NRL Round 8 Preview
Injuries were the unfortunate speaking point from the round 7 clashes as we saw a number of big names succumbing to injuries that should keep them out for a number of weeks. Read on as we look at how these injuries will affect their teams chances of winning this week.
South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.53) vs Brisbane Broncos ($2.50)
Thursday, 2nd May 7:50pm, ANZ Stadium
One of the most anticipated clashes of 2019 is brought to us in the first game of round 8 as the Broncos travel to ANZ Stadium to take on the high flying Rabbitohs. The anticipation behind this clash arises from one of the largest off-season stories when Anthony Seibold and Wayne Bennett completed a coaching swap after both signing deals for the 2020 season. The subsequent story has been of even greater interest as the previously unwanted Wayne Bennett has led his South Sydney team to a much better start than last years Dally M Coach of the year in Seibold has with the Broncos. Despite this the Broncos can take confidence from last weeks performance as they buried a number of demons in defeating the Sharks 29-6 in a convincing performance that was led by Anthony Milford in his 150th game. Souths however continued to find a way to win as they held off a fast finishing Panthers to secure their 6th win of the season. For the Broncos this week they will be without Kodi Nikorima who has succumbed to injury and is replaced by hotly rated youngster Troy Dearden who will make his NRL debut. On the other hand Souths have named an unchanged team that has won their last three games but will be up against it as they look to beat the Broncos for the first time since 2015. With this in mind and the Broncos finding their mojo last week we are tipping them to extend their winning streak against Souths to 8 in a tightly contested game.
Recommended Bet: Brisbane Broncos 1-12 $3.70
North Queensland Cowboys ($1.73) vs Gold Coast Titans ($2.10)
Friday, 3rd May 6:00pm, 1300SMILES Stadium
Both sides involved in this fixture will be heavily disappointed with their performances in the last round as the Cowboys succumbed to the Bulldogs side in another poor defensive effort whilst the Titans gave up a 14-0 lead to the Tigers to eventually lose 30-14. Despite this both the Tigers and the Eels last week proved that a week is a long time in NRL and both teams will be hoping that with the possible inclusion of some big name players they can reverse their form and notch their 3rd win for the season. The Cowboys have named Jason Taumalolo on the extended bench for the second week in a row and they will be hoping that he can play his first game since round 3 in what would prove a much needed addition to a team who has lost their fullback in Te Maire Martin to injury. The Titans also welcome back young gun AJ Brimson who fills the utility role on the bench and could prove a handful to the Cowboys who have been poor in defence over the opening 7 rounds. Thankfully for the Cowboys although they currently hold a 7 game winning streak against the Titans that dates back to 2014, including the Titans having not won up in Townsville since 2012. On the back of this we are predicting a much improved Cowboys effort and an 8th straight win against the Titans.
Recommended Bet: North Queensland Cowboys -2 Line ($1.90)
Cronulla Sharks ($2.95) vs Melbourne Storm ($1.39)
Friday, 3rd May 7:55pm, PointsBet Stadium
A rematch of the 2016 grand final and arguably one of the developing rivalries in the modern game is brought to us in the Friday night prime time slot and it looks to be a serious contender for match of the round. The Storm are coming off two poor performances, from their standards, in their loss to the Roosters and their narrow victory to the Warriors last week in what has proved to be a serious wake up call after they won their opening five games. On the other hand the Sharks are in the middle of a serious injury crisis that has seen them win only 3 of their opening 7 games as key players Shaun Johnson, Matt Moylan, Wade Graham and Josh Dugan all sit on the sidelines. Despite this the Sharks have shown glimmers of their potential and will be pleased to welcome back impressive back rower Briton Nikora from suspension for this weeks game. The Storm will also be hoping that a back rower of their own in Joe Stimson can make his first appearance for 2019 as he is named on the extended bench in what would prove a handy addition to an already impressive forward pack. Fortunately for the Sharks they have proven a frustrating team for the Storm as they won 2 of their 3 matches against them last year and it is a match that no matter their form you can bet that both players and fans will rise for it. Even more interesting is the fact that the Sharks have only allowed the Storm to score 20 points once in their last six meetings and with the Storms flat performance last week we are predicting an upset Sharks victory.
Recommended Bet: Cronulla Sharks $2.95
Canberra Raiders ($1.68) vs Penrith Panthers ($2.18)
Saturday, 4th May 3:00pm, McDonalds Park
The Panthers season is almost on the line here as they failed to put together another 80 minute performance in their 18-22 loss to the Rabbitohs and as a result they now find themselves dwelling in 14th place with only 2 wins from their opening 7 games. On the other hand the Raiders looked one of the form teams of the competition prior to their last round loss where they will be disappointed that they weren’t able to put away a Sea Eagles side that they led 12-0 against in the early stages of their clash. Surprisingly for Panthers fans coach Ivan Cleary has named an unchanged side as he remains faithful to the squad that was tipped to go close to the premiership at the start of the year. On the other hand Raiders fans will be saddened to hear that star winger Jordan Rapana is looking at 2-3 weeks on the sidelines with a rib injury which has forced them into recalling 21 year old winger Bailey Simonsson. Also working against the Raiders is the fact that they haven’t beaten the Panthers in their last 4 starts, dating back to 2016 when they made the preliminary finals. With the Panthers dominant form over the Raiders and the fact they have been not far off putting together two impressive wins with 4 point losses in their last two games we are predicting Panthers to ignite some life into their 2019 season.
Recommended Bet: Penrith Panthers $2.18
Manly Sea Eagles ($1.73) vs Canterbury Bulldogs ($2.10)
Saturday, 4th May 5:30pm, Lottoland
Manly fans will be singing praise as they managed to secure back to back wins at Lottoland for the first time in over 12 months. Even more impressive is that they have been able to do it without star fullback Tom Trbojevic and they lost Daly Cherry Evans in the second half of last weeks win against a team who had only lost once all season in the Raiders. Bulldogs fans can also take pride in their performances as without former New Zealand international Kieran Foran and Origin forward Dylan Napa they managed to knock the Cowboys off in a convincing manner last round. This week will see Manly look for their 3rd successive win at Lottoland whilst the Bulldogs will be looking for back to back wins for the first time in 2019 and in a selection shock have named Kieran Foran and Dylan Napa on an extended bench in what would be a remarkable recovery from ankle injuries for the both of them. For the Sea Eagles they not only lost captain Daly Cherry Evans last week but also their most experienced member of their back 5 in Jorge Taufua as they look to field one of the least experienced back 5 in recent history with only a combined 122 games between them. Despite this Manly have won their last two against the Bulldogs at Lottoland by a combined score of 54-6 and we feel that with the momentum and confidence that they are playing with it will lead them to a 3rd successive victory at home.
Recommended Bet: Manly Sea Eagles 1-12 $3.00
Sydney Roosters ($1.20) vs Wests Tigers ($4.50)
Saturday, 4th May 7:35pm, Sydney Cricket Ground
The Tigers will be up against it this week as the Roosters continue to impress as the form team of the competition despite some serious injury concerns that are growing even further as they lost captain Jake Friend for 3-4 months as he ruptured his bicep. The telling point about the Roosters is both the depth that they hold and also their commitment to each other that was witnessed as Friend played through his injury and continued to make tackles last week. For the Tigers they will be hoping that they can put together an 80 minute performance comprised of the effort and cohesion from the final 60 minutes of their match against the Titans where they put on 30 unanswered points. Even more impressively was that this was done with Josh Reynolds off the field as he did his MCL and like Friend continued to try and make tackles on one leg whilst he was on it. This week sees the Roosters welcome back Luke Keary into the halves whilst the Tigers will welcome back veteran Benji Marshall to their halves who should add some much needed experience for them. Unfortunately for Tigers fans the Roosters have been somewhat of a bogey team for them as they have only won 1 of their last 12 matches against them including not beating the Roosters at home in over 8 years. With this in mind and the dominance of the Roosters over the early rounds we are confident the Roosters can find plenty of holes in the Tigers defence and march onto a convincing victory.
Recommended Bet: Sydney Roosters 13+ $1.90
New Zealand Warriors ($1.57) vs Newcastle Knights ($2.40)
Sunday, 5th May 2:00pm, Mt Smart Stadium
After 3 consecutive home losses the Knights were finally able to notch a win in front of an almost packed house last Sunday afternoon. The Knights looked much more fluent in their attack as Mitchell Pearce and Danny Levi led from the front in playing a more direct style of play. This week they travel across the Tasman to take on the Warriors, who are also coming off a home loss from two weekends ago and will be looking to avenge this loss with a dominant display in front of their fans this week. Fortunately for the Warriors they welcome back 2018 Dally M Medallist and their captain in Roger Tuivasa Sheck as well as their leading and most experienced half in Blake Green in what proves a scary proposition for a team who only lost to the Storm by 1 point without these players. On the other hand Knights coach Nathan Brown will be pleased to name the same team as they look to string together consecutive wins for the first time in 2019. In recent history the Warriors have dominated this contest winning 5 of the last 6 including the Knights having not won in New Zealand since 2012 and with this in mind we are leaning towards the Warriors prevailing in a tight but heated contest.
Recommended Bet: New Zealand Warriors 1-12 $2.85
Parramatta Eels ($1.78) vs St George Illawarra Dragons ($2.03)
Sunday, 5th May 4:05pm, Bankwest Stadium
Both the Eels and the Dragons came crashing down to Earth last week as they suffered disappointing losses in games that they could have won. The Eels were nowhere near the form that saw them trounce the Tigers 51-6 as they went down to the Knights 28-14 and the Dragons suffered their first loss in a month as the Roosters proved too strong and clinical in the late stages of their ANZAC day clash. Thankfully for the Eels they will return to their new stadium and the same stadium where they won 51-6 as they look to recapture this form against a Dragons side who will be eager to avenge their last round loss. For the Eels they have named an unchanged side from the one that took the field last week whilst Dragons coach Paul McGregor has pulled a selection shock by replacing one young gun in Euan Aitken with another in Zac Lomax in what will be Lomax’s first start for 2019. In recent history this contest has been dominated by the Eels as they have won 8 of the last 9 meetings including a 40-4 demolition job of the Dragons in round 22 of last year. With the return of the Eels to their new spiritual home and the bogey that they have over the Dragons we are confident that they can keep their 100% record at their new home in a tight contest.
Recommended Bet: Parramatta Eels 1-12 $3.00
