore on the interchange.
Despite winning only one match from their last seven games, the Dragons will enter the match as favourites. Expect the inclusion of the highly rated Drinkwater to make a massive impact for the Cowboys – who have lacked an attacking spark at fullback this season – though he could take some time to warm into first-grade football. Could go either way but expect the class of the Dragons to get them over the line.
Betting Tip: Cowboys +6.0 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Roosters v Storm
Fri, Jun 28, 7.55pm
Adelaide Oval |
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Friday night will see Melbourne take on the reigning premiers in a mouth-watering top-four clash that should prove a fascinating litmus test for both teams through the difficult representative period. Both clubs produced impressive last start victories against the Bulldogs for the Roosters and Newcastle for the Storm, but with a five-day turnaround from Origin II and 15 players across both teams backing up from representative round, this match could go either way.
James Tedesco and Boyd Cordner will back-up from Origin II for the Roosters as Lindsay Collins also joins the interchange. Meanwhile, Melbourne have named an unchanged line-up from their last match.
After some relatively patchy form early in the season, Melbourne look to have returned to their clinical best, particularly after putting 34 points on a highly rated Newcastle outfit. The Roosters have had less success through the representative period, and still missing key players from their 2018 grand-final squad, expect the Storm to get the win.
Betting Tip: Storm H2H @ $1.85 (Beteasy)
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Titans v Sea Eagles
Sat, Jun 29, 3.00pm
CBus Super Stadium |
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The Titans failed to back-up their dominant round 13 win over Brisbane in their last performance with a disappointing loss to the Warriors and the struggling Queensland club will get no respite against an in-form Manly outfit who were dominant in their 34-14 win over St George in their last game.
The Gold Coast will struggle to replace the injured Jai Arrow as Will Matthews joins the second-row with Jai Whitbread shifting to lock in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Sea Eagles, Manase Fainu will replace the injured Api Koroisau at hooker with Corey Waddell and Brendan Elliot on the bench.
Manly will enter the match as firm favourites as the club looks to be warming back into form with the return of a number of key players in recent weeks. The Titans will miss Jai Arrow terribly and should struggle to match Manly’s dominant middle-rotation without the Queensland stalwart. Sea Eagles to get the points.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles -7.5 @ $2.07 (Unibet)
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Knights v Broncos
Sat, Jun 29, 5.30pm
McDonald Jones Stadium |
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Brisbane slumped to 12th place on the competition ladder after a dismal 38-10 loss to the Eels in round 13. The Queensland club will receive no respite this week against a Newcastle outfit who were humbled by the Storm in their last performance with both teams sure to be fired up for a big game.
Josh King will join the Knights’ bench in an otherwise unchanged squad, though both David Klemmer and Aidan Guerra could make an early return from injury after being named in the reserves. For the Broncos, Joe Ofahengaue will return to the squad on the bench in a massive boost as Richie Kennar comes onto the wing in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Newcastle will enter the match as firm favourites, particularly with their recent form against the Titans and Eels. Expect a big response from Newcastle after their last performance and with Brisbane looking far from their best, the Knights should get the points.
Betting Tip: Knights -3.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Eels v Raiders
Sat, Jun 29, 7.35pm
TIO Stadium |
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Despite injuries to a number of key players in recent weeks, the Raiders have managed three consecutive wins to retain their top-four position in a fantastic result for the club, particularly through the representative period. They will come up against a highly rated Eels squad who physically dominated the Broncos in their last performance in a massive 38-10 win.
Brad Takairangi will return in the centres for Parramatta with boom-rookie Dylan Brown also returning at five-eighth in positive news for the club. For the Raiders, Josh Hodgson will return at hooker in a huge boost as Corey Horsburgh joins the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
While the Raiders’ recent form will see them enter this match as favourites the ‘Green Machine’ should be wary of the Eels after their rocks and diamonds season continued with a hugely dominant performance in round 13. The challenge for the Eels is now to back-up that result but expect Canberra’s defensive steel to give them an edge. Raiders to get the points.
Betting Tip: Raiders H2H @ $1.75 (Topbetta)
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Warriors v Panthers
Sun, Jun 30, 2.00pm
Mt Smart Stadium |
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The Warriors’ form this season has proved typical of their performance over the last few years as Stephen Kearney is still searching for consistency from his squad. The club has failed to capitalise on the Origin period to climb the competition ladder, and should be wary of a resurgent Panthers squad who will be looking for their fifth consecutive win.
Jarome Luai will shift to halfback to cover the injured Nathan Cleary for the Panthers with Hame Sele joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Warriors, Nathaniel Roache, Sam Lisone and Laivaha Pulu will join the bench in the club’s only changes.
Despite their opposition’s recent form, the Warriors will enter the match as firm favourites. The Panthers’ form resurgence has come off the back of a renewed defensive vigor but without halfback Nathan Cleary, their attacking structures may suffer. This one could go either way but expect the Kiwis to get the win.
Betting Tip: Warriors -3.5 @ $1.91 (Beteasy)
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Bulldogs v Sharks
Sun, Jun 30, 4.05pm
ANZ Stadium |
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The Sharks have done a superb job through an injury riddled 2019 to keep themselves within one win of a top-four position and will be looking to capitalise on their opposition’s struggles to bank premiership points for their finals campaign. The Bulldogs produced a disappointing 38-12 loss to the Roosters in their last performance as the wooden-spoon is looking increasingly likely for the Canterbury club.
Jayden Brailey will return at hooker for Cronulla in an otherwise unchanged squad, while the Bulldogs will welcome Michael Lichaa and Jack Cogger into their side at hooker and halfback respectively as Ofahiki Ogden joins the bench.
Cronulla will enter this match as firm favourites given the Bulldogs’ recent form. The return of Wade Graham from an ACL injury has proved a massive boon as the club looks to have come through an early-season injury crisis in good shape. Expect Canterbury to struggle against the Sharks’ toughness and experience. Cronulla to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks -8.5 @ $1.90 (Pointsbet)
Best Bet
Storm H2H @ $1.85 (Beteasy)
Sea Eagles -7.5 @ $2.07 (Unibet)
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