The following are previews with betting tips for Round 4 of the 2023 NRL season. Best bets for the round are also provided.
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Eels v PanthersThursday, March 23, 7:50pm AEDT |
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Three consecutive losses has heaped pressure on Brad Arthur’s squad but the Eels face yet another massive task in a grand-final rematch against the Panthers. Penrith enjoyed a bye last week after a dominant performance over South Sydney in round two and should be fresh heading into this massive game.
Ryan Matterson will return from suspension in a huge boost for Parramatta’s edge. His return will push Matt Doorey back to the bench alongside NRL debutant Brendan Hands in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Meanwhile, Penrith’s only change comes with Scott Sorensen’s return from injury on the bench at the expense of Matt Eisenhuth.
Given their opposition’s struggles, the Panthers will enter this match as firm favourites but should be wary of a fired-up Eels outfit desperate to take revenge for last year’s grand final loss and to avoid four consecutive defeats to start their season. If the Eels are at their best this match could go either way but expect the class and cohesion of the reigning premiers in key moments to prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Panthers -7.5 @ $1.87 (Bet365)
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Storm v TigersFriday, March 24, 6pm AEDT |
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A struggling Wests outfit were unable to conjure a late comeback win over Canterbury last week as veteran mentor Tim Sheens still looks for his preferred combinations. The joint-venture club face a massive challenge against a Storm outfit reeling from consecutive losses in the face of a devastating injury toll. In his final year as head coach of the Storm, Craig Bellamy will be desperate to arrest his team’s form slump.
Tim Sheens will oversee a major spine shake-up for Wests. Brandon Wakeham’s form will see him take over at five-eighth from Adam Doueihi, who reverts to fullback. Daine Laurie will return from a knee injury on the bench alongside Alex Seyfarth, with Isaiah Papali’i also set to return from suspension in the second-row. Meanwhile, the Storm have suffered yet another blow with star halfback Jahrome Hughes suspended for two games. Cam Munster will make a timely return to form a new halves combination with promising rookie Jonah Pezet in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Wests showed some positive signs after former Canterbury depth half Wakeham was brought on late in the contest against his old club. Tigers faithful will be hoping their spine shake-up yields fast results as they come up against a Melbourne team looking to avoid their third straight defeat. Expect a big response from Craig Bellamy’s troops. Storm to get the win.
Betting Tip: Storm -8.5 @ $1.90 (Boombet)
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Dolphins v BroncosFriday, March 24, 8:05pm AEDT |
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Friday night will bring the much-hyped first game between the Dolphins and Broncos and with both teams undefeated and a sold-out Suncorp stadium, the contest dubbed ‘the battle of Brisbane’ will undoubtedly start a long rivalry between these two clubs. Wayne Bennett’s troops were patchy against the struggling Knights last week, managing to get away with a solid win, while Brisbane were similarly inconsistent in their victory over St George.
Former Storm hitman Felise Kaufusi has been rubbed out with suspension in a big blow to the Dolphins. Kenny Bromwich will likely shift to the second-row from prop with Jarrod Wallace set to return on the bench in a boost to the club’s middle rotation. Boom rookie half Isaiya Katoa is also in doubt with an injured elbow, with former Bronco Anthony Milford on standby to join the squad. Meanwhile, Brisbane are unchanged heading into this contest.
Despite going undefeated, the Broncos represent the Dolphins biggest challenge in the NRL to date, given they have already beaten the reigning premiers and North Queensland. Expect an intense physical contest between these two fearsome forward packs but the potent playmaking combinations Brisbane have assembled should prove the difference. Broncos to get the win.
Betting Tip: Dolphins +11.5 @ $1.95 (Colossalbet)
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Cowboys v TitansSaturday, March 25, 5:30pm AEDT |
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After a very successful 2022 season, North Queensland are under pressure off the back of two losses to improved Broncos and Warriors outfits. They will face a Titans squad who eased pressure on coach Justin Holbrook with a stunning upset over the Storm in positive signs for the Gold Coast club’s season.
Veteran James Tamou will join the Cowboys’ bench, with Griffin Neame shifting to prop to cover the injured Reuben Cotter in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Meanwhile, the Titans are unchanged after their four-point win over Melbourne.
North Queensland coach Todd Payten will be desperate to avoid three consecutive losses. It is vital for a Cowboys outfit with a heavy Origin representation to bank premiership points early in the season if they want to go deep into the finals. Justin Holbrook has done a good job to improve his squad with stand-in dummy half Chris Randall performing well in the absence of star recruit Sam Verrills and David Fifita looking dangerous. This match could go either way but expect the Cowboys to get the win.
Betting Tip: Cowboys -7.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)
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Rabbitohs v Sea EaglesSaturday, March 25, 7:35pm AEDT |
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Betting Tip: Sea Eagles +4.5 @ $1.90 (Picklebet)
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Warriors v BulldogsSunday, March 26, 2pm AEDT |
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A disciplined performance saw the Warriors produce a dominant victory over North Queensland last week as the squad’s development under former Penrith assistant Andrew Webster continues. They will face a Bulldogs outfit who backed up their stunning round-two upset over Melbourne with a solid win against Wests, holding off a late comeback from the struggling club.
The Warriors have been hit with injuries to Wayde Egan and Mitchell Barnett but will get a massive boost with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returning at fullback, alongside Jackson Ford in the second-row. Freddy Lussick will come in at hooker in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Canterbury have the luxury of naming an unchanged 17 this week in positive signs for the club.
Andrew Webster has very successfully leveraged off the composure and leadership of new signings Te Maire Martin and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to extract a big improvement from his team. While the Bulldogs are displaying plenty of character under new coach Cameron Ciraldo, expect the Warriors to come away with the points.
Betting Tip: Warriors -1.5 @ $1.90 (Colossalbet)
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Knights v RaidersSunday, March 26, 4:05pm AEDT |
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Canberra produced a courageous victory over Cronulla last week, holding off a late comeback for a four-point winning margin. They will face a struggling Newcastle outfit who were poor against the Dolphins and critics of the club’s coaching team are sharpening their knives given their only win this season has come against the lowly Tigers.
The Raiders will welcome veteran Josh Papali’i back from a calf injury in a welcome boost with Zac Woolford set to replace the injured Danny Levi at hooker in an otherwise unchanged lineup. Meanwhile, the Knights will benefit from some much-needed reinforcements with Jayden Brailey and Kurt Mann making their return from injury at hooker and lock respectively. Jack Johns will come onto the bench, while boom winger Dom Young has been dropped in favour of Titans import Greg Marzhew.
Newcastle have suffered a devastating injury toll this season, with constant movement in key positions stifling the team’s development. Brailey and Mann’s return should improve their middle enormously but expect the Raiders toughness and physicality to prove the difference. Canberra to get the points.
Betting Tip: Knights +7.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Dragons v SharksSunday, March 26, 6:15pm AEDT |
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With the bombshell announcement that the Dragons will force Anthony Griffin to re-apply for his position as they interview other applicants, the squad at the club will need to perform or lose their head-coach. They will face a Cronulla squad burning from a last-start loss to the Raiders, with Craig Fitzgibbon’s squad sure to be keen to put their patchy form to start the season behind them.
After the Dragons’ disappointing last-start loss to Brisbane, rookie Toby Couchman will join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Cronulla’s only change will be a massive boost with the return of superstar halfback Nicho Hynes.
Hynes is a massive in for a Sharks squad who have lacked composure on their fifth-tackle options and the opposition’s tryline. St George are capable of playing a tough brand of football but a lack of class in key positions is hurting them enormously. Sharks to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks -6.5 @ $1.90 (Bluebet)
Best Bet
Dolphins +11.5 @ $1.95 (Colossalbet)