The following are previews with betting tips for Round 19 of the 2021 NRL season.
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Eels v RaidersThursday, July 22, 7:50pm AEST |
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A resurgent Raiders outfit will be hunting for their third consecutive win after impressive victories over Manly and Cronulla has catapulted Ricky Stuart’s troops back into finals contention. They will face a massive test against an in-form Eels squad who last dispensed with the Titans in style as Brad Arthur’s team firm for a vital top-four position.
Canberra will be missing star half Jack Wighton and promising rookie Xavier Savage to a season-ending injury in a big blow for the club. Harley Smith-Shields will join the wing alongside Matt Frawley at five-eighth with Jordan Rapana set to shift to the custodian role. Meanwhile, Parramatta have been dealt a major blow with halfback Mitch Moses sidelined with a back-fracture, although the club is confident he will return this season. Jake Arthur will come into the halfback position as cover. Junior Paulo will also return at prop after being rested last week with Blake Fergusson earning a first-grade recall on the wing and Will Penisini set to debut at centre in place of Tom Opacic.
The Eels will miss Mitch Moses enormously but the club has enough class within their spine to cover his absence. The Raiders will also be missing a star half in Jack Wighton and may struggle to execute their gameplan with Josh Hodgson being their only preferred starting-player in their spine. Canberra will look to capitalise on the Eels’ new edge combinations, but Parramatta’s dominance of the ruck should prove the difference. Eels to get the win.
Betting Tip: Raiders +15.5 @ $1.95 (Bluebet)
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Roosters v KnightsFriday, July 23, 6:00pm AEST |
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Newcastle were brought back down to earth after a humbling 48-4 loss to the Storm and sitting equal eighth on the competition ladder, every game will be crucial for the Knights’ finals charge. They will face a depleted Roosters outfit whose contention for an ever-important top-four position is slipping away, despite a classy win over the Cowboys last week.
Newcastle will welcome Daniel Saifiti back at prop in a welcome boost with Sauaso Sue also joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Roosters, the return of James Tedesco allows Joey Manu to shift back to centre with Siosiua Taukeiaho also set to return from injury via the interchange.
Newcastle have shown they can perform well against elite teams at times this season, but have struggled without their preferred spine. The Roosters have also had similar troubles with inconsistent spine combinations this season, but with a vastly more experienced line-up, Trent Robinson’s troops have handled the adversity much more effectively. Roosters to get the win.
Betting Tip: Roosters -11.5 @ $1.95 (Playup)
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Cowboys v StormFriday, July 23, 7:55pm AEST |
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North Queensland are still in the midst of a concerning form slump as they face their 6th consecutive loss after a poor showing against the Roosters last week. They will face a massive test up against the competition leading Melbourne Storm with the Victorian club extending their winning streak to 14 games in the aftermath of a dominant 48-4 victory over the Knights.
North Queensland have been dealt an enormous blow with maroons rookie sensation Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow out for the season following emergency surgery for appendicitis. His replacement has yet to be named. Murray Taulagi will replace the injured Javid Bowen at centre with Kane Bradley set to make his NRL debut on the wing and rookie Heilum Luki joining the bench. Meanwhile, Melbourne have received a big boost with the return of superstar Ryan Papenhyzen from a long term concussion layoff. He will be joined by Josh Addo-Carr and Christian Welch on the wing and at prop respectively after they were rested after Origin III last week, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona set to return on the bench. Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane have all been rested for this match.
Melbourne will enter this match as firm favourites and North Queensland will struggle to compete with the class and sheer physicality of their opposition. Storm to get the points.
Betting Tip: Storm -31.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Rabbitohs v WarriorsSaturday, July 24, 3:00pm AEST |
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The Warriors were brave in defeat against Penrith in their last match and their job will be no easier this week against an in-form Rabbitohs outfit. Souths notched a solid victory against an improved Canterbury squad last week as veteran coach Wayne Bennett looks to fine-tune his team’s performances heading into the finals series.
The Warriors will be boosted by the return of Kodi Nikorima at five-eighth while Jazz Tevanga and Adam Pompey will join the squad at hooker and centre respectively to cover the injured Rocco Berry and Wayde Egan. Jack Murchie will join the second-row with Bunty Afoa and Taniela Otukolo set to join the bench. For Souths, Josh Mansour and Jaxson Paulo will form a new wing combination as Jai Arrow and Latrell Mitchell make their returns from an Origin-rest on the bench and fullback respectively in a massive boost.
Souths will enter this match as firm favourites, and will be looking to produce a consistent, 80-minute performance to prime themselves for their finals campaign. With so many changes to the Warriors back-line and spine combinations, expect Nathan Brown’s troops to deploy a simple game-plan through the middle of the field, spearheaded by their outstanding front-row combination of Matt Lodge and Addin Fonua-Blake. Souths to get the win.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -17.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Sea Eagles v TigersSaturday, July 24, 5:30pm AEST |
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Wests produced a vital win over the struggling Broncos last week in a result coach Michael Maguire will be hoping is the catalyst for a form revival to spearhead the joint-venture club into finals contention. They will face a difficult task up against the Sea Eagles, who notched a comfortable victory over an understrength Dragons outfit in their last game, despite missing a number of top-line stars.
Wests have named the same 17 that secured victory over Brisbane last week, while Manly will welcome back some big-guns in a massive boost. Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans will return after being rested last week, while Jake Trbojevic and Josh Aloiai have been named at lock and on the bench respectively but will need to pass a fitness test before they are confirmed to play.
Wests’ produced a dominant second-half performance against Brisbane, but Michael Maguire’s troops will need to come up with a far superior performance to challenge a Manly outfit spearheaded by superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic. It would be a huge upset for the Tigers to secure victory, but expect the Sea Eagles to be primed for their run into the finals with Des Hasler’s troops to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles -18.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Panthers v BroncosSaturday, July 24, 7:35pm AEST |
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Brisbane produced an insipid second-half performance against a struggling Tigers outfit in a disappointing loss for the Queensland club. Their task will not be made easier this week against the Penrith Panthers, who produced a solid victory over a courageous Warriors outfit last week.
Cory Paix will join Brisbane’s bench at the expense of Jesse Arthars in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Panthers, Jahrome Luai will make his return from injury in a massive boost, allowing Matt Burton to shift back to the centres in an otherwise unchanged line-up.
Brisbane will need to produce a hugely improved defensive effort in this match if they are to have any hope of causing an upset. Expect Penrith to target their opposition’s paper thin edge-defence, an area exploited by the Tigers last week to devastating effect. Brisbane challenged Penrith in their last clash earlier this year, and expect the Broncos to adopt a similar game-plan as they attempt to beat the Panthers through the middle. Expect Penrith to get the win.
Betting Tip: Panther -19.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Dragons v TitansSunday, July 25, 2:00pm AEST |
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A depleted St George outfit fell agonisingly close to beating an understrength Manly outfit last week as the joint-venture club moves desperately to maintain their position in the top-eight. They will face the Titans this week, who sit two wins outside finals contention in 11th position on the ladder after a poor loss to the Eels in their last game.
For the Dragons, Matt Dufty, Tyrell Fuimaono and Kaide Ellis will all return from their covid-bans as Jayden Sullivan and Mathew Feagai come into the squad at five-eighth and on the wing respectively. For the Titans, rookie Toby Sexton will make his NRL debut in place of the injured Jamal Fogarty with Greg Marzhew also earning a recall on the wing. Mitch Rein will also come in at hooker for the injured Erin Clark in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Given the talent the Dragons have on the sidelines and the disruption from the covid-breach controversy, the Titans will enter this match as clear favourites. Expect the Gold Coast club to bring an intense performance to this match in a desperate bid to break into the top-eight, particularly given the Dragons are a team standing in their path to finals contention. Titans to get the win.
Betting Tip: Titans -4.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Bulldogs v SharksSunday, July 25, 4:05pm AEST |
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Cronulla suffered a woeful upset defeat at the hands of the Raiders last week with the Shire club’s finals series hanging by a thread. They will face an improved Bulldogs outfit who were courageous in defeat against a depleted South Sydney outfit with Trent Barrett’s troops eager to prove they are no easy-beats.
Cronulla’s only change comes with Royce Hunt’s inclusion on the bench, allowing Jack Williams to shift to the starting side to cover the suspended Aidan Tolman. For the Bulldogs, Jeremy Marshall-King has been named at hooker to return from suspension with Joe Stimson also earning a recall on the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Cronulla will enter this match as firm favourites given the Bulldogs’ record this year, but the Shire club should be on high-alert for an upset given Canterbury have performed courageously against quality sides in the Roosters and Souths in recent weeks. This match could go either way but expect the class within the Sharks’ spine combinations to prove the difference. Cronulla to get the win.
Betting Tip: Bulldogs +11.5 @ $1.95 (Unibet)
Best Bet
Storm -31.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)