NRL Finals Week 2 Preview
Week one of the finals saw two major upsets on Saturday and two dominating performance from both the defending premiers and the Parramatta Eels. Read on as we have a look at week two’s fixtures and the chances of all four teams in their do-or-die clashes.
South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.46) vs Manly Sea Eagles ($2.75)
Friday, 20th September 7:50pm, ANZ Stadium
The first of the weekend's semi finals sees the underrated and consistent Manly Sea Eagles travel to ANZ Stadium to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a clash between two sides who have had injury ravaged seasons. Both sides seasons may have been marred by injury but it is a testament to both of their coaches and the resilience of their players that they are still standing at this stage of the season and you can bet they will be treating each game like they have nothing to lose. To add to the build up around this game is the fact the previous two clashes between these sides from 2019 ended up with one win a piece, with both victories coming by a single field goal. This poses an intriguing prospect for the nature of this game as Des Hasler will be hoping that his depleted Sea Eagles can pick up where they left off in their 28-16 victory over their Sydney rivals the Sharks whilst Wayne Bennett will be hoping that the return of some big names in his lineup can help spark a Rabbitohs side coming off a 30-6 loss at the hands of their rivals, the Roosters. These big name inclusions include origin star Dane Gagai who returns at the expense of Corey Allan, as Campbell Graham shifts out to the wing and Sam Burgess who returns from a one week suspension in the place of second rower Jaydn Su’A. For the Sea Eagles they get back some much needed fire power up front as prop Martin Taupau returns from a one week suspension, meaning that impressive 2 game youngster Sean Keppie moves to the bench and Toafofoa Sipley drops to the reserves. In recent history these two teams have been relatively evenly split with both teams sharing one win a piece each season since 2011 and with their only finals meetings in this decade coming in 2014, where the Rabbitohs won 40-24 at Allianz Stadium, it will be interesting to see who gets to hold the bragging rights come Saturday night. Despite this relative evenness one stat that clearly stands out for this weeks fixture is the form of the Sea Eagles at this weeks venue, ANZ Stadium. Over the course of the last few seasons the Sea Eagles have lost their last 9 games at ANZ Stadium and have also lost their last 3 against the Rabbitohs at this venue. This doesn’t bode well for a side that is already without one of their star players in Tom Trbojevic and with the Rabbitohs getting some big names back we are tipping them to bounce back this week with a narrow victory against the Sea Eagles, but as has been the case all season, write the Sea Eagles off at your own peril.
Recommended Bet: South Sydney Rabbitohs 1-12 $2.95
Melbourne Storm ($1.40) vs Parramatta Eels ($3.00)
Saturday, 21st September 7:50pm, AAMI Stadium
If someone had told me that the record breaking Melbourne Storm would’ve gone down in the first week of the finals to a side that had stumbled their way into the finals after losing to the Warriors in the last round then I wouldn’t have believed them. Strangely, that is exactly what happened as the Raiders held the Storm to only 10 points and scored a late try of their own to secure a 12-10 win and a spot in the preliminary final. As a result, this week sees the Storm welcome the red hot Parramatta Eels to AAMI Park as they look to continue a resurgent vein of form that saw them defeat the Brisbane Broncos 58-0 in last Sunday’s elimination final. This victory seemed almost effortless from the Eels as they continuously strolled through the Broncos defensive line thanks to an attack that seems to have clicked at the right stage of the season after scoring 90 points in their last two outings. As a result the only change that coach Brad Arthur has made has been the inclusion of prop Kane Evans from a one week suspension meaning that Daniel Alvaro shifts to the bench and Ray Stone drops to the reserves. Likewise, the Melbourne Storm are choosing to keep faith with the same players who got them the minor premiership as coach Craig Bellamy has named the same 17 from last weeks shock home loss. Thankfully for Storm fans they do hold an impressive record against the Eels in having won 4 of their last 5 against them including the last 3 matches. Among these meetings was a humongous 64-10 victory for the Storm over the Eels that came in their last meeting from round 10 of this season, a match that was dominated by Cameron Munster and came after a shock 20-18 loss to the Sharks in the round before. If the Storm have got anywhere near as much motivation, coming into this game, as they did after their loss to the Sharks then it poses a scary threat for an Eels side who already struggle away from home. To make matters worse the Eels is the fact that the Storm have only lost back-to-back games twice since 2016 and with a do-or-die scenario now facing them in the rest of the games you can bet that Bellamy will have them raring to go. With this in mind coupled with the Eels 5-7 record on the road from 2019 then we are happy to lean towards the Storm bouncing back with a victory, albeit in a close match.
Recommended Bet: Melbourne Storm 1-12 $2.90
