The following are previews with betting tips for Round 18 of the 2022 NRL season. Best bets for the round are also provided.
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Cowboys v SharksFriday, July 15, 6:00pm AEST |
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The Cowboys’ premiership credentials face a big test as the club comes up against an in-form Cronulla outfit. North Queensland enjoyed a bye last week but will be gunning for their fifth straight win after an impressive victory against Brisbane in round 16. The Sharks were similarly impressive last week against Melbourne, dominating the Storm for a rare 28-6 win over the Victorian club to consolidate their top-four berth.
Murray Taulagi and Jordan McLean will be missing due to covid and injury respectively for North Queensland, with coach Todd Payten also opting to rest Maroons stars Valentine Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai. Tom Dearden and Tom Gilbert have been named to back up from Origin III, with Jake Granville and Ben Hampton set to join the bench and Connelly Lemuelu named at second-row. Meanwhile, Cronulla will receive a huge boost with Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolph returning from covid protocols at halfback and prop respectively. Siosifa Talakai has also been named to back up from the Origin decider in an otherwise unchanged squad.
This match shapes as a potential sneak-preview into the finals series between two teams that have enjoyed a meteoric rise into the top-four this season. This match could go either way but expect the red-hot Sharks to capitalise on their red-hot form and the Cowboys’ heavy Origin representation to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks +1.5 @ $1.86 (Unibet)
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Eels v WarriorsFriday, July 15, 7:55pm AEST |
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The Eels saw off a fast-starting Tigers outfit last week elevating the club to sixth on the competition ladder with the club firmly within striking distance of the top-four. They will face a Warriors outfit who enjoyed a bye in round 17 after producing a dominant 20-point win over Wests of their own.
Eels’ mentor Brad Arthur has named Junior Paulo to back-up from Origin III but the star prop could be a late withdrawal depending on his workload for the Blues in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, the Warriors will be missing Ronald Volkman and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to illness and Bayley Sironen to injury. Reece Walsh will return at fullback, pushing Chanel Harris-Tavita to the halves with Edward Kosi and Jack Murchie also coming in on the wing and bench.
Parramatta will enter this match as heavy favourites but will need to be highly cautious of a passionate Warriors outfit, particularly given their week-to-week inconsistency this year. Expect an intense performance from a Parramatta squad with their eye firmly on a top-four berth. Eels to get the win.
Betting Tip: Warriors +17.5 @ $1.95 (PlayUp)
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Roosters v DragonsSaturday, July 16, 3:00pm AEST |
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While they enjoyed a much-needed rest last week, an understrength Roosters were impressive against the reigning premiers in a narrow, eight-point loss. They will now face a struggling Dragons outfit who were poor against a depleted Brisbane squad, a particularly disappointing result with the joint-venture club now sitting outside the top-eight.
The Tri-colours have named James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Angus Crichton to return from the Origin decider with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also returning on the bench in a big boost. Mid-season recruit Matt Lodge could also be a late inclusion for his club debut after he was named in the reserves. For the Dragons, Maroons hero Ben Hunt has been named at halfback but could be a late inclusion after the veteran playmaker played almost 80 minutes on Wednesday night. Tautau Moga and Aaron Woods will also join the squad on the wing and bench respectively.
St George were poor in the absence of their primary play-maker in Ben Hunt last week and will be desperately hoping their captain is available for selection with a three-day turnaround from Origin. The Roosters look primed to return to form with their injury woes easing but sitting outside the top-eight, Trent Robinson’s troops will be desperate for wins to contend in this year’s finals campaign. Roosters to get the win.
Betting Tip: Roosters -8.5 @ $1.95 (PlayUp)
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Sea Eagles v KnightsSaturday, July 16, 5:30pm AEST |
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Manly produced an impressive, gritty win over the Storm last week, holding off a late comeback with the Victorian juggernaut scoring three tries in the last five minutes of play for a vital win for the Sea Eagles. They will face a struggling Newcastle outfit sitting three wins outside the top-eight after a disappointing defensive display cost them victory over a fast-improving South Sydney outfit.
Manly have named an unchanged squad after their impressive win over Melbourne in round 16 with Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic set to back-up from the Origin decider. The Knights have similarly named their Origin contingent of Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Saifiti and Dane Gagai to back up from Origin III. The injured Bradman Best will be replaced by Gagai at centre, with Simi Sasagi and Brodie Jones also joining the bench.
This season, Des Hasler has once again proved he can drag his squad to success in the face of huge adversity on the injury front. Now sitting at seventh on the competition ladder, expect this well-coached Manly outfit to capitalise on the Knights’ lack of defensive cohesion. Sea Eagles to get the points.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles -8.5 @ $1.95 (Bluebet)
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Titans v BroncosSaturday, July 16, 7:35pm AEST |
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A depleted Brisbane outfit missing over 10 players to injuries and Origin representation produced a vital win over St George, keeping the club within striking distance of the top-four as they now sit one win behind fourth-placed Cronulla. They will face a struggling Titans squad staring down their seventh consecutive loss in what has been a horror season for the Gold Coast club.
Injuries to Cory Paix and Xavier Willison will see Jake Turpin return on the bench alongside Tom Flegler from Origin camp. Patrick Carrigan and Corey Oates were included in the reserves and could back up from Origin III with Selwyn Cobbo and Kurt Capewell set to be rested in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Titans, captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been named to back up from Origin with Phil Sami and Corey Thompson also returning at centre and wing respectively. Aaron Booth and Soefo Fifita are also set to make their club and NRL debut respectively at hooker and wing with Jaimin Jolliffe also set to join the bench.
The Broncos have shown time and again this season they can perform without their star players in encouraging signs for the depth at the resurgent Brisbane club. Expect a tough, high-scoring match between these two sides but the class within this Brisbane line-up, particularly the composure of Adam Reynolds, should get the Broncos over the line.
Betting Tip: Broncos -7.5 @ $1.85 (Unibet)
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Tigers v PanthersSunday, July 17, 2:00pm AEST |
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Penrith enjoyed a much-needed bye last week after their impressive last-start win over the Roosters. The reigning premiers will face a struggling Tigers outfit who were unable to overcome the Eels with interim coach Brett Kimmorley still tinkering with his preferred playmaking combinations.
Wests have made the interesting decision to shift Jackson Hastings to lock, with Adam Doueihi joining the halves. James Roberts and Ken Maumalo will form a new centre-wing combination, with Jake Simpkin and James Tamou joining the bench. For Penrith, Origin stars Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton and Api Koroisau will all be rested. Kurt Falls and Sean O’Sullivan will be the new halves, with Robert Jennings and Charlie Staines set to form a new centre-wing combination. Mitch Kenny, Chris Smith and Matthew Eisenhuth will join the pack at hooker, second-row and lock respectively with Soni Luke also joining the bench.
Despite their missing players, Penrith will enter this match as firm favourites given the poor form of their opposition and the Panthers’ record without their rep stars. Tigers fans will be eager to see if the positional switch for Jackson Hastings is successful but Penrith should come away with the win.
Betting Tip: Panthers -8.5 @ $1.95 (Bet365)
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Storm v RaidersSunday, July 17, 4:05pm AEST |
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The Storm have endured a turbulent Origin period with some uncharacteristic performances in recent weeks including a woeful 28-6 defeat at the hands of Cronulla. They will face a Raiders outfit running out of opportunities to break back into the top-eight after a disappointing loss to St George before their bye last week.
Melbourne have named Harry Grant to back up from the Origin decider with Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi returning from covid and personal leave respectively in a huge boost for the Storm, particularly with Brandon Smith suspended. Meanwhile, the Raiders will expect Josh Papalii to back up from duty with the Maroons with James Schiller replacing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
The Storm sit only one win clear of fifth on the competition ladder, but coach Craig Bellamy’s primary concern will be building momentum and form heading into the finals series. Expect the Raiders to capitalise on their opposition’s relatively poor form and deploy their trademark physicality, but the playmaking class within the Victorian outfit should prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Raiders +11.5 @ $1.95 (PlayUp)
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Bulldogs v RabbitohsSunday, July 17, 6:15pm AEST |
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Since Latrell Mitchell’s return from a long stint on the sidelines, the Rabbitohs have produced dominant attacking performances against the Eels and Knights. They will face an improved Canterbury outfit who were denied a three-game winning streak in a brutal contest against the Sharks in torrid conditions. While they are no chance of making the finals, the Bulldogs’ form and new arrivals in 2023 should have fans excited for the future.
Souths will welcome Alex Johnston and Mark Nicholls back at wing and prop respectively. Origin stars Jai Arrow, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray have been named to back-up, with Murray to be monitored after suffering a concussion in an otherwise unchanged Rabbitohs squad. For Canterbury, Aaron Schoupp will be absent due to covid despite being named with Declan Casey the likely replacement in the reserves. Braidon Burns will also come in at centre in interim coach Michael Potter’s only changes.
Sitting only two wins outside the top-four, Souths face a tough run into the finals and will need to win this game if they are any chance of making a charge into the top-four. Expect Canterbury’s trademark toughness to make their task difficult but the class within this Rabbitohs lineup should see them get the points.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -8.5 @ $1.95 (Bet365)
Best Bet
Sharks +1.5 @ $1.86 (Unibet)
Warriors +17.5 @ $1.95 (PlayUp)