Round 19 Preview
After a strong weekend in round 18, here’s hoping for another in the green as the top 8 race heats up.
Parramatta Eels ($1.21) v Canberra Raiders ($4.40)
Thursday 22nd July 7:50PM, Cbus Super Stadium
Thursday’s fixture will have plenty of ramifications on the finals as the Eels and the Raiders both look for another win and the chance to advance up the ladder. The Eels will have their sights set on leapfrogging the third placed Bunnies after bouncing back from the bye last week with a clinical 26-8 win over the Titans. Canberra, meanwhile, has rediscovered some form with back-to-back wins over Manly and Cronulla, leaving Ricky Stuart’s side just win one away from rejoining the eight, despite their awful performances during the middle third of the year. Whilst his form has been patchy alongside his team, the loss of Jack Wighton will be felt by Canberra and I’m going with the Eels and their dynamic offloading game to record a big win on Thursday night.
Recommended Bet: Eels -14.5 $1.90
Sydney Roosters ($1.30) v Newcastle Knights ($3.50)
Friday 23rd July 6:00PM, Sunshine Coast Stadium
Roosters head coach Trent Robinson will be hoping his side can turn in a performance similar to last week’s win over the Cowboys on Friday night, with the cohesion on display reminiscent of their early season form. Sam Walker was the star of the show, but there was a lot to like about Sydney’s pressure from start to finish as the tri-colours now set their sights on rejoining the top four. The Knights, on the other hand, not only lost Kalyn Ponga early but also the game, with the Storm trouncing the Novastrians 48-4. Newcastle still has enough time left to make a late finals push, but the fact they own only one win over a top eight side this season is obviously reason for concern that their best just isn’t good enough. The Roosters already own an impressive 38-4 win over the Knights this year and it really wouldn’t surprise if we see a similar result unfold this time around. Newcastle’s defence was downright awful at times last week, however should be strengthened by Daniel Saifiti’s inclusion but the Rooster still possesses too much class across the park.
Recommended Bet: Roosters 13+ $2.05
North Queensland Cowboys ($10) v Melbourne Storm ($1.05)
Friday 23rd July 7:55PM, Queensland COuntry Bank Stadium
The Storm have once again opened up as heavy favourites, and rightly so. Their 2021 season has seen them improve on the back of their Premiership last year and are putting together one of the greatest regular seasons in NRL history. While stating the hyperbole may seem cumbersome, their attacking stats are simply phenomenal; 632 points, 128 linebreaks, 114 tries and 562 tackle breaks across 17 games, while only conceding 198 points. Melbourne dished out the punishment last week in a 48-4 beatdown over the Knights, a result Craig Bellamy will be hoping his side can replicate against a Cowboys team that has now lost five in a row. North Queensland appeared in the finals hunt a month ago, but a number of injuries and a form slump has made life very tough for Todd Payten’s side. The Storm have won 11 straight games over the Cowboys dating back to 2016 and backing the heavy favourites on the line, and as previously mentioned, backing heavy favourites on the line has been extremely profitable this season.
Recommended Bet: Storm -26.5 $1.90
South Sydney Rabbitohs v New Zealand Warriors
Saturday 24th July 3:00PM, Sunshine Coast Stadium
The Rabbitohs suffered a scare last round trailing by two at half-time before roaring home in the final 20 minutes with Canterbury down a man, after one of the more bizarre incidents involving Cody Walker and Lachlan Lewis at halftime. A win is a win, but Souths will need to ensure they play much tighter defensively with a tough run home over the final few weeks. Fortunately, a game against the wounded Warriors couldn’t have come at a better time. New Zealand has lost six straight heading into Saturday’s contest, and things have only gotten worse on the injury front with Tohu Harris tearing his ACL in last week’s loss to Penrith, however against the grain of losing teams in 2021, a lot of those losses have been with merit. In saying that, souths have won their last two games over the Warriors by 24 points and with flyer Alex Johnston in career best form with 24 tries this year and 32 linebreaks, I’m going with Souths in a canter.
Recommended Bet: Rabbitohs -17.5 $1.90
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Saturday 24th July 5:30PM, Suncorp Stadium
Manly got a bit of the hoodoo off the back with a 14-point win over St George without both Trjboveic brother.. A top four spot is still up for grabs with seven games remaining, and it is no surprise to find the Sea Eagles as heavy favourites heading into Saturday’s game at Suncorp. The Tigers proved to everyone last week that they can be a tough out, but it’s hard to read too much into a come-from-behind win considering the performance of the Broncos in that period. Manly obliterated Wests by a score of 40-6 when they got together back in April as Turbo and Daly Cherry-Evans both had their own way from start to finish. The Tigers are one of the healthiest sides in the competition right now, but it’s hard to ignore the fact they own only one win over a current top eight side on the year and with their centre and wing defence often in shambles, both Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab could be in for another big day.
Recommended Bet: Sea Eagles -18.5 $1.90
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos
Saturday 24th July 7:35PM, Suncorp Stadium
It was a case of the same old story last week for the Broncos as they managed to squander an 18-10 half-time lead in their double-digit loss to the Tigers. Consistent performances have been a problem all year for head coach Kevin Walters, and things certainly aren’t about to get any easier against the Panthers in Brisbane on Saturday night. Penrith has carved out another tidy three-game winning streak after downing the Warriors 30-16 last week and appear to have found the attacking groove without Nathan Cleary in control. Brisbane fans can find some confidence in the fact their side put up a fight against the Panthers when they met back in Round 6 only going down by 8 when the Panthers were in red hot form, but this still remains an enormous challenge for a defence that has conceded 35+ points in three of their last four games. Brian To’o continues to lead from the front for the Panthers with a competition high 3728 run metres this year and with his partner in crime Jerome Luai named to play, the Panthers look a great bet.
Recommended Bet: Panthers -18.5 $1.90
St George Illawarra Dragons ($2.35) v Gold Coast Titans ($1.60)
Sunday 25th July 1:50PM, Cbus Super Stadium
I found this the most difficult game of the round to assess, with the Titans often promising the world, but delivering the atlas across 2021. The Dragons on the other hand, despite all their misgivings of recent, still find themselves in the top 8, however have the Sharks, Raiders and Knights all chasing. The Dragons see a mass of changes for this game which could see some cohesion problems with Fogerty and Sami also missing for the Titans. Both sides came away with one victory apiece in their two match ups last season and with their last 3 clashes decided by less than 12 points, I’m going to place my faith in the Titans once more.
Recommended Bet: Titans 1-12 $3.95
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ($3.85) v Cronulla Sharks ($1.26)
Sunday 25th July 4:00PM, Cbus Super Stadium
This game looms crucial for the Sharks as they look to lock in a place in the top 8, and if results go their way and they secure a win on Sunday, could see themselves there. Cronulla committed 10 errors and a whopping 61 missed tackles against Canberra, and with the Bulldogs showing some late season commitment with two of their stronger performances in the last 2 weeks against the Roosters and Rabbitohs this game could end up a lot closer than what we’ve come to expect. The Dogs picked up their first win of the season against the Sharks back in Round 7 and as such I’m going with them to cover the line on Sunday afternoon.
Recommended Bet: Bulldogs +12.5 $1.90
