The NRL kicks off this weekend with some fantastic round of matches. Below we have Sportingbet tips and previews for the round as well as comparison odds from leading Australian and International online sportsbooks offering NRL betting odds.
Eels v Dragons at Parramatta Stadium Friday, 7:30pm
Key Stats – Parramatta has won six of the eight matches played between the two sides at Parramatta Stadium. St George Illawarra has won three of the last four games between the two sides. Parramatta ended last season winning 10 of their last 12 matches. St George Illawarra have won nine of their last 10 Friday night matches, including winning their last four Friday night matches away from home.
Sportsmail comment – The Eels attack is built around second phase play and like last season I think it will again take them time to click. However the individual brilliance of Hayne, Mateo and Tahu should get them through early stages of the season. The Dragons skill level across the park looks to have improved and despite being two class players short of being a premiership contender. The Eels have named the strongest forward pack and bench in the NRL for round one. The Eels have a huge advantage in the forwards against the Dragons and the St George bench isn’t going to provide any impact. Green, Merrin and Hunt aren’t mobile and are very slow and will be targets of the Eels dummy half runners late in both halves. The Eels also have the edge in the outside backs, especially with the Dragons key defensive centre Matt Cooper unlikely to play. Question mark over Jeff Robson being named at halfback ahead of Kris Keating but he may complement the superstars around him with his composure, solid defence and good kicking game. Parramatta has won six of the eight matches played between the two sides at Parramatta Stadium.
Tip – Eels Suggested Bet – Eels 1-12
Broncos v Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium Friday, 7:30pm
Key Stats – Brisbane has won the past five encounters between the two sides. North Queensland lost four of their last five matches to finish last season. Brisbane has won the past two matches played between the two sides at Suncorp Stadium.
Sportsmail comment – Thurston’s performance in the All Stars match suggests he’ll start the season in form while Peter Wallace starts the season underdone after not playing a trial match because of off-season surgery and Darren Lockyer is still carrying injuries from the All-Stars match and the Broncos last trial game. Brisbane have lost 14 of the 21 matches they have played without Justin Hodges over the past two seasons and Karmichael Hunt was responsible for 22 try assists last season. Folau replaces Hodges at right centre but Israel is target in defence especially marking a class centre like Willie Tonga. Folau is very susceptible to being beaten on the outside and guaranteed Thurston will look to attack down the left as much as possible to try and get Tonga one on one with Folau.
Both teams will miss the top eight but Thurston and Tonga give the Cowboys the advantage on Friday night.
Tip – Cowboys Suggested Bet – Cowboys 1-12
Bulldogs v Knights ANZ Stadium Saturday, 5:30pm
Key Stats – Newcastle has won five of the past eight encounters between the two sides. Canterbury has won six of the nine games played between the two sides at ANZ Stadium. Newcastle have lost their last seven away matches.
Sportsmail comment – The Knights are a club under siege and will be without skipper Kurt Gidley for the opening month of football. Hooker Isaac DeGois, who is the Knight’s most important player and I believe the best hooker in NSW, is out of Saturday night’s match. The Bulldogs over-achieved last season and aside from Hannant and Mickey Paea coming off the bench there isn’t much strike-power in the forwards but they do have the best centre pairing the competition with Jamal Idris and Josh Morris.
Tip – Bulldogs Suggested Bet – Bulldogs 1-12
Panthers v Raiders at CUA Stadium Saturday, 7:30pm
Key Stats – Penrith has won the past two encounters between the two sides. Canberra has won four of their past seven meetings at CUA Stadium.
Canberra has lost their last six away matches.
Sportsmail comment – The Raiders have the edge in the outside backs with the likes of gun fullback Josh Dugan and defensive centre Joel Thompson is a very good selection to shutdown Pritchard and Jennings coming down the left side. However the Raiders have only won eight matches away from home in the last three seasons. Question mark on the Panthers halves pairing of Walsh and Burns. Burns is tough and a great defender but doesn’t offer much in attack. The Raider go into the season without a dominant number 7 and 9 which again leaves Terry Campese as the only point of attack.
Tip – Panthers Suggested bet – Panthers halftime/fulltime
Sharks v Storm Toyota Park Saturday, 7:30pm
Key Stats – Melbourne has won four of the past five matches between the two sides. Cronulla lost their last 10 matches to finish last season.
Melbourne has won three of their past four encounters at Toyota Stadium.
Sportsmail comment – Sharks coach Ricky Stuart has never lost a round one match in his NRL coaching career. The Sharks go into the match full-strength while Melbourne’s bench looks skinny without Sika Manu, Brent White, Atelea Vea and John Kite. Todd Lowrie is also in doubt for Saturday night’s match and the world’s best hooker Cameron Smith will play halfback to cover for the injured Cooper Cronk. Melbourne are the best team in the NRL but I expect them to start the season slowly because of the high number of key players on the sidelines and like last season I expect Craig Bellamy will ensure his troops are peaking at the right end of the season.
Tip – Melbourne Suggested bet – Melbourne 1-12
Titans v Warriors Skilled Park Sunday, 2pm
Key Stats – The Warriors have won only one of their last seven matches.The Gold Coast has won 11 of their last 13 matches at Skilled Park.
The Warriors won only two of their 12 matches in Australia in 2009.
Sportsmail comment – This game will be played at 1pm Queensland time which is a big advantage for the Titans. Steve Price, Simon Mannering and Ian Henderson are big outs for the Warriors.
Concern for the Titans is centres Rogers and Tomane are poor defenders marking two of the best ball-runners in the NRL in Brent Tate and Jerome Ropati. The Warriors have the worst 6, 7 and 9 in the NRL compared to the Titans with Bird, Prince and Friend.
Tip – Titans Suggested Bet – Titans 13 +
Rabbitohs v Roosters ANZ Stadium Sunday, 3pm
Key Stats – The Rabbitohs have the best starting pack of forwards in the NRL against a Roosters pack missing Anthony Cherrington and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The Rabbitohs are a better team but a number of their guns are underdone and Souths will take a number of rounds before they get cohesion and combinations working in attack. Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney have been standouts for the Roosters in the trial matches but there opportunities will be limited if the forwards aren’t going forward.
Tip – Rabbitohs Suggested Bet – Rabbioths 1-12
Tigers v Sea Eagles SFS Monday, 7pm
Key Stats – The Wests Tigers have won seven of their last nine matches. Manly has won four of their last six matches at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Wests Tigers have won their last four Monday night matches. Manly has won five of their last six matches against the Wests Tigers.
Sportsmail comment – Not much between the two sides. Not sure if Robert Lui is the right choice to partner Marshall in the halves. Both players like to run across field and both aren’t natural organisers. Sea Eagles young gun Kieran Foran is a wonderful talent but unsure if halfback is his position. The Sea Eagles have the edge in the forwards with Watmough and Glenn Stewart but the Tigers have speed to burn in the outside backs. If Brett Stewart can inject himself in attack without Orford he’ll be the difference on Monday night. Manly will look to target Tuqiri by making hi turn and chase and also running numbers at him in attack to force him to make a decision in defence.
Tip – Manly Suggested Bet – Manly 1-12
Darryl Brohman’s NRL Round one betting preview
httpssv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vRARu8ogE8
