The following are previews with betting tips for Round 11 of the 2021 NRL season.
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Cowboys v Knights
Thursday, May 20, 7:50pm AEST
QCB Stadium |
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While Cowboys’ mentor Todd Payten will be frustrated by his squad’s last-start loss to the Roosters, there are still plenty of positives about his team heading into their clash with the Knights. This shapes as a huge game for a Newcastle club reeling from a woeful 36-18 loss to the Tigers with the club desperate to avoid a fourth loss in their last five games.
North Queensland will be missing Coen Hess in the front-row due to concussion, with Heilum Luki joining the bench and Tom Gilbert shifting to the starting side. Newcastle have similarly named only one change with Brayden Musgrove replacing the injured Hymel Hunt on the wing.
The Cowboys will enter this contest as clear favourites given their recent form. Newcastle will be desperate to turn their on-field results around but will struggle to do so with such inexperienced spine combinations. Conversely, North Queensland’s spine is looking the most settled it has been for some time with Jake Clifford making a huge difference at halfback. Expect the Cowboys’ playmaking class to prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Cowboys -5.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Warriors v Tigers
Friday, May 21, 6:00pm AEST
Mt Smart Stadium |
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The injury-depleted Warriors were brave against the Eels in their last outing and will now face an inconsistent Tigers squad. Wests produced an encouraging win over the Knights last week with Michael Maguire’s controversial decision to shift in-form play-maker Adam Doueihi to centre paying dividends. Wests faithful will be hoping their team can emulate their performance from last week against a Warriors squad who have performed admirably in the face of so many injuries.
Josh Curran and Rocco Berry will be absent for the Warriors with Marcelo Montoya named at centre as cover with Kane Evans also joining the front-row. Meanwhile, Wests have named an unchanged line-up after their victory last week.
Warriors’ mentor Nathan Brown continues to tinker with his spine combinations as he eases rookie sensation Reece Walsh into first-grade football, but the inconsistency has certainly hurt the Warriors on the field at times. Wests will be desperate to kick-start a run of wins off the back of their controversial selection call last week, but it is difficult to back the Tigers to produce consistency after their start to the year. Warriors to get the win.
Betting Tip: Warriors -5.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Sharks v Dragons
Friday, May 21, 7:55pm AEST
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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Pressure continues to build on this Sharks squad to find form after a disappointing performance against Souths last week became their sixth consecutive loss. They will face a Dragons outfit who were bested by the Storm in a horror result for the club given the players they will now have to cover.
St George have become the victims of the NRL’s concussion crackdown, missing Josh McGuire, Tyrell Fuimaono, Mikaele Ravalawa and Tariq Sims to suspension in a devastating blow. Cody Ramsey is set to shift to fullback as Jordan Pereira returns from suspension on the wing. Billy Burns will come into the centres as Jackson Ford and Poasa Faamausili join the squad in the second-row and at lock respectively. Jaiyden Hunt has also been named to make his NRL debut off the bench. Meanwhile, Cronulla will make no changes from their loss to the Panthers last week.
This hugely under-strength St George outfit presents a great opportunity for the Sharks to snap their losing streak and regain some much-needed confidence since the departure of John Morris. Given their opponents’ missing players, Cronulla will enter this contest as favourites and expect the Sharks to get their first victory in six games.
Betting Tip: Sharks -6.5 @ $1.95 (Bet365)
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Titans v Bulldogs
Saturday, May 22, 3:00pm AEST
Cbus Super Stadium |
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The Titans were on the receiving end of a Panthers mauling after the competition leaders produced an emphatic 48-12 win in a concerning defensive performance from Justin Holbrook’s troops. They will now look to a struggling Bulldogs outfit who came agonisingly close to victory over the Raiders in a heart-breaking loss for the last-placed Canterbury club.
The Titans will be missing Herman Ese’ese and Tyrone Peachy to suspension, with Sam Stone and Erin Clark set to join the bench as cover. For the Bulldogs, Aaron Schoupp has been named to make his NRL debut to cover the injured Tui Katoa with Dylan Napa also named on the interchange in his return from a shoulder injury.
The Titans will enter this match as heavy favourites and expect the Bulldogs’ shaky defensive structures to struggle to contain their opposition’s potent attack. The Titans will be focussing on their efforts without the ball with some woeful defensive performances in recent times. Titans to get the points.
Betting Tip: Titans -13.5 $1.85 (Winnersbet)
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Roosters v Broncos
Saturday, May 22, 5:30pm AEST
SCG |
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Brisbane produced an insipid performance against Manly last week in a woeful 50-6 loss and sitting only two wins from 10 games, pressure is building on rookie coach Kevin Walters to turn his team’s performances around. Brisbane will face an in-form Roosters squad who outclassed an improved Cowboys team last week in the tri-colours seventh win of their season.
Brisbane will be missing rookie second-rower Jordan Riki to suspension, with Keenan Palasia drafted into the starting side as cover. Maligned play-maker Anthony Milford has been dropped once again alongside Corey Oates with Albert Kelly set to make his club debut at five-eighth and David Mead joining the wing. Dale Copley will replace the injured Herbie Farnworth at centre with Kobe Hetherington also set to make his NRL debut off the bench. Meanwhile, in a rare boon for the Roosters, coach Trent Robinson has had the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up.
The Roosters will enter this match as firm favourites but should be wary of a Brisbane outfit sure to produce a big response after an embarrassing loss last week. If Brisbane can play to their potential through the middle they stand a chance of winning but expect the more experienced Roosters to get the points.
Betting Tip: Roosters -22.5 @ $2.00 (Bet365)
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Raiders v Storm
Saturday, May 22, 7:35pm AEST
GIO Stadium |
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The Storm produced an emphatic victory over the Dragons last week in a particularly impressive result given the talent missing from their squad. They will face a Raiders club who are still a shadow of their best after a narrow victory against the Bulldogs last week as coach Ricky Stuart searches desperately for his team’s path back to good form.
The Raiders will be missing Josh Papalii, Josh Hodgson and Jack Wighton in a massive blow. Sam Williams will join the squad at five-eighth with Ryan Sutton set to return from injury on the interchange alongside NRL debutant Brad Schneider. For the Storm, Ryan Papenhyzen will be missing after a bad head-knock last week with Nicho Hynes set to step into the custodian role and Chris Lewis joining the halves. Brandon Smith will also make a timely return at hooker in an otherwise unchanged Melbourne line-up.
This match would have been billed in the off-season as a blockbuster but on recent form, the Storm will head into this contest as heavy favourites. Expect the Raiders to struggle against their opposition missing so many key players. Melbourne to get the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders +16.5 @ $1.90 (Bluebet, Playup)
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Rabbitohs v Panthers
Sunday, May 23, 2:00pm AEST
Apex Oval |
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Souths produced a solid victory over the Sharks last week with the club emerging relatively unscathed from a massive recent injury toll. They will face a huge test against the undefeated Panthers in what shapes as a wonderful insight into a possible finals contest between these two clubs.
Latrell Mitchell is set to return from suspension at fullback in a massive boost, alongside Josh Mansour – who returns from injury on the wing. Jacob Host will also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Panthers, Kurt Capewell will return in the second-row, pushing Liam Martin to the bench in Ivan Cleary’s only change.
Bunnies’ Coach Wayne Bennett took no joy out of the club’s win last week, contrarily pointing the focus to his side’s lackadaisical defensive output. Anything similar to the performance dished up in round 11 will be considered a failure to Bennett.
Given the recent instability in their spine, Souths may take some time to hit peak form and at their best, they can certainly challenge the competition leaders but expect the Panthers to have the ascendancy in this contest.
Betting Tip: Panthers -9.5 @ $1.90 (Bluebet, Playup)
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Eels v Sea Eagles
Sunday, May 23, 4:05pm AEST
Bankwest Stadium |
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Parramatta outclassed an improving Warriors team last week and will now face a red-hot Manly side who were dominant in a 50-6 win over the struggling Broncos last week. This match shapes as a massive test for the Sea Eagles, who have benefited enormously from a form resurgence but have yet to beat any of the competition’s elite teams this year.
The Eels’ have named only one change as Joey Lussick displaces Ray Stone on the interchange. For the Sea Eagles, Cade Cust will shift to the halves to cover the injured Kieran Foran with Zac Saddler joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Eels will enter this contest as favourites but should be highly wary of a Manly outfit who are a massive chance of causing an upset. Des Hasler will be keen for his troops to show some form against the likes of the Eels but while they will likely push their opposition, expect Parramatta’s class across the park to prove the difference. Eels to get the win.
Betting Tip: Eels -7.5 @ $1.95 (Unibet)
Best Bet
Roosters -22.5 @ $2.00 (Bet365)
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