The following are previews with betting tips for Round 17 of the 2022 NRL season. Best bets for the round are also provided.
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Sharks v StormThursday, July 7, 7:50pm AEST |
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The Storm produced a woeful performance by their lofty standards against an understrength Manly squad last week, conceding 36 points in concerning signs for Melbourne’s premiership hopes. They will face a Cronulla outfit who have surged back into the top-four with three consecutive victories, with their last win coming against a courageous Bulldogs club in torrid conditions.
Cronulla will cover Siosifa Talakai’s absence with Connor Tracey at centre in an otherwise unchanged squad. The Storm will only be missing Harry Grant from last week due to Origin, with Jordan Grant set to join the bench for Craig Bellamy’s only change.
The Storm enter this match as favourites, but the Victorians will be on high-alert for an upset, particularly after their poor showing last week and what was likely an unpleasant week of training under Craig Bellamy. Cronulla have found some consistency at the perfect time of the year and will be eager to consolidate their top-four berth heading into the back-end of the season. The Shire club were impressive in extremely wet conditions last week, but expect a big response from this Melbourne line-up to get them over the line.
Betting Tip: Storm -6.0 @ $1.90 (Playup)
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Knights v RabbitohsFriday, July 8, 8:05pm AEST |
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Souths produced an emphatic win over a highly-rated Eels outfit last week in a crucial result as the club looks to stabilize after a difficult Origin period to make a late-season charge into the top-four. They will face a Newcastle outfit who were equally dominant in victory last week, albeit against the last-placed Titans.
Souths will miss Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Jai Arrow to Origin III, with Hame Sele and Campbell Graham also out injured. Blake Taafe, Michael Chee Kam and Davvy Moale are the new faces on the Rabbitohs’ bench, with Jed Cartwright and Taane Milne also coming into the second-row and centre respectively. Meanwhile, Newcastle will receive a huge boost with the return of rake Jayden Brailey off the bench and Bradman Best at centre.
Latrell Mitchell’s influence and leadership on his South Sydney team-mates will be put to the test in the absence of their Origin contingent. Newcastle will benefit from some much needed strike from their returning players, particularly Jayden Brailey around the ruck. Expect a tough contest through the middle but the relative class and experience within the Souths’ spine should get them the win.
Betting Tip: Knights +4.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)
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Tigers v EelsSaturday, July 9, 7:35pm AEST |
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The Eels were thumped in a poor 30-12 loss to the Rabbitohs last week in concerning signs for Parramatta’s premiership aspirations after a number of poor performances in recent weeks. They will face a Tigers outfit languishing at equal last on the competition ladder with the club soundly beaten in a 20-point defeat at the hands of a passionate Warriors outfit.
With Junior Paulo absent for Origin III, Marata Niukore will shift to prop with Ryan Matterson making a timely return from injury at lock in an otherwise unchanged line-up. For the Tigers, James Tamou will return from injury at prop with Adam Doueihi set to shift to centre and Justin Matamua set to make his NRL debut off the bench in interim coach Brett Kimmorley’s only changes.
Expect a fiery response from the Eels after a poor team performance last week. Coach Brad Arthur will be looking for his squad to nail the fundamentals and build some consistency heading into the finals. The Tigers still have a ways to go before they can challenge top-eight opponents. Eels to get the win.
Betting Tip: Eels -11.5 @ $1.90 (Bluebet, Playup)
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Broncos v DragonsSunday, July 10, 4:05pm AEST |
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Brisbane produced a disappointing loss against North Queensland last week and facing their third consecutive loss, the Broncos will be desperate to break back into the top-four. Their opposition will be an in-form Dragons outfit gunning for their third straight win after a gritty victory over the Raiders pushed the joint-venture back into the top-eight.
Brisbane have been decimated by injuries and Origin representation with Corey Jensen, Payne Haas, Te Maire Martin out injured and Kurt Capewell, Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Tom Flegler in the Maroons squad. Cory Paix and Tyson Gamble will make their respective injury returns off the bench in a welcome boost alongside rookie Xavier Wilison. Rookie Zac Hosking is set to make his NRL debut at second-row, with Ryan James, Tesi Niu and Jordan Pereira coming in at prop, fullback and wing respectively. Meanwhile, the Dragons will replace Maroons stalwart and captain Ben Hunt with Jayden Sullivan at halfback in an otherwise unchanged squad.
While their opposition are missing a whopping seven players from their squad last week, the Dragons’ are untested without their talismanic skipper, Ben Hunt. If Brisbane’s weakened forward rotation can hold their own through the middle, expect an improved performance from skipper Adam Reynolds to guide his club to a win.
Betting Tip: Broncos -1.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)
Best Bet
Knights +4.5 @ $1.90 (bet365)