The following are previews with betting tips for Round 17 of the 2019 NRL season.
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Panthers v TitansFri, Jul 12, 6.00pm |
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The remaining games in the Titans’ spluttering season look set to decide the fate of Garth Brennan with persistent rumours the Gold Coast mentor could depart the club at seasons end. Brennan’s circumstances were not aided by a disappointing 30-12 loss to Manly in the Titans’ last game and his struggling squad will now look to an in-form, desperate Panthers outfit searching for their sixth consecutive win.
After their last-start field-goal victory over the Warriors, the Panthers have named an unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Dale Copley will join the centres with Jack Stockwell coming onto the bench in the Titans’ only changes.
With Garth Brennan likely to become the victim of poor roster management over a number of years, the form shown by his players for the remainder of their season will be crucial to any decision on the club’s long-term coach. Expect the Panthers’ rediscovered defensive resolve to prove the difference as Penrith get the points.
Betting Tip: Panthers -6.5 @ $1.95 (Pointsbet)
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Knights v BulldogsFri, Jul 12, 7.55pm |
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A depleted Newcastle team were brave in defeat against the Warriors and with the disruption of the representative period now over, the club looks to be in a prime position to push for a top-four berth – sitting just one win outside fourth position. They will come up against the last-placed Bulldogs, who produced an impressive two-point victory in round 15 before their bye last week.
While Knights coach Nathan Brown has named his representative forwards in the reserves, expect further clarification of the final 17 closer to kick-off. Mitchell Pearce also looks set to back-up after being named at halfback. Meanwhile, Canterbury have named Renouf Toomaga on the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Canterbury will be hoping representative fatigue heavily impacts their opposition as the Knights enter this contest as firm favourites. Newcastle looked vulnerable in the middle without their Origin forwards last week, but unless their representative players fail to back up expect Newcastle to get the win.
Betting Tip: Knights -6.0 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
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Rabbitohs v Sea EaglesSat, Jul 13, 3.00pm |
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Four consecutive losses has seen the Rabbitohs’ top-four position come under threat, but with the representative period now over, Wayne Bennett’s troops will be looking to regather themselves for their push to the finals. Their opposition in Manly could be the club to overtake them on the competition ladder as the in-form Sea Eagles look for their fourth consecutive win after their bye last week.
Sam Burgess will return for Souths in a huge boost for the club with Adam Doueihi named at fullback and mid-season signing Jaydn Su’A a chance of making his club debut after he was included in the reserves. The Rabbitohs’ Origin quartet in Damien Cook, Dane Gagai, Cameron Murray and Ethan Lowe look set to back up from Origin III. Manly mentor Des Hasler has named an unchanged line-up with Origin trio Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic all included in the starting 17.
The return of Sam Burgess and their Origin stars will see Souths installed as favourites coming into this game, but Wayne Bennett’s troops should be wary of a Sea Eagles outfit who look to be returning to their early-season form. This one could go either way but expect Sam Burgess to inspire his South Sydney team-mates to an important win.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -4.0 @ $2.00 (Pointsbet)
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Broncos v WarriorsSat, Jul 13, 5.30pm |
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The depleted Broncos produced a massive upset win over Cronulla last week in a big confidence boost for the struggling club, particularly leading into a huge game against the Warriors. The Kiwis managed a narrow win over Newcastle in their last game, albeit without their representative stars – but Stephen Kearny’s troops will be looking to lift as they continue their search for a top-eight position.
Anthony Milford will return from injury in a massive boost for Brisbane, while Origin stars Corey Oates, David Fifita and Joe Ofahengaue look set to back up from Origin III. For the Warriors, Chanel Harris-Tevita will join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Brisbane were impressive without a number of important players last week, but will need to back-up their performance against a Warriors outfit who will be well aware of their need for improvement. Expect the Kiwis to start fast in a bid to blow their less experienced opposition off the park, but the class of Brisbane’s returning representative players should get them over the line. Broncos to get the win.
Betting Tip: Tri Bet – Either Team By 6 or Less @ $2.80 (Unibet)
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Storm v SharksSat, Jul 13, 7.35pm |
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Cronulla will be looking to recover from their devastating loss to the Broncos last week but will face a much sterner test against an in-form Melbourne outfit sitting clear at the top of the competition ladder. The Storm were solid without their representative stars in a narrow victory over the Dragons in their last game but should be wary of fatigue with six players set to back-up from Origin III.
Andrew Fifita will return from suspension for the Sharks in a massive boost for the club with Wade Graham also named to back-up from the Origin decider. For the Storm, all six Origin players in Will Chambers, Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Cameron Munster have been named to return in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Sharks coach John Morris will be extremely frustrated after last week’s loss became the club’s third consecutive defeat in which they have scored more tries than their opposition. The Storm will enter the match as firm favourites and unless the Sharks can produce their best football, expect Melbourne to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks +10.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Roosters v CowboysSun, Jul 14, 2.00pm |
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The Cowboys have the unenviable task of facing the reigning premiers after they produced an impressive victory over the Tigers without their representative stars last week. The North Queenslanders are coming off a bye after their last-start loss to the Dragons in round 15 and Paul Green’s troops will need to produce a massive form turnaround if they are a chance to win this game.
Jake Friend and Siosiua Taukeiaho will make their injury return in a massive boost for the Roosters. Origin stars James Tedesco and Boyd Cordner will be rested for this game in an otherwise unchanged squad. Javid Bowen and Matt Scott will return on the Cowboys’ 17 as Josh McGuire looks set to back-up from Origin III, while Michael Morgan will not take the field after suffering a concussion.
The Roosters will go into this contest as heavy favourites, particularly with the return of Friend and Taukeiaho. Surprisingly, the club has no players backing up from the Origin decider with Cordner and Tedesco being rested and the Cowboys may struggle to contain their energy around the ruck. Roosters to get the win.
Betting Tip: Roosters -11.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Tigers v EelsSun, Jul 14, 4.05pm |
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After a disappointing loss to a depleted Roosters outfit last week, the Tigers will be desperate for premiership points with the club sitting equal eighth on points differential. They will face an Eels outfit who impressed in their last-start victory over the Raiders before the bye last week.
Moses Mbye will return from Origin duty for Wests in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Eels coach Brad Arthur has unsurprisingly elected to name the same 17 that took the field in round 15.
Parramatta will enter the match as favourites given their recent form, but the story of their season thus far has been an inability to back-up their performances. Wests have similarly struggled with consistent form this year and whichever team can get themselves up for this game – particularly in the aftermath of Origin III – should go a long way to winning the match. This one could go either way but expect Parramatta to get the points.
Betting Tip: Eels Head to Head @ $1.80 (Unibet)
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Dragons v RaidersSun, Jul 14, 6.10pm |
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St George have endured a torrid representative period but will look to the permanent return of their representative stars to help the club turn a corner as they look to break back into the top-eight. Coach Paul McGregor will be hoping a brave performance against Melbourne in their last match will prove a catalyst for a major form turn-around against the Raiders, who will be looking to respond to their narrow round-15 loss to Parramatta after a bye last week.
Corey Norman has been named to back-up from Origin III while Tyson Frizell, Ben Hunt and Paul Vaughan were included in the Dragons’ reserves. Tariq Sims will also return from suspension in a big boost for the club. Meanwhile, Canberra will welcome back Nick Cotric from injury with Josh Papalii named to return from the Origin decider in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Canberra will enter this contest as narrow favourites as the club less-impacted by returning Origin players. Ricky Stuart’s outfit sit in fourth position so both teams should be desperate to bank premiership points for the finals. Could go either way but expect the Raiders to get the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders Head to Head @ $1.90 (Ladbrokes)
Best Bets
Knights -6.0 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
Sharks +10.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
Raiders Head to Head @ $1.90 (Ladbrokes)