The following are previews with betting tips for Round 19 of the 2023 NRL season. Best bets for the round are also provided.
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Tigers v SharksThursday, July 6, 7:50pm AEST |
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Wests produced an insipid performance against the Cowboys last Saturday night when the Queensland club exacted revenge against the Tigers for their 66-12 drubbing in round 12 – putting a whopping 74 unanswered points on the joint-venture club to heap further pressure on veteran coach Tim Sheens. Their task will get no easier this week against Cronulla after the Sharks dominated St George in a powerful 36-point last-start win.
Injuries to Brent Naden and David Noafoaluma will see Tommy Talau and Asu Kepoa join the squad at centre and wing respectively with Aitasi James also set to replace the suspended Alex Twal on the bench. For Cronulla, the suspension of Dale Finucane will see Cameron McInnes shift to lock with Jesse Colquhoun joining the interchange. Braden Hamlin-Uele will be missing with a rib injury, with Toby Rudolph making a timely return from a long-term injury absence at prop.
Wests will be desperate to restore some pride in their jersey against Cronulla, but with a severe shortage of play-making options, expect the joint-venture club’s struggles to continue. Craig Fitzgibbon’s troops will be eager to shore-up their top-four berth and should come away with the points.
Betting Tip: Sharks -21.5 @ $1.84 (BoomBet)
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Dragons v RaidersFriday, July 7, 8pm AEST |
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Ricky Stuart’s Raiders will be on the hunt for their third consecutive victory after a solid win over the in-form Titans last week. Canberra have produced a wonderful turnaround from a poor start to the year, now sitting equal third on the competition ladder. The Dragons were poor 36-point last-start drubbing at the hands of Cronulla with the club’s playing group struggling in the aftermath of Anthony Griffin’s sacking.
Canberra will be missing Pasami Saulo and Corey Horsburgh to injury and Origin respectively, with Peter Hola and Trey Mooney joining the bench as cover in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile St George will be missing captain Ben Hunt to Origin as well as Tyrell Sloan to injury. Paul Turner is set for his debut at fullback to cover Sloan, while Jayden Sullivan will shift to halfback. Moses Suli will return at centre for the Dragons in a welcome boost with Dan Russell also joining the bench for his NRL debut.
St George will need to produce a Herculean performance to produce an upset over an in-form Raiders outfit gunning for a top-four berth. Ricky Stuart has great experience managing his club’s run into the finals and expect his squad to fire in this contest. Raiders to get the points.
Betting Tip: Raiders -11.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)
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Eels v WarriorsSaturday, July 8, 5:30pm AEST |
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The Eels have done a wonderful job to fight back into finals contention after a woeful start to the year and are now sitting only two competition points outside the top-four at sixth on the competition ladder. They will face a Warriors outfit who were humbled in a disappointing last-start loss to South Sydney and with both clubs sitting on 22 premiership-points – this contest could be decisive for both clubs’ efforts to break into the top-four.
The Eels will be missing Clint Gutherson, Mitchell Moses and Reagan Campbell-Gillard to Blues camp with Daejarn Asi shifting to halfback and Ryan Matterson shifting to five-eighth. Sean Russell will shift to fullback with Isaac Lumelume coming onto the wing as cover, while Shaun Lane and Luca Moretii also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, the Warriors have named an unchanged squad but could be without halfback Shaun Johnson as he awaits the birth of his child with Ronald Volkman his replacement should he pull out.
Considering the class missing for Parramatta, the Kiwis will enter this contest as firm favourites. While the Eels have been impressive of late, particularly in their last-start win over the Dolphins in round 17 before their bye last week – losing half their spine to Origin and the lack of experience in key-playmaking positions should prove too large an obstacle against a Warriors squad eager for redemption after a poor showing against the Rabbitohs.
Betting Tip: Warriors -3.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)
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Rabbitohs v BulldogsSaturday, July 8, 7:35pm AEST |
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An understrength South Sydney outfit were back to their best against the Warriors last week, producing 28 unanswered points in a dominant victory to snap a two-game losing streak. They will face a struggling Canterbury outfit who were humbled in a 66-nil thrashing by Newcastle last week with rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo facing a long rebuild to get his squad back into finals contention.
Souths will endure a heavy representative toll with Cameron Murray, Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Keon Kolomatangi all called into the NSW squad. Isaiah Tass and Ben Lovett will come in at centre and second-row respectively, with Tallis Duncan and Peter Mamouzelos joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Meanwhile, Canterbury will be missing Josh Addo-Carr to Origin III with Blake Wilson joining the wing as cover. Hayze Perham and Paul Alomoti have been dropped as Jake Averillo shifts to fullback and Braidon Burns and Jackson Topine form a new centre pairing. Mid-season Titans import Toby Sexton will come straight into the squad at halfback in a big boost for the struggling club.
It is a credit to the coaching nous of Jason Demitriou that South Sydney have performed so well in the absence of key players such as Latrell Mitchell, Jai Arrow and Campbell Graham but with a further four Origin absences, the club’s depth will face a serious test this week. Expect a response from Canterbury after their woeful showing against Newcastle, but the inexperience and still-developing combinations in their squad should see Souths get the win.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -4.5 @ $1.95 (Colossalbet)
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Titans v DolphinsSunday, July 9, 4:05pm AEST |
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An understrength Dolphins outfit were courageous in defeat to the second-placed Broncos last week and now face another massive game in a south-east Queensland showdown with the Titans. The Gold Coast were impressive in a narrow last-start defeat to the in-form Raiders and sitting just two competition-points outside the top-eight, this game is crucial for both teams’ finals aspirations.
The Titans will be missing AJ Brimson, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asiamaleaui to Maroons camp in a big blow. Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui and Klese Haas will join the squad at prop and second-row respectively with Jayden Campbell shifting to fullback with Jacob Alick named to make his NRL debut off the bench. Meanwhile, the Dolphins will be missing Felise Kaufusi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to concussion and Origin respectively with Anthony Milford and Jarrod Wallace joining the bench as cover in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Recent form will see the Titans enter this contest as favourites but missing four Origin players – the Gold Coast club should be highly cautious of their Queensland rivals desperate to get their season back on track after four consecutive losses. This match could go either way but expect the Titans to showcase the impressive depth to their squad to come away with the win.
Betting Tip: Dolphins +2.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)
Best Bet
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -4.5 @ $1.95 (Colossalbet)