Manly Sea Eagles vs. Canberra Raiders
Lottoland
Friday 21 April 6.00pm LOCAL
Two of the most exciting teams in the competition kick off a massive ANZAC weekend of NRL action, with the Canberra Raiders hosting the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night.
The Eagles were touted as a potential competition dark-horse after a gutsy win over the Roosters in Round 5, but are now coming off back-to-back losses against the Dragons and Melbourne Storm. In their loss to the 2012 premiers on Saturday, they showed significant attacking prowess as they crossed for five tries, however it exposed an array of defensive lapses which is cause of concern for Coach Trent Barrett.
They welcome back Kiwi enforcer Martin Taupau to their starting line-up this week, who re-joins a brutal forward pack that has been led by Jake Trbojevic, who together with his brother, Tom, have been the two best performers for the Eagles this season.
While they will be looking to re-gain their winning form after two tough losses, the Raiders will be searching for their fourth successive victory after an inconsistent start to the season. Arguably the most exciting team in the competition, their average of 26 points per game as been complemented by their recent defensive efforts in their three victories with just 14 points conceded per game.
Ricky Stuart has named an unchanged 17 for the highly anticipated clash, and will be relying on another dominant performance from BJ Leilua, who is coming off a strong two-try performance and is knocking on the door of representative honours. Together with winger Jordan Rapana, the pair have scored 13 tries this season - the most of any centre-wing combination in the NRL this season.
Tip: While the Raiders have won five of the last six games at GIO Stadium against Manly, a win won’t come easy as Manly will be determined to get their season back on track. Expect a high scoring game and some great attacking football, and the Raiders to record another gutsy victory. Raiders by 12.
Best bet: Total points over 42.5 $1.90
Odds: Raiders $1.23 Eagles $4.20
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Brisbane Broncos
ANZ Stadium
Friday 21 April 7.50pm LOCAL
It’s been a tough season so the South Sydney Rabbitohs so far and they face another tough encounter against the Brisbane Broncos. They are coming off a poor performance against the Bulldogs on Good Friday, and have been inconsistent with three losses in their past four games.
Their lacklustre efforts defensively is a worrying sign for the 2014 premiers, having the fourth worst defensive record in the competition. Luckily enough, Sam Burgess has escaped a two week suspension for a shoulder charge, and will be free to play against the Broncos. In a massive loss for the Rabbitohs, incumbent NSW halfback Adam Reynolds has been ruled out with a hip injury which will see Cody Walker move to halfback and John Sutton to five-eight.
The Broncos, on the other hand, have recorded back-to-back wins over the Roosters and Titans but will disappointed with their polar opposite performances. Their forwards rolled through the Roosters pack in Round 6 with some barnstorming runs, but had less of an impact last weekend and it showed in their attacking execution.
In their 24-22 win, James Roberts had one of his career-best performances with a hat-trick of tries, while also recording 182 running metres, 11 tackle breaks and 2 line breaks.
Their two victories sets the Broncos in sixth place, but another win could see them climb into the Top Four and give them a huge advantage heading into the Origin period.
Tip: These two teams will be battling for a desperate two points as they fight for a top four and top eight spot, respectively. The Rabbitohs have the home ground advantage but lack the strike power that the Broncos possess. Broncos by 16.
Best bet: Brisbane Broncos -8.5 handicap $1.90
Odds: Rabbitohs $2.75 Broncos $1.45
Parramatta Eels vs. Penrith Panthers
ANZ Stadium
Saturday 22 April 3.00pm LOCAL
The Western Sydney Derby ventures to mutual ground as the Eels host the Panthers in a must-win game for both sides. With both teams showing glimpsed of their potential early in the season, poor performances in recent weeks has them sitting outside the Top Eight and in desperate need of another two points.
The Eels broke a four-game losing streak in their 26-22 victory over the Tigers on Easter Monday, and will be searching for back-to-back victories for second time this season. Despite an improved performance, they have averaged nearly 26 points against them in their last five games.
They will be happy with the delivery of their attacking raids from the weekend, but will be hoping for greater consistency in the absence of speedster Bevan French who is still out with a knee injury.
For the Panthers, they will be looking to turn their season around as soon as possible after they have recorded three consecutive losses.
Their performance last week against the defending premiers showed worrying signs for the pre-season favourites, conceding two first half tries to trail 12-2 at the break, only for their afternoon to worsen in the second half conceding three unanswered tries.
Tip: This game could potentially be the Match of the Round as both teams look relatively similar in their performances, but i’m expecting a big response from the Panthers after their dismal performance last week. Panthers by 6.
Best bet: Panthers margin 1-12 $2.80
Odds: Eels $2.30 Panthers $1.62
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Newcastle Knights
1300SMILES Stadium
Saturday 22 April 5.30pm LOCAL
It's usually considered one-way traffic when these two teams have met in recent fixtures, but considering the injury toll of the Cowboys and the gutsy efforts of the Knights this year, this fixture lines up as a possible blockbuster for NRL fans this weekend.
The Cowboys are coming off consecutive defeats at the hands of the Tigers and Dragons but last weeks result was rather expected following the absence of three of the four spine players. With injuries to Coote, Granville and Thurston, the Cowboys have lost over 600 games of experience and it showed in their execution in the dying stages of the contest. Despite a valiant second half which saw them come within six points of the ladder leaders, the Cowboys were unable to run away with remarkable victory.
Their clash against the Knights will be without the reliable Lachlan Coote and maestro Jonathan Thurston once again, who are still battling with calf and ankle injuries. As a result, teenage prodigy Kalyn Ponga will reclaim the fullback role, and forward John Asiata holds down the vacant number 7 jersey after starring with two try assists last Saturday.
In the middle of their re-building phase, Knights fans can be proud of the consistent efforts of their team considering the odds that are stacked against them. They held their own against an experienced Roosters outfit last weekend, with the game in the balance for 60 minutes before the class of Mitchell Pearce and Luke Keary stood tall and delivered in the closing stages.
Their glimpses of strong attacking footy are promising signs for the struggling club, with the likes of Nathan Ross and Dane Gagai leading by example with some starring performances. Expect a big performance from rookie Mitch Barnett, who lines up against Jason Taumalolo who has been instrumental in the absence of co-captain Matt Scott this season.
Tip: This game will be closer than expected considering the depleted Cowboys line-up taking the park, but they will desperate for their second home win of the season and will take confidence from their second half last week. Cowboys by 10.
Best bet: Cowboys margin 1-12 $3.10
Odds: Cowboys $1.35 Knights $3.20
Cronulla Sharks vs. Gold Coast Titans
Southern Cross Stadium
Saturday 22 April 7.40pm LOCAL
As one of the most in-form teams in the competition at the moment, the Cronulla Sharks play host for an under performing Titans outfit to cap off Super Saturday. The Sharks will be searching for their fifth straight victory and are coming off a resounding win over the Panthers, while the Titans nearly pulled off one of the upsets of the season in their 24-22 defeat to the Brisbane Broncos.
After a less than convincing start to their 2017 campaign, the Sharks have certainly hit their straps over the last two weeks having kept the Storm and Panthers tryless. As they now boast the second best defence in the competition, they have remarkably conceded the least amount of tries this year (13) which averages less than two tries per game.
The experiment with Valentine Holmes at fullback is definitely a case of rocks and diamonds, with the dynamic fullback showcasing his pure speed and evasiveness, only to be riddled with some costly handling errors over the last two weeks.
In comparison, the Titans sit last in the competition with 37 tries conceded across their seven fixtures, but with the crafty halves combination of Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey they have crossed for 37 tries so far this season.
History says the Titans haven't had their fare share of luck at Southern Cross Stadium with just three wins in their last nine fixtures, and despite welcoming back Nathan Peats last week, they may struggle considering they are still so depleted with injuries.
Tip: Having the home ground advantage will be crucial for the Sharks in a potential danger game, but the Titans certainly lack to the strike power to deliver any serious blows against a competition heavyweight. Sharks by 14.
Best bet: Sharks handicap -10 $1.90
Odds: Sharks $1.28 Titans $3.75
Wests Tigers vs. Canterbury Bankstown-Bulldogs
ANZ Stadium
Sunday 23 April 4.00pm LOCAL
Sunday afternoon footy returns to ANZ Stadium as the Wests Tigers take on a red-hot Bulldogs team searching for their fourth straight victory. The Tigers have restored faith following the arrival of Ivan Cleary with a strong victory over the Cowboys and a tough loss to the Eels, while the Bulldogs have soared into the top eight with three consecutive wins.
With all the off-field drama surround the Tigers club and the potential of their big guns leaving at seasons end, Cleary has delivered a strong message that quality of their performances will not be compromised. They are playing with a more structured attacking style that has seen them cross for nine tries across their last two fixtures.
Despite signing with the Eels with the chance of an early release, Mitch Moses put in a dominant display with a classy solo try and a pin-point kick for Kevin Naiqama to score in the corner, and will no doubt play a significant role if the Tigers are to come away with the victory.
For the Bulldogs, it's amazing the difference in performances over the past month. After being thrashed by the Eagles 36-0 at Lottoland, they have now secured three victories in a row with a convincing 24-9 victory over South Sydney.
The turning point in the contest came in the 32nd minute when a masterstroke from Des Hasler saw Michael Lichaa dropped to the bench, with Moses Mbye moving to hooker and young gun Matt Frawley slotting in at halfback. The difference was monumental, with Mbye adding an extra dimension of speed out of dummy half that created significant go-forward for his side, with Frawley adding a calming influence for Reynolds to have one of his best games of the season.
Despite the success of the move, Hasler has named an unchanged 17 to take on the Tigers - but keep an eye on the team sheet an hour before kick off considering the instant success of the spine reshuffle.
Tip: With all the contract drama thats unfolded over the last few days, it will be important for the Tigers ‘Big Four” to deliver on the field. In saying that, if Hasler keeps his team from last week, the Bulldogs could start to find their groove for 2017. Bulldogs by 10.
Best bet: Bulldogs handicap -4.5 $1.90
Odds: Tigers $2.50 Bulldogs $1.54
Sydney Roosters vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons
Allianz Stadium
Tuesday 25 April 4.00pm LOCAL
It’s arguably the biggest game of the regular season and the Roosters and Dragons will commemorate Anzac day in the best way they know how. This fixture has provided some fierce contests over the last few years, and this game will be no different considering the form of each side.
The Roosters were out to make amends for their two losses in Round 5 and 6 and they put in a strong performance against a courageous Knights outfit. While holding onto a slight 12-6 advantage until the 60 minute mark, in-form halves duo Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce put the game to bed with brilliant individual tries.
Trent Robinson has named a few changes to take on the ladder leaders, with Latrell Mitchell named at 18th man after he was dropped last week, and Kane Evans re-joins the bench after battling a calf injury over the last few weeks.
The Dragons are no doubt the most surprising team of 2017, written off in the pre-season as contenders for the wooden spoon, only for them to now be classed as contenders for the games biggest prize. They held off a depleted Cowboys outfit last week after leading 28-4 at halftime, and will be looking to maintain their dominance against a fellow premiership heavyweight.
Tip: Following the drama from their Anzac Day clash last year, you can expect another fiery contest between two teams at the top of the table. I’m not expecting a blow out from either team, but the Dragons to hold on for their fifth in a row. Dragons by 2 in a thriller.
Best bet: Dragons handicap +4 $1.90
Odds: Roosters $1.62 Dragons $2.30
Melbourne Storm vs. New Zealand Warriors
AAMI Park
Tuesday 25 April 7.00pm LOCAL
The ANZAC weekend will conclude in Melbourne on Monday night when the Storm clash with the Warriors to continue their annual Anzac Day match-up.
The Storm have performed well-below expectation over the last fortnight, having been kept try less against the Sharks and putting in a poor defensive performance against the Eagles. On the other hand, the Warriors will want to re-gain their winning momentum after going down 20-8 to the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium.
While the Storm were flying high with five straight wins to start their season, their last two performances having been nothing like the clinical side they are. They conceded 26 points against Manly last week, which is remarkably the most in a single game since their Preliminary final in 2015.
In team news, Cameron Munster has been named on the bench, but is expected to be named in the starting line-up in the final team list. This would be the first time the spine of Slater, Munster, Cronk and Smith will start together, and they will no doubt hope to take full advantage of the opportunity to test the new combination.
For the Warriors, they will be looking to halt the Storm’s recent dominance having won just three of the past nine encounters against them. After a decent performance against a dynamic Raiders side last weekend, they will be looking to assert themselves against a very professional Storm outfit.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck seems to be relishing his new role as Captain of the Warriors, producing glimpses of his brilliance over the last three weeks. One of the biggest match-ups this week will be the clash between two of the best spines in the competition, with three members of the classic Australian spine take on the New Zealand quartet of Sheck, Foran, Johnson and Luke.
Tip: The Anzac fixture has brought out the best of each team respectively over the past few seasons, and as both these squads are near full strength fans are in for another belter of a game. Expect the Warriors to fight for a majority of the contest, but i’m expecting the Storm to be back to their clinical best. Storm by 8.
Best bet: Warriors handicap +9.5 $1.93
Odds: Storm $1.28 Warriors $3.75
Words: Andre Cupido
