The following are previews with betting tips for Round 10 – MAGIC ROUND of the 2022 NRL season. Best bets for the round are also provided.
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Bulldogs v KnightsFriday, May 13, 6:00pm AEST |
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Magic round will kick off with a clash between the struggling Knights and Bulldogs. Canterbury were brought back to earth after a courageous win over the Roosters in round eight with a disappointing loss to the Raiders last week. Their opposition in Newcastle are staring down their eighth consecutive loss with huge pressure on the Knights’ coaching team to stop the rot.
Canterbury have named Chris Patolo on the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, the Knights will receive a big boost with the injury return of Adam Clune and Edrick Lee at halfback and wing respectively.
Given their opposition’s woes, Canterbury will enter this match as firm favourites. Both teams have notched only two wins from nine games and desperately need to turn things around if they are to have any chance of making a finals appearance. Expect Newcastle’s trouble to continue while they have so many stars out injured. Bulldogs to get the points.
Betting Tip: Bulldogs H2H @ $1.72 (bet365)
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Sea Eagles v BroncosFriday, May 13, 8:05pm AEST |
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The Broncos produced an impressive upset over South Sydney last week, pushing the club to eighth on the competition ladder. They will face a Manly outfit who were dominant in victory over the Tigers in their last match and with both clubs sitting on five wins for the season, this match could have significant implications for the finals series.
Brisbane will receive a massive boost with the return of Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell at prop and second-row respectively. For Manly, Hamuole Olakau’atu has been named to replace the injured Josh Schuster in the second-row after he was a late withdrawal last week. Andrew Davey will also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Given the reputation of both of these teams, Manly will enter the contest as firm favourites but should be highly cautious of an in-form Brisbane outfit eager to put on a show with all of magic-round’s games set to be played at Suncorp. If Manly can match Brisbane’s damaging forward rotation they should get the win.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles H2H @ $1.63 (Unibet)
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Warriors v RabbitohsSaturday, May 14, 3:00pm AEST |
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Souths were poor in their last-start loss to a resurgent Broncos outfit in a result which saw the Rabbitohs drop out of the top-eight. Coach Jason Demitriou will be desperate to turn things around heading into the Origin period and his squad have a great opportunity to play themselves into form against a struggling Warriors squad. The Kiwis produced a disappointing performance against Cronulla in their last match, despite their opposition playing with 11 on the field at one stage.
An injury to captain Cam Murray that will see him miss a month is a huge blow for Souths. Jai Arrow will shift to lock with Jacob Host returning from injury in the second-row, alongside Thomas Burgess at prop. Mid-season signing Kodi Nikorima has also been named on the bench to face his old club. For the Warriors, Tohu Harris will return in a massive boost to their forward-rotation in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Warriors showed a concerning lack of composure in the face of an opposition line two men down, and Souths will be looking to tighten their defensive structures against their opposition’s wayward attack. While Murray is a huge loss for the Rabbitohs, expect a fired-up Souths squad to respond after some poor form to get the win.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -7.5 @ $1.90 (Playup)
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Titans v DragonsSaturday, May 14, 5:30pm AEST |
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The Titans produced a woeful performance against the Roosters last week for the Gold Coast club’s fifth consecutive loss as pressure mounts on coach Justin Holbrook given their lofty expectations over the off-season. Their opposition in the Dragons were soundly beaten by Melbourne in a disappointing result for the joint-venture club.
Justin Holbrook has made a number of changes to his squad with Jayden Campbell returning at fullback with Phil Sami and Jamayne Isaako also named as the new wingers in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, St George have named an unchanged squad for this game.
St George will enter this match as narrow favorites but should be highly cautious of a Titans outfit that has returned to their preferred spine combinations with the return of Jayden Campbell and Brimson’s shift to five-eighth. Both teams are capable of scoring plenty of points, but this game will be decided between these two brutal middle-rotations. The team that can win the ruck stands a massive chance of taking the game. Dragons to get the points.
Betting Tip: Dragons -1.5 @ $1.95 (Bluebet)
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Storm v PanthersSaturday, May 14, 7:45pm AEST |
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Penrith were handed their first defeat of the season last week against a powerful Parramatta squad, and the reigning premiers will now face another massive game against a red-hot Melbourne outfit gunning for their seventh consecutive win. Craig Bellamy’s troops were impressive in a dominant win over the Dragons last week as this match shapes as a wonderful insight into a potential match-up in the finals series.
The Storm will be missing superstar Ryan Papenhyzen and Reimis Smith in a big blow. Nick Meaney will revert to fullback with Marion Seve also coming into the centre position. Tui Kamikamica could also be a late addition after he was included in the reserves. Meanwhile, only one change for Penrith with Scott Sorensen’s injury return displacing Matt Eisenhuth on the bench.
Penrith were shocked by a powerful Parramatta line-up last week and coach Ivan Cleary will be looking for a massive response from his troops after a rare loss last week. The Storm may not be at their best in the absence of the hugely important Papenhyzen. This match could go either way but expect this full-strength Penrith line-up to get the win.
Betting Tip: Panthers -2.5 @ $1.96 (Unibet)
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Sharks v RaidersSunday, May 15, 1:50pm AEST |
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Cronulla bounced back from a disappointing round eight loss to Brisbane with a dominant victory over the Warriors last week. They will be a huge challenge for the struggling Raiders, who last snapped a five-game losing streak against Canterbury but still look far from their best.
Cronulla have made a host of changes with the suspended duo of Will Kennedy and Jesse Ramien at fullback and centre replaced by Nicho Hynes and Connor Tracey. Braydon Trindall will cover Hynes at halfback with Ronaldo Mulitalo and Royce Hunt also joining the wing and bench respectively. For the Raiders, an injury to Jarred Croker will see Sebastian Kris move into the starting side at centre with Xavier Savage his replacement on the interchange.
The Raiders face a massive task against an in-form Sharks squad and still missing the majority of their starting spine they may struggle against their opposition’s playmaking nous. The Sharks will be eager to consolidate their top-four berth heading into the Origin period. Cronulla to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks -11.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)
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Roosters v EelsSunday, May 15, 4:05pm AEST |
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Parramatta sent a warning shot to the competition when they handed the reigning premiers their first loss of the season last week. Now having beaten the Storm and Panthers, Parramatta shape as a massive test for a Roosters squad still yet to play their best football. After a comfortable win over the Roosters, Trent Robinson will be looking for a massive game from his squad to prove they can match the competition’s best.
The Eels have named an unchanged squad heading into this match in wonderful signs since Dylan Brown’s return to five-eighth. For the Roosters, hooker Sam Verrills will be sidelined for an extended period in a huge blow. Connor Watson will make a timely return at hooker with Daniel Suluka-Fifita also joining the bench.
The disruption to the Roosters’ playmakers this season has held the team back from their best, and Parramatta will be looking to overwhelm their opposition with the frenetic pace of play that was so effective against Penrith. The Eels will be eager to bank premiership points heading into the Origin period sitting just outside the top-four on points differential at equal third. This match could go either way but expect this red-hot Parramatta outfit to get the points.
Betting Tip: Eels -2.5 @ $2.00 (Bluebet)
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Tigers v CowboysSunday, May 15, 6:25pm AEST |
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North Queensland are gunning for their fifth consecutive win, after a dominant victory over the Knights launched the Cowboys into third position on the competition ladder. Their opposition in the Tigers were courageous in defeat against Manly as the joint-venture club move desperately to get themselves out of the bottom-four.
The Cowboys have named an unchanged line-up as Scott Drinkwater’s form at fullback continues to keep Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow out of the starting side. Meanwhile, the Tigers have named Luciano Leilua to return in the second-row in an otherwise unchanged squad.
This match shapes as a great test for both teams, with the longevity of the Cowboys’ form surge under question and the Tigers ability to compete consistently with the competition’s best. Wests will need to keep their ruck defence very tight to contain their opposition. Expect a close contest through the middle but the Cowboys’ playmaking class should get them over the line.
Betting Tip: Cowboys -8.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)
Best Bet
Rabbitohs -7.5 @ $1.90 (Playup)