The following are previews with betting tips for Round 14 of the 2021 NRL season.
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Sea Eagles v CowboysFriday, June 11, 6:00pm AEST |
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Manly last produced a disappointing loss against an improved Newcastle squad in round 12, but coach Des Hasler will refresh his injury plagued squad coming into a game against the resurgent Cowboys. North Queensland will also be returning from a bye after a courageous field-goal victory against the Warriors in their last game.
Manly have named their full origin contingent of Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic brothers to back up only two days after Origin I. Kieran Fordan and Dylan Walker will make timely returns from injury at five-eighth and off the bench respectively in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, North Queensland have also named their Origin players in Valentine Holmes, Coen Hess and Kyle Feldt to back up in Todd Payten’s only changes.
Manly will enter this contest as firm favourites, but after a disappointing performance in their last game, North Queensland are a big chance of producing an upset. The Cowboys have gelled in Todd Payten’s coaching structures in recent times and while they have a ways to go before they reach their best – they have proven to be more than capable of challenging elite teams. Manly to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles -6.0 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Sharks v PanthersFriday, June 11, 7:55pm AEST |
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Cronulla produced a massive 38-10 victory over the Titans in their last game, and after a bye last week and encouraging news off the field with the signing of talented utility Nicho Hynes – Cronulla’s fortunes look to be turning after a difficult start to the season. They will face a Penrith outfit who ceded their first loss of their year in a disappointing 28-6 defeat.
Blues’ 18th man Api Koroisau will return at hooker, pushing Mitch Kenny back to the Panthers’ bench. All six of the Panthers’ Origin representatives in Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Kurt Capewell have been named in the reserves and could yet come into the 17.
Penrith will enter this match as firm favourites, but coach Ivan Cleary will be hoping for his Origin players’ return after a disappointing loss last week, albeit with an understrength squad. Cronulla look to be improving as they settle under interim coach Josh Hannay. If the majority of the Panthers’ Origin stars return, expect them to get the points.
Betting Tip: Panthers -6.5 @ $1.91 (Winnersbet)
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Titans v RoostersSaturday, June 12, 3:00pm AEST |
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An understrength Titans outfit produced an improved performance in a narrow loss against the Storm last week, but facing their third consecutive loss – Justin Holbrook’s troops will need to start winning consistently if they want to make the top-eight. They will face a Roosters outfit fresh from a bye with the Sydney club bouncing back from their woeful round 11 loss to Brisbane with a dominant win over Canberra in their last game.
AJ Brimson’s limited involvement in Origin I off the bench should see him return at fullback for the Titans, pushing talented rookie Jayden Campbell back to the reserves. David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika have also been named to back up from Origin but could be late withdrawals. For the Roosters, Sam Walker will return after being rested in the tri-colours last match with Blues captain James Tedesco also named to back up.
Titans faithful will be hoping the club turned a corner with an improved defensive performance against the Storm last week, but coach Justin Holbrook will need to manage the club’s heavy representative toll carefully. Expect the Roosters to be close to their best after an invaluable rest last week. Roosters to get the win.
Betting Tip: Roosters -10.5 @ $1.90 (Bet365)
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Rabbitohs v KnightsSaturday, June 12, 5:30pm AEST |
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After conceding 50-points in a three week period, the alarm bells sounding for Souths were dulled somewhat by a dominant victory over the Eels in round 12. Fresh from a bye, the club will now face a Newcastle squad who failed to back-up an impressive victory over Manly with a woeful 40-4 loss to the Eels last week as the frustrating inconsistency continues to plague Adam O’Brien’s squad.
Wayne Bennett has made the early call to rest Jai Arrow and Dane Gagai for this match after Origin I, while Damien Cook, Latrell Mitchell and Jaydn Su’a have been named but could be late withdrawals. Braidon Burns will come into the centres in an otherwise unchanged squad. For Newcastle, Daniel Saifita has been named to back up as Phoenix Crossland returns at halfback and Kurt Mann shifts to centre to cover the injured Starford To’a.
Souths will be highly confident heading into this match, but despite an impressive performance last week – question marks still remain over the Rabbitohs’ defence after they conceded 20 points against Parramatta. Newcastle certainly have the talent to produce an upset but Souths should get the win, particularly if their Origin stars take the field.
Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -17.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Raiders v BroncosSaturday, June 12, 7:35pm AEST |
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Brisbane’s horror-show of a season continued last week after a woeful 52-24 loss to the Dragons in a disappointing loss for the club. They will now face a struggling Raiders outfit fresh from a bye after a disappointing loss to the Roosters in their last match.
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has instituted another squad reshuffle with Herbie Farnworth shifting to fullback and Dale Copley joining the centres. Karmichael Hunt has also been named to return for his first game in Broncos colours since 2009 with Origin representatives Payne Haas and Xavier Coates also named to back-up. For the Raiders, Semi Valemei will return on the wing as Bailey Simonsson shifts to fullback at the expense of Caleb Aekins, while Josh Papalii and Joe Tapine will return at prop and off the bench respectively in a big boost to Canberra’s middle rotation. Jack Wighton has also been named to back up and should be fit after playing limited minutes off the Blues’ bench.
Canberra have been in poor form, but with the return of inspirational forward leader Papalii and Joe Tapine, they should be confident heading into this clash with the Broncos. There are a number of variables for this Brisbane squad, with Herbie Farnworth and Karmichael Hunt unknown quantities at fullback and five-eighth. Expect the Raiders to get the points.
Betting Tip: Raiders -8.5 @ $1.90 (Playup)
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Warriors v StormSunday, June 13, 2:00pm AEST |
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The injury-hit Warriors enjoyed a well-timed bye last week after a heart-breaking field-goal loss to the Cowboys in their last match. They will face a massive test against the Storm who notched a solid victory over the Titans last week in an impressive performance given how many star players they have missing.
A suspension to rookie sensation Reece Walsh will see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck return to fullback with Edward Kosi joining the wing as cover alongside Rocco Berry in the centres. Bailey Sironen and Josh Curran will also join the squad in the second-row and at lock respectively, while Addin Fonua-Blake is a chance of making his return from injury after he was included in the reserves in what would be a massive boost for the Kiwi club.
Meanwhile, Melbourne have named their full representative contingent of Cameron Munster, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Harry Grant to back up from Origin I in an otherwise unchanged squad. Christian Welch looks set to miss the clash after suffering a concussion, with Craig Bellamy yet to name a replacement.
Melbourne will enter this match as firm favourites but should be wary of a Warriors outfit who will be entirely unaffected by Origin. While the Storm may be wary of playing a fatigued representative contingent, their wonderful depth and the four-day turnaround after Origin I should see Melbourne get the points.
Betting Tip: Storm -13.5 @ $1.90 (Bluebet)
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Eels v TigersSunday, June 13, 4:05pm AEST |
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The Eels produced a dominant victory over the Knights last week in encouraging signs for their defence, conceding only one try. They will face an in-form Tigers outfit buoyed by their last-start victory over the Panthers last week – massive morale boost for the struggling club, albeit with the competition leaders missing an enormous number of players due to Origin.
Parramatta will be missing Reed Mahoney after he went down with a shoulder injury last week, with Joey Lussick named at hooker. Junior Paulo has been named to back up from Origin I but could be a late withdrawal to an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Wests’ only change comes with Joe Ofahengaue’s return with the bookend likely to back up after playing limited minutes off the Maroons’ bench.
Wests have been a much-improved outfit in recent weeks, but the Eels will be a major test of their form resurgence with coach Michael Maguire desperate for his squad to go to another level and challenge the competition’s elite clubs. Parramatta will be hoping for a repeat of last week’s defensive performance after some brittleness on their edges. The Tigers certainly have the talent for an upset but expect the class in this Eels team to get them over the line.
Betting Tip: Eels -11.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Bulldogs v DragonsMonday, June 14, 4:00pm AEST |
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The Bulldogs enjoyed a welcome bye last week, but were on the receiving end of a Panthers’ thumping in round 12 in yet another disappointing loss for the last-placed club. They will face a potent Dragons outfit who notched a 52-24 victory over the Broncos last week in an impressive attacking display.
St George have included Blues second-rower Tariq Sims in their reserves but the edge-forward will likely come into the squad given the five-day turnaround after Origin I in an otherwise unchanged team. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will not be impacted by State of Origin with Jeremy Marshall-King’s return from a foot injury at hooker their only change.
While St George will need to find enormous improvement in their squad defensively to compete with top-four opposition, the return of Matt Dufty last week sparked their attack to devastating effect. Expect the Dragons to outscore their opposition with Canterbury’s attack struggling to generate points.
Betting Tip: Dragons -13.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet, Playup, Bluebet, Unibet)
Best Bet
Dragons -13.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet, Playup, Bluebet, Unibet)