The following are previews with betting tips for Round 17 of the 2021 NRL season.
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Sea Eagles v Raiders
Thursday, July 8, 7:50pm AEST
4 Pines Park |
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The Raiders’ form slide hit a new low last week after the disappointing 44-6 loss to the Titans saw the Canberra club slip to 13th place on the competition ladder. Their task will get no easier up against an in-form Manly outfit who were dominant in a massive 66-0 victory over the Bulldogs in their last match as Des Hasler’s troops sit only two wins outside the top-four.
The absence of superstar Tom Trbojevic for Manly will see Reuben Garrick shift to fullback with Moses Suli set to join the squad on the wing. Cade Cust will also join the bench, allowing Dylan Walker to shift to the halves to cover Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans. For the Raiders, Xavier Savage will come into the fullback position to cover the injured Bailey Simonsson with Matt Frawley and Hudson Young set to join the starting team at five-eight and second-row respectively. Ryan James will also join the interchange in an otherwise unchanged squad.
With the Raiders missing Wighton, Papalii, Whitehead and Simonsson, Manly will enter this contest as heavy favourites, particularly given their opposition’s recent form. Expect the Raiders’ focus to be holding the football with a view to keeping possession even in an effort to stymie the Sea Eagles’ dominant style of play. Manly to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sea Eagles -13.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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Rabbitohs v Cowboys
Friday, July 9, 7:55pm AEST
McDonald Jones Stadium |
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Souths were comfortable in victory over the Tigers, but a poor second-half showing will have coach Wayne Bennett eager for his squad to nail a consistent 80 minute performance coming up against a Cowboys outfit desperate to break into the top-eight. North Queensland were humbled in a woeful 38-0 loss to the Knights last week, albeit amongst enormous covid disruptions to their preparation that saw coach Todd Payten forced to isolate from his playing group.
Souths will be missing Cameron Murray, Damien Cook, Dane Gagai, Jai Arrow and Latrell Mitchell to Origin III. Blake Taaffe and Braidon Burns will join the backline at fullback and centre respectively, with Jaydn Su’a also set to join the second-row. Patrick Mago and Peter Mamouzelos will join the bench as veteran Benji Marshall shifts to hooker. Meanwhile, North Queensland will be missing Valentine Holmes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Frank Molo to Origin with Daejarn Asi and Connolly Lemuelu set to join the starting side at fullback and centre respectively. Tom Gilbert will also join the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Despite their missing stars, Souths will enter this match as clear favourites. The Rabbitohs should be on high-alert against a Cowboys squad embarrassed by the Knights last week. The impact of the covid disruptions to the Queenslander’s preparation last week is unknown, but coach Todd Payten will be expecting a big response from his squad. This match could go either way but expect Souths to get the win.
Betting Tip: Cowboys +17.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
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Bulldogs v Roosters
Saturday, July 10, 7:35pm AEST
Bankwest Stadium |
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The Roosters were dominated against the Storm last week in a humbling 46-0 loss with the Tri-colours continuing to struggle against elite clubs this season. They will face a struggling Bulldogs outfit who were thrashed 66-0 by Manly in their last match as the wooden-spoon looms for the Canterbury club.
The Roosters will be missing James Tedesco and Angus Crichton to Origin, with Victory Radley to return at lock in a timely boost. Billy Smith and Drew Hutchison will return to the starting side at centre and five-eighth respectively with Nat Butcher and Ben Thomas set to join the bench. For the Bulldogs, Corey Waddell, Sione Katoa, Dylan Napa and Aaron Schoupp will re-join the team after being suspended for covid-breaches with Ofahiki Ogden and Renouf Atoni also named on the bench.
The Roosters’ inexperienced spine will benefit enormously from the return of Radley. With only Crichton and Tedesco missing to Origin the Roosters representative toll is limited. Expect the Tri-colours to get the win.
Betting Tip: Roosters -22.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)
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Sharks v Warriors
Sunday, July 11, 4:05pm AEST
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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Cronulla conceded a poor loss to the Broncos last week in a result that snapped a four-game winning streak in a disappointing outcome given the Sharks precarious position on the competition ladder. Their opposition in the Warriors conceded a heart-breaking field-goal loss to the Dragons last week in a result which could have major ramifications to the top eight. The Kiwi club is sitting one win outside of finals contention and will be desperate to bank as many premiership points as possible to make the finals.
Cronulla will welcome Will Chambers back into their squad in Josh Hannay’s only changes. For the Warriors, mid-season signing Matt Lodge will join their prop-rotation with Reece Walsh and Kodi Nikorima set to return at fullback and five-eighth respectively in a big boost for the Kiwi club.
Cronulla will be bitterly disappointed after their performance last week against a struggling Broncos outfit. Expect this Warriors outfit to boast plenty of strike with the return of Walsh and Nikorima, while Lodge provides a massive boost to their middle-rotation. This match could go either way but expect the class and strike in this Warriors outfit to prove too much for Cronulla to overcome.
Betting Tip: Warriors +6.0 @ $1.90 (Bluebet)
Best Bet
Sea Eagles -13.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
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