NRL Round 13 Preview
With the first bye round and State of Origin game one upon us it remains to be seen how each team will perform and how coaches will manage their origin stars in light of the long season ahead. Read on as we preview round 13 and predict how we think each team will perform.
South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.64) vs Newcastle Knights ($2.26)
Friday, 7th June 6:00pm, ANZ Stadium
The first game of the round is a mouthwatering top of the table clash between the second placed South Sydney Rabbitohs and the fourth placed Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium. South Sydney are coming off their first loss since round four as they went down 26-14 in a gallant effort to a full strength Parramatta Eels side despite missing four of their star players to origin duty. This week sees coach Wayne Bennett name all of his origin players to back up less than 48 hours after origin as well as naming James Roberts for his first game in South Sydney colours since signing from the Brisbane Broncos in a move to sharpen an attack that lacked cohesion last week. Despite naming his origin players there is still a question mark over whether they will back up as Bennett has been quoted saying that he will rest his origin stars at some stage during the origin period. On the other hand the Knights are coming off a bye in round 12 and are riding a 5 game winning streak including an impressive 38-12 demolition of the defending premiers, the Sydney Roosters. Unfortunately for the Knights they have lost impressive hooker Danny Levi to an ankle injury this week, forcing coach Nathan Brown into a reshuffle of Connor Watson to hooker and Kurt Mann to five eight as well as naming both Kalyn Ponga and David Klemmer to back up from origin. In recent history, this fixture has spelt concern for Knights fans as they haven’t defeated South Sydney since 2011 but we are tipping the Knights to break this hoodoo as they are largely unaffected from origin and are on an impressive streak of their own over the course of the last 5 rounds. *Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker & Kalyn Ponga have all been omitted from tonight's game.
Recommended Bet: Newcastle Knights $2.26
Wests Tigers ($1.85) vs Canberra Raiders ($1.95)
Friday, 7th June 7:55pm, Bankwest Stadium
The prime time game for Friday sees the Wests Tigers take on the Canberra Raiders at Parramatta’s spiritual home ground of Bankwest Stadium. Despite this fixture not being at the Tigers home ground you can expect that there will still be a significantly large contingent of Tigers fans as they look to avenge their 51-6 loss to the Eels at this stadium in round 6. For the Tigers they are currently on a small slide losing their last two games to two top 8 teams in the Rabbitohs and the Storm as their record against top 8 teams sits at 1 win from 5 games. Unfortunately for them the Raiders are also a top 8 team who were well entrenched in the top 4 until they suffered a 3 game losing streak before snapping that against the Bulldogs in a spirited 12-10 win despite having a host of stars out to injury and origin commitments. This week sees the Raiders welcome back star winger Jordan Rapana from injury as well as naming Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric and Josh Papalii to back up from origin. For the Tigers they have named their only origin star in Moses Mbye to back up at fullback as David Nofoaluma drops out of the side in the only change to their round 11 fixture. In recent history the Raiders have dominated this contest in winning 6 of the last 8 fixtures and with a host of stars named to return we are tipping them to continue to show their improved mentality in 2019 as they post an important win against the Tigers.
Recommended Bet: Canberra Raiders $1.95
New Zealand Warriors ($2.35) vs Melbourne Storm ($1.58)
Saturday, 8th June 3:00pm, Mt Smart Stadium
The second fixture between the New Zealand Warriors and the Melbourne Storm for 2019 is the first game on Saturday as the Storm travel across the Tasman as they look to hold onto their top of the table spot. The first time these two teams met the Storm scraped past the Warriors 13-12 despite trailing 12-10 with 5 minutes left on the clock in what was a scrappy affair on Anzac Day in round 7. The Warriors will be desperate to avenge this loss and will be pleased that their team is unaffected from origin, due to their large contingent of non-Australian players, and the only changes they have made is a reshuffle in the forward pack with Agnatius Paasi starting at prop, Adam Blair at lock and Lachlan Burr moving to the bench as Jazz Tevaga drops to the reserves. For the Storm they have named an unchanged side from the team that beat the Bulldogs 28-6 as coach Craig Bellamy has named origin reps Cameron Munster, Will Chambers, Felise Kaufusi and Josh Addo-Carr to back up from Wednesday’s clash. The Storm will also be pleased that they are currently riding a 7 game winning streak against the Warriors including not having lost at Mt Smart Stadium since 2015. To couple with this record has been the Warriors shaky home form as they have won only 50% of home games this year and we are predicting the Storm to inflict another home loss for the Warriors in a close game.
Recommended Bet: Melbourne Storm 1-12 $2.80
Cronulla Sharks ($1.53) vs Parramatta Eels ($2.45)
Saturday, 8th June 5:30pm, Cronulla Stadium
A top 8 clash is brought to us in the penultimate time slot for Saturday as the Parramatta Eels travel to PointsBet Stadium to take on the Cronulla Sharks in an important game for both teams top 4 aspirations. The Eels are coming off a win against an undermanned Rabbitohs as they halted a 3 game losing streak whilst the Sharks had the bye last round but are coming off a 22-9 win against the Dragons. With the Eels coming off their first win in 3 rounds coach Brad Arthur has stuck strong with the same 17 who delivered him that result, meaning that club veterans in Tim Mannah and Brad Takairangi remain in the reserves. For the Sharks they have decided to rest origin star Josh Morris as he played his first origin game in over 2 years and have named Josh Dugan in his spot at centre with Aaron Gray to come in on the wing. Sharks fans will also be pleased to see both Shaun Johnson and Wade Graham named among the reserves as they push to return from hamstring and ACL injuries respectively. This fixture is the second time that these two teams have met in 2019 as the Eels hold bragging rights after an impressive 24-12 win against the Sharks in round 4 as they out ran the Sharks by over 200 metres. Despite this the Sharks are a much different team as they looked to have found their cohesion despite a host of injuries and also hold an impressive record of not losing to the Eels at home since 2014 and with this in mind we are tipping the Sharks to continue their resurgent form.
Recommended Bet: Cronulla Sharks -4.5 Line $1.90
North Queensland Cowboys ($1.70) vs Manly Sea Eagles ($2.12)
Saturday, 8th June 7:35pm, 1300SMILES Stadium
The primetime game for Saturday night sees the 7th placed Manly Sea Eagles travel up to Townsville to take on the 11th placed North Queensland Cowboys who are currently riding an impressive 3 game winning streak. Last week saw the Cowboys pull off a miraculous 6-4 win against the Gold Coast Titans despite missing their origin stars as well as missing Matt Scott to injury and losing both Gideon Gela-Mosby and Corey Jensen to injury in the first half. This win saw the Cowboys reach the same amount of points as the Sea Eagles who went down 15-12 to the Panthers in what was their second straight loss. This week the Cowboys have named both origin stars in Michael Morgan and Josh McGuire to back up, with Morgan moving to fullback in wake of Jordan Kahu’s injury, Enari Tuala coming in for Gela-Mosby and 20 year old hooker Reuben Cotter named to make his debut off the bench. For the Sea Eagles, star fullback Tom Trbojevic has been named to return from a hamstring injury, Moses Suli comes back into the centres forcing Brendan Elliot to the bench and their origin stars Daly Cherry Evans and Jake Trbojevic have been included on an extended bench as coach Des Hasler will see how they get through origin before making a final decision on whether they play or not. Recently, the Cowboys have had the wood over the Sea Eagles as they have won 6 of the last 7 including a 26-12 victory over the Sea Eagles at Lottoland last year and with their impressive record of having won all 5 of their home games when they have started as favourites in the last 12 months we are feeling that they could secure another important win for their finals aspirations, albeit in a close match.
Recommended Bet: North Queensland Cowboys 1-12 $2.70
Brisbane Broncos ($1.35) vs Gold Coast Titans ($3.15)
Sunday, 9th June 2:00pm, Suncorp Stadium
A Queensland derby is brought to us in the first game on Sunday as the 15th placed Gold Coast Titans travel to Suncorp Stadium to take on the 9th placed Brisbane Broncos. Last week the Titans went down to the Cowboys 6-4 at home in a poor attacking performance as their halves struggled to take control of the numerous opportunities that they had to score points. Surprisingly under pressure coach Garth Brennan has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to his side with the only change being Jai Arrow named to back up from origin forcing Jai Whitbread to the bench and Jack Stockwell to the reserves, although former origin hooker Nathan Peats has been named on the extended bench as he looks to push for his return from a pectoral injury. On the other hand the Broncos are riding a 3 game winning streak over the Warriors, the Roosters and the Sea Eagles as they looked to have turned a corner and revived their season as they sit on the brink of the top 8. To continue this form coach Anthony Seibold has named all five of his origin players in Corey Oates, Joe Ofehengaue, David Fifita, Payne Haas and Matt Gillett to back up from game one as well as naming both Andrew McCullough and Thomas Flegler to return from knee and back injuries respectively. To add to the confidence of Brisbane fans is their record against the Titans as they have won 8 of their last 9 games against them and we are predicting Brisbane to score a dominant win as they continue their resurgent form.
Recommended Bet: Brisbane Broncos -9.5 Line $1.90
Penrith Panthers ($2.77) vs Sydney Roosters ($1.43)
Sunday, 9th June 4:05pm, Panthers Stadium
Penrith’s resurgent form over the last 2 weeks will be tested this week as they welcome the defending premiers in the Sydney Roosters to Panthers Stadium, who will be eager to bounce back from a 2 game losing streak that has seen them slip to 3rd on the table. The Panthers last 2 victories against the Eels and the Sea Eagles may have been sloppy but they are a step in the right direction for the men from the foot of the mountain as coach Ivan Cleary looks to lead them to the unlikeliest of finals berths. On the other hand the defending premiers will be disappointed in their last two efforts as they were out muscled by both the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights in two lacklustre performances for their lofty standards. To halt this slide coach Trent Robinson has named all 4 of his origin stars in James Tedesco, Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton and Latrell Mitchell but have lost Luke Keary to concussion, as former Dragon Drew Hutchison is named to make his club debut in the halves, and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who misses out through suspension. For the Panthers they have recalled Viliame Kikau and Wayde Egan, Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been named to start in the front row over injured front rower Tim Grant, Hame Sele comes in for Tyrell Fuimaono on the bench and blues halfback Nathan Cleary has been named on an extended bench. In recent history the Roosters have won 3 of their last 4 against the Panthers, including a 32-6 victory against them last year and we are tipping them to halt this slide by posting a convincing victory against Penrith.
Recommended Bet: Sydney Roosters -6.5 Line $1.90
Canterbury Bulldogs ($2.25) vs St. George Illawarra Dragons ($1.63)
Monday, 10th June 4:00pm, ANZ Stadium
The final game of round 13 comes to us on Monday thanks to the long weekend and sees a clash between Sydney rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs and the St. George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ stadium. Both teams are currently sliding down the ladder as the Bulldogs sit last on the back of a two game losing streak to Canberra and Melbourne whilst the Dragons find themselves languishing in 13th on a 5 game losing streak against sides such as the Sharks, the Knights, the Warriors, the Eels and the Roosters. In this period the Dragons have conceded an appalling 145 points at an average of 29 points per game and their defensive frailties is of massive concern for coach Paul McGregor as he has made a host of changes from the side who took the park against the Sharks 2 weeks ago. Among these changes includes the naming of his 3 origin stars in Ben Hunt, Tyson Frizell and Paul Vaughan on the extended bench, Corey Norman has returned at five eight, Matt Dufty returns at fullback as Zac Lomax shifts to the centres in place of the injured Tim Lafai and James Graham is out due to a fractured fibula. For the Bulldogs they have named origin representative Dylan Napa on the extended bench and you can expect him to start if he gets through origin unscathed and besides that the only change is a positional swap between Adam Elliot and Raymond Fataila-Mariner in the forwards. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs one of the Dragons most impressive wins for 2019 came up against them in round 5 as they demolished them 40-4 and we are predicting another Dragons win, albeit in a much closer match this time round.
Recommended Bet: St. George Illawarra Dragons 1-12 $2.75
