The following are previews with betting tips for Round 10 of the 2021 NRL season.
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Tigers v KnightsFriday, May 14, 6:00pm AEST |
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The Tigers produced yet another woeful performance against an out-of-form Titans squad last week, conceding three tries in the opening 12 minutes of play in a disappointing result for Michael Maguire’s troops. They will face a Knights squad buoyed by an encouraging win over the Raiders last week as the Newcastle club looks to put their inconsistent start to the year behind them and bank premiership points for a finals charge.
Michael Maguire has made some bold selection calls for his squad, with Adam Douehi shifting to centre, Moses Mbye moving to five-eighth and promoting Jacob Liddle to starting hooker. Tommy Talau will return from suspension on the wing with Shawn Blore and Jock Madden also joining the bench. Meanwhile, the Knights have named an unchanged squad.
Pressure continues to mount on Wests’ coach Michael Maguire in the face of his team’s inconsistent results. They face a huge challenge in the Knights, who have also struggled with consistency throughout this season. This match could go either way but expect Newcastle to get the points.
Betting Tip: Tigers -2.5 @ $1.97 (Unibet) OR -1.5 @ $1.82 (Bet365)
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Sea Eagles v BroncosFriday, May 14, 8:05pm AEST |
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Brisbane produced a much-improved performance against the Cowboys last week, losing the game in the final stages to a Valentine Holmes field-goal in a devastating defeat. They will face a massive test against an in-form Manly outfit who last disposed of the Warriors in a see-sawing contest.
After losing boom rookie Xavier Coates to Melbourne and Pat Carrigan to a season-ending knee injury, Brisbane have received a huge morale boost with the announcement of the signing of Adam Reynolds next season. John Asiata will join the bench as cover in an otherwise unchanged squad. For Manly, Martin Taupau will return from concussion in the front-row in a massive boost in Des Hasler’s only changes.
Given their recent form, Manly will enter this contest as firm favourites but should be wary of a Broncos squad with a dangerous forward-rotation that seems to be improving week to week. Manly boast experience and class in their spine which Brisbane are sorely lacking. Expect the Queensland club’s path to victory to lie in dominating the ruck, but as in recent weeks, expect the form of Tom Trbojevic to propel his squad to victory.
Betting Tip: Broncos +9.5 @ $1.95 (Bluebet)
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Bulldogs v RaidersSaturday, May 15, 3:00pm AEST |
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Canberra are struggling to produce 80-minute performances after conceding four unanswered points in the second-half against the Knights last week in a concerning trend for Ricky Stuart’s troops. They will face a struggling Bulldogs outfit who were dominated by the Dragons last week as the Canterbury club faces a long road back to finals contention.
Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett has made the huge call to drop halfback Kyle Flanagan with Jake Averillo shifting to the seven jersey and Brandon Wakeham playing 5/8. Tui Katoa and Dylan Napa will join the squad on the wing and at prop respectively in Canterbury’s only changes. For the Raiders, injuries to Jordan Rapana and Ryan Sutton will see Semi Valemei and Hudson Young drafted into the starting side on the wing and at lock respectively as Josh Hodgson, Ryan James and Dunamis Lui join the interchange.
Despite their recent form, Canberra will enter this match as firm favourites and will be desperate for a confidence-building victory over the last-placed Bulldogs. Expect a tough match between these two desperate squads but the quality of Canberra’s forward rotation and spine should prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Bulldogs +15.5 @ $1.91 (Playup)
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Sharks v RabbitohsSaturday, May 15, 5:30pm AEST |
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Both the Sharks and Rabbitohs started their respective 2021 season with high expectations but are now under enormous pressure heading into the mid-season period. Cronulla suffered a devastating 48-0 defeat to the Panthers with the Shire club yet to win a game after the dramatic sacking of former coach John Morris, while Souths were similarly humbled in a shocking 50-0 loss to the Storm.
Souths will be boosted by the return of Brisbane-bound Adam Reynolds at halfback with Taane Milne also coming onto the wing. Hame Sele will also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Meanwhile, Cronulla will welcome reinforcements in Josh Dugan and Andrew Fifita, named at centre and off the bench in Josh Hannay’s only changes.
While they are missing several top-line stars, Souths will be dogged by the fact that no team has won a premiership after conceding 50 points in their regular season. Wayne Bennett will be looking for a massive response from his squad but the imminent departure of their captain and halfback in Adam Reynolds could be a blow to morale. Cronulla will be desperate for points but seem to be going backwards in terms of their on-field performances. Rabbitohs to get the win.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -9.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Roosters v CowboysSaturday, May 15, 7:45pm AEST |
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North Queensland produced a rousing field-goal victory against an improved Broncos outfit in a wonderful Queensland derby match that will go down as a classic. The Queensland club now faces a massive test in the Roosters, who were outmuscled and outclassed by the Eels in a disappointing loss last week.
The Cowboys have unsurprisingly named an unchanged squad heading into this clash, while the Roosters will replace the injured Drew Hutchison with Lachlan Lam at five-eighth. Sitili Tupouniua will also return in the second-row in Trent Robinson’s only changes to his squad.
While their form revival has been impressive, Cowboys mentor Todd Payten noted after last week’s game that his squad had yet to face one of the competition’s elite clubs. They will face exactly that in the Roosters, albeit with the Sydney club facing an unprecedented injury toll. This match could go either way but expect the big-game experience of this Roosters outfit to prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Cowboys +12.0 @ $1.90 (Playup)
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Warriors v EelsSunday, May 16, 1:50pm AEST |
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Parramatta flexed their premiership credentials with a dominant performance over the Roosters last week as the Eels now look to a dangerous Warriors outfit. The Kiwi club suffered a frustrating loss to Manly last week in the second defeat to the Sea Eagles in the space of a month as coach Nathan Brown looks to still be learning how to get the best out of his squad.
Brad Arthur’s son has been named to make his NRL debut at five-eighth, while Waqa Blake will make his return from injury in the centres in a welcome boost to the Eels’ outside backs. Ray Stone will also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Warriors, Ben Murdoch-Masila will return in the second-row at the expense of Bailey Sironen in the Warriors only change.
The Eels will be heavy favourites for this match but should not take their Kiwi opposition lightly. While the Warriors have had some stumbles this season, the improvement to their squad over the off-season looks to be translating nicely to their form on the park. The Kiwis certainly have the cattle to get the points but the class of this Eels team – who have dropped only one game all year – should prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Eels -7.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Storm v DragonsSunday, May 16, 4:05pm AEST |
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Melbourne produced a dominant 50-0 win over a highly rated Souths outfit, a particularly impressive feat given they were missing superstars Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhyzen. They will now face a Dragons squad who snapped a three game losing streak in style with a classy 32-12 victory over Canterbury in a vital morale boosting victory for the Woolongong club.
Melbourne will be missing a number of top-line stars in Brandon Smith, Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhyzen. Second-rower Kenny Bromwich will shift to hooker as Ryley Jacks comes into the five-eighth position. Dale Finucane will take the lock role with Tyson Smoothy and Tom Eisenhuth set to join the bench. Meanwhile, St George will welcome Mikaele Ravalawa from suspension in a big boost with Poasa Faamausili also set to join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
This game shapes as a fascinating test of the Storm’s depth without so many key spine players, but also for a Dragons side who have shown they are capable of matching the competition’s best this year with their dominant performance against Parramatta in round five. This match could be close but the sheer star-power of this Storm outfit should get them over the line.
Betting Tip: Dragons +15.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Titans v PanthersSunday, May 16, 6:25pm AEST |
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Penrith produced yet another stunning performance with an impressive 48-0 win over the struggling Sharks last week. The undefeated 2020 grand-finalists will now face a Titans squad who staved off a late comeback from the Tigers for their fourth victory so far this season.
The Titans have named an unchanged squad but will be without David Fifita after he was suspended at the judiciary in a big loss for the Queensland club. Expect centre Beau Fermor to shift to the second-row with Esan Marsters likely to shift to the edge from the bench. Meanwhile, Penrith will be missing a second-rower of their own in Kurt Capewell to concussion, with Liam Martin shifting to the starting side and J’maine Hopgood coming onto the bench in Ivan Cleary’s only change.
The Titans will need to summon a Herculean performance to topple the Panthers, particularly in the absence of superstar David Fifita. Expect the Panthers’ to contain their Gold Coast opposition’s
Betting Tip: Titans +20.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)
Best Bets
Cowboys +12.0 @ $1.90 (Playup)
Eels -7.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)