The following are previews with betting tips for Round 22 of the 2019 NRL season.
Compare NRL bookmaker odds
View the NRL form guide
View NRL betting promotions (not available to NSW)
 |
Sea Eagles v Tigers
Thu, Aug 15, 7.50pm
Lottoland |
 |
Manly will be looking to recover from an uncharacteristically poor performance against the Warriors last week with the defeat putting a major dent in their top-four aspirations. They will face a dejected Wests team who were edged by the Bulldogs in their last match in a devastating result for the club that may prove the difference in missing the finals given the competition for 7th and 8th position on the ladder.
Injuries to Brad Parker and Curtis Sironen will provide Brendan Elliot and Jack Gosiewski an opportunity to come into the starting side for Manly. For the Tigers, captain Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah will be absent with injuries in a massive blow to the club. Debutant Tommy Talau and Jacob Liddle will join the squad as cover, but a replacement for the suspended Luke Garner is yet to be named.
Manly will enter the contest as favourites against the Tigers, whose loss last week to the Bulldogs shapes as a decisive result for the club’s top-eight chances, both in terms of their tally of competition points and injuries to key players. Expect Des Hasler to extract a big response from his troops as the Sea Eagles get the win.
Betting Tip: Total Match Points Over 40.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)
 |
Titans v Eels
Fri, Aug 16, 6.00pm
CBus Super Stadium |
 |
The Eels are in the hunt for their fourth consecutive victory after an important win over the Knights last week kept the club in the race for a top-four berth. They will face a Titans outfit who produced an improved performance against the Dragons last week despite losing the game, with the likely wooden-spooners struggling for confidence.
The Eels will welcome back Kane Evans in the front-row in an otherwise unchanged squad. Similarly, the Titans have named only one change with veteran Michael Gordon joining the bench.
The Eels will enter the match as firm favourites with the playing group developing some welcome consistency at the back-end of this season. There are still question marks over Parramatta’s ability to go with the competition’s best with few victories against top-six teams, and coach Brad Arthur will be looking for further improvement from his squad before the play-offs. Despite some encouraging signs for their opposition last week, expect the Eels to get the win.
Betting Tip: Eels -8.0 @ $1.91 (Pointsbet)
 |
Broncos v Panthers
Fri, Aug 16, 7.55pm
Suncorp Stadium |
 |
Brisbane will host the Panthers on Friday night in a match that will be crucial to the make-up of the top-eight with both clubs currently sitting 7th and 8th on the competition ladder respectively. Depending on other results, the loser could be displaced by either the Sharks or Tigers and with both clubs producing narrow victories last week this should be an intense contest.
Brisbane have named the same 17 in some welcome stability for their inexperienced team, although rugby-convert Izaia Perese has been tipped to make his NRL debut off the bench. For the Panthers, veteran James Maloney will return at five-eighth in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Despite entering the match as clear favourites, the Broncos will need a major form-turnaround from their struggling halves combination of Darius Boyd and Jake Turpin after looking directionless in their narrow victory over North Queensland. Meanwhile, Panthers’ halfback Nathan Cleary will be looking to continue the fantastic form he produced against the Sharks last week. This match could go either way but expect Brisbane to get the points in a narrow contest.
Betting Tip: Either Team to Win by 10 or Less @ $1.80 (Sportsbet)
 |
Knights v Cowboys
Sat, Aug 17, 3.00pm
McDonald Jones Stadium |
 |
The Knights’ last-start loss to the Eels was their sixth consecutive defeat with the Newcastle club all but ruled out of finals contention. Their opposition in North Queensland should be able to sympathize after their defeat to Brisbane in the dying stages of last-week’s Queensland derby summed up a disappointing season.
Josh King and Herman Ese’ese will join the Knights’ 17 at lock and on the bench respectively in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Cowboys, Jason Taumalolo and Josh McGuire have been ruled out due to injury and suspension respectively in a massive blow. Their absence will be offset somewhat by the return of Jordan McLean at prop with Jordan Kahu also making his return from injury on the wing.
Newcastle will enter this match as firm favourites, particularly with the absence of McGuire and Taumalolo for North Queensland. The Knights’ floundering middle rotation will be looking to stand up and dominate the their opposite numbers to restore some confidence and pride. Knights to get the win.
Betting Tip: Knights -8.0 @ $1.90 (Beteasy)
 |
Storm v Raiders
Sat, Aug 17, 5.30pm
AAMI Park |
 |
Saturday evening will bring another mouth-watering top-four clash with the Raiders handed another opportunity to test their mettle against the best. Their opposition in the Storm were too good for Souths last week, while Canberra were unable to overcome the Roosters in a four-point loss.
Melbourne will welcome back Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback and on the bench respectively in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, the Raiders will welcome back destructive centre Joey Leilua from a long-term injury in a massive boost to an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Raiders and Storm are the top-two defensive outfits in the competition and with both teams in good-form, this should be a low-scoring contest. With Melbourne dropping only three games all year, Canberra will need to deploy a targeted game-plan to fatigue their opposition’s monster forward rotation – and the mobility of Ricky Stuart’s pack should help in their task. Even so, Canberra will need to go to another level to challenge the Storm-machine. Expect Melbourne to get the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders v Storm Under 40.5 @ $1.88 (Unibet)
 |
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
Sat, Aug 17, 7.35pm
ANZ Stadium |
 |
The Rabbitohs will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Melbourne last week with the club desperate to avoid their third consecutive defeat and the possibility of losing their top-four position. They will face an in-form Bulldogs outfit who are making the best of a disappointing year after producing gritty wins over the Panthers and Tigers in their last two matches.
Souths captain Sam Burgess will return at prop in a big boost to the club while Jaydn Su’A and Braidon Burns join the starting side in the second row and at centre respectively. Canterbury have the rare luxury of naming an unchanged squad this week to bring some welcome continuity to their side.
The Rabbitohs’ loss last week may have impacted the team’s confidence against top-four teams, but veteran coach Wayne Bennett should have his troops primed for this contest – particularly with both the Eels and Manly both sitting one win below on the competition ladder. Canterbury have shown enormous heart to get themselves back into form, but expect the class of the ‘Bunnies’ spine to prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Bulldogs +9.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
 |
Roosters v Warriors
Sun, Aug 18, 2.00pm
Sydney Cricket Ground |
 |
The Roosters produced a narrow victory over the Raiders last week in encouraging signs that the reigning premiers have not been overtaken by the resurgent Canberra outfit. They will face a Warriors team who produced a surprise upset victory over Manly last week to keep their club in the race for the top-eight.
While the Roosters have named the same squad as last week, captain Boyd Cordner could be a late inclusion after he was named in the reserves. Similarly, pint-sized play-maker Kodi Nikorima could be a late addition to an otherwise unchanged Warriors outfit.
After enduring a turbulent Origin period, the Roosters have recovered well and will be looking for their fifth consecutive win this week. The versatility of their roster – particularly in their forward pack – has helped the club to keep in touch with the likely minor premiers in the Storm despite a significant injury toll. While the Warriors produced an improved performance against Manly last week, expect the class of the reigning premiers to prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Warriors +13.5 @ $1.90 (Ladbrokes)
 |
Sharks v Dragons
Sun, Aug 18, 4.05pm
Shark Park |
 |
The Sharks were stunned by an upset loss against the Panthers last week in a result that piled pressure on the shire club to break back into the top eight. They will face a Dragons outfit who produced a solid 40-28 victory over the lowly Titans last week in an encouraging win for the struggling club.
Cronulla will welcome Matt Moylan back into their squad at fullback with the injured Andrew Fifita set to be replaced by Billy Magoulias in a big blow for the club. A season ending injury to Tariq Sims has further tested the Dragons’ forward depth with Blake Lawrie joining the bench as cover in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Sharks will enter this match as heavy favourites but should be wary of a St George outfit who will be looking to salvage whatever positives they can from a disappointing season. Sharks to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks -8.0 @ $1.95 (Pointsbet)
Best Bet
Bulldogs +9.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
Related
