NRL Round 1 Preview
After 159 days in the not so distant wilderness the National Rugby League will return to television screens around the world on Thursday night in what looks to be an intriguing 2020 season. This excitement surrounding the inaugural season of the new decade is centred around the return of a number of big names, new signings and an exciting crop of young talent eager to prove their name on the big stage. Talking of the big stage, the Sydney Roosters yet again proved their credentials on it by becoming the first team to go back-to-back in the modern era as they downed the Canberra Raiders in a nail biting grand final. Whether or not any team can stop them from going three in a row remains to be seen but you can bet that they will have a target on their head after setting their benchmark for the past two seasons. Despite this there are a host of teams who are set to challenge the Roosters and we look at their round one credentials in the following article so read on and enjoy the 2020 season!
Parramatta Eels ($1.30) vs Canterbury Bulldogs ($3.55)
Thursday, 12th March 8:05pm, Bankwest Stadium
The 2020 NRL season kicks off in style with premiership fancies the Parramatta Eels welcoming their Western Sydney rivals, the Canterbury Bulldogs, to their new spiritual home Bankwest Stadium in a Thursday night blockbuster match. Both sides will be eager to prove their worth at Bankwest Stadium with the Eels winning 9 of their 12 matches there last season and the Bulldogs earning the right to host 4 of their home fixtures at the ground in 2020. The last time these two sides met at Bankwest Stadium the Dogs ran out 12-6 victors in a low scoring scrap, a trend that has become common between these two teams as 8 of their last 9 meetings has seen a total of 32 points or under. Despite this the bookies have set the total points market at a very generous 39.5 points, which looks incredibly tempting based on recent history. When looking at the teams for both sides it is hard to go past a couple of key changes as they look to start the 2020 season in style. For the Eels they welcome two big signings to their forward pack in Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson, who will both make their club NRL debuts in the front and second row respectively. For the Bulldogs they will be without former New Zealand half Kieran Foran who is out with injury and youngster Brandon Wakeham will have the job of filling in in the halves whilst they also welcome Joe Stimson to the second row as he makes his club debut after moving to Belmore from the Storm. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs their preparation hasn’t been ideal with two of their standout players from last season being stood down for disciplinary issues and with the improved strength of the Eels we are leaning towards a home victory but are also very confident that the aforementioned trend of low scoring games between these two sides will continue.
Recommended Bet: Under 39.5 Points $1.80
Canberra Raiders ($1.30) vs Gold Coast Titans ($3.55)
Friday, 13th March 6:00pm, GIO Stadium
After falling at the final hurdle on the first weekend of October last year the Canberra Raiders will be licking their lips at the prospect of bouncing back against the wooden spooners from 2019 in the Gold Coast Titans in their first game of 2020. Despite this the Titans will be holding their heads high and brimming with confidence after knocking off the Raiders by 27-10 just a matter of weeks ago in the pre-season 9s tournament. In this tournament the Titans showed plenty of promise in reaching the semi-finals before losing to the eventual winners, the North Queensland Cowboys, and new coach Justin Holbrook will be hoping that they can carry this momentum into their round one clash. To do this Holbrook has handed a club debut to Sam Lisone and a full debut to Jaimin Joliffe in order to freshen up their forward pack as well as recalling star playmaker Ashley Taylor to the starting side after a layoff due to personal reasons. If the Titans are to topple the Raiders they will need to muscle up against one of the competitions best forward packs from last year who despite missing star John Bateman, Ryan Sutton and Hudson Young still look formidably strong. In their absence the Raiders have moved Corey Horsbrugh and Dunamis Lui into the starting side and have handed a club debut to former Sharks centre Curtis Scott and a starting spot to former utility Bailey Simonsson, who replace Joseph Leilua and Jordan Rapana in the backline. To add to the Raiders impressive squad is the signing of English international halfback George Williams who will partner Jack Wighton in the halves. The only concern that hovers over the Raiders is the large scale changes that have been made from last years side but they can take confidence in the fact that they have won 4 of the last 5 against the Titans, including a 21-0 win last season. Interestingly 4 of the last 5 matches between these sides have been over 44 points and with the total points line set at 44.5 for this week we are leaning towards another high scoring affair between the two sides.
Recommended Bet: Over 44.5 Points $1.90
North Queensland Cowboys ($1.62) vs Brisbane Broncos ($2.30)
Friday, 13th March 8:05pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Friday nights prime time game sees one of the biggest rivalries in the modern game with the North Queensland Cowboys welcoming the Brisbane Broncos to their new stadium the Queensland Country Bank Stadium. If you are wondering where this rivalry stems from then look no further than the 2015 grand final, which was decided by a singular point, as well as a host of their recent matches, with a common trend of close finishes between the two sides. This can be highlighted by 3 of their last 4 NRL encounters being decided by 4 points or less and that’s not including the 2 point victory that the Cowboys had over the Broncos in the 2020 trials. To add to this pre-season win for the Cowboys they also defeated the Broncos in the 9s competition, which they went on to win, and this will have the Cowboys brimming with confidence as they start their 2020 season. To add to the confidence of the Cowboys is their new and improved side, which is highlighted by the signing of former Queensland and Australia star Valentine Holmes, who will debut at fullback, New Zealand International Esan Marsters who starts in the centres and exciting young hooker Reece Robson who will make his club debut off the bench. For the Broncos they will be looking to continue an impressive streak that has seen them win 4 of their last 5 against the Cowboys and to do this coach Anthony Seibold has handed former Melbourne Storm halfback Brodie Croft his club debut and Jake Turpin the starting hooker role, over incumbent Andrew McCullough. Unfortunately for the Broncos star fullback Jack Bird went down in training with an ACL injury, forcing Jamayne Isaako into the fullback role. With this in mind as well as the resurgent Cowboys form in the pre season and the opening of their new stadium we are confident in a Cowboys win, albeit in a tight contest.
Recommended Bet: North Queensland Cowboys 1-12 $2.90
Newcastle Knights ($1.50) vs New Zealand Warriors ($2.70)
Saturday, 14th March 3:00pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Saturdays first game sees two teams who both missed out on the finals in 2019 in the Newcastle Knights and the New Zealand Warriors meet as they look to prove their doubters wrong after last seasons disappointment. To aid the Knights cause for returning to finals football they have appointed one of the most promising coaches out there in Adam O’Brien who has spent over 10 years tutelage as an assistant to two of the best modern day coaches, Craig Bellamy & Trent Robinson. O’Brien will be hoping that he can take a squad that is littered with both young talent and experienced heads towards a first finals berth since 2013 and to do so he has handed club debuts to promising youngsters Enari Tuala & Gehamat Shibasaki, both in the centres, as well as Jayden Brailey in the hooker role. For the Warriors they will have to make do without a number of big name forwards who have succumbed to injury in Jackson Frei & Bunty Afoa but they welcome Wayde Egan into the hooker role as he looks to form a partnership with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Green and Chanel Harris-Tavita, who beat out Kodi Nikorima to the five-eighth position. In recent history the Warriors have dominated this fixture winning 6 of the last 8, including last seasons future at McDonald Jones Stadium but the Knights will have the upper hand after coming out 34-0 victors against them in the 9s. With this in mind and the seemingly overall strength of the Knights over the Warriors, after their injuries in the forwards, we are leaning towards a home victory for the Knights in convincing fashion.
Recommended Bet: Newcastle Knights -6.5 $1.90
South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.53) vs Cronulla Sharks ($2.50)
Saturday, 14th March 5:30pm, ANZ Stadium
The first game for the 2020 season played at the home of the grand final in the ANZ stadium sees the experienced Wayne Bennett led South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the young but promising John Morris led Cronulla Sharks. Both coaches will be eager to start their season off on the right foot after making finals last year and they will have to do so without the help of two of the biggest stars of the modern era in Sam Burgess and Paul Gallen. With the retirement of both players it has provided the opportunity for the two coaches to experiment with their forward pack and both have done so by making a number of positional changes. For the Rabbitohs Bennett has moved origin star Cameron Murray to the second row as Liam Knight takes the lock position as well as handing a club debut at fullback to former Rooster Latrell Mitchell. For the Sharks they have moved young and impressive forward Jack Williams into Gallen’s lock role, handed impressive youngster Toby Rudolf an NRL debut off the bench whilst they have been forced into a major reshuffle in their backline. With the absence of Josh Dugan, Matt Moylan and Bronson Xerri to injury youngster Will Kennedy will start at fullback, Ronaldo Mulitalo will come onto the wing and Jesse Ramien makes his return to the club after a season with the Knights. The last time these two teams met the Sharks won 39-24 at home but it is the concerning form of the Sharks at ANZ against the Rabbitohs that has caught our eye. The Rabbitohs have managed to win their last 5 at ANZ against the Sharks and with the large scale changes being made at the Sharks due to injuries and retirement we are expecting this trend to continue with another South Sydney win.
Recommended Bet: South Sydney Rabbitohs 1-12 $2.85
Penrith Panthers ($2.75) vs Sydney Roosters ($1.45)
Saturday, 14th March 7:35pm, Panthers Stadium
The double defending premiers, the Sydney Roosters, kick start their 2020 NRL campaign with a difficult journey to the foot of the mountains to take on the Penrith Panthers, who will be eager to erase their disappointing 2019 campaign. The Panthers started the 2019 season as one of the premiership favourites and after lingering near the bottom of the table after 10 weeks they started a small resurgence that saw them finish 1 point shy of the top 8. With this fresh in their minds coach Ivan Cleary will be hoping that his team can prove a point by providing the World Club Champions with a stern challenge to start the year. To do this the Panthers will welcome one of the Roosters premiership players in Zane Tetevano to the front row as well as Apisai Koroisau to the starting hooker role but will unfortunately be missing fullback Dylan Edwards who is replaced by Caleb Aekins. For the Roosters they will be looking to continue an impressive run of winning 3 of their last 4 victories against the Panthers but will have to do so without the retired Cooper Cronk and the absence of captain Boyd Cordner, who is being rested. As a result Kyle Flanagan earns his club debut at halfback after moving from the Sharks, Sitili Tupouniua starts in the second row and Angus Crichton shifts to the centres to cover for the loss of Latrell Mitchell. Despite the loss of some key personnel the Roosters still look the team to beat but the pivotal point of this meeting is the history of their last 3 meetings being decided by 38 points or less. With the total point line being set at 39.5 points this week and with the loss of important playmakers in Cronk and James Maloney we are predicting a tight, low scoring affair between the two sides.
Recommended Bet: Under 39.5 Points $1.93
Manly Sea Eagles ($2.15) vs Melbourne Storm ($1.70)
Sunday, 15th March 4:05pm, Lottoland
Last years minor premiers in the Melbourne Storm commence their 2020 season with a tough away trip to the 2019 6th placed Manly Sea Eagles, who have proved tough opposition to the Storm in recent seasons.The Sea Eagles shocked many last year when they defeated the Melbourne Storm by 1 point in extra time away from home and the Storm will be eager to prove their doubters wrong after a number of off season changes with a win against one of their modern rivals. For the Storm they will sport a new look side as both Curtis Scott & Will Chambers have left the club meaning that Justin Olam and Marion Seve will step into the vacant centre positions as well as Harry Grant and Tui Kamikamica taking spots of the injured Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona. On the other hand the Sea Eagles have been boosted with the return of a number of key players from off-season surgery as Tom & Jake Trbojevic both start as well as Addin Fonua-Blake whilst Danny Levi makes his club debut in the hooker role, with Lachlan Croker acting as back up from the bench. Despite the Sea Eagles 1 point victory last year these two sides have been relatively even with 2 wins a piece in their last 4 games and with the Sea Eagles having a number of their key players back on deck in comparison with the Storm who have a number of players out we are leaning towards the Sea Eagles with the handicap start in what should be a thrilling contest.
Recommended Bet: Manly Sea Eagles +2.5 $1.80
St. George Illawarra Dragons ($1.80) vs Wests Tigers ($2.00)
Sunday, 15th March 6:15pm, WIN Stadium
Two sides with a lot to prove clash in the final fixture of round one as the Wests Tigers travel to WIN Stadium to take on the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Both sides will be looking to improve on disappointing 2019 campaigns that saw the Tigers just miss the finals with a 9th placed finish whilst the Dragons were one of the biggest underachievers of the year by finishing in a lacklustre 15th after being tipped by many to make the top 8. As a result both coaches have made changes to the sides that finished the season last year, some tactical changes whilst others forced changes due to injury. For the Dragons they have lost star forwards Cameron McInnes and Korbin Sims to injury, who are replaced by new signing Isaac Luke and the returning Trent Merrin. The Dragons have also altered their backline with Zac Lomax coming into fullback and Brayden Williame starting at centre over Euan Aitken. For the Tigers they will be without Moses Mbye, Paul Momirovski, Jacob Liddle and Russell Packer as Joseph Leilua, Adam Doueihi, Billy Walters and Luciano Leilua make their club debuts. In recent history this fixture has been relatively even with both teams winning 4 each in their last 8 meetings but their most recent meeting from round 24 of 2019 saw the Tigers run out 42-14 over the Dragons. With this in mind and the fact that the Dragons are also without Gareth Widdop from last year we are leaning towards the Tigers in a close finish to round one of the 2020 season.
Recommended Bet: Wests Tigers 1-12 $3.15
